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He looks past me at Kasabian making his moves.

“Any kind in particular?” he says.

“You have anything shitty in a can? Maybe you forgot it in your car on a hot day?”

“I know exactly what you want.”

He goes in the back and comes out with a foamy glass. It doesn’t look special to me.

“What is it?”

“Carbonated Alabama swill,” he says. “I keep it around for when the frat boys come in. They can’t tell the difference.”

“Perfect. Thanks.”

“You better get over there before he eats one of them.”

I weave my way through the crowd and hand Kasabian his piss water. He takes a big gulp and doesn’t bat an eye.

“I like your bar,” says Marilyne. “I’ve never been anywhere like it.”

I look around the place for a second.

“There isn’t another place in the world like Bamboo House of Dolls. That’s why we take care of it. Right, Brigitte? The first time I found out who she reall

y is was right here.”

Brigitte sighs.

“That’s right. We both fought monsters back then. I miss it.”

“You fought what?” says Marilyne.

Brigitte gives us both a coy look. I sip my drink, but she doesn’t say anything, so I ask, “You didn’t tell her?”

“I thought I’d introduce her to you first. After that, anything I said about myself would seem mundane in comparison.”

“Mundane is the last thing you are.”

“Dekuji,” she says.

“Brigitte, tell me. What’s your secret?” says Marilyne.

“Later,” she says. “I’ll need another drink first.”

“There’s Chihiro,” says Kasabian.

I look over at the door and she waves to me. She’s with Alessa. Grabs her by the hand and pulls her through the crowd.

It’s introductions all around when she gets there, then Candy says, “Have you told him about your movie yet?”

“I haven’t had a chance,” says Brigitte. “But it’s a lovely part in a big production. The biggest part I’ve had since coming here. That’s how I met Marilyne, through the producers. Pieter Ligotti and his partners.”

That name is familiar. It takes me a minute to come up with it, but finally I do. I was introduced to Pieter by Burgess and Sandoval when they dragged me out to the oil fields. That means Brigitte’s movie is being financed by Wormwood.

The angel, the shooting at the food truck, and now this? That’s too many coincidences too close together. Now I know that someone is fucking with me.

Candy comes over and puts an arm around me, but I barely notice. I don’t hear much of the rest of the conversation either. When I come back to Earth, Candy and Alessa are chatting with Brigitte, and Kasabian is laying on the charm with Marilyne. I go over and tell Candy I’m leaving.