“You and Kasabian, always looking for new business plans.”
“That reminds me. You get anything good over the holidays?”
“Maria is supposed to be coming by today with something. A western.”
“Cool. I’ll stop by.”
I’m not sure I want visitors. Not with the strange guy asleep in the storage room.
“Don’t worry about it. If it’s any good, I’ll burn you a copy and bring it by.”
“De nada,” says Carlos and clears away some empty glasses. He slides a shot of Aqua Regia across the bar to me.
“Can I have some black coffee instead?”
He looks at me, surprised.
“A New Year’s resolution?”
He goes to the pot and pours me some coffee. Brings it back to the bar.
I say, “I don’t know. Just after all the shit that went down at Christmas, I thought I’d start off the new year with a clear head.”
“So, you’re a teetotaler now?”
I reach in my pocket and pull out the flask. Carlos nods approvingly.
“Thank you, Papa Noel. For a minute I thought we’d lost you to the angels.”
“Not much chance of that.”
Carlos leans over and looks past me.
“I believe you’re being summoned.”
I turn and spot Julie Sola at a table in the back corner of the place. I guess she’s sort of my boss now at the PI firm she started when she quit the Golden Vigil. I nod to her and look back at Carlos.
“You don’t mind us using your place for an office?”
“It’s fine with me, but when I turn the place into Christmas all year-round, you’ll have to pay for your mittens just like anybody else.”
“Always a new business plan. Talk to you later.”
“Adios.”
I take my coffee and head over to where Julie is sitting. There are papers scattered on the table. Photocopies of newspaper articles and printouts of what look like police reports and hospital records. How the hell did she get those? She used to be a U.S. marshal and it looks like she’s still got some of those connections.
She smiles and moves some of the papers out of my way so I can set down my cup.
“Afternoon,” she says. “How are you today?”
“I just went three rounds with an angel Ebenezer Scrooge. Do you know any cheap ways to get spray paint off glass?”
“Turpentine? Acetone?”
“No. Those cost money.”
She glances at the coffee in front of me like she’s wondering how much of it is whiskey.