Concerning the Revelation

  “It is tragic, you know, how selfish this business has become. This sort of activity seems to be happening more frequently. The system is deteriorating. Somebody actually threatened an associate of mine for his supply. That’s a breach of etiquette! Amateurs flood the business, one would think. Either way, someone will eventually find HIM. One day. And, it will catch up with our dear Renfield. Maybe he’ll even be the third party. You know how that works.”
  “What?”
  “Double-crossed on a deal, left to take the fall.”
  “I was just hit. On the head.”
  “Yes, but your own supply dealt one of those, did he not? And thus the funeral.”
  Taylor started to speak, but his mind gave a sort of mechanical whir, hovering just above an actual click. He remembered something Eric had said he felt disconcerting at the time, and then he had the kid raised by his shirt, slammed against the refrigerator. Something glass fell over inside.
  “What?” he demanded.
  There was a gurgle.
  “What the hell are you talking about?”
  The kid coughed. “Russell, of course. Of all people you should know. He got set up for a sale, and left to take them blame. No merchandise. Your supply collected.”
  Eric. Personal is not the same as important. Russell created his own fate. Eric had fucked him, been directly responsible. Said it didn’t matter, it was Russell’s doing and shouldn’t concern them. But something else had yet to fall into place. . . .
  He was so close he was almost frantic, didn’t feel himself pressing the kid into the door, tilting the refrigerator back. “What do you mean I should know?” he snapped. “ ‘Of all people,’ why me? I don’t even know MYSELF half the time! Why?!”
  “Go. . . .where. . .you’ll. . .music. . . “
  Screaming. “Where!!”
  The kid desperately trying to pull himself away. “Ask. . . Grave. . .she . . . Knows . . . .all. . .”