“Thanks. Want me to drop you at Vidocq’s so you can tell him a story?”
She throws away all the used gear and says, “What I want is for you to go home and rest. You’ve lost a lot of blood.”
She leans against the exam table.
&nb
sp; “With the amount of muscle damage you have I’m amazed you can move your hand at all.”
“You know me. I’m a fast healer.”
“Go home and call me tomorrow so I know you’re all right.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Call me,” she says firmly.
“I will.”
“And take a lorazepam when you get home.”
“Yes, doctor.”
Janet says, “Thanks for helping him.”
Allegra gives them a look. “Try not getting him killed again tonight.”
I hug Allegra and pull Janet into a shadow.
We come out in the flying saucer house.
Janet swivels around like they can’t believe they’re back again.
“Your shadow trick is freaking me out a little.”
“It’ll do that the first couple of times. Right now, I need to take those pills Allegra gave me.”
Janet pushes me down onto the sofa.
“You sit. I’ll get you some water.”
As they go to the kitchen I yell, “Bourbon. I want bourbon.”
“I’ll bring you both.”
Janet returns a minute later with two glasses, one filled to the top and the other filled barely an inch.
“Kind of stingy with the bourbon,” I say. “I can afford more.”
“Maybe you should have the water instead.”
“You hold on to that. It will be plan B.”
I swallow the pills with bourbon and lean my head back to rest on the sofa cushions. Janet sits down next to me.
“Feeling better?” they say.
“I hurt like hell.”