After Closing

 

The jukebox had fallen silent and was no longer lit.  One person was stacking the chairs upside-down on the tables, while another swept the floor along the front of the bar.  A lone billfold lay beneath the brass rail, where boots had rested throughout the evening.

Sandy pulled it out away from the bar with the broom and tossed it onto the bar.  “Someone, no doubt, will be coming back for this.”  

Wanda stopped wiping down the bar and picked up the wallet.  Without looking inside, she tossed it behind her, next to the cash register.

“Aren’t you even going to look to see whose it is?” Sandy asked.

“Don’t care.” Came Wanda’s reply, and she went back to cleaning up.

Just then a knock came frantically on the front door.

Sandy looked up at Wanda and said, “Guess who?”

Wanda gave Sandy a stern look and said, “Don’t open it.”

Looking very confused Sandy said, “It’s probably the wallet guy.  Don’t you want to give it back?” 

In a low voice Wanda said, as she moved out closer to Sandy, “It’s a scam.  They leave a fake wallet behind so they can get back in after closing time and then rob the place.”

“How do you know it is a fake?  You never even looked in it.”

Wanda took Sandy’s broom and laid it against one of the tables.  “If I’m wrong, we end up with a very annoyed customer who may or may not come back.  But if I’m right – we get robbed.”

“Should we call the police?” Sandy whispered.

“No, not yet.  So far there hasn’t been a crime.  But if they keep banging on the door, then yes.”

The two women stood quietly and waited.  There was nothing.  Then someone was trying the doorknob.

“Are you sure it’s locked?” Wanda asked.

Sandy looked panicked and quickly felt her apron pocket for the keys.