Chapter 13Crank and Joe walked around in front of the apartment building, trying to keep warm. Neither man said a thing, just kept walking. They were lost in thought, too tired and confused to do anything or talk about anything. The throbbing of their respective hangovers was still with them, stubbornly refusing to fade; once the fire was out and the excitement died down, it all seemed to rush back in on them.
By now, the scene of the fire was once again deserted. All the firetrucks were gone, rumbled away into the city. All but one of the police cars had departed; the last belonged to two cops who were talking with the landlord. The crowd, which had suddenly swarmed to the flames like moths, had just as suddenly vanished. Only two women in curlers and long robes were still standing by th
