“They’re all hysterical, Ed. Just give ’em time. Jan wasn’t that hysterical at first either, but later…” He laughed. “A fucking Camille! Everything was such a big goddam deal.”

He drank up and ordered a Dos Equis chaser. Fordebrand watched him down the suds.

“Let me drive you home,” he said.

“I’m not drunk,” Decker protested. “Not nearly drunk enough. You gonna drink with me or you gonna be my mother?”

“I’m not going to do either one. I’ve got to go.”

Decker nodded. “Regards to Annette.”

Fordebrand left. And then the girls started to filter in. Decker drank a fourth, fifth, and sixth double as he watched them play their mating rituals with the uniform boys. He liked to observe, watch the boobs fall out of the loosely draped tops, see the nipples jutting against the fabric, the long shapely legs poking out from the miniskirts, the tight asses scrunched into jeans, hair loose, free and brassy—all of them heavily made-up and smelling of too much perfume.

Through a boozy haze, he saw a babe approach him. A tall one with a full head of platinum curls. Gold hoops dangled from her ears and her eyes were painted purple. She wore a gray, deliberately torn T-shirt that fell off one shoulder, and sprayed-on jeans that outlined her ass and crotch. Smiling, she took a seat next to him.

“Buy me a drink?”

He signaled Pat over.

“What’s your pleasure?” Decker asked.

“Gin and tonic.”

Pat nodded.

“Give me another scotch, will ya?”

“I haven’t seen you here before,” she started out.

Decker lit a cigarette.

“I haven’t been here in a long time.”

“Are you a cop?”

He laughed.

“Sometimes they call me that.”

“Don’t tell me,” the woman said cocking her head to one side. “You look like a detective.”

Decker smiled.

She gently bit her lower lip. “And I’d say you work in Robbery or maybe GTA.”

“Juvey and Sex Crimes,” he corrected her.

The girl wrinkled her nose. “Sex Crimes! I hear it’s the worst! All those disgusting rapists.”

“Rapists are disgusting…What’s your name?”

“Nadine. What’s yours?”

“Pete.”

“Nice to meet you, Pete.” She stuck out her hand and he took it. It was warm and soft. She pulled it away and took a sip of her tonic.

“So what brings you here, Pete?”

“Atmosphere.”

“Are you married?”

He hesitated a moment.

“No.”

Nadine laughed.

“Oh yes you are. I can spot ’em.”

He chuckled.

“All right, I am.”

“S’okay,” she said. “I’m just interested in a fun night anyway.”

His eyes scanned her body. One word and he had company for the evening. A warm woman in his bed. He felt hot. What did he owe to Rina anyway? What did he owe to anyone? Man, he was roasting. He could feel the smoke rising, enveloping him. It was fucking burning him!