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“And yet her desire to see you both remains unchanged,” Vidocq says.
I toss him Garrett’s cash.
“Give her this.”
He nods and puts it in the pocket of his greatcoat.
“We both thank you for this.”
Candy says, “Can I have the clip?”
I say, “Why? We don’t have any money.”
Vidocq takes the clip off the cash and hands it to her. Her eyes light up.
“I just like it,” she says. “It’s shiny. I’ll find something to do with it.”
I take off the robe. The bullet wound stings a little, but the blisters hurt like a son of a bitch. I put on my leather bike pants and boots. Find an old Maximum Overdrive video-store T-shirt that’s not covered in bullet holes or blood and put that on too.
“I don’t suppose you’d consider taking me along,” says Vidocq.
“To Hell? I don’t want to take her. Why would I subject you to it too?”
“I’d like to see the afterlife. With my condition it’s doubtful I’ll ever see it legitimately.”
A hundred and fifty years ago Vidocq made himself immortal. It wasn’t his fault. He wasn’t trying to do it. Just one of his alchemical experiments took a wrong turn and left him with a condition most people would kill for. Me, I’d rather have X-ray vision. At least it would be fun at parties.
I say, “Forget it. Allegra would truly kill me dead if I took you.”
He sighs, knowing I’m right.
“And she’d be right, of course. You’re a terrible influence on us all.”
He nods to me and blows Candy a kiss. He holds up the cash.
“And thank you for this,” he says before leaving through the grandfather clock, the real entrance to our secret hideaway.
“He’s right. You are a terrible influence,” says Candy.
“I thought that’s why you stuck around.”
“There’s also the free food and movies.”
“Free computers too.”
“And getting blown up and shot at.”
“Yeah. I’ve got to work on my ducking skills.”
“Please do.” She doesn’t say anything for a minute. Then, “So, we’re really going?”
“You’re the one who wanted to.”
“Yeah, but now I’m a little scared.”
“Good. That means you’re sane.”
“So, we just go there? No spells? We don’t have to sacrifice chickens or pray to any hoary overlords of the deep or something?”
