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“Yes,” Julie says. “Europe. Russia. Asia. What’s your point?”
“There could be fight clubs all over the world. Tykho says this thing has been going on since World War One. Get out your calculators and count how many disappearances, John Does, Black Dahlias, and gangster hits there have been since then. That just covers the D-list ghosts. What about the ones like Dash tonight? Now throw in every high-profile disappearance and murder. Look at a guy like Bugsy Siegel. Technically, he was killed because of how he handled the Mob’s money in Vegas. But what happened to him afterward? He’d be a headline act. Tickets would go for a fortune if he was part of the show. Or Johnny Stomp. He and Lana Turner’s daughter could replay his murder every night. How many blue-yonder contracts have been sold since the war? Between crooks like Eddie Nash, who set up the original Wonderland murders, and psychos like Manson and the Hillside Strangler, you’ve got a ghost factory ready-made for pricks like Mr. Burgess.”
“Consider also that seeing what happens to errant citizens would help keep discipline among the White Light Legion’s members,” says Vidocq.
“You think that’s why they chose Townsend for the ritual? He wanted out of the group, so they used him for a sacrifice?” Julie says.
“It makes sense.”
“I wonder if his spirit is in their murder stable?”
“Wouldn’t surprise me,” I say. “He was probably the last guy on the planet to die before Vincent lost his job.”
“I keep coming back to one thing,” Julie says. “What does the White Light Legion want with Death? Yes, he’s a powerful entity and you could use him as your own personal killer, but that seems like a lot of work when they were killing people so efficiently before.”
Candy says, “There’s something missing. Something we haven’t figured out yet.”
Allegra stares at her drink, then blurts out, “I thought I’d seen enough blood and violence at the clinic, but this is on a whole new scale.”
Everyone looks at her. She shrugs and looks at Julie.
“Stark told me about your new office.”
“Yes, it’s coming together slowly, but nicely.”
“I heard you have a downstairs you’re not using.”
Julie nods.
“For now. I might rent it out to help with the mortgage.”
“Why not rent it to a new clinic? I could give you a good rate on any medical services you need.”
Allegra gives Julie her brightest smile.
“Allegra would be a great choice,” says Candy so that I don’t say anything and maybe jinx the deal.
Candy continues. “She’s worked on humans and Lurkers. She can fix anything.”
Julie gets up to get another drink.
“I’ll give it serious consideration,” she says.
“Thank you,” says Allegra.
As Julie walks to the bar, Brigitte comes in. Julie sees her and points her in the direction of our table.
Brigitte comes over and sits down, still decked out in the evening dress she had on at the fights.
“Good evening for the second time,” she says.
No one says anything. I lean across the table at her.
“What the fuck were you doing tonight? Have you been to that slaughterhouse before?”
She shakes her head.
“No. And I hope to never go again.”
