Fallout (Crank 3)

a girl name Kr-Kristina?” Damn

booze. Damn mud daubing.

I want to be coherent.

Brendan’s forehead wrinkles.

He thinks a minute, finally replies,

Kristina? Sounds familiar.

Why? Should I know her?

Nikki’s hand lights gently

on my arm. I swat it away,

one of those bees. “You might

have known her as Bree.”

Bam! Recognition floods

his eyes. Bree. Yes. I knew her.

Clearly, he doesn’t want to say

more. That was a long time ago.

Nikki is close to panic.

Uh, hon, would you get me

another glass of wine? Please?

She looks at me helplessly.

Buzz. Buzz. “Just a minute,

okay?” Buzzzzz. The entire

table is staring now. Good.

This deserves an audience.

“I don’t suppose you remember

a certain night, up on Mount Rose.

Just you and her and a little

crank …” Loud. Too loud.

But he definitely remembers.

Now, look. That was a long,

long time ago and—wait.