“Do you mind if I come over?”
“It’s three in the morning, Vic.”
“I know that.But we need to talk.”
“I don’t think we do,” I said.“Look.I’m sorry.I’m sorry I didn’t recognize who you were.I’m sorry I didn’t think.”
“Stacey, that’s not what I’m calling about.And I’m sorry for blowing up like I did.”
There was a silence between the two of us.
“You’re not mad about William Corcoran?”I asked.
“You’re not a stupid woman.He fooled you and fooled everyone else.He looked just like me because he had control of my body.No, I’m not mad.I just miss you.”
“Vic,” I said.
“When are you going to make time for me?”he asked.“Is it because you saw me in his body?That rotten pile of flesh?Is it because the sight of me scares you now?Is that why you won’t even answer me when I call?”
“I answered this time,” I said.
“Yeah.Once.”
“Vic, this isn’t fun for me.I like you.I would even say I love you.But I need some space.”
“I just don’t understand what I did,” he said.
“Vic, it’s not about you.”
“It’s never about me, Stacey,” he said.“That’s my problem.It’s like we’re always doing this dance.It’s the Stacey show.All Stacey, all the time.”
“That’s not fair,” I said.
“It’s how I feel,” he said.
I paused.
“Look, Vic, I have to go,” I said.
“Stace—”
Click.I laid back and stared at the ceiling.My phone buzzed.I stared down at it: a text message.It was from Nagi.
“There’s been a few more visceral explosions this evening in Chinatown,” the text said.
I sat my phone back down and tried to let myself drift off back to sleep, but the ceiling kept looking bright, and I wasn’t exactly happy being alone with my thoughts.After a few minutes, I sighed and got up, rinsing my face off with water and getting dressed.
“You again,”Brynholf said.“What an unpleasant surprise.”
“Likewise,” I said.“Eddie and Nagi here?”
“In the back,” he said.“You should know.It’s even worse tonight.”
I nodded, slipping on some protective gear provided by O’Rourke, again, and stepped through the iron door into the club.
A disco ball splattered with blood glittered like a tarnished diamond overhead.I stared at the carnage.Three skeletons in puddles of putrescence coated a dance floor.
“Jesus,” I said.
