The Alarm Clock at the End of the World

Part 43

The Night Before

“When did Mephis say he was coming?” I ask.

“Probably in a little while,” Nepotism says.

“Is Kevin Bacon part of the Knights Templar?”

“What?”

“You said you could tie him with the Knights Templar, what’s that about?” Too bold, I cringe back in my seat, knowing he’s picked up on my pointed question. His eyes narrow cautiously. He takes a deep breath and smiles. “Oh yeah,” he says, relieved smile on his face as he leans back in the chipped green booth. Graffiti has been carved so deep it eats the paint. I think my name is there somewhere.  “Loosely,” Nep says, talking close and low so only I can hear him over the music. “If we’ve learned anything though, this operation only works by association.”

“Don’t tell Mephis about the Scrubber, all right?”

Nepotism’s eyes dart back and forth a moment, making sure we’re alone. He sneers victoriously. “You should be nicer to people like Mephis Tyr.” I sink back in my booth and cross my arms in a savage sulk. “Drink your beer,” Nepotism says. “You look ridiculous.” Nepotism sips his beer. Nepotism pours himself another. “Mephis Tyr has a message.”

The juke changes to “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.” I probably did pick this. All around us, people cheer and sing along, wailing miniature air guitars to the opening licks. “Dunnn Dundun! Dunnnn Dundun!”

“What does he have to tell us?”

“It’s big, dude. He wouldn’t tell me, said he was waiting until you were present. It’s big though, real big.”

“Says Tyr.” I sip my beer. “How did that guy find something big?”

“He’s connected. Who knows.” He’s grinning like he has a plan. This is usually a bad sign. “Dude, it’s probably nothing. Look at the face on  Mars. NASA went to Mars, took clear pictures of it, showed it to the world and said, ‘See! There is no fucking face on Mars, it’s really just a pile of rocks.’ People still say it’s a cover-up.”

“You’re making less sense than normal.”

“What Tyr has found isn’t important. What’s important is what we make of it. I know a way to hijack the whole stinking system. I told you, I found the code of the ancients.”

A couple people look over their shoulders in my direction. I wink at them and keep talking, bringing it down a notch. “People look at you a little crazy when you talk about that in public.”

“We need to lay low for a while. If the bad guys have Eva Lorraine, she’s already dead, there’s nothing we can do for her.”

“Fuck,” I grumble as the front door opens.

“What?” Nep asks, looking over his shoulder. “What’s going on?”

I point to the tall figure in the Italian suit approaching through the smoggy air of the Spot. “Your boy is here.” He catches sight of us and smiles that gleaming, devilish smile. He doesn’t even look at the bartender as he passes, puts out his hand has a pint glass pressed in it. Mephis drags a stool to our table and perches like a raptor to pluck out our eyes. “Good evening. Nepotism? Dr. Filth.”

Go to Part 44