Where the dead lay

TWENTY-TWO

It was a night of cataclysmic mash-ups for DJ M.D. “Crazy Train” and “99 Problems” were joined in a mad creation that had the dance floor packed. Then the Schlegels and Knute came in, and their corner of the bar cleared without a word. They all sat and Pam served them Jameson poured to the top of rocks glasses with no rocks, and beers back. Dean said something to her, and Doc saw her use the speed gun to soak a bar towel with water, wring it out, and hand it to him. None of them spoke to one another. They just drank and stared at themselves in the mirror, although their gazes were fixed on the far beyond. Doc’s tracks ended and he switched up to “Black Dog” mashed with “One Time 4 Your Mind,” from Illmatic and kicked it to top volume.

The sound didn’t touch them. The Schlegels were in some kind of bubble. And it didn’t help Doc escape those faces either. Newt looked grim, almost like he was in pain, Charlie appeared pissed off. Terry wore a flat stare that was all business. Kenny’s mouth curled up at the edges. And Dean, with the wet bar rag wrapped around his wrist, he looked like he might cry. Something about them all there in a row made Doc stay as far away as he could without attracting attention to himself. When the songs ended, Doc put a mix CD in the house system and packed out his gear the minute he felt he could get away with it.