Page 133 of Book of Night
Partway through her shift, Odette pulled her aside. She thought it was going to be to scold her or ask her about a missing red pantsuit, but instead it was tointroduce her to the new bartender, the one taking José’s ex’s shifts. Charlie was surprised to see Don.
“Hey,” he said. “Top Hat got a new manager and I decided I could use a change of scenery.”
“Well, this place is that,” Charlie told him, and proceeded to walk him through what things were put where, how to use the register, and how many dry ice pellets to float on a drink.
“They swallow it, we get a lawsuit,” she told him.
“Maybe we shouldn’t have it on the menu?” Don suggested.
“It’s going to take you a minute to get the vibe of this place,” Charlie predicted.
Around closing time, Balthazar came to the bar. “Pour us a last drink. Whatever you’re having,” he told her.
“Oh, I’m drinking too?” She smiled.
“If I were you, I would be.”
She couldn’t argue with that. Took down the brand-new Laphroaig 15, opened it, and poured them both two fingers.
“So, your guy,” he said.
Charlie nodded. “I guess you heard. Quite a thing.”
“Does this mean you’re back in business?” he asked.
She shrugged. “After the spectacle I made of myself, I should probably lay low for a while.”
“Oh, I don’t know. The Charlatan’s reputation is at an all-time high,” he said, taking a sip of his drink and then wincing. “Ugh,this tastes like someone poured gasoline over a tire, set it on fire, and then put the fire out with dirt.”
Odette made her way over and sat down next to Balthazar. “Having some cocktails, are we? Well, don’t leave me out.”
“You can have mine,” Balthazar said, passing his drink over. “Please.”
Odette accepted it without complaint. Charlie poured Balthazar amaretto instead, which he took gratefully.
“You see the news?” he asked Odette.
“About Lionel?” Odette made a disgusted sound. “The funny thing is that I always knew he was a sadist, and a bit of a narcissist. Butinterestingand, I thought,self-aware. You can know who someone is, and still have no idea of how far they will go. I thought I understood his limits, and now I have to ask myself if it was because I didn’t want the discomfort of realizing he had none.”
Charlie took a sip of her drink and wondered about her own limits.
“Now they’re saying he might be responsible for the death of Fiona’s sweet boy.”
“Edmund Carver,” Balthazar said, enunciating each syllable, his gaze going to Charlie.
“I thought his mother’s name was Kiara,” Charlie said.
Odette nodded. “Yes, I am referring to Salt’sfirstwife. That’s how he and I met, through Fiona. Poor old thing. First losing her daughter, then her grandson, and now this. All within the span of two years.”
“How is it that you know absolutely everyone?” Balthazar asked.
“Ah, but do I know any of them well?” Odette looked into the mirror, as though studying her own face.
Balthazar sat up straighter. “Well, let me distract us from this increasingly morbid conversation with a bit of news. Do either of you know Murray, of Murray’s Fine Jewelry?”
“Sure,” Charlie said, thinking of the silver inkpot and candlesticks she needed to sell. “Why?”
“He closed the pawnshop,” Balthazar said, raising his eyebrows. “Struck it rich. Retiring to Boca, apparently.”
