Zero History

any more. I’ll understand.”
Meredith shook her head. “We wound up having dinner, drinking sake, in this little
place down the street. All the sake cups were different, used, old, like someone had
chosen them from a charity shop. That was after she’d helped me choose my canvas. That
was the Hounds designer. She doesn’t need anyone like your Mr. Bigend.”
“He’s not my Mr. Bigend.”
“Of all the people in the world, she doesn’t need that.”
“Okay.”
“And that’s why I can’t trade her name for my shoes. As much as I want my shoes.”
“If I tell him you won’t tell me, he’ll try to find those shoes himself. And when he has
them, he’ll send someone else, to negotiate. Or come himself.”
“I’ve thought of that. It’s my own fault, really. For having considered betraying a
friend.” She looked at Hollis. “I haven’t seen her since. Or been in touch, really. Just
those e-mails announcing drops. I sent her a pair of the shoes she helped choose the
canvas for. To the place in Ichinomiya. So I just can’t do it.”
“I wouldn’t either,” Hollis said. “Look, this is just a job for me, one I wish I didn’t
have. Not even a job. Just Bigend bribing me to do something for him. The best thing, for
you, would be for me not to tell him we’ve had this conversation. You’ve stopped
returning my calls. Have George tell Reg to tell Bigend to leave you alone.”
“Would that work?”
“It might,” said Hollis. “Bigend values Reg’s take on certain things. Reg advises him on
music. I think Reg actually likes him. If he thinks Bigend’s unsettling you, which in turn
unsettles George, jeopardizing the next Bollards album, he’ll do everything he can to get
Bigend to back off. But that’s not only my best plan, it’s my only one.”
“What will you do?”
“I’ll tell him I’ve been unable to contact you.”
“That’s not what I mean,” said Meredith. “Will you still be looking for her?”
“That’s a good question,” said Hollis.