[jackwabbit]

CHAPTER THREE

Jack Dalton rode around town a long time before he found what he was looking for. The quiet, darkened bar was just right. He somehow knew it was the place. He’d gone by Mac’s houseboat first, just to double check things, and while there’d been no sign of his friend, Jack had seen Mac’s Jeep there, so he’d known that wouldn’t help him in his search. After a lengthy exploration of the upper class establishments downtown, the seedy bars of the warehouse district, and a lot of general cruising, Jack had headed back down to the waterfront.

He could’ve smacked himself for not thinking of it sooner.

Jack had assumed MacGyver had taken a cab to wherever he’d gotten off to tonight, but now he realized that Mac might have walked. In fact, the more he thought about it, the more Jack realized that was probably the case. MacGyver would’ve wanted to blow off some steam, and a long walk seemed like something he would do.

So, as Jack let his bike’s hot engine idle while he looked at the rundown waterfront bar in front of him and tried to think like MacGyver, he knew this was the place. The building screamed of average working-class Joes, and it looked comfortable and inviting. It was nestled between a marina services center and a small boating supply shop. The lights were dim, but not too dim. It was a place where a Minnesotan lover of the water and the waterfront life could find a slice of home.

Jack cut his engine, took one more look at the bar, and dismounted his bike. He walked directly to the door of the bar and stepped inside, out of the cool ocean breezes.

No one greeted Jack at the door. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dimmer light inside, but when they did, Jack began casually searching the room for his friend.

Jack’s eyes took in the casual feel of the place and its clientele instantly. Several rough-around-the-edges fishermen nodded in greeting as Jack perused the bar, but otherwise no one seemed to notice his presence. The men had the look of hard bodies and soft souls, and in combination with the old school fishing décor of the place, they made Jack immediately fond of the bar. But MacGyver was nowhere to be seen, so Jack wandered over to the bar for a drink-he figured he may as well refresh himself, and maybe that pretty little barmaid had seen Mac.

“Can I help ya?” The young barmaid had noticed Jack’s approach.

“Well, now, that depends,” said Jack, waggling his bushy eyebrows.

The girl giggled. “On what?”

“On whether you’ll let me take you out Friday night, dear lady.”

The young woman smiled sweetly, clearly uninterested. “I have to work.”

Jack pressed on, undaunted. “Well, in that case, I’ll take a sarsaparilla, and perhaps you can help me with another problem.”

The barmaid reached under the bar for a frosty mug and then turned to fill it from a tap behind her.

“Root beer, it is, then. What’s your other problem?”

“I’m looking for a friend of mine…” Jack trailed off as he spoke, suddenly concentrating hard on the mirror behind the bar. The waitress noticed.

“Well, what’s he look like?”

Jack waved his hand dismissively. “Oh…um…never mind. Keep the soda, too. Thanks.” Jack threw some bills on the counter and turned to go. The barmaid merely shrugged, took a sip of Jack’s root beer, and pocketed the cash, mumbling to herself all the while.

“Weirdo. I swear…I gotta get out of this place…”

Jack didn’t care what the girl did or said. He’d just seen a flash of longish sandy hair in the mirror. As he turned, he saw a lanky frame climbing into a corner booth at the back of the bar near the restroom. He waited until the man turned, so he could be sure before heading over, and as the man settled into his seat, Jack’s heart soared. He was so proud of his own cleverness.

MacGyver!

Alive and in the flesh, right across the bar.

Jack smiled broadly and walked purposefully to the booth.

[trtlsoup]

You've got Jack's mannerisms and dialog down pat... Kudos!

Reading...

[Bushmaster12]

Good job ! Keep it coming !