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“How did you do that? That was cool.”

“It’s just hoodoo. Nothing special.”

Candy calls over to us.

“What the hell, Stark? Are you showing off for your girlfriend?”

I point to Carlos and Vidocq.

“They made me do it.”

Candy scowls at them too.

“You’ve done your little trick. Stop it and eat a donut. We’re discussing important things over here.”

“Sorry.”

Their huddle breaks up a few minutes later and they come over.

Brigitte says, “If you don’t mind, I’m not really in the mood for a party. I think I’ll go home now.”

I nod to a shadow.

“Want me to take you the short way?”

She shakes her head.

“No thank you. I need some time to think. Candy will take me back.”

And that’s pretty much the end of the party. It wasn’t quite the disaster I was afraid it might be, but I keep feeling I could have done more to make things better for people. Maybe the turkey?

Everyone says their goodbyes. Hugs and kisses all around. Then everyone is gone. Except for Janet, who takes the charcuterie platter back into the kitchen.

I follow her in and lean against the counter. I’m pissed that someone is playing games with Brigitte’s life, but I’m also 99 percent sure that Abbot can make it stop, so I’m not as tense as I would have been without the meeting tomorrow. I’ve had a fe

w bourbons so I’m not feeling too bad at all. I watch as Janet piles some half-eaten food onto an empty plate. She catches me looking and smiles.

“What?” she says innocently.

I set the plate on the counter and pull her in close.

“I feel it’s my duty as the host to tell you what a pretty girl you are.”

This time when I go in to kiss her, she pulls back.

“Can we talk about something?” she says, looking serious.

“Of course. Did I do something tonight? I saw you get quiet when everyone got here.”

“Yeah. I was just a little intimidated by meeting all of your friends at once. They’re all so interesting and I just go to school and work in a donut shop.”

“But you’re a musician. And besides, even if you just worked in a donut shop, you’re as good as anyone here.”

“Thanks. I’ll be better next time.”

“You don’t have to be better. Besides, I’m supposed to be the awkward one. You’re moving in on my job.”

She flashes me a quick smile, then looks serious again.