“That is weird,” Eddie said.“Either we overlooked it, or whatever’s in there is capable of being a solid and a liquid at different points in its life-cycle.”
“Or,” I said.“Someone was at the original crime scene to see what happened.”
“Here’s the splash point,” the owner said.“Trashcan’s over there in the corner.”
He pressed play and looked away.We watched as he sniffed, snorted whatever it was, and then began to bleed from his nose.Well.It was pinkish and grayish liquid water-fountaining from his nose.He grabbed onto the people around him, who screamed and then fell into a steaming pile as his body degraded.
“Oh, that’s nasty,” Eddie said.
The crowd splashed in him, screaming.Someone slipped, scorching himself, and he too began to melt.
“Enough,” I said.
“So we know what he looks like,” Eddie said.“When did he enter the club?And who all did he meet with?”
“I only got six cameras for the whole setup, bud,” the owner said.“But we can try.I think… he came in around nine PM?I don’t know.There was a lot of people tonight.”
“Let’s just watch it for a while,” I said.
A half-hour passed as we sped up and sped down the night—watching and rewatching the man’s tracks as he walked.And then, right as I was about to give up, my eyes on the fritz, Nagi came in and knocked.The owner paused the tape.
“Look at that,” Nagi said.“That little—looks like a blip of static.”
A little tingle came over my mind, then, and I thought of Clemenza from earlier.
“Wait a minute,” I said.“Can you inch forward?Like, frame by frame?”
“Yeah,” the owner said.
I watched, slowly and carefully, as the frames moved one by one.She was only there for a single frame—but it was her, right enough, smiling directly at the camera and waving.
“That fucking bitch,” Eddie said.
“How could she?”I asked.
It was Clemenza.
7.
“This may be tricky,”Nagi said.
“We have to act like we don’t know what’s going on,” Eddie said.
“She’s likely armed with a variety of offensive spells and incantations, most of which she will keep on her person,” Nagi said.“This will not be pleasant.Not in the least.”
“I hate fighting witches,” Eddie said.“It’s a real pain.They can do all sorts of things to you.I started barfing eggs one time.Not pleasant.”
“A shame Vic isn’t here.He might be useful in this situation,” Nagi said.
“We could always call him,” Eddie said.“Or you could, Stacey.”
“Me and Vic are kinda on the outs right now,” I said.“I’m probably the last person he wants to hear from.”
“Maybe you should sit this one out, then,” Eddie said.“Honestly.I don’t mean this in a bad way, Stacey, but you’re kinda.Making this less about business and more about your personal life.”
“Isn’t it everyone’s personal life?”I asked.
“I’m not fucking Vic, last I checked, and neither is Nagi.”
