“Let’s surprise everyone. Why don’t you give me a cup of coffee?”
“See? I knew it wasn’t you. Look at this place. It’s like a wake for someone no one liked. Your pendejo brother just about drove me out of business.”
He’s right. The bar is maybe a third full. It used to be packed every night before I took off. Civilians and Lurkers like hanging around places with criminals, even if a few of them get chewed up, like the night a handful of zombies wandered in. What’s funny is that’s exactly why people come to places like this. They want to get close enough to death to smell the graveyard dust, as long as it’s someone else’s name that gets chiseled on the gravestone.
“I’ve been drinking almost nothing but Aqua Regia for three months. I want something a human being might drink. And that little darling with my face is no brother of mine.”
Carlos nods. Looks over the crowd.
“Maybe things will pick up when people hear the real you is back.”
“If it helps, you can pour the coffee in six shot glasses.”
“Great idea.”
He goes away to get the coffee and glasses.
Candy comes in just as he sets them down. She takes one, throws it back, and makes a face.
“What the hell is this?”
“Coffee.”
She slams the glass down.
“You’re such a pussy.”
“Yeah? Pick any random stranger and I’ll punch them if you’ll stay the night tonight.”
Her posture changes. She tenses up. Looks over her shoulder to a table where Rinko sits alone.
“Don’t. I can’t. It’s complicated.”
“Sorry. That was stupid.”
“No. It’s all right.”
Candy catches me looking at Rinko.
“She said she wanted to come.”
“She wants to keep an eye on you.”
“More like she wants to keep an eye on you. I guess I talked about you a lot. You know, when I thought you weren’t coming back.”
“You talked about me?”
Carlos brings Candy a shot.
“De nada,” she says, and downs it. “I told her what an old fart you are and how you have rotten taste in music.”
“Skull Valley Sheep Kill is the best band in L.A. these days.”
“If you’re an old fart. Anyone who doesn’t drink Geritol for breakfast knows that Asaruto Gâruzu is the only band that matters.”
She’s wearing another shirt with the same band and Japanese characters.
“If I’m an old fart, you’re a rice queen.”