Bruce Bauman - Broken Sleep

“ ’Cause you shoulda been a comedian.”

I don’t explain Miranda is someone Alchemy created as a signal for us, ’cause I’m thinking that may sound more suspicious. I say Miranda was a young groupie I never met. She don’t give up. “So, did he have had relations with her?”

“My rule was if you think he fucked someone, then he did. So, probably yeah. Ask her.”

“Is it true that you and Alchemy and sometimes Lux, you engaged in group sex with the same women?”

“Lady, you sound pretty damn pervey.”

“Should I assume that is a yes?”

“Assume what you want.”

“Okay, one last inquiry. What do you know about the relationship between Jay Bernes and Alchemy? How long did it last?”

“By ‘relationship,’ you mean how long did they hook up?”

“That’s not what I said.”

“What did Alchemy say?”

“He didn’t. We spoke to her.”

“She told you?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“I guess this confidentiality agreement goes one way, hah? I don’t know squat about Mrs. Mose and Alchemy.”

“Let’s talk about Absurda and Alchemy and their relationship. How long did they date?”

“That’s now a second ‘last inquiry.’ ” I stand up. “And who says they dated?”

“I can’t tell you that. My purpose is to protect Alchemy. Did the three of you orgy?”

I walk up to her and bend over so our noses is almost touching. “My purpose is to protect Absurda. The answer is NO.” I pick up that agreement and rip it to shreds. “And I hear any shit that don’t please me, that’ll be your partner’s face. So, Little Miss Scuttlebutt, you best be fucking careful.”

Moses did his best to avoid any more face-to-face meetings with Salome in any incarnation — live, cinematic, or papier-mâché. In past years, Salome’s possible presence, more than his disinterest in sports, led him to pass up the annual Super Bowl party. He thought this year would be no different until Alchemy texted that he was dropping by the office the Monday before the Super Bowl to invite the staff to the party. Alchemy also said he wanted to meet Moses in his office.

“I need you to come Sunday. Salome will stay in her cottage or leave altogether. Jack Crouse wants to donate a million to the Nightingale Party. I told him no. Maybe the foundation could use it. He also invited himself to the party.”

“I read that Crouse is now one of Barker’s handpicked ‘seers,’ so I guess, even if it goes to the foundation, you need to speak to Dewey.”

“It gets trickier. Last night, we messed around with ideas for two new songs based on Salome’s latest drawings for Pearl Diver by the Black Sea .”

“Are you thinking of re-forming the Insatiables?” Moses had suspected that someday Alchemy would miss making music.

“No. While we were playing, and I thought it was going really well, Laluna brings up that Crouse and Barker had come to the house to discuss doing a remix of the soundtrack she did for a new video. They convinced her to try their secret m-edit-ation orientation. It ‘revealed’ that despite having it all in the material world, she is ‘unfulfilled.’ ” Alchemy’s voice betrayed his exasperation. “I asked her again, ‘Do you want me to quit politics?’ She claims she’s on board as long as she doesn’t have to campaign. I asked if she changed her mind and wanted to join Lux, Silky, and Mindswallow, who are setting up a summer tour. She said no. For the two of us do a follow-up to Chansons ? Possibly. Take a vacation? Yes, she wants to go far away from here, and without Persephone.” Moses had sometimes suspected that Alchemy steamrolled Laluna into having a child before she was ready. Regardless of how much she loved Persephone, maybe that had sparked Laluna’s restlessness. “And no, Mose, I have not been messing around.”

“Is she?”

“She says no. I asked if she wanted to spend some time away from me. Am I being too cloying or too patriarchal? Not at all. She does exactly what she wants. If anything, she’s spending too much time without me.”

“Alchemy, I’m sorry. You should take that vacation. We’ll hold the fort here and leave you two alone. And if there’s anything else I can do, just ask.”

“Thanks. I’ll rent a place far away where we can record some songs, just chill. If all goes well, when I return I’ll declare for the presidency in ’20.”

“I’m sure you and Laluna will work it out. Take as long as you need. But I have to say that Laluna taking up with Barker and Crouse again — not good. If you don’t tell Winslow before he finds out, he may quit. We can’t afford that now.” Moses, lips tight, hesitated.

“Mose, what? I see you thinking.”

“I’m asking you now, as your brother, one last time, please consider again the negative possibilities of this campaign.”

“Mose.” Alchemy’s one blue, one green eye drilled into him like twin laser beams. “You can step away. I can’t. I’ve spent many nights awake, speculating on every risk imaginable. I’ve crossed the Delaware. I’ve set the boats afire. There’s no turning back.”

Three days before the Super Bowl, Moses was in his office reviewing Alchemy’s schedule and what would be the best time for him to take a long vacation. His phone beeped with a text message from Sidonna Cherry, whom they now kept on retainer. “Go outside. Now. Open the package in your office.” A messenger, standing astride her motorcycle, helmet still on, handed him an envelope, which contained a burner phone and a piece of paper with a handwritten note.

It’s a free country if you can pay for it .

After the 2000 election, American democracy is in a struggle for its survival .

America has aided and abetted the overthrow of at least a half dozen legally elected governments since 1953 .

The Pasadena IVF

Miranda Wright

He recognized the phrases as comments he’d made while teaching at SCCAM and the name of the clinic where he had his sperm tested. Miranda Wright meant nothing to him. A few minutes later, Cherry called on the burner.

“Moses, the Committee on Anti-American Activities has been holding covert investigations, and you and your brother are among those on their hit list.”

Naïvely, he had never fully comprehended the breadth of the CAA’s audacity.

“How do you know? Why are you telling me?”

“Because I’m getting a goddamned subpoena.”

“What the hell? Are you sure? Why?”

“They don’t have to tell you that. But Parnell Palmer, the CAA chief investigator, and his creeps are not nearly as stealthy as they think they are. They started sniffing around me because I’m working for you. I sniffed back. They won’t get shit from me.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t tell me any more. Talk to Alchemy. Toss the phone. I’ll send another one next week.”

The next day, Moses went to Cedars-Sinai to take his required every-six-months blood tests. Then he and Alchemy met for lunch at the Pig ’n’ Whistle.

“Mose, how’d it go? That’s doozie of a bruise on your forearm.”

“Yeah. Happens. No results yet. I’m feeling okay. Lately the void is emptying into a bigger void. And this is why.” He showed him the paper Cherry sent over. “According to Cherry, the CAA is investigating us. Who is Miranda Wright?”

“No one you need to stay awake worrying about. I also talked to Cherry yesterday.”

“Maybe the CAA knows about the Pasadena IVF, the doctor who tested my sperm before, or the doctor who injected the sperm?”