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“Early-seventies Japanese surf rock. She knows all about it.”
I get it now.
“And you bought her noodles to join your band.”
Candy picks up some chopsticks.
“She brought a record, so I brought noodles.”
“That sounds fair.”
Alessa says, “It’s not quite that simple. Chihiro played me a recording of her band rehearsing. They’re not bad. They need work, but they’re not bad.”
Chihiro. Good. Candy’s staying safe, using her new identity even while she’s trying to lure a professional guitarist into the clutches of her garage band. Maybe Alessa’s drug problem was worse than I thought. For a pro to want to work with Candy’s group, she must have burned some bridges with the local L.A. players.
I look at Candy.
“That’s great. You’ll be playing with Skull Valley soon yourself.”
“Wouldn’t that be great?”
Alessa picks up her chopsticks and pokes at her noodles.
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” she says. “We need to learn some actual songs first.”
Candy sits back down at her desk.
“Yes. Songs first. Then touring. See? She’s a total professional.”
I nod.
“Sounds like it,” I say. Alessa continues poking at her noodles. Even I can take a hint. She’s done with me being there. Candy looks at her. She’s done with me too for the moment.
“Listen, I have to talk to Julie, so I’ll let you get back to work.”
Alessa looks up and smiles, glad I figured out what’s what.
“Nice meeting you, Stark,” she says.
“You too.”
I head to Julie’s office. The moment I’m gone they’re digging into their food, Candy talking excitedly through a full mouth. Alessa laughs at her and hums a staccato surf melody.
I knock on Julie’s door. She looks up and nods. I go in.
“How’s it going?”
Julie shakes her head.
“I’m glad I got myself a door. The Bobbsey Twins out there have been yammering for an hour.”
“Chihiro gets a little nuts when the subject of music comes up.”
“‘Nuts’ is the nice word for it. What are you up to these days? If this is a social call, I have a lot of work I have to do.”
I take Abbot’s folder out of my pocket and drop it on her desk.
“Be happier to see me. I’m bringing you business.”
