Skater didn’t make a reply, kept his attention focused on the movement around him. Some of the apartments possessed small balconies on the second and third floors that overlooked the alley. Most of them held piles of refuse, broken patio furniture, and plastifoam packing cases. A demented Santa Claus hung from one of them, a garrote knotted around his stretched neck, his round face and beard showing methodical cigarette burn patterns.