“I'm not good," he said, piercing me with eyes that absorbed all light but reflected none, "but I was worse.”

“You want me to come clean, I will. I'll tell you everything. Who I am and what I've done. Every last detail. I'll dig it all up, but you have to ask. You have to want it. You can see who I was, or you can see who I am now. I'm not good," he said, piercing me with eyes that absorbed all light but reflected none, "but I was worse.”

“When I'm wasted, I can almost forget who I am," he said, his smile fading slightly. "I know I'm still there, but only barely. It's a good place to be." He tipped back the thermos, eyes on the dark sea straight ahead”

“I don't have a car."His eyes sliced into mine. "I walked here," I explained. "I'm on foot.""Angel," he said in a way that sounded like he sincerely hoped I was joking.”

“Patch leaned back against the booth and arched his eyebrows at me. The gesture said it all: Pay up."You got lucky," I said. "I'm about to get lucky.”

“We don't have an address," I said, "but we do know where he works.""Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Vee asked, eyes brightening briefly through the haze of chemical sedation."Based on past experience, I hope not.”

“You should shower," I said. "Right now.""I smell that bad?"Actually, he smelled that good.”