Felix stood by the window, his sleeves rolled up, eyes scanning the darkened sky beyond the glass. He was about to pour himself a drink when his phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
He frowned. Usually, he'd let it ring out, especially at this hour. But something in his gut told him to answer it.
"Hello?"
There was noise in the background. Music, chatter, and the occasional clink of glasses. Then a man's voice came through, slightly strained but polite.
"Uh, hello. Is this Mr. Felix Crawford?"
Felix's brow creased. "Yes. Who is this?"
"I'm Mateo, a bartender at Juniper Lounge. Sorry to bother you, sir, but there's a woman here. She said she knows you. Miss Lara Johanssen. She's... well, she's not in a great state."
Before the man could finish, Felix heard her.
"Feeelix?" came Lara's slurred voice through the receiver, unmistakably hers and also drunk. "Is that you, Felix? Yesssshhh, you picked up!"
