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She comes around the table and runs her fingers down the length of my arm, from shoulder to fingertip. She examines my wrist and flexes my elbow, watching the weird gearlike growths and the flat gray-black bands that do the job of muscles.
“Thank you,” she says. She goes back and sits near Vidocq. “Wherever did you get it?”
I roll down my sleeve and put on my coat.
“Another out-of-town friend.”
“You get so many interesting visitors.”
“That he does,” says Vidocq.
I get an idea, and take the drill out of my pocket and hold it up to them.
“You’ve both been around a lot of weird gear. You ever see something like that before?”
They take the drill and look it over together. Liliane finds the button on the end and pushes it. Both smile when the mechanism retracts and closes again.
Vidocq shrugs and Liliane shakes her head.
“No. I’m sorry,” she says.
“Neither have I. Do you have any idea what it’s for?” says Vidocq.
“A friend who knows about these things thinks it’s some kind of precision drill for making delicate objects. Or maybe it belongs to a high-rent Tick Tock Man.”
“A Tick Tock Man?” says Liliane.
“They make expensive windup toys for people burdened by too much money.”
“That’s a burden I wouldn’t mind trying.”
“You and me both.”
Liliane looks at her watch and makes a face.
“Look at the time. I have to get back to work.”
She and Vidocq stand. They say something French to each other and both laugh. She kisses him on both cheeks and comes around to my side of the table. Everyone else is standing, so I do too. She gives me a couple of quick air kisses and says, “It was lovely spending more time with you, James. I hope we get to do it again sometime.”
“Sure. Sometime.”
Vidocq shows her to the door, then drops back down onto the sofa.
He looks at me.
“Are you going to continue your lecture? If so, I’m going to need more wine.”
I hold up my hands.
“No more lectures. Just this: if you break Allegra’s heart, I’m going to kick your ass.”
“And I would deserve it.”
“I’m glad you understand. Now—what the hell is the story with you two? What happened back in Paris?”
He sighs and picks up his wineglass, settling against the back of the sofa, looking exhausted.
“I don’t think I have the energy for a long tale right now.”
