Violet was missing this time, which felt strange somehow. Daniel had grown used to seeing her constantly in this place. But Phil, the bartender, was there.


    “Phil?” Daniel decided to take matters into his own hands.


    The mustached man turned toward them.


    “Where’s Violet?” Daniel sat on one of the stools. Jasper was right beside him.


    Phil glanced side to side, then leaned in slowly, still scanning around.


    “With a client,” he whispered quietly.


    “With a client?” Jasper nearly shouted, and Phil pressed a finger to his lips to hush him. “Does everyone here have money? Brother, we’re the only ones screwed.”


    “Please, keep it down,” Phil said, almost yelling himself. “The boss lady doesn’t want people knowing when she’s busy with a client. I only told you because you’re her friends. I see you with her a lot.”


    “Who’s the client, Phil?”


    “One of the new ones.” Phil looked around again. “I don’t know him. Tall guy with a rough, gloomy face. That’s all I can tell you. Ask Violet if you want more.”


    “No need. Will we see her tonight?”


    “Oh, for sure. She’s here every day. Just sometimes she’s got clients. But not always.” Phil raised a finger. “Not everyone can afford Miss Violet.”


    “Phil?” Daniel was ready to leave, but he saw the bartender was chatty. “Do you know Derek Reed and his daughters?”


    Phil recoiled, startled, and set the glass he was holding down on the counter. His reaction felt completely human.


    “Mr. Reed? W-what do you want to know about him?”


    “Mr. Reed has two daughters.”


    “Yeah. That’s right. Miss Aria and Miss Mia. Aria even has a daughter.”


    Jasper had already sat down and was quiet— one of the rare times Daniel took the lead in a conversation while Jasper stayed silent.


    “I want to ask you about Aria.”


    Phil froze. He looked almost offended and stepped back.


    “Who killed her husband?” Daniel decided to be direct.


    “Her husband? Topics like that in Miss Violet’s bar? No, no. Forbidden.”


    “Why?”


    A man in black gloves approached the bar and raised a finger. Phil poured him a glass of water and handed it over. The scene felt entirely real, and if water weren’t standing in for alcohol, Daniel might’ve quickly forgotten they were in a fabricated world.


    The man left just as fast as he’d come.


    Phil leaned toward them again.


    “Ever since Miss Aria’s husband died, strange things started happening in town.”


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    “Like what?”


    “Violet split with Sheriff Jake. He was just Jake back then. Then he became sheriff.”


    “So you think he’s involved?”


    “I can’t say more. Even this is too much. If Violet finds out I talked about this with you, she’ll fire me.”


    “Like you’ve got somewhere to go,” Jasper said, picking at his teeth with a toothpick and smirking. “Spill it, friend.”


    “Jas!” Daniel cut him off. “Don’t act like that here.”


    “That was your big move, brother? With how fired up you were, I thought we’d hit the jackpot.” Jasper sounded disappointed.


    “No, Jas. I’ve got someone better. But I don’t know how to find them.”


    “Boys?”


    It was Violet, gliding toward them again with her graceful, doe-like stride.


    “Hey, handsome,” she ran her palm along Daniel’s chin. “And you too, tubby.”


    “Tubby? Learned a new word, huh?”


    “Oh, my vocabulary’s rich. I just don’t want to offend you. Well, not you, sweetie,” she glanced at Daniel again. “But your friend’s been pushing it lately.”


    “He apologized, Violet. He shouldn’t have insulted your girls and regretted it right after.”


    “And the two guys he beat up right after that? We don’t count those?” Violet spun dramatically. “Look, boys, I still like you. You’re wild and young—I love that. I adore the passion and life in men like you. But if you’re gonna do things that aren’t nice, do them outside. Out there, you’re Jake’s problem. In here, you’re mine. And I won’t tolerate it anymore.”


    Violet wagged her finger and delivered her speech like it was a movie scene, not a robot dressed as a human. Her graceful movements were mesmerizing. Barnes had every reason to be proud of her—she was one of the fastest-evolving robots. And she really had picked up new words since they’d first met her. She just didn’t realize it that way.


    Phil stood behind his bar, secretly watching them. Daniel caught his eye a few times. Whenever Phil noticed, he’d quickly look away.


    “So, boys,” Violet leaned against the bar and smiled, “what’s the plan today?”


    Daniel glanced at Jasper. He was waiting for their talk to end. Today was one of the few days he wasn’t talking much. He was lost in thought, distracted. Daniel was glad he at least didn’t bring up Violet and her client. He knew Jasper well enough to expect he wouldn’t stay quiet about it.


    “Can you keep a secret, Violet?”


    “Brother, you sure about this?” Jasper sensed where this was going and tried to stop him. Daniel didn’t reply.


    “Of course, boys. You know bartenders and whores are a man’s best friends. The bartender won’t remember you in the morning, drowning in hundreds of customer stories, and the whores will listen, ease your troubles, and forget you.” She glanced at the short, mustached man behind the bar and winked.


    “We’re after Jake Reed.”


    Violet’s eyes widened.


    “Jake Reed? No. Mr. Reed’s a man I respect—what’s he done? If you’re not sure, I don’t want you dragging him into this in front of me.”


    “You tell us, Violet.”


    “I don’t know anything about Reed except that he has two daughters and used to clash with my Jake, but then helped him become sheriff.”


    “Jake told us he killed his father to become sheriff.”


    “Jake?” Violet laughed. “Jake’s a liar and damn clever. But he wouldn’t hurt a fly. Harmless. Sure, he’s deadly accurate with a revolver, but the biggest thing he’s ever killed was probably a dog—and even that was an accident.”


    If she were human, Daniel might’ve read her eyes to see if she was lying or hiding something. But those cold eyes held nothing. Maybe eyes and hearts were the one thing even the most advanced tech couldn’t touch. No matter how brilliant Hugo Barnes was, he couldn’t beat nature.


    “So how’d Jake become sheriff?”


    “Boys, I think you’d better stop grilling me. If you want more, ask Jake or Reed himself.”


    “Reed won’t talk to us. He brushes us off and gives us dirty looks.”


    “He’s been awful since his wife died. And he rarely comes here. Let’s change the subject, please.” She turned to Jasper. “Jas, darling, got the cash yet? Clara’s still asking about you.”


    “Oh, don’t push that on me, Violet. I don’t buy it. Your girls sleep with anyone for money—they don’t pick and choose.”


    “You’re on thin ice, sweetie. I thought we had an understanding?”


    “We do, Violet. Thanks for the info,” Daniel said, standing and waving to Phil.


    Phil nodded back.


    Jasper followed him out.