"No, I'm not!" she hissed back."No, I'm not!" she hissed back. "It's not paranoia if something's really about to blow up!" "Just calm down, okay?" "Look," she said. "I'm just your accountant. This is why I don't go barhopping with you guys usually." David nodded, patted her on the shoulder, and turned his attention back to Denni, who seemed to be reading something with a great deal of interest. So far, they had not been disturbed by other patrons. "Oh, my God," he heard Patricia murmur behind him, and then he felt a tap on his shoulder. "See?" she said. "I told you." Another crowd of six men walked into the bar and began to approach the five Patricia had pointed out earlier. David had to agree with Patricia on this count; the testosterone was so thick he could smell it from where he sat. Other patrons left hurridly, anticipating trouble. From each group, one man, each apparently the leader of his 'gang,' separated and approached the other. David watched intently as the two men sat at one of the tiny tables and merely glared at each other, balefully. "You guys can sit and watch," Patricia said. "I'm going to go where it's safe." She slid her chair back and slipped under the table, disappearing behind the dangling tablecloth. "Where's she going?" Tasha asked. "She's convinced that if a fight breaks out, under the table is safer than up here." David continued to watch the two men intently, then out of the corner of his eye motion attracted his attention. Marder, who had always had something of a running battle of wits with Patricia, slipped his hands down under the tablecloth and just sat there, grinning evilly. David laughed, and a chuckle ran around the table. He wasn't sure what happened underneath Patricia's table, but suddenly her heard a THUMP! against it, and then Marder reached up, grabbed a napkin, and slid it under the table again. |