TIP

23Give More, Get More

The place looked the same as always. Even smelled the same.

It had been about two years since he had last been at Crossroads, but every time he walked in, it was as though he’d never left. It was midweek. He knew the place would be quiet enough to do what needed to be done.

There was a small brunette behind the bar that looked like Kelly, but it wasn’t her. Kelly quit bartending about six years before. She reached her ultimate goal and finally got that hit TV show, a highly rated, highly watched police drama now in its sixth season. She won an Emmy for playing, what else, a tough cop with a family that owns a bar. His kids watched it all the time. Love the fact that their dad knows a TV star. She still comes back every now and then to the bar and brings all her actor friends with her whenever she’s in town.

“Is Jack here?” he asked the brunette, as she was wiping down bottles.

“He’s in the office,” she responded. “Should be back in a moment.”

Brian nodded.

“Can I get you anything while you wait?”

Brian looked at Jen to see if she wanted anything. She shook her head.

“No thanks,” he said. “Well, actually, can I see your tip bucket?”

She gave him a quizzical look.

“Not the full one. The empty one at the waitress station.” Brian smiled. “It’s kind of a surprise for Jack.”

She went to the back of the bar and grabbed the metal bucket. She came back and handed it to him.

“Thank you,” he said as he put the bucket onto the bar.

Just then, Jack emerged from the ...