“A lot of murders. The girl. The Imp. She’s the center of it. Someone is controlling her.”
“How do you know?”
“I went to the land of the dead and asked her.”
“You can’t stay away from dark places, can you? Please. We really need to talk.”
“I’m on my way to Malibu.”
“Good. I’ll drive you. We can talk in the car.”
“Okay. Come to the Chateau Marmont and call me from out front. If anyone gives you trouble, tell them you’re here for Mr. Macheath.”
“Like Mack the Knife Macheath?”
“Yeah. If you’re good, I’ll do my Bobby Darin for you. Call me when you get here.”
I’m checking my guns when someone pounds on the other side of the grandfather clock. Suddenly I’m in Grand Central fucking Station. The knocking gets louder.
“Hey, Old Yeller, can you get off your fat ass and let whoever that is in? I’m trying to get dangerous.”
I hear Kasabian grumbling and thumping across the living room and opening the door. He says a few words to someone and thumps back.
“Hey, you.”
I swing around.
“Candy? What are you doing here?”
She looks a little pale and worn. She still has on her torn shirt. Underneath it are fresh bandages stained with Betadine. She has a Cowboy Bebop backpack slung over one shoulder. Comes into the bedroom, where I have all my guns laid out. She drops the backpack on the floor. Winces as she sits down.
“Do you mind if I crash here for like ever? Allegra just fired me. And I think Rinko and I just broke up. It was hard to tell with all the screaming and her throwing things. Did something happen with you two?”
“She just wanted to unstitch my seams is all. I already have a roomie,” I say, nodding to Kasabian. “But it’s a big place. I think we can squeeze you in.”
She smiles and lies back next to the guns.
“This is a big bed. Think maybe I could stay in here with you? I promise to be good.”
“Good people end up on the couch. Only the bad ones get an all-access pass.”
“I’ll do my evil best to stay off the couch, sir.”
I lie down next to her. She slides against me.
Someone knocks on the bedroom doorframe.
“We’re out of beer,” says Kasabian. Then, when he sees us, “Oh Christ. Is this turning into a domestic bliss situation? I can’t stand that It’s a Wonderful Life crap. Take me back and let me die at Max Overdrive.”
“Be nice, Kas, and I’ll loan you my hentai discs,” says Candy.
Kasabian frowns.
“Schoolgirls and tentacles? No thanks. I prefer my porn mammal-only.”
“Hot cow-on-cow action. I like it,” Candy says.
Kasabian puts his hands up in an “I’ve had enough” gesture.