- Polite Fictions

When you let the inside of your head go all to shit, the outside follows suit. When you get things right inside your head, the pieces fall into place. Charlie's father had taught her this. She quietly pulled out her old trick, murmuring, "three point one four one five nine."

"Ah," said Claudette, "it must be time for pie. I'll make tea." She went for the tape.

Charlie's mind settled. Action replaced chaos.

"Two six five three five." Irrational. Transcendent. Mathematical. No matter how large the circle, the circumference is known. Even if you can't see the other side. And no matter what a clusterfuck it looks like from where you stand, it is always a circle.

"Eight nine seven nine three." Where was Doug? Most likely in a dumpster. This had not gone well at all. It was not going as planned. Was there a plan? Who is in the circle, and who is out? Does anyone know where the line is?

"Two three eight four six." The letter had been more trouble than it was worth. She had tried to play God, writing that letter. She had tampered with the progression of things. She would not let herself think it had been a mistake. Just another cog in the wheel.

As usual, she had overestimated Slick's powers of reasoning. He didn't know he was being set up. He still didn't know. Stupid bastard. Charlie felt her heart soften in ways she wanted to submit to. She always had a thing for a man she could save. Just not one that smelled like piss at the moment.

"Two six four three three." Charlie and Claudette hoisted Slick under the armpits, helping him stumble across the floor. Charlie waited while Claudette slid open the old speakeasy paneling, Slick weighing heavily on her shoulder. She let herself stroke his cheek with her free hand, and then helped Claudette shove him into the hidden room behind the bar.

"Eight three two seven nine." The circle came around, appearing before her as clear as could be. Charlie looked at the three men - two taped and one dead. She ripped the tape off Roman's mouth, relishing the look of surprise and pain.

"Tell me about the Laughing Whore," she said evenly.

Watching the blood drain from Roman's face, Charlie knew she'd done her math right.