To The Bone

Chapter 28

Coffee Trenette is alone when you find her, curled up on a couch in a darkened side room, watching the poolside party through the windows. She's high from smoking junk.

You knew where she'd be. You've been watching her tonight, getting all this together in your head.

Monks was here, searching for you. And Coffee was talking to him.

She doesn't say a word as you walk up – just watches you. She's the queen of cool, with a way of looking at you that puts you right down under her shoes. Like the others, she thinks she knows what you are.

You kneel on the floor beside her, like you're nervous about approaching her.

"What you want?" she says, but her tone isn't too tough. She senses that you're here to offer something.

You keep your voice very quiet. "Here it is, straight. I've got a bottle of pharmaceutical Demerol. Hundred-milligram, the strong stuff."

She stays cool, watching you with that heavy-lidded look. But she's already made up her mind. Smoke is fine, but the needle is the real thing, and there are twenty or thirty shots in a bottle.

"You going to just give it to me?" she says.

You smile timidly. "I've always had a thing for you."

Her lips twist, just a little. She nods and rises unsteadily.

"It's out in my car," you say. "Come on."

You lead her out the back way, to where you've parked, in the shadows. She stands beside the car, rubbing her upper arms like she's cold. You reach across and pop open the passenger door.

She hesitates a moment longer, then slides in beside you.