The Gravedigger's Brawl by Abigail Roux

to get to talk to them like this.”
    â€œThey can’t do that forever.”
    Wyatt had yet to take his eyes off the two men. Noah was right. It was all very athletic and involved. Surely they couldn’t go for more than a few minutes at a time.
    Caleb, who was standing behind the bar, tossed a new bottle into the air at Ryan’s waist, and Ryan caught it, juggling three bottles so high that they almost grazed the ceiling. All three bottles were open, Wyatt realized, but somehow they didn’t spill as Ryan tossed them around. They seemed to have mastered the angles and the centrifugal force it required. Wyatt was beyond impressed.
    Ash began tossing the glasses he had been juggling at Ryan, and Ryan tossed his bottles at Ash. The bottles spun in slow circles, and the lights caught the cuts of the heavy highball glasses. They mixed as they juggled, somehow managing to pour the liquor as they held the bottles in odd places: the crook of an elbow, sitting atop a shoulder. Ryan caught the first glass and then tossed it to Caleb, who caught it without ever turning it upside down. The next glass Ryan caught and held in his left hand as he tossed the last bottle to Ash.
    In the end, Ash was juggling all three bottles and Ryan was holding two glasses of amber liquid. Ash caught the bottles and held them all in one arm like a pageant winner would hold a bouquet of flowers, and Ryan tossed him a glass. He caught it, and they turned in unison, holding up the glasses triumphantly, and then all three men kicked back the shots that had been poured and bowed.
    The little crowd cheered. Noah and Wyatt stood staring in patent disbelief as Ash and Ryan climbed down off the bar.
    â€œThat’s inhuman,” Noah said as the music died down and returned to the slower, more intimate tunes Wyatt remembered from the other night.
    â€œThere’s got to be a trick to it,” Wyatt said. He was reminded of the Thurston poster in his office. He wondered if Ryan and Ash were using the same sleight of hand that the master magicians had used.
    â€œStill pretty cool,” Noah said as he began making his way to the bar.
    Wyatt hesitated, dreading the look on Ash’s face when he saw him. Finally, he sucked it up and followed, figuring he deserved what he might get.
    Noah knocked on the scarred wood of the bar and got Caleb’s attention.
    â€œHello, lad,” Caleb said, smiling warmly as he walked up and leaned his hands on the bar. They greeted each other with the sort of flirtatious intimacy of a new couple. Wyatt looked away to give them some privacy.
    â€œWhat can I get you?” Caleb asked as he nodded in greeting to Wyatt.
    Wyatt smiled uncomfortably, wondering if Ash had told his friends what had happened.
    â€œWe want information,” Noah growled.
    Caleb laughed and inclined his head, waiting for Noah to explain.
    â€œWe’re prepared to bribe.”
    â€œNow, that’s interesting.” Caleb smirked. “What sort of information? And more importantly, what sort of bribe?”
    Noah leaned in closer, telling Caleb what they were thinking with the museum exhibit as Wyatt looked around for Ash. He’d disappeared after hopping off the bar. He saw Ryan, though, who waved at him and smiled as he made his way through the thinning crowd. Delilah was there too, delivering food and taking orders.
    Ryan shouted as he got closer. “Hey, Wyatt. How are you? You come to see Ash? He’s out on the patio whoring himself for tips.” He shook Wyatt’s hand and patted his shoulder distractedly. “Good to see you, man. Talk later.” He stepped away and slid through the little swinging door that let him behind the bar.
    Wyatt snorted in amusement. A hand came to rest on the small of his back as someone slid by him, and Wyatt turned to find Ash standing right beside him.
    â€œHey,” Wyatt managed to say, though his heart had just jumped into his throat.
    â€œBack for