Skin Deep by Timothy Hallinan Page B

taking another pull off his drink.
    "Jeez," Nana said. "There are only so many spices. She didn't want to be called Garlic."
    "What about chamomile?" Toby said, trying to rejoin the conversation. "Or tansy? I've always wondered what tansy was."
    "Chamomile's an herb," I said since Nana showed no sign of replying.
    "Herb, schmerb," Toby said impatiently. "Who cares? As long as you can eat it."
    "Toby just drips class," Nana said to me. "Sometimes we have to mop the floor after he leaves."
    "I came here to say I was sorry," Toby said. "But maybe you two would prefer to be alone."
    "Honest to God, Toby," Nana said, "do you think you can just punch me out and leave me on the floor and then come back and make kissy-face? What do you think I am, a blow-up doll?"
    The Stones faded out as Toby sulked, and Amber crawled around to pick up her tips before going very carefully down the steps and teetering toward the dressing room.
    Nana shook her head, watching her. "Maybe six months," she said to herself. She caught me looking at her. "You can't junk like that and expect to collect an old-age pension."
    "Nana," Toby said as though it cost him an effort. "I'm sorry." He was staring at his lap. "That's why Simeon and I came here. So I could say I was sorry."
    "Sony's a word, Toby. Like caring. Like love, if you'll pardon the expression. When I want words, I'll read a book."
    The girl with the spike haircut put her hand on Toby's shoulder and tucked the coke into his shirt pocket. "Terrific, Toby," she said. "You've made my day. Maybe tomorrow, too."
    "Great, baby," Toby said. He gave her the grin.
    "So your name is Simeon," Nana said, lighting a cigarette and tilting her head up to blow smoke into the air. "I don't think I've ever met anyone named Simeon."
    "Swell," Toby said truculently. "A new name. Maybe you want I should leave with a new girl."
    "Why not two girls?" Nana said, turning on him. "Why not three? Why should you be a cheapskate your whole life?"
    "Fine," Toby said, standing up and pushing his chair back. "See you lovebirds later."
    "Where's he going?" I asked, watching him move toward the back of the club.
    "He's going to pack his cute little nose," Nana said. "He's fine until about six, and then it's a long downhill slide until midnight. I don't know how his system stands it."
    "What about your system?"
    "Fooey. Half a load or so every night. Listen, you think I could dance like that straight?"
    "What's the hardest thing to do?"
    "Smiling," she said. "The hardest thing is smiling. Listen, I haven't said thank you."
    "Nana," I said, "Toby really did come here to say he was sorry."
    "Too late," she said. "You know, the dumb thing is that he really is sorry. It just doesn't last." She blew some more smoke and looked critically at the coal on her cigarette. "Sooner or later even someone as turkey-stupid as I am has to figure it out."
    "Tell me something."
    "Let's hear it first."
    "How come you look like Madame Butterfly and sound like Tex Ritter?"
    She laughed. It wasn't a ladylike laugh. There was no apology for not covering her mouth or for letting her teeth hang in the breeze. It was a laugh that came straight from the belly, without detours. She drummed her feet on the stage by way of emphasis.
    "I mean, you're Korean, right?"
    "Fifty-fifty," she said, fanning her face. "Whoo, pretty good. But Tex Ritter? God, honey, you must be older than snails."
    "Half American," I ventured.
    "You know what's an army brat?" she said. She waved the question away. "Aaah, skip it. Daddy's American, Mommy's Korean. Daddy took his gonads to Korea during the war. Hell, there wasn't anywhere he could park them. So he came home with Mommy and me."
    "Home to Texas," I said.
    "Home to Killeen. Home to wherever they stuck him. And her, and me, by the way. And now I'll ask you one, okay?"
    "Shoot."
    "What are you doing with Toby?"
    "It's a job," I said for what felt like the fiftieth time. "I'm protecting the world from him."
    She nodded, thinking