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“This falls deeply into the category of ‘better than nothing.’ ”
“So do you, so it’ll be a perfect fit.”
He runs his hand along the length of the hound’s spine.
“At least the legs are straight.”
“Call Manimal Mike anytime you want. He ought to be able to scavenge enough parts off the thing to fix you up, Hopalong.”
Kasabian looks up at me.
“What did we say about nicknames?”
“Sorry. You can’t really expect me to be Miss Manners overnight.”
He shakes his head, staring at the hound.
“Damn. You actually did it. And here me and your missus were making bets on whether you’d come back at all and how many more limbs you were going to lose.”
“Who won?”
Candy doesn’t look up from the movie.
“No one’s seen you undressed yet, so the bet still stands.”
“I’m calling Manimal Mike right now,” says Kasabian. He clamors to his feet and squeaks and grinds away to his room.
“Let me know when he’s coming over. I want to talk to him.”
I sit down next to Candy, take her beer off the table, have a sip, and pass it to her.
“How’s Brigitte doing?”
“You had someone you loved murdered, so you know.”
“Yeah.”
“Allegra and Vidocq took her to stay with them. I think seeing you burned and gutted like that scared Allegra a little.”
“She patched me up pretty good. I didn’t pop any rivets while I was gone.”
Candy turns and kisses me. I kiss her like maybe I was afraid I wasn’t coming back, which is how I always feel when I go to Hell. I hand her back her knife.
“So, I guess your plan worked out?” she says.
“Yeah. I have Traven stashed in the Room.”
She pushes away from me.
“That’s your master plan? Take him out of Hell so you can lock him in the attic like your crazy aunt?”
“I’m still working on the next step.”
“Which is what?”
“I’ll let you know when I figure it out.”
I get up, checking the long slit the guard left in my coat sleeve.
