Konstantin falls silent as we turn down a deserted road. Derelict buildings rise up on either side like rotten teeth. “I forgot how depressing this place is.” He leans forward to look through the windshield, his lip curled.
I park along the cracked curb in front of The Alley Cat. The greased-over windows and fading neon lights are appropriately grim.
“What am I supposed to do?” Konstantin demands as I kill the engine. “Just sit here and wait for you like a trained poodle?”
He grits his teeth. “Misha.”
“I just gave you an order, Konstantin.”
He falls silent, his body tense. I clap him on the shoulder and get out of the car.
Three older babushkas are standing out front of a salon on the opposite side of the street. None of them bother to hide that they’re gawking. Even when I make eye
