guys? A safari?
have together is special.”
“Okay! Where am I supposed to meet him for dinner?”
“And yet, funnily enough,” I said, “’twere not the apoplexy what done him in.”
many Web sites were devoted to Satanism, witchcraft, Wicca – you name it. There were
deal with candles? There were occult personals, online spell purchases (through PayPal, no
Several links led me to Yahoo Groups. Again I found groups based on region (Boston-
anywhere called Blade Sable.
web intro indicated that this was a group for those who wished to peruse the dark side of the
I filled out a quickie questionnaire, naturally lying about almost everything, and
No response. I hit refresh a couple of times, but zilch.
* * * * *
had not been seen since Friday morning, when he had left his hotel without mentioning to
celebrity, the usual waiting period was waived.
Chapter Eight
side of the counter. She was young, and she looked clean – that was my main impression.
remain visible to the human eye.
years of homeroom as White, Velvet.
Gabriel Savant before he vanished.
seemed to be an intelligent life form – at least she followed directions, and that seemed as
When she showed for work on Monday, I began to think I had a live one. She was
I hadn’t heard from Jake since Thursday night. Monday night was one of our usual get-
running late.
A pause followed my greeting. Then, “We’re watching you,” whispered the voice on
Snowden’s number.
attention to insinuating my way into the fast lane.
you can get a table by a window. The councilman could and did.
versus whiskey. Or maybe it was whiskey versus scotch. Bill was drinking Johnny Walker
that was also for the tourists. He promised me the life-altering experience of a “wee dram” of
chance in hell of avoiding a full-scale family Christmas with “the troops,” as Bill referred to
“When Eleanor, my first wife, died, I believed that I would never remarry, never find
want for aught. But since she didn’t now, I only managed a few polite sounds. He said he
to both of them if I would give my blessing.
But I was kidding myself if I thought the male bonding was over for the night. Bill
I accepted the port and declined the cigar.
although maybe it gave me a different perspective from most guys my age. Getting involved
happiness pretty damn fragile.
Adrien. I don’t want you to feel that any of us would judge…would feel… We want you to
“Thank you,” I got out.
what is it with girls and that elf, by the way?
Hades.
chain around her neck (so much for secret signs). The feathery tips of her hair were tinted
more suited to a charnel house than a house of fashion.