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“No,” said Alex, half lying. The gang had been his whole life, but he hadn’t made it a point to memorize every face that came through. People cycled in and out. That was just how it worked.

Rafael turned to Eddie and jerked his chin. “What about him though?”

“So last week,” Eddie started, already talking with his whole body. “I came here, bright and early. Thought it would only be me.” He pointed at the door behind Alex, to the hall beyond. “Then I saw him. Luis. He’s going like”—Eddie hunched over, the black bar in his hands and peering at it like a precious object, then he straightens—“and I go up, and I’m like ‘yo, dude, what’s up?’ and he—” Eddie shoved the bar into his jean pockets and looked up with his attempt at puppy eyes.

“Eddie,” Rafael growled. “Remember what we said. To use your—”

“I know, I know,” Eddie finished his sentence with a defeated dip. “Words.”

Alex chuckled. “So what he say?”

Eddie’s tatted skull eyes lit up. “He forgot to get something before heading out to another car meet. And this thing?” He brought the bar back out from his pocket. “Looks exactly like what was in his hands.”

Before Alex or Rafael could react, Eddie held the bar between his fingers. “But that’s not the weirdest part. The weirdest part is that he came out of Basa’s room where he does his experiments and shit.”

Alex nodded slowly. “Is he here tonight?”

“Luis?”

“No foo, Basa.”

Eddie shrugged with a hum. “I’ve been here this whole time, so no idea.”

“Then let’s go check it out.” Rafael grunted, rising from the ink bed.

“Why? You ain’t my babysitter no more,” Alex retorted.

Rafael raised his eyebrows. “If it’s true, then I need to know.” He walked over to the old office chairs at the side of the room. The freshly inked condor wings across Rafael’s back caught the light as he moved, the Saran Wrap glistening from Eddie’s lamp.

“So what’s Luis’s deal?” asked Alex as Rafael pulled an old T-shirt over his head. He turned to Eddie, who was cleaning up his station.

Eddie shrugged again, wiping down the bed. “Dunno, man. He kind of a weirdo. But I’d say if you want to have your best shot at finding him, maybe you could catch him at the night market. Car meet-up is happening there.”

Alex blinked. “Night market? Already?”

“Yeah, it’s next week,” said Rafael.

Halloween was a week out. Funny how fast time moved while dealing with the situation Alex got himself into.

Rafael strode over, extending his hand. “Give me the thing.”

Rafael snatched the bar from Eddie and pointed it at both of them. “It’s mine now.”

Alex held his hands up, not even bothering to argue with him.

“We’ll see you in a bit,” said Rafael to Eddie, patting his shoulder once. “Thanks for the touch-up.”

Turning back to Alex, Rafael jerked his head towards the door.

With a quick goodbye to Eddie, Alex followed Rafael down the dark, empty hallway. Rafael spoke first, “So you going?”

He knew he was referring to the night market. He had never missed it once. “Maybe,” said Alex with a half-hearted shrug. “If I’m allowed to.”

“Alex, you’re always invited. There’s no rule stopping that.” Rafael pursed his lips, doing a terrible job at hiding his disappointed look. “It would be good for you if you went. Lots of the guys would be happy to see you.”

They stopped at the last door in the hall. Rafael raised a fist to knock, but it swung open on contact. Already unlocked. Alex stepped inside.

The room was stripped bare—none of Basa’s usual chaos of papers and stained lab equipment. Just two plastic tables in the center. A lamp. A syringe. A test tube rack, holding glass vials, all empty except two. Both filled to the brim.