, but the ghosts we

yet. Charlie stood alone on stage, bent over his sax, running scales low and slow

ed the phrase. Then I st

" I said, "or do I hav

n and looked at me with that unreadabl

meone who wants to be

nd pawnshops like a man

d placed the sax gently in its case. No

s he?"

he latches closed

oes t

" he said. "

dropped like a dead rat

lly looked. "Then you're in

The stage creake

the envelop

you nee

said. "I need to s

ot cold. Just... tired. Like a man who'd been

I sai

les

is eyes. Just a flicker. A beat of

oked

your proble

ok like they've seen a gho

ut the cas

e maybe

ding in the half-light with nothing but quest

e burnt toast and day-old bacon grease. The kind that had bad c

a word. He already had two cups on the table, both

p early,"

my counter a few nights ago

which photo. D

offee like it ne

fing," he said finally. "N

ind of

t should be a

ossed my arms. "You'

e. But his fingers tig

or a reason, Vivi. I

stop handing

"You think Frank's interested in you bec

rested in whatever

on, letting it clatt

t his. Names. Ledgers. Evidence that was mea

Cele

t. His jaw moved once, like

d that name," he said, "but

n good at forge

forward, v

finds what he's looking for, he won't

ill on the ta

orst secret walked out into daylight, leav

es softened by gin and stage lights, laughter that rose a lit

ept

see the face, not clearly. Just the shape of a hat, the glint of a cigarette, th

they were reading som

wasn't

dn't sit

ie never

n my throat twist into something sweet. But that gaze c

applause. I bowed, turned, and walke

use

ind the curtain a

ble wa

y the kitchen was s

think. Ju

ounting tips, past the cook smoking by the freezer.

nt of rot and bleach. A delivery truck idled nearby,

en I s

oat, half-turned, just

. Face hidden under

pa

n't

't s

wai

berate, heels clicking like a co

shadow. Her coat was belted tight. Gloves. Low heels. Not glamorous. Not

n watching

dn't f

elope," I added.

no r

rfume something light, expensive, citrus with something

you want?

lightly. "You think you're

radio just on the edge of signal. Clippe

e what this is. What you're wa

me, toward the s

ng the wrong

Then what are

already step

she said, her voice almost a

disappeared into the alley mis

n't f

knew I wasn'

the lights on

k felt

t cross-legged on the floor with a legal pad and a pen

wn everyth

he envelope. The photo. The fire

. Drew lines. A

ooping back like a scar

le

with regret. The name Charlie didn't want to hear. The thing Fra

ere was an

ley hadn't said it

A single playing card. Black bishop, hand-sket

sh

Not yet. Bu

pulling

ther notes. Watched it flutter slightly in

n I

wa

wrong questions, someone wo

ime, I'd b