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“No thanks. I was just dropping off some paperwork.”
Candy says, “You’re the private eye he talked about. You got him onto the zombie case.”
Julie nods.
“Yeah. We thought it was a simple demon possession at the time. He saved us.”
“Yeah, he does that.”
“I’ve seen you around Vigil headquarters.”
“Don’t bring me any paperwork. I’m just this one’s unofficial assistant.”
“Don’t worry. If you’re not on the payroll you don’t have to take the psych evaluation.”
Candy looks at me and laughs.
“You’re supposed to pass a government psych evaluation? Oh man, I hope you like the smell of a rubber room because that’s where you’re headed, pal.”
“I can pass for normal if I have to.”
“Yeah, and I’m Nancy Reagan’s wrestling coach.”
Julie puts her hand out and I shake it.
“Listen,” she says. “If we make it through this maybe we can work together again. Believe it or not, I still have a few clients. And I don’t think you’re going to want to stay in the Vigil forever.”
“Sounds good. If the world doesn’t end, let’s talk.”
She starts to put on her raincoat.
“Don’t forget about those papers.”
“I’ll get on them first thing in the morning.”
Candy holds out the bag again.
“One for the road? I have plastic wrap upstairs.”
“No thanks,” Julie says. Then, “Shit. I almost forgot the real reason I came. Marshal Wells gave this to me to give to you. It looked important.”
It’s an envelope. Nice, crisp, expensive paper. On the inside, it’s lined with a molecule’s thickness of gold. The thing is uncomfortably familiar. I open the note inside. It’s from Saragossa Blackburn, the pope of the whole Sub Rosa kingdom in California.
The note says, Come see me tomorrow. At noon. I know you’re not an early riser. His signature is under that, signed with a fine pen using ink that probably cost as much as a lung transplant.
“Thanks,” I say, and drop the note on the counter with the papers.
“Good night,” says Julie. To Candy she says, “Nice meeting you.”
Candy gives me a look.
“Offer the lady a ride home, Sir Galahad.”
I turn to Julie.
“Want me to get you home the fast way?”
She shakes her head.
