Kate led Coke to a table and then went to the bar to get their drinks.
"I've been here before. I was here last week/' she said when she came back. Coke was
not listening.
"Masters isn't here/' he said.
"Surely you didn't expect to walk in and find him, just like that?"
"No, I suppose not'
Time dragged. They sat there for over an hour. More people came in. but Masters was
not among them. It was getting towards closing time when the barman came to their
table.
"May I have your empty glasses?" he asked politely.
Coke touched him on his sleeve. "Does a man named Eric Masters ever come in
here?" he asked. He did not notice the man standing at the bar who stared at him in the
mirror when he mentioned Masters' name.