Page 5 of Before Eve

It’s not like I’ll ever see West again.

The music inside the club dies down, the crowd cheers, and that’s our cue to start breaking down equipment.

“I don’t know about you, but I hate this gig. I saw a flyer in the bathroom about Indie Fest looking for a new crew. Interviews are tomorrow at the amphitheater.” Plus, it’ll keep me moving. “You in?”

Anne rubs her cigarette out on the brick wall. “Hell yeah! I’m in.”

CHAPTER 3

In the morningAnne gets us an Uber over to Ascend Amphitheater in Nashville where both the Indie Fest job interviews are being held and the tour will officially kick off. It’s early enough that no one’s really out, but I still scan. Looking, surveying, watching. Always watching…

Anne catches me. “I swear you were a cop in a past life.”

“Maybe I’ve missed my calling.”

We head through the open gate and over to the ticket booth. I tap on the window where an older woman sits reading a book.

“Excuse me,” I say. “Where are the roadie interviews being held for Indie Fest?”

She jabs a thumb over her shoulder. “Go down to the soundboard and ask for Ford.”

“Thank you.”

We walk straight across the lawn and under the awning to where the soundboard sits. We find a man, probably mid-thirties, with blond hair and a trim goatee.

Anne gives me a nudge, and I quickly step forward. “Hi. Are you Ford?”

“Yeah, that’s me.”

“We’re here to inquire about the roadie jobs for Indie Fest,” I say.

He gives us both a quick survey, first to Anne’s black faux-hawk, numerous piercings, and the multitude of tattoos, and then over to me and my fake hair and non-pierced, non-tatted skin.

“Long hours,” he says. “Carrying equipment, laying cable, soldering wires, and whatever else I throw at you. Ever been roadies?”

“Yes,” Anne confirms and then gives him the rundown of all her work.

“You know indie rock?”

“Of course,” I say.

“This is a touring festival. You’ll be traveling constantly. We pay shit per hour. Only fifteen bucks, but your food and lodging are included.” He points his finger between us. “You two would bunk together, of course.”

“It all sounds fine,” I immediately answer. It’s exactly what I need.

Ford nods. “All right. But here are the rules. You come to work when I tell you to come to work, and you leave when I tell you to leave. If you’re so hungover you can’t work, you’re fired. If you need a sick day, that’s fine, but you’d better really be sick.” He levels both of us with a serious look. “Got it?”

We return his look. “Got it.”

“You mess up, you’re out of here. It’s really pretty easy. I don’t have time to screw around with losers.”

Anne gives an affirmative nod. “You’ll find we are anything but losers.”

“All right. Be here in two days first thing.” With that, he turns away and goes back to plugging cables into the soundboard.

Anne sneaks me a smirk as we turn to leave. “That waseasy,” she whispers.

Back at the entrance, she swerves off into the bathroom, pulling her phone out as she does. “I’ll get us an Uber back to the motel. Wait for me in the parking lot.”