70.
Milly’s fingers glide across wood-etched graffiti.
🎵 “Keep in the Dark” – Temples 🎵
She’s in Clocks bar.
Her phone beeps with a message from the real estate agent:
— I have another showing for you. You sure you don’t want to get your license?
“I heard you had a big night,” Bingo says.
Milly yawns. “Maybe.”
“Did something happen?”
“Heoh said I shouldn’t talk about it.” She sets her phone facedown on the table.
“Did he, now? You figured him out yet? I haven’t.”
“I think I trust him if that’s what you’re asking.”
Bingo squints. “Why?”
“Heoh showed me his pain, a kind I’ve never seen from a man before. I don’t understand why.”
“Last night?”
“No, another time.” Milly glances at other customers leaving.
“I understand,” Turtle mutters. His face sinks.
Bingo smirks. “You don’t understand anything, Turtle.”
She missed something from Turtle just then.
Milly looks back. “Why’d you quit the varsity crew, Turtle?”
“Who told you that?”
“Trip.”
He sighs. “Didn’t quit, just took a break from those jobs. Told Boss about Bingo. Sarge is better off with Twins. Street is easier for me.”
Milly squeezes her bicep. “You don’t strike me as the lazy type.”
Turtle grunts.
Bingo holds up a glass vial. “Wanna snort?”
He declines.
Milly shrugs. “Sure, why not?”
They both do a line of powder off the table.
The bartender flings up his hands. “WTF?”
“No one’s here,” Bingo says defensively.
“At 3:30?”
“Oh! I have an appointment.” Milly wipes her nose. “We’re done for the day, right?”
“Yeah”—Bingo caps his vial—“but more work tonight.”
“OK.” She hops in a taxicab.