Barrio Imbroglio

Abraxas Hernandez is a young, second-generation Latino who lives in East Phister, a Midwestern city that is home to “a vast amalgamation of freaks, nutjobs, and social deviants.”

Abraxas’ cousin, Hugo, is murdered. Hugo’s girlfriend, Delta, found the body in the restaurant that Hugo owned. The restaurant was closed for the evening, and there are no obvious suspects or motives for Hugo’s murder. At the murder site, Abraxas meets Al-Janabi, a homicide detective who is “three layers of hardcore over a napalm center.”

Abraxas’ confidante, an ex-girlfriend named Vic, prods Abraxas to investigate the murder. Vic says Abraxas still has connections to the old neighborhood and can get info that the cops can’t. Vic, a woman who “thinks vodka is a chaser,” adds that she wants some excitement in her life.