full

“The Other” by JS Hawthorne (part 1 of 2)

David Steward is New York’s premier supernatural private eye, so it’s no surprise when a ghost hires him to solve her own murder. Not so routine is the ancient terror which killed Steward’s client, or dealing with one of his exes, the cop assigned to investigate the case.

Tonight’s story is the first of two parts of “The Other” by J.S. Hawthorne, who almost definitely isn’t lurking in that dark alley across the street. J.S.’s most recent work can be found in the forthcoming The Wideness of the World, by the Furry Historical Fiction Society, and in Tales from the Guild: Blood and Water, available now from Fenris Publishing.

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https://thevoice.dog/episode/the-other-by-js-hawthorne-part-1-of-2

Transcript
Speaker:


You’re

Speaker:

listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Ghost

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

Rob

Speaker:

MacWolf,

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

fellow

Speaker:

traveler,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Tonight’s story is

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

first of

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

parts

Speaker:

of “The

Speaker:

Other”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

J.S.

Speaker:

Hawthorne, who

Speaker:

almost

Speaker:

definitely

Speaker:

isn’t

Speaker:

lurking

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

dark

Speaker:

alley

Speaker:

across

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

street. J.S.’s

Speaker:

most

Speaker:

recent

Speaker:

work

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

found

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

forthcoming

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Wideness

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

World,

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Furry

Speaker:

Historical

Speaker:

Fiction

Speaker:

Society,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

in Tales

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Guild:

Guild:

Blood

Guild:

and

Guild:

Water,

Guild:

available

Guild:

now

Guild:

from

Guild:

Fenris

Guild:

Publishing.

David

Guild:

Stewart,

Guild:

Private

Guild:

Investigator.

Guild:

Familiar,

Guild:

perhaps,

Guild:

to

Guild:

some

Guild:

listeners.

Guild:

Someone

Guild:

there to

Guild:

look

Guild:

into

Guild:

the

Guild:

dark

Guild:

corners

Guild:

of

Guild:

the

Guild:

room

Guild:

before

Guild:

the

Guild:

lights

Guild:

are

Guild:

turned out.

Guild:

So

Guild:

long

Guild:

as

Guild:

it

Guild:

is

Guild:

understood

Guild:

that the

Guild:

answer

Guild:

to

Guild:

the

Guild:

question “are there

Guild:

any

Guild:

monsters?”

Guild:

is

Guild:

not

Guild:

always “of

Guild:

course not,”

Guild:

and

Guild:

that

Guild:

monsters

Guild:

are

Guild:

not

Guild:

always

Guild:

the

Guild:

most

Guild:

dangerous

Guild:

thing

Guild:

to

Guild:

be

Guild:

found

Guild:

in

Guild:

dark corners.

Read by Apollo Brightflank, who still returns

Guild:

to

Guild:

the

Guild:

prairie.

Please

Guild:

enjoy


“The

Guild:

Other”

Guild:

by

Guild:

J.S.

Guild:

Hawthorne,

Guild:

Part 1

Guild:

of 2

“Excuse

Guild:

me,

Guild:

detective?”

David

Guild:

Steward,

Guild:

seated

Guild:

at

Guild:

an

Guild:

old,

Guild:

careworn

Guild:

desk,

Guild:

looked

Guild:

up

Guild:

from

Guild:

the

Guild:

report

Guild:

that

Guild:

he

Guild:

was

Guild:

painstakingly

Guild:

typing

Guild:

up.

Guild:

He

Guild:

was

Guild:

a

Guild:

little

Guild:

careworn

Guild:

himself,

Guild:

a

Guild:

plain

Guild:

grey

Guild:

wolf

Guild:

turning

Guild:

greyer

Guild:

with

Guild:

the

Guild:

passage

Guild:

of

Guild:

years,

Guild:

a

Guild:

third

Guild:

of

Guild:

his

Guild:

tail

Guild:

and

Guild:

the

Guild:

tip

Guild:

of

Guild:

one

Guild:

of

Guild:

his

Guild:

ears

Guild:

missing,

Guild:

and

Guild:

three

Guild:

pencil-thin

Guild:

scars

Guild:

over

Guild:

his

Guild:

left

Guild:

eye.

Standing

Guild:

just

Guild:

inside

Guild:

of

Guild:

the

Guild:

old-fashioned

Guild:

door

Guild:

was

Guild:

an

Guild:

ocelot.

Guild:

She

Guild:

was

Guild:

petite

Guild:

but

Guild:

athletic,

Guild:

the

Guild:

kind

Guild:

of

Guild:

college

Guild:

girl

Guild:

who

Guild:

had

Guild:

a

Guild:

clockwork

Guild:

routine.

Guild:

Her

Guild:

hair

Guild:

was

Guild:

cut

Guild:

fashionably

Guild:

short

Guild:

and

Guild:

dyed

Guild:

a

Guild:

shade

Guild:

of

Guild:

pink

Guild:

that

Guild:

was

Guild:

almost,

Guild:

but

Guild:

not

Guild:

quite

Guild:

shocking.

Guild:

Had

Guild:

Steward

Guild:

passed her

Guild:

on

Guild:

the

Guild:

street,

Guild:

he

Guild:

would

Guild:

probably

Guild:

have

Guild:

chalked

Guild:

her

Guild:

up

Guild:

to

Guild:

the

Guild:

kind

Guild:

of

Guild:

kid

Guild:

who

Guild:

went

Guild:

away

Guild:

to

Guild:

school

Guild:

just

Guild:

far

Guild:

enough

Guild:

to

Guild:

act

Guild:

the

Guild:

rebel,

Guild:

but

Guild:

not

Guild:

so

Guild:

far

Guild:

it

Guild:

can’t

Guild:

all

Guild:

go

Guild:

back

Guild:

in

Guild:

the

Guild:

closet

Guild:

at

Guild:

the

Guild:

holidays.

Guild:

He

Guild:

was

Guild:

not

Guild:

surprised

Guild:

to

Guild:

see

Guild:

the

Guild:

ocelot

Guild:

in

Guild:

his

Guild:

office,

Guild:

that

Guild:

was,

Guild:

after

Guild:

all,

Guild:

why

Guild:

he

Guild:

kept

Guild:

an

Guild:

office.

Guild:

He

Guild:

was

Guild:

surprised,

Guild:

however,

Guild:

that

Guild:

she

Guild:

had

Guild:

not

Guild:

opened

Guild:

the

Guild:

door

Guild:

before

Guild:

coming

Guild:

in,

Guild:

and

Guild:

even

Guild:

more

Guild:

surprised

Guild:

at

Guild:

the

Guild:

strange,

Guild:

dark

Guild:

stain

Guild:

on

Guild:

her

Guild:

NYU

Guild:

t-shirt.

Most

Guild:

of

Guild:

all,

Guild:

she

Guild:

was

Guild:

standing

Guild:

in

Guild:

Steward’s

Guild:

office.

Guild:

People

Guild:

only

Guild:

stood

Guild:

there

Guild:

when

Guild:

they

Guild:

had

Guild:

a

Guild:

problem

Guild:

he

Guild:

could

Guild:

solve.

Experimentally,

Guild:

Steward

Guild:

closed

Guild:

one

Guild:

amber

Guild:

eye,

Guild:

and

Guild:

the

Guild:

ocelet

Guild:

almost

Guild:

vanished.

Guild:

Her

Guild:

presence

Guild:

was

Guild:

there,

Guild:

like

Guild:

a

Guild:

shadow

Guild:

over

Guild:

reality,

Guild:

but

Guild:

it

Guild:

would

Guild:

have

Guild:

been

Guild:

even

Guild:

money

Guild:

if

Guild:

Steward

Guild:

would

Guild:

have

Guild:

remembered

Guild:

passing

Guild:

her

Guild:

on

Guild:

the

Guild:

street.

“Are

Guild:

you

Guild:

okay?”

Guild:

she

Guild:

asked.

He

Guild:

chuckled

Guild:

softly

Guild:

as

Guild:

he

Guild:

opened

Guild:

his

Guild:

eye. “Yeah,

Guild:

sorry.

Guild:

Old

Guild:

detective

Guild:

trick.

Guild:

How

Guild:

can

Guild:

I

Guild:

help

Guild:

you,

Guild:

miss…?”

“Figueroa.

Guild:

Jane

Guild:

Figueroa.”

Guild:

She

Guild:

offered

Guild:

him

Guild:

her

Guild:

hand.

Guild:

It

Guild:

was

Guild:

like

Guild:

shaking

Guild:

hands

Guild:

with

Guild:

smoke. “And, uh,

Guild:

the

Guild:

fox

Guild:

said

Guild:

you

Guild:

could

Guild:

help

Guild:

me?”

“What

Guild:

fox?”

“Oh,

Guild:

she…”

Guild:

Jane

Guild:

turned

Guild:

to

Guild:

look

Guild:

over

Guild:

her

Guild:

shoulder,

Guild:

her

Guild:

voice

Guild:

trailing

Guild:

off.

Guild:

The

Guild:

front

Guild:

of

Guild:

her

Guild:

t-shirt

Guild:

was

Guild:

dark

Guild:

and

Guild:

sticky,

Guild:

the

Guild:

back

Guild:

was

Guild:

shredded,

Guild:

as

Guild:

was

Guild:

the

Guild:

skin

Guild:

underneath,

Guild:

revealing

Guild:

the

Guild:

pale

Guild:

white

Guild:

bone

Guild:

of

Guild:

her

Guild:

lower two

Guild:

ribs.

Guild:

Whatever

Guild:

had

Guild:

stabbed

Guild:

her

Guild:

must

Guild:

have

Guild:

gone

Guild:

clean

Guild:

through.

Guild:

The

Guild:

ocelot

Guild:

turned

Guild:

back

Guild:

with

Guild:

a

Guild:

confused

Guild:

look. “I

Guild:

thought

Guild:

she

Guild:

was

Guild:

right

Guild:

behind

Guild:

me.”

“Did

Guild:

her eyes

Guild:

glow?”

Jane

Guild:

hesitated,

Guild:

then

Guild:

nodded. “I

Guild:

thought

Guild:

I’d

Guild:

imagined

Guild:

it.”

With

Guild:

a

Guild:

sigh,

Guild:

Steward

Guild:

stood

Guild:

and

Guild:

shook

Guild:

his

Guild:

head. “Maria.

Guild:

I

Guild:

guess

Guild:

you’d

Guild:

call

Guild:

her

Guild:

my

Guild:

mother-in-law.

Guild:

She’ll

Guild:

turn

Guild:

up

Guild:

when

Guild:

she

Guild:

wants

Guild:

to.

Guild:

How

Guild:

can

Guild:

I

Guild:

help

Guild:

you?”

Guild:

He

Guild:

waved

Guild:

the

Guild:

ocelot

Guild:

into

Guild:

the

Guild:

chair

Guild:

in

Guild:

front

Guild:

of

Guild:

his

Guild:

desk

Guild:

with

Guild:

his

Guild:

notebook.

Jane

Guild:

did

Guild:

not

Guild:

sit

Guild:

so

Guild:

much

Guild:

as

Guild:

one

Guild:

moment

Guild:

she

Guild:

was

Guild:

standing

Guild:

and

Guild:

the

Guild:

next

Guild:

she

Guild:

was

Guild:

sitting. “I

Guild:

need

Guild:

your help to solve

Guild:

a

Guild:

murder.”

Guild:

She

Guild:

would

Guild:

not

Guild:

look

Guild:

at

Guild:

Steward.

Guild:

Her

Guild:

gaze

Guild:

was

Guild:

fixed

Guild:

on

Guild:

a

Guild:

dark

Guild:

circle

Guild:

of

Guild:

water

Guild:

damage

Guild:

on

Guild:

the

Guild:

ceiling

Guild:

tiles.

Steward

Guild:

waited.

She

Guild:

took

Guild:

a

Guild:

deep,

Guild:

shuddering

Guild:

breath

Guild:

and

Guild:

closed

Guild:

her

Guild:

eyes. “I

Guild:

need

Guild:

your

Guild:

help

Guild:

to

Guild:

solve

Guild:

my

Guild:

murder.”

The

Guild:

sun

Guild:

was

Guild:

just

Guild:

setting

Guild:

behind

Guild:

the

Guild:

New

Guild:

Jersey

Guild:

skyline

Guild:

when

Guild:

Steward

Guild:

parked

Guild:

his

Guild:

ancient

Guild:

car

Guild:

in

Guild:

a

Guild:

little

Guild:

lot

Guild:

across

Guild:

from

Guild:

the

Guild:

Intrepid.

Guild:

He

Guild:

walked

Guild:

in

Guild:

silence

Guild:

across

Guild:

the

Guild:

foot bridge

Guild:

and

Guild:

then

Guild:

south

Guild:

along

Guild:

the

Guild:

river.

Guild:

Jane

Guild:

didn’t

Guild:

walk

Guild:

beside

Guild:

him,

Guild:

but

Guild:

she

Guild:

was

Guild:

always

Guild:

there

Guild:

whenever

Guild:

he

Guild:

turned

Guild:

to

Guild:

look

Guild:

at

Guild:

her.

“Where

Guild:

did

Guild:

it

Guild:

happen?”

Guild:

he

Guild:

asked

Guild:

her

Guild:

as

Guild:

they

Guild:

turned

Guild:

onto

Guild:

Pier 84.

She

Guild:

pointed

Guild:

to

Guild:

an

Guild:

unassuming

Guild:

spot

Guild:

of

Guild:

boardwalk

Guild:

past

Guild:

the

Guild:

water

Guild:

fountain.

Guild:

The

Guild:

question

Guild:

had

Guild:

been

Guild:

unnecessary—a

Guild:

copious

Guild:

amount

Guild:

of

Guild:

police

Guild:

tape,

Guild:

with

Guild:

an

Guild:

equally

Guild:

large

Guild:

outpouring

Guild:

of

Guild:

dark

Guild:

blue

Guild:

uniforms

Guild:

clearly

Guild:

indicated

Guild:

the

Guild:

scene

Guild:

of

Guild:

Jane’s

Guild:

untimely

Guild:

death.

“Someone

Guild:

must

Guild:

have

Guild:

found

Guild:

you,”

Guild:

Steward

Guild:

told

Guild:

Jane

Guild:

under

Guild:

his

Guild:

breath.

“That’s

Guild:

good,

Guild:

right?”

Guild:

she

Guild:

said,

Guild:

though

Guild:

her

Guild:

voice

Guild:

quavered

Guild:

in

Guild:

concern

Guild:

and

Guild:

worry,

Guild:

crackling

Guild:

around

Guild:

her

Guild:

like

Guild:

static. “They’ll

Guild:

be

Guild:

able

Guild:

to

Guild:

figure

Guild:

out

Guild:

who

Guild:

did

Guild:

this

Guild:

to

Guild:

me.”

“Maybe,”

Guild:

Steward

Guild:

allowed.

Guild:

He

Guild:

didn’t

Guild:

look

Guild:

at

Guild:

her,

Guild:

but

Guild:

swept

Guild:

his

Guild:

gaze

Guild:

over

Guild:

the

Guild:

crowd,

Guild:

opening

Guild:

himself

Guild:

up

Guild:

to

Guild:

the

Guild:

Sight.

Guild:

It

Guild:

had

Guild:

been

Guild:

more

Guild:

than

Guild:

five

Guild:

years

Guild:

since

Guild:

a

Guild:

headless

Guild:

thing

Guild:

had

Guild:

nearly

Guild:

gouged

Guild:

out

Guild:

his

Guild:

left

Guild:

eye

Guild:

and

Guild:

inadvertently

Guild:

given

Guild:

him

Guild:

a

Guild:

glimpse

Guild:

into

Guild:

the

Guild:

supernatural.

Guild:

He

Guild:

was

Guild:

still

Guild:

a

Guild:

novice

Guild:

at

Guild:

the

Guild:

full

Guild:

extent

Guild:

of

Guild:

this

Guild:

power,

Guild:

but

Guild:

its

Guild:

first

Guild:

and

Guild:

primary

Guild:

use

Guild:

was

Guild:

just

Guild:

to

Guild:

see

Guild:

what

Guild:

was

Guild:

hidden.

There

Guild:

was

Guild:

nothing

Guild:

unusually

Guild:

supernatural

Guild:

in

Guild:

the

Guild:

evening

Guild:

crowd—just

Guild:

the

Guild:

regular

Guild:

mix

Guild:

of

Guild:

minor

Guild:

spirits

Guild:

and

Guild:

entities—but

Guild:

fear

Guild:

and

Guild:

worry

Guild:

arced

Guild:

from

Guild:

person

Guild:

to

Guild:

person

Guild:

like

Guild:

electricity.

Guild:

Strong

Guild:

emotions,

Guild:

especially

Guild:

strong

Guild:

negative

Guild:

emotions,

Guild:

were

Guild:

like

Guild:

a

Guild:

beacon

Guild:

to

Guild:

the

Guild:

darker

Guild:

things

Guild:

that

Guild:

fed

Guild:

on

Guild:

humanity.

Guild:

Once

Guild:

the

Guild:

sun

Guild:

had

Guild:

finally

Guild:

set,

Guild:

Steward

Guild:

thought,

Guild:

this

Guild:

place

Guild:

would

Guild:

become

Guild:

a

Guild:

buffet.

He

Guild:

paused,

Guild:

and

Guild:

blinked.

Guild:

In

Guild:

the

Guild:

light,

Guild:

he

Guild:

had

Guild:

missed

Guild:

it,

Guild:

but

Guild:

there

Guild:

were

Guild:

more

Guild:

than

Guild:

a

Guild:

dozen

Guild:

ghosts

Guild:

in

Guild:

the

Guild:

crowd,

Guild:

staring

Guild:

at

Guild:

him,

Guild:

so

Guild:

faded

Guild:

as

Guild:

to

Guild:

be

Guild:

almost

Guild:

nonexistent.

Guild:

The

Guild:

insubstantial

Guild:

undead

Guild:

were

Guild:

not

Guild:

an

Guild:

unusual

Guild:

occurrence

Guild:

in

Guild:

a

Guild:

city

Guild:

as

Guild:

large

Guild:

as

Guild:

New

Guild:

York,

Guild:

but

Guild:

they

Guild:

rarely

Guild:

emerged

Guild:

in

Guild:

the

Guild:

day,

Guild:

or

Guild:

left

Guild:

the

Guild:

place

Guild:

or

Guild:

object

Guild:

of

Guild:

their

Guild:

haunting.

Guild:

You

Guild:

could

Guild:

always

Guild:

count

Guild:

on

Guild:

a

Guild:

ghost

Guild:

to

Guild:

stick

Guild:

around—they

Guild:

were,

Guild:

as

Guild:

a

Guild:

rule,

Guild:

spirits

Guild:

of

Guild:

habit.

“Let’s

Guild:

trace

Guild:

your

Guild:

steps,”

Guild:

he

Guild:

suggested

Guild:

to

Guild:

Jane,

Guild:

tearing

Guild:

his

Guild:

gaze

Guild:

away

Guild:

from

Guild:

the

Guild:

spectral

Guild:

host.

Guild:

Generally,

Guild:

ghosts

Guild:

were

Guild:

fairly

Guild:

harmless,

Guild:

except

Guild:

for

Guild:

the

Guild:

rare

Guild:

situation

Guild:

in

Guild:

which

Guild:

they

Guild:

were

Guild:

overwhelmed

Guild:

with

Guild:

emotion.

Guild:

Because

Guild:

they

Guild:

became

Guild:

less

Guild:

emotional

Guild:

over

Guild:

time,

Guild:

until

Guild:

finally

Guild:

they

Guild:

faded

Guild:

away

Guild:

completely,

Guild:

the

Guild:

older a

Guild:

ghost

Guild:

was,

Guild:

the

Guild:

safer

Guild:

it

Guild:

was.

“What

Guild:

about

Guild:

the

Guild:

police?”

“Don’t

Guild:

worry

Guild:

about

Guild:

them,”

Guild:

Steward

Guild:

told

Guild:

her.

Guild:

He

Guild:

swept

Guild:

his

Guild:

Sight

Guild:

over

Guild:

the

Guild:

cops

Guild:

a

Guild:

second

Guild:

time,

Guild:

noting

Guild:

the

Guild:

colors

Guild:

of

Guild:

the

Guild:

auras

Guild:

mingling

Guild:

together.

Guild:

He

Guild:

saw

Guild:

none

Guild:

of

Guild:

the

Guild:

tell-tale

Guild:

signs

Guild:

of

Guild:

supernatural

Guild:

meddling

Guild:

that

Guild:

so

Guild:

frequently

Guild:

confounded

Guild:

mortals.

Guild:

That

Guild:

either

Guild:

meant

Guild:

they

Guild:

were

Guild:

dealing

Guild:

with

Guild:

an

Guild:

amateur

Guild:

or

Guild:

something

Guild:

that

Guild:

didn’t

Guild:

know,

Guild:

or

Guild:

care,

Guild:

enough

Guild:

about

Guild:

humanity

Guild:

to

Guild:

want

Guild:

to

Guild:

hide

Guild:

its

Guild:

tracks.

The

Guild:

average

Guild:

person’s

Guild:

aura

Guild:

was

Guild:

a

Guild:

faint

Guild:

glow,

Guild:

barely

Guild:

perceivable

Guild:

unless

Guild:

Steward

Guild:

focused

Guild:

hard,

Guild:

which

Guild:

looked

Guild:

a

Guild:

lot

Guild:

like

Guild:

giving

Guild:

someone

Guild:

the

Guild:

stinkeye.

Guild:

Supernatural

Guild:

creatures

Guild:

had

Guild:

typically

Guild:

unique,

Guild:

though

Guild:

the

Guild:

closer

Guild:

one

Guild:

got

Guild:

to

Guild:

humanity,

Guild:

the

Guild:

more

Guild:

human-like

Guild:

their

Guild:

aura

Guild:

was.

Guild:

Jane

Guild:

had

Guild:

the

Guild:

afterglow

Guild:

of

Guild:

an

Guild:

aura,

Guild:

bleached

Guild:

of

Guild:

color,

Guild:

like

Guild:

the

Guild:

halo

Guild:

that

Guild:

comes

Guild:

from

Guild:

staring

Guild:

at

Guild:

a

Guild:

light

Guild:

and

Guild:

then

Guild:

closing

Guild:

your

Guild:

eyes.

A

Guild:

very

Guild:

few

Guild:

people,

Guild:

and

Guild:

there

Guild:

was

Guild:

one

Guild:

amongst

Guild:

the

Guild:

police,

Guild:

had

Guild:

strong,

Guild:

vivid

auras:

auras:

the

auras:

heavy

auras:

dark

auras:

colors

auras:

of

auras:

an

auras:

oil

auras:

painting

auras:

or

auras:

the

auras:

holy

auras:

eruption

auras:

of

auras:

a

auras:

solar

auras:

prominence.

auras:

The

auras:

cop

auras:

in

auras:

question,

auras:

his

auras:

aura

auras:

weirdly

auras:

familiar,

auras:

though

auras:

Steward

auras:

could

auras:

not

auras:

remember

auras:

seeing

auras:

it

auras:

before,

auras:

was

auras:

a

auras:

Broadway

auras:

spotlight,

auras:

clean,

auras:

bright,

auras:

burning

auras:

away

auras:

the

auras:

darkness

auras:

with

auras:

an

auras:

unflinching

auras:

and

auras:

unstoppable

auras:

heat.

auras:

Beautiful

auras:

but

auras:

dangerous

auras:

without

auras:

ever

auras:

realizing

auras:

it.

Steward

auras:

was

auras:

so

auras:

distracted

auras:

by

auras:

this

auras:

brilliance

auras:

that

auras:

he

auras:

did

auras:

not

auras:

notice

auras:

its

auras:

owner

auras:

until

auras:

Jane

auras:

had

auras:

led

auras:

him

auras:

right

auras:

to

auras:

the

auras:

edge

auras:

of

auras:

the

auras:

criss-crossed

auras:

police

auras:

tape.

auras:

That’s

auras:

when

auras:

he

auras:

finally

auras:

blinked

auras:

away

auras:

the

auras:

Sight

auras:

and

auras:

found

auras:

himself,

auras:

nose-to-nose,

auras:

with

auras:

his

auras:

ex-boyfriend.

New

auras:

York

auras:

Police

auras:

Detective

auras:

Riley

auras:

Vita

auras:

was

auras:

a

auras:

jaguar

auras:

with

auras:

a

auras:

permanent

auras:

scowl,

auras:

tired

auras:

green

auras:

eyes,

auras:

and

auras:

a

auras:

firefighter’s

auras:

physique.

auras:

He

auras:

wore

auras:

a

auras:

suit

auras:

that

auras:

fit

auras:

him

auras:

like

auras:

he

auras:

and

auras:

it

auras:

had

auras:

been

auras:

carved

auras:

from

auras:

the

auras:

same

auras:

block

auras:

of

auras:

black

auras:

marble,

auras:

down

auras:

to

auras:

the

auras:

subtle

auras:

but

auras:

unmistakable

auras:

bulge

auras:

of

auras:

his

auras:

service

auras:

gun

auras:

in

auras:

a

auras:

shoulder

auras:

holster.

auras:

Contrarily, his

auras:

badge,

auras:

attached

auras:

to

auras:

his

auras:

belt,

auras:

looked

auras:

like

auras:

an

auras:

afterthought,

auras:

tacked

auras:

on

auras:

in

auras:

haste.

auras:

Vita

auras:

looked

auras:

as

auras:

shocked

auras:

as

auras:

Steward

auras:

felt

auras:

at

auras:

the

auras:

unexpected

auras:

meeting.

“Davey?

auras:

What

auras:

the

auras:

fuck are you

auras:

doing

auras:

here?”

Steward

auras:

briefly

auras:

considered

auras:

walking

auras:

away,

auras:

or

auras:

even

auras:

better,

auras:

punching

auras:

Vita

auras:

in

auras:

his

auras:

muscular

auras:

jaw.

auras:

A

auras:

younger,

auras:

brasher

auras:

Steward

auras:

might

auras:

have

auras:

done

auras:

it,

auras:

but

auras:

nearly

auras:

fifteen

auras:

years

auras:

of

auras:

experience

auras:

had

auras:

taught

auras:

him

auras:

at

auras:

least

auras:

one

auras:

extremely

auras:

valuable

lesson:

lesson:

getting

lesson:

himself

lesson:

arrested

lesson:

didn’t

lesson:

solve

lesson:

cases.

Besides,

lesson:

Vito

lesson:

was

lesson:

bigger

lesson:

and

lesson:

stronger

lesson:

than

lesson:

he

lesson:

was.

“Hi,

lesson:

Riley,”

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

managed

lesson:

to

lesson:

keep

lesson:

his

lesson:

voice

lesson:

from

lesson:

descending

lesson:

into

lesson:

a

lesson:

growl. “You

lesson:

got

lesson:

a

lesson:

murder

lesson:

back

lesson:

there?”

Vita’s

lesson:

exhausted

lesson:

emerald

lesson:

eyes

lesson:

narrowed.

lesson:

They

lesson:

swept

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

up

lesson:

and

lesson:

down,

lesson:

taking

lesson:

in

lesson:

everything—his

lesson:

clothes,

lesson:

his

lesson:

posture,

lesson:

the

lesson:

missing

lesson:

chunk

lesson:

of

lesson:

ear

lesson:

and

lesson:

his

lesson:

scarred

lesson:

face,

lesson:

even

lesson:

his

lesson:

shiny

lesson:

but

lesson:

heavily

lesson:

dented

lesson:

gold

lesson:

wedding

lesson:

ring.

lesson:

Especially

lesson:

the

lesson:

wedding

lesson:

ring.

Steward sighed. “A

lesson:

client

lesson:

hired

lesson:

me

lesson:

to

lesson:

look

lesson:

into

lesson:

it.”

“Who?”

“Private.

lesson:

Sorry.”

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

did

lesson:

not

lesson:

sound

lesson:

sorry.

“Then,”

lesson:

said

lesson:

Vita

lesson:

in

lesson:

the

lesson:

tones

lesson:

of

lesson:

a

lesson:

man

lesson:

used

lesson:

to

lesson:

being

lesson:

obeyed, “you

lesson:

can

lesson:

just

lesson:

move

lesson:

along,

lesson:

civilian.”

“Come

lesson:

on,

lesson:

Riley,”

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

said.

lesson:

He

lesson:

cringed

lesson:

inwardly.

lesson:

How

lesson:

easy

lesson:

it

lesson:

was

lesson:

to

lesson:

fall

lesson:

into

lesson:

those

lesson:

old

lesson:

habits,

lesson:

the

lesson:

bargaining,

lesson:

the

lesson:

wheedling,

lesson:

Vita’s

lesson:

refusal

lesson:

to

lesson:

permit

lesson:

anything

lesson:

unless

lesson:

he

lesson:

was

lesson:

in

lesson:

control. “You

lesson:

can

lesson:

watch

lesson:

me

lesson:

every

lesson:

step

lesson:

of

lesson:

the

lesson:

way.

lesson:

I

lesson:

won’t

lesson:

touch

lesson:

anything,

lesson:

I

lesson:

won’t

lesson:

get

lesson:

in

lesson:

the

lesson:

way.

lesson:

I

lesson:

just

lesson:

need

lesson:

to

lesson:

see

lesson:

it.”

Vita

lesson:

glanced

lesson:

down

lesson:

at

lesson:

Steward’s

lesson:

ring

lesson:

again.

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

took

lesson:

the

lesson:

opportunity

lesson:

to

lesson:

look

lesson:

over

lesson:

at

lesson:

Jane

lesson:

and

lesson:

subtly

lesson:

motion

lesson:

towards

lesson:

the

lesson:

densest

lesson:

cluster

lesson:

of

lesson:

cops.

lesson:

She

lesson:

flashed

lesson:

him

lesson:

a

lesson:

thumbs

lesson:

up,

lesson:

then

lesson:

vanished

lesson:

only

lesson:

to

lesson:

reappear,

lesson:

shimmering

lesson:

in

lesson:

the

lesson:

waning

lesson:

light,

lesson:

where

lesson:

he

lesson:

had

lesson:

gestured.

“Fine,”

lesson:

said

lesson:

Vita

lesson:

in

lesson:

a

lesson:

flat

lesson:

voice,

lesson:

nearly

lesson:

causing

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

to

lesson:

jump.

lesson:

He

lesson:

had

lesson:

almost

lesson:

forgotten

lesson:

his

lesson:

ex

lesson:

was

lesson:

there. “But

lesson:

you

lesson:

touch

lesson:

nothing,

lesson:

you

lesson:

got

lesson:

me?

lesson:

I

lesson:

don’t

lesson:

need

lesson:

you

lesson:

fucking

lesson:

up

lesson:

my

lesson:

case.”

Steward

lesson:

raised

lesson:

his

lesson:

hands

lesson:

in

lesson:

something

lesson:

like

lesson:

a

lesson:

surrender.

lesson:

With a

lesson:

last

lesson:

look

lesson:

at

lesson:

Steward’s

lesson:

ring,

lesson:

Vita

lesson:

lifted

lesson:

the

lesson:

police

lesson:

tape

lesson:

enough

lesson:

for

lesson:

the

lesson:

wolf

lesson:

to

lesson:

duck

lesson:

underneath,

lesson:

then

lesson:

led

lesson:

the

lesson:

way

lesson:

to

lesson:

the

lesson:

body—Jane’s

lesson:

body—laying

lesson:

face

lesson:

down

lesson:

on

lesson:

the

lesson:

concrete.

lesson:

Someone

lesson:

had

lesson:

flung

lesson:

a

lesson:

tarp

lesson:

over

lesson:

her,

lesson:

but

lesson:

one

lesson:

hand

lesson:

and

lesson:

the

lesson:

tip

lesson:

of

lesson:

her

lesson:

muzzle

lesson:

were

lesson:

still

lesson:

visible.

“You

lesson:

okay,

lesson:

detective?”

lesson:

Figueroa

lesson:

whispered

lesson:

in

lesson:

his

lesson:

ear.

He

lesson:

privately

lesson:

thought

lesson:

he

lesson:

was

lesson:

doing

lesson:

better

lesson:

than

lesson:

she

lesson:

was,

lesson:

but

lesson:

all

lesson:

he

lesson:

did

lesson:

was

lesson:

nod.

“What

lesson:

do

lesson:

you

lesson:

have,

lesson:

Riley?”

Vita

lesson:

lifted

lesson:

a

lesson:

lip

lesson:

in

lesson:

a

lesson:

silent

lesson:

growl,

lesson:

revealing

lesson:

smoke-stained

lesson:

fangs. “Murder.

lesson:

Stabbed

lesson:

in

lesson:

the

lesson:

back

lesson:

with

lesson:

something

lesson:

long,

lesson:

long

lesson:

enough

lesson:

to

lesson:

go

lesson:

out

lesson:

the

lesson:

other

lesson:

end.

lesson:

Multiple

lesson:

times.

lesson:

Witnesses

lesson:

say

lesson:

the

lesson:

vik

lesson:

was

lesson:

attacked

lesson:

by

lesson:

her

lesson:

boyfriend.”

“What?”

lesson:

Figueroa

lesson:

appeared

lesson:

at

lesson:

Steward’s side. “There’s

lesson:

no

lesson:

way.”

Steward

lesson:

struggled

lesson:

to

lesson:

keep

lesson:

his

lesson:

gaze

lesson:

steady

lesson:

on

lesson:

the

lesson:

panther. “What

lesson:

do

lesson:

you

lesson:

think?”

Vita

lesson:

shrugged.

They

lesson:

were

lesson:

standing

lesson:

in

lesson:

a

lesson:

little

lesson:

semicircle,

lesson:

the

lesson:

two

lesson:

living

lesson:

detectives

lesson:

and

lesson:

the

lesson:

dead

lesson:

girl,

lesson:

all

lesson:

staring

lesson:

down

lesson:

at

lesson:

the

lesson:

lump

lesson:

Figueroa’s

lesson:

body

lesson:

made

lesson:

under

lesson:

the

lesson:

tarp.

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

looked

lesson:

down

lesson:

at

lesson:

it,

lesson:

brow

lesson:

knit

lesson:

as

lesson:

he

lesson:

tried

lesson:

to

lesson:

organize

lesson:

the

lesson:

paucity

lesson:

of

lesson:

clues

lesson:

so

lesson:

far.

lesson:

Vita

lesson:

was

lesson:

staring

lesson:

at

lesson:

Steward,

lesson:

hunger

lesson:

gleaming

lesson:

in

lesson:

his

lesson:

tired

lesson:

emerald

lesson:

eyes.

lesson:

Figueroa

lesson:

was

lesson:

staring

lesson:

at

lesson:

nothing,

lesson:

trying

lesson:

not

lesson:

to

lesson:

be

lesson:

confronted

lesson:

with

lesson:

the

lesson:

very

lesson:

violent

lesson:

reminder

lesson:

of

lesson:

her

lesson:

own

lesson:

mortality.

Steward

lesson:

glanced

lesson:

up

lesson:

at

lesson:

Vita. “Can

lesson:

I see her?”

Vita

lesson:

flicked the

lesson:

tarp

lesson:

off.

“Something’s

lesson:

wrong,”

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

said.

lesson:

He

lesson:

wasn’t

lesson:

looking

lesson:

at

lesson:

the

lesson:

body.

lesson:

His

lesson:

gaze

lesson:

was

lesson:

fixed

lesson:

on

lesson:

the

lesson:

ghost,

lesson:

who

lesson:

was,

lesson:

in

lesson:

turn,

lesson:

looking

lesson:

down

lesson:

at

lesson:

her

lesson:

own

lesson:

remains.

“No

lesson:

shit?”

lesson:

Vito

lesson:

snorted.

lesson:

He

lesson:

tugged

lesson:

the

lesson:

tarp

lesson:

back

lesson:

over

lesson:

Figueroa’s

lesson:

body

lesson:

as

lesson:

carelessly

lesson:

as

lesson:

he

lesson:

had

lesson:

twitched

lesson:

it

lesson:

off. “I

lesson:

hope

lesson:

you

lesson:

got

lesson:

what

lesson:

you

lesson:

want,

lesson:

Dave.

lesson:

We’ll

lesson:

take

lesson:

it

lesson:

from

lesson:

here.”

“Come

lesson:

on,

lesson:

Riley…”

Vito

lesson:

shook

lesson:

his

lesson:

head. “Not

lesson:

gonna

lesson:

work,

lesson:

puppy.

lesson:

You

lesson:

want

lesson:

more,

lesson:

you

lesson:

make

lesson:

a

lesson:

request

lesson:

for

lesson:

my

lesson:

report

lesson:

next

lesson:

week.”

Steward

lesson:

knew

lesson:

he

lesson:

could

lesson:

beg

lesson:

and

lesson:

plead

lesson:

and,

lesson:

eventually,

lesson:

Vito

lesson:

would

lesson:

relent.

lesson:

It

lesson:

was

lesson:

what

lesson:

the

lesson:

jaguar

lesson:

wanted,

lesson:

to

lesson:

feel

lesson:

big

lesson:

and

lesson:

important.

lesson:

To

lesson:

be

lesson:

the

lesson:

one

lesson:

calling

lesson:

the

lesson:

shots.

lesson:

Once

lesson:

upon

lesson:

a

lesson:

time,

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

would

lesson:

have

lesson:

obliged.

lesson:

But

lesson:

he

lesson:

wasn’t

lesson:

that

lesson:

cringing

lesson:

kid

lesson:

any

lesson:

more,

lesson:

and

lesson:

he

lesson:

had

lesson:

tools

lesson:

that

lesson:

Vito

lesson:

couldn’t

lesson:

even

lesson:

imagine.

He

lesson:

opened

lesson:

up

lesson:

the

lesson:

Sight

lesson:

and

lesson:

looked

lesson:

down.

lesson:

The

lesson:

tarp

lesson:

was

lesson:

no

lesson:

hindrance

lesson:

to

lesson:

the

lesson:

lingering

lesson:

magic

lesson:

that

lesson:

lurked

lesson:

in

lesson:

his

lesson:

damaged eye.

lesson:

He

lesson:

could

lesson:

see

lesson:

beyond

lesson:

a

lesson:

shadow

lesson:

of

lesson:

a

lesson:

doubt

lesson:

the

lesson:

injury

lesson:

that

lesson:

had

lesson:

taken

lesson:

Figueroa’s

lesson:

life.

lesson:

The

lesson:

claws—he

lesson:

knew

lesson:

it

lesson:

was

lesson:

claws—had

lesson:

punctured

lesson:

not

lesson:

only

lesson:

her

lesson:

torso

lesson:

but

lesson:

reality

lesson:

itself,

lesson:

and

lesson:

left

lesson:

a

lesson:

tar,

lesson:

black

lesson:

and

lesson:

sticky,

lesson:

behind,

lesson:

the

lesson:

way

lesson:

a

lesson:

rabid

lesson:

animal

lesson:

leaves

lesson:

saliva

lesson:

behind

lesson:

when

lesson:

it

lesson:

bites.

“Davey?”

lesson:

Vito

lesson:

asked,

lesson:

his

lesson:

voice

lesson:

softening

lesson:

the

lesson:

merest

lesson:

fraction. “You

lesson:

okay?”

Steward

lesson:

looked

lesson:

up

lesson:

into

lesson:

the

lesson:

spotlight

lesson:

burn

lesson:

of

lesson:

his

lesson:

ex,

lesson:

into

lesson:

those

lesson:

tired

lesson:

green

lesson:

eyes,

lesson:

and

lesson:

nodded.

lesson:

There

lesson:

was

lesson:

the

lesson:

part

lesson:

of

lesson:

Vito

lesson:

that

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

had

lesson:

fell

lesson:

in

lesson:

love

lesson:

with,

lesson:

the

lesson:

protector,

lesson:

the

lesson:

savior,

lesson:

the

lesson:

one

lesson:

who

lesson:

cared.

Steward

lesson:

could

lesson:

care

lesson:

for

lesson:

himself

lesson:

now.

“Yeah,

lesson:

just

lesson:

thinking.

lesson:

Call

lesson:

me

lesson:

when

lesson:

that

lesson:

report’s

lesson:

done.”

lesson:

He

lesson:

fished

lesson:

out

lesson:

a

lesson:

business

lesson:

card

lesson:

and

lesson:

shoved

lesson:

it

lesson:

into

lesson:

Vito’s

lesson:

hand

lesson:

before

lesson:

striding

lesson:

off.

Steward

lesson:

found

lesson:

Figueroa

lesson:

waiting

lesson:

for

lesson:

him

lesson:

on 10th

lesson:

Avenue.

lesson:

He

lesson:

lounged

lesson:

against

lesson:

the

lesson:

chain-link

lesson:

fence

lesson:

of

lesson:

a

lesson:

basketball

lesson:

court,

lesson:

pretending

lesson:

to

lesson:

be

lesson:

watching

lesson:

the

lesson:

game

lesson:

and

lesson:

trusting to

lesson:

the

lesson:

darkness

lesson:

to

lesson:

hide

lesson:

his

lesson:

conversation.

lesson:

Across

lesson:

the

lesson:

street

lesson:

was

lesson:

a

lesson:

cluster

lesson:

of

lesson:

phantom

lesson:

figures

lesson:

that

lesson:

had

lesson:

materialized

lesson:

as

lesson:

soon

lesson:

as

lesson:

he

lesson:

had

lesson:

stopped

lesson:

moving.

lesson:

More

lesson:

ghosts.

“You

lesson:

doing

lesson:

okay?”

lesson:

he

lesson:

asked

lesson:

her.

Figueroa

lesson:

furrowed

lesson:

her brow

lesson:

in

lesson:

thought,

lesson:

then

lesson:

shook

lesson:

her

lesson:

head.

“Look,”

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

told

lesson:

her,

lesson:

one

lesson:

hand

lesson:

reaching

lesson:

up

lesson:

to

lesson:

touch

lesson:

the

lesson:

scar

lesson:

over

lesson:

his

lesson:

eye, “I

lesson:

don’t

lesson:

really

lesson:

know

lesson:

what

lesson:

you’re

lesson:

going

lesson:

through,

lesson:

but

lesson:

if

lesson:

you

lesson:

don’t

lesson:

mind

lesson:

a

lesson:

little

lesson:

advice,

lesson:

try

lesson:

not

lesson:

to

lesson:

think

lesson:

of

lesson:

the

lesson:

body

lesson:

as

lesson:

though

lesson:

it’s

lesson:

you,

lesson:

not

lesson:

any

lesson:

more.

lesson:

It’s

lesson:

not

lesson:

good

lesson:

to

lesson:

get

lesson:

fixated

lesson:

on

lesson:

your

lesson:

life.”

“Have

lesson:

a

lesson:

lot

lesson:

of

lesson:

experience

lesson:

with

lesson:

this,

lesson:

detective?”

lesson:

There

lesson:

was

lesson:

venom

lesson:

in

lesson:

her

lesson:

words.

lesson:

In

lesson:

the

lesson:

peripheral,

lesson:

the

lesson:

phantoms

lesson:

floated

lesson:

a

lesson:

tiny

lesson:

bit

lesson:

closer.

“As

lesson:

much

lesson:

as

lesson:

anyone,”

lesson:

he

lesson:

said. “Ghosts who

lesson:

get

lesson:

too

lesson:

attached

lesson:

start

lesson:

having

lesson:

trouble

lesson:

letting

lesson:

go.

lesson:

It

lesson:

doesn’t

lesson:

always,

lesson:

but

lesson:

it

lesson:

can

lesson:

fester.”

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

hesitated

lesson:

for

lesson:

a

lesson:

moment

lesson:

before

lesson:

he

lesson:

continued. “I’ve

lesson:

seen

lesson:

what

lesson:

it

lesson:

can

lesson:

do

lesson:

to

lesson:

someone.

lesson:

It’s

lesson:

not

lesson:

pretty,

lesson:

Jane.”

“I

lesson:

can’t

lesson:

just

lesson:

ignore

lesson:

what

lesson:

I

lesson:

saw.

lesson:

What

lesson:

happened

lesson:

to

lesson:

me.”

“I’m

lesson:

not

lesson:

telling

lesson:

you

lesson:

to,”

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

said. “Just

lesson:

remember

lesson:

that

lesson:

what

lesson:

happened

lesson:

to

lesson:

you

lesson:

wasn’t

lesson:

the

lesson:

end.

lesson:

You

lesson:

get

lesson:

to

lesson:

move

lesson:

forward,

lesson:

and

lesson:

that’s

lesson:

not

lesson:

something

lesson:

a

lesson:

lot

lesson:

of

lesson:

people

lesson:

can

lesson:

say.”

“Hey,

lesson:

man,”

lesson:

one

lesson:

of

lesson:

the

lesson:

basketball

lesson:

players, a

lesson:

scrawny

lesson:

elk,

lesson:

called

lesson:

out

lesson:

to

lesson:

Steward, “You

lesson:

talking

lesson:

to

lesson:

us?

lesson:

What’s

lesson:

your

lesson:

deal?”

“Practicing

lesson:

a

lesson:

speech,”

lesson:

he

lesson:

called

lesson:

back. “Sorry

lesson:

to

lesson:

bother

lesson:

you.”

lesson:

He

lesson:

pushed

lesson:

off

lesson:

of

lesson:

the

lesson:

fence

lesson:

and

lesson:

headed

lesson:

north

lesson:

along

lesson:

the

lesson:

avenue,

lesson:

hands

lesson:

deep

lesson:

in

lesson:

the

lesson:

pockets

lesson:

of

lesson:

the

lesson:

thin

lesson:

coat

lesson:

he

lesson:

wore

lesson:

against

lesson:

the

lesson:

unseasonably

lesson:

warm

lesson:

fall

lesson:

night.

lesson:

In

lesson:

his

lesson:

peripheral,

lesson:

he

lesson:

saw

lesson:

the

lesson:

faint

lesson:

shimmer

lesson:

of

lesson:

more

lesson:

ghosts

lesson:

winking

lesson:

in

lesson:

and

lesson:

out

lesson:

of

lesson:

vision.

“Isn’t

lesson:

your

lesson:

car

lesson:

back

lesson:

the other

lesson:

way?”

lesson:

Figueroa

lesson:

asked.

He shook

lesson:

his

lesson:

head. “We’re

lesson:

not

lesson:

done

lesson:

investigating

lesson:

yet.

lesson:

Whatever

lesson:

killed

lesson:

you

lesson:

wasn’t

lesson:

human,

lesson:

or

lesson:

not

lesson:

totally

lesson:

human.

lesson:

We’re

lesson:

going

lesson:

to

lesson:

see

lesson:

if

lesson:

we

lesson:

can

lesson:

find

lesson:

a

lesson:

way

lesson:

to

lesson:

track

lesson:

it.”

“What

lesson:

about

lesson:

the

lesson:

bracelet?”

Figueroa’s

lesson:

ghostly

lesson:

visage

lesson:

hovering

lesson:

half

lesson:

in

lesson:

and

lesson:

half

lesson:

out

lesson:

of

lesson:

the

lesson:

Gotham

lesson:

darkness.

“There

lesson:

was

lesson:

a

lesson:

bracelet

lesson:

on

lesson:

my

lesson:

wrist—my

lesson:

body’s

lesson:

wrist,”

lesson:

Figueroa

lesson:

explained.

lesson:

Her

lesson:

voice

lesson:

was

lesson:

slow,

lesson:

patient,

lesson:

the

lesson:

cadence

lesson:

of

lesson:

someone

lesson:

explaining

lesson:

that

lesson:

the

lesson:

sky

lesson:

is

lesson:

blue. “It

lesson:

wasn’t

lesson:

there

lesson:

before

lesson:

I

lesson:

died,

lesson:

but,”

lesson:

she

lesson:

held

lesson:

up

lesson:

her

lesson:

right

lesson:

hand,

lesson:

semi-transparent

lesson:

in

lesson:

the

lesson:

gloom,

lesson:

and

lesson:

revealed

lesson:

a

lesson:

thin

lesson:

line

lesson:

around

lesson:

her

lesson:

wrist,

lesson:

maybe

lesson:

etched

lesson:

in

lesson:

the

lesson:

fur,

lesson:

maybe

lesson:

floating

lesson:

atop

lesson:

it. “It

lesson:

was

lesson:

silver

lesson:

with

lesson:

milky

lesson:

green

lesson:

gemstones,

lesson:

emeralds,

lesson:

I

lesson:

think.

lesson:

It

lesson:

looked

lesson:

expensive.”

“Could

lesson:

your

lesson:

boyfriend

lesson:

have

lesson:

gotten

lesson:

it

lesson:

for

lesson:

you?”

Figueroa

lesson:

shook

lesson:

her

lesson:

head. “He’s

lesson:

a

lesson:

philosophy

lesson:

TA,”

lesson:

as

lesson:

though

lesson:

that

lesson:

explained

lesson:

it. “And

lesson:

anyway,

lesson:

he

lesson:

spends

lesson:

all

lesson:

his

lesson:

money

lesson:

on

lesson:

a parkour

lesson:

equipment.”

Steward

lesson:

hadn’t

lesson:

the

lesson:

foggiest

lesson:

idea

lesson:

what

lesson:

that

lesson:

was.

He

lesson:

had

lesson:

only

lesson:

caught

lesson:

a

lesson:

glimpse

lesson:

of

lesson:

Figueroa’s

lesson:

body

lesson:

before

lesson:

Riley

lesson:

had

lesson:

snapped

lesson:

the

lesson:

tarp

lesson:

back

lesson:

over

lesson:

her.

lesson:

He

lesson:

didn’t

lesson:

regret

lesson:

not

lesson:

begging

lesson:

Vito

lesson:

for

lesson:

a

lesson:

better

lesson:

look,

lesson:

a

lesson:

chance

lesson:

to

lesson:

examine

lesson:

the

lesson:

body—Steward’s

lesson:

days

lesson:

of

lesson:

blind

lesson:

obeisance

lesson:

to

lesson:

Vito

lesson:

were

lesson:

long

lesson:

over—but

lesson:

he

lesson:

did

lesson:

regret

lesson:

the

lesson:

missed

lesson:

opportunity.

lesson:

There

lesson:

was

lesson:

no

lesson:

possibility

lesson:

of

lesson:

a

lesson:

second

lesson:

look

lesson:

now.

lesson:

Vito

lesson:

had

lesson:

had

lesson:

sufficient

lesson:

time

lesson:

to

lesson:

work

lesson:

up

lesson:

a

lesson:

good

lesson:

head

lesson:

of

lesson:

anger

lesson:

over

lesson:

Steward’s

lesson:

refusal

lesson:

to

lesson:

play

lesson:

the

lesson:

role

lesson:

Vito

lesson:

had

lesson:

made

lesson:

for

lesson:

him.

“Alright,”

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

said. “Can

lesson:

you

lesson:

go

lesson:

back

lesson:

and

lesson:

see

lesson:

if

lesson:

you

lesson:

can

lesson:

find

lesson:

out

lesson:

any

lesson:

more

lesson:

about

lesson:

the

lesson:

bracelet?

lesson:

Any

lesson:

details

lesson:

at

lesson:

all,

lesson:

no

lesson:

matter

lesson:

how

lesson:

minor

lesson:

they

lesson:

might

lesson:

seem.”

“Why?”

“Because

lesson:

there’s

lesson:

a

lesson:

reason

lesson:

something

lesson:

put

lesson:

it

lesson:

on

lesson:

your

lesson:

body.

lesson:

Listen

lesson:

to

lesson:

the

lesson:

cops,

lesson:

too,

lesson:

especially

lesson:

Riley,

lesson:

the

lesson:

big

lesson:

jaguar,

lesson:

and

lesson:

see

lesson:

if

lesson:

they

lesson:

mention

lesson:

it,

lesson:

for

lesson:

as

lesson:

long

lesson:

as

lesson:

you

lesson:

can

lesson:

stomach.”

“How

lesson:

can

lesson:

I

lesson:

find

lesson:

you?”

“Just

lesson:

want

lesson:

to

lesson:

talk

lesson:

to

lesson:

me

lesson:

again,

lesson:

the

lesson:

same

lesson:

way

lesson:

you

lesson:

found

lesson:

my

lesson:

office

lesson:

the

lesson:

first

lesson:

time.

lesson:

For

lesson:

ghosts,

lesson:

where

lesson:

you

lesson:

want

lesson:

to

lesson:

be

lesson:

is

lesson:

where

lesson:

you

lesson:

are.”

And

lesson:

then

lesson:

she

lesson:

was

lesson:

gone.

lesson:

A

lesson:

heartbeat

lesson:

later,

lesson:

so

lesson:

were

lesson:

the

lesson:

last

lesson:

of

lesson:

the

lesson:

ghosts

lesson:

who

lesson:

had

lesson:

come

lesson:

to

lesson:

stare

lesson:

at

lesson:

him

lesson:

in

lesson:

the

lesson:

night.

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

took

lesson:

a

lesson:

deep

lesson:

breath,

lesson:

adding

lesson:

up

lesson:

what

lesson:

he’d

lesson:

seen

lesson:

so

lesson:

far,

lesson:

and

lesson:

found

lesson:

he

lesson:

didn’t

lesson:

like

lesson:

the

lesson:

total.

lesson:

With

lesson:

a

lesson:

growl

lesson:

that

lesson:

was

lesson:

as

lesson:

much

lesson:

Vito’s

lesson:

fault

lesson:

as

lesson:

anything,

lesson:

he

lesson:

continued

lesson:

uptown.

Most

lesson:

big

lesson:

cities

lesson:

are

lesson:

really

lesson:

three

lesson:

cities

lesson:

layered

lesson:

on

lesson:

top

lesson:

of

lesson:

one

lesson:

another.

lesson:

There’s

lesson:

the

lesson:

glitzy,

lesson:

tourist

lesson:

city,

lesson:

the

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one

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that

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advertises

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on

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subways

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and

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appears

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in

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movies

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and

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television,

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the

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one

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that’s

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got

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the

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Statue

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of

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Liberty

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and

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chintzy

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souvenir

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shops.

lesson:

Then

lesson:

there’s

lesson:

the

lesson:

real

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city,

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the

lesson:

one

lesson:

that

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the

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residents

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inhabit,

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the

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one

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with

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the

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neighborhood

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bar

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and

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the

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good

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bodega.

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And

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beneath

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that,

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or

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next

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to

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it,

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or

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above

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it,

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is

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the

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city

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filled

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with

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the

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other

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things,

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the

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cold

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shadow

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of

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the

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living,

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mortal

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cities

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it

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shares

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real

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estate

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with.

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It

lesson:

is

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possible,

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though

lesson:

rarely

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desirable,

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for

lesson:

a

lesson:

person

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to

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move

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from

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one

lesson:

to

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another.

David

lesson:

Steward

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spent

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most

lesson:

of

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his

lesson:

life

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in

lesson:

the

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second

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Manhattan,

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the

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one

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filled

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with

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people

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who

lesson:

just

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wanted

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to

lesson:

live

lesson:

and

lesson:

exist,

lesson:

but

lesson:

five

lesson:

years

lesson:

ago

lesson:

he

lesson:

stepped

lesson:

into

lesson:

the

lesson:

supernatural

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one,

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the

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one

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filled

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with

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strange

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shops

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catering

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to

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a

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thousand

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unique

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needs,

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the

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one

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with

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as

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many

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crypts

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and

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fairy

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rings

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as

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apartments

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and

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brownstones.

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It wasn’t safe

lesson:

for

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him,

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in

lesson:

the

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same

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way

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that

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a

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tourist

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hunting

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down

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a “real”

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bar

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without

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knowing

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anything

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about

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the

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neighborhood

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isn’t

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safe.

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But

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he

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had

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made

lesson:

contacts,

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even

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friends,

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among

lesson:

the

lesson:

not-human

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things

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that

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dwelt

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in

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his

lesson:

city.

And

lesson:

so

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he

lesson:

walked

lesson:

uptown,

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past

lesson:

the

lesson:

former

lesson:

tenements

lesson:

that

lesson:

were

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increasingly

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being

lesson:

gentrified

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by

lesson:

Wall

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Street

lesson:

elite,

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past

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the

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classy,

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upscale

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bars

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with

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live

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music

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flooding

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out

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into

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the

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streets

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like

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pollution,

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past

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the

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pools

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of

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darkness

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and

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light

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cast

lesson:

by

lesson:

the

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street

lesson:

lamps.

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He

lesson:

walked

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and

lesson:

then,

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in

lesson:

the

lesson:

nebulous

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area

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between

lesson:

Midtown

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and

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Uptown,

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he

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hooked

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into

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a

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narrow,

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dark

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alley

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marked

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with

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strange

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runes

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resembled

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nothing

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so

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graffiti.

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It

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opened

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up

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into

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a

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narrow

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park,

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just

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barely

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large

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enough

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that

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Steward

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couldn’t

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touch

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both

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of

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the

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cold

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brick

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walls

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on

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either

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side

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at

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the

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same

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time.

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Little

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shops

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and

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stalls,

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crammed

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in

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like

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too

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many

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books

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a

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shelf,

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littered

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sides

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of

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park.

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These

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shops

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had

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no

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names,

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no

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advertising,

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no

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permits

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or

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licenses,

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and

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the

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average

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mortal

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would

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find

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nothing

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recognizable

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in

lesson:

them,

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nor

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be

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able

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to

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pay

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the

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prices

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the

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owners

lesson:

charged

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for

lesson:

their

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wares.

Steward

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ignored

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the

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wondering

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stares

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of

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the

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fair

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folk,

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and

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pushed

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into

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a

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nondescript

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door

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beneath

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a

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blank

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sign.

He

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found

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himself

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in

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a

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bar,

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and

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breathed

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of

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relief.

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Faeries

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did

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not

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use

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entrances

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the

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way

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mortals

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did

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and

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much

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as

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there

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of

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emerging

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into

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the

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Hudson.

The

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proprietor,

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and

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the

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person

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whom

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he

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had

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hoped

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to

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see,

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was

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leaning

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against

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the

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bar,

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talking

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to

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a

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shockingly

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bright

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furred

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fox

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that

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David

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had

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hoped

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to

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avoid.

lesson:

Ash

lesson:

was

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a

lesson:

puca,

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a

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shapeshifter,

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who

lesson:

at

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the

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moment

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resembled

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a

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black

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rabbit

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with

lesson:

sun-gold

lesson:

eyes.

lesson:

In

lesson:

Steward’s

lesson:

Sight,

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they

lesson:

were

lesson:

little

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more

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than

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a

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shifting

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morass

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of

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dark

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shadows,

lesson:

fathomless

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as

lesson:

the

lesson:

sea.

lesson:

The

lesson:

fox,

lesson:

whose

lesson:

aura

lesson:

was

lesson:

an

lesson:

all-consuming

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flame,

lesson:

was

lesson:

Maria

lesson:

Strauss.

lesson:

Steward

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knew

lesson:

little

lesson:

about

lesson:

Strauss,

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except

lesson:

that

lesson:

she

lesson:

had

lesson:

turned

lesson:

his

lesson:

husband

lesson:

into

lesson:

a

lesson:

vampire

lesson:

and

lesson:

that

lesson:

she

lesson:

had

lesson:

been

lesson:

an

lesson:

Allied

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spy

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during

lesson:

World

lesson:

War

lesson:

II

lesson:

and

lesson:

a

lesson:

West

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German

lesson:

spy

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after.

“David,”

lesson:

Ash

lesson:

said,

lesson:

flashing

lesson:

a

lesson:

silver

lesson:

grin

lesson:

at

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him. “Get

lesson:

you a

lesson:

drink?”

“No,”

lesson:

said

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

firmly.

lesson:

He

lesson:

plopped

lesson:

down

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next

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to

lesson:

Strauss,

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trying

lesson:

not

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to

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notice

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the

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smirk

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on

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her

lesson:

bright

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red

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muzzle.

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He

lesson:

fished

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a

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handful

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of

lesson:

ancient

lesson:

copper

lesson:

coins

lesson:

out

lesson:

of

lesson:

his

lesson:

pocket

lesson:

and

lesson:

dropped

lesson:

them

lesson:

on

lesson:

the

lesson:

bar.

Ash

lesson:

scowled. “No

lesson:

fair.”

“I

lesson:

need

lesson:

information.

lesson:

What

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sort

lesson:

of

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creature

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stabs

lesson:

a

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person

lesson:

in

lesson:

the

lesson:

back

lesson:

and

lesson:

then

lesson:

puts

lesson:

jewelry

lesson:

on

lesson:

them?”

“A

lesson:

trade’s a

lesson:

trade,”

lesson:

Ash

lesson:

said

lesson:

with

lesson:

a

lesson:

sigh. “What

lesson:

kind

lesson:

of

lesson:

jewelry?”

“A

lesson:

bracelet,

lesson:

silver

lesson:

or

lesson:

another

lesson:

white

lesson:

metal

lesson:

with

lesson:

emeralds

lesson:

or

lesson:

jade.”

Next

lesson:

to

lesson:

him,

lesson:

Strauss

lesson:

took

lesson:

a

lesson:

sip

lesson:

of

lesson:

what

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

pretended

lesson:

was

lesson:

a

lesson:

deep

lesson:

red

lesson:

wine.

“And

lesson:

you’re

lesson:

sure

lesson:

it

lesson:

put

lesson:

the

lesson:

bracelet

lesson:

on

lesson:

after

lesson:

the

lesson:

stabbing?”

lesson:

Ash

lesson:

asked.

Steward

lesson:

glanced

lesson:

at

lesson:

Strauss,

lesson:

but

lesson:

she

lesson:

was

lesson:

just

lesson:

watching

lesson:

him

lesson:

with

lesson:

luminescent

lesson:

red

lesson:

eyes.

lesson:

He

lesson:

found

lesson:

himself

lesson:

unable

lesson:

to

lesson:

meet

lesson:

her

lesson:

burning

lesson:

gaze.

“As

lesson:

sure

lesson:

as

lesson:

I

lesson:

can

lesson:

be,”

lesson:

he

lesson:

told

lesson:

Ash. “It

lesson:

was

lesson:

a

lesson:

stab

lesson:

wound,

lesson:

I

lesson:

think

lesson:

with

lesson:

the

lesson:

killer’s

lesson:

claws

lesson:

but

lesson:

they

lesson:

went

lesson:

clean

lesson:

through

lesson:

the

lesson:

victim.

lesson:

The

lesson:

wound

lesson:

was

lesson:

clearly

lesson:

magical, and

lesson:

it

lesson:

left

lesson:

behind

lesson:

a

lesson:

residue.”

“Physical?”

lesson:

asked

lesson:

Strauss.

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

nearly

lesson:

jumped

lesson:

out

lesson:

of

lesson:

his

lesson:

seat

lesson:

at

lesson:

the

lesson:

vampire’s silky

lesson:

voice,

lesson:

unnaturally

lesson:

close

lesson:

to

lesson:

his

lesson:

ear.

“Almost,”

lesson:

he

lesson:

told

lesson:

her.

lesson:

She

lesson:

grinned

lesson:

wider,

lesson:

though

lesson:

he

lesson:

was

lesson:

unsure

lesson:

if

lesson:

that

lesson:

was

lesson:

because

lesson:

of

lesson:

the

lesson:

information,

lesson:

or

lesson:

because

lesson:

she

lesson:

could

lesson:

hear

lesson:

his

lesson:

heart

lesson:

pounding

lesson:

in

lesson:

his

lesson:

chest.

Ash

lesson:

shook

lesson:

their

lesson:

head. “That’s

lesson:

a

lesson:

weird

lesson:

one. I’m

lesson:

not

lesson:

sure.”

“Ash…”

“I

lesson:

know,

lesson:

I

lesson:

know,”

lesson:

the

lesson:

puca

lesson:

said,

lesson:

throwing

lesson:

their

lesson:

hands

lesson:

up. “A

lesson:

trade’s

lesson:

a

lesson:

trade.

lesson:

But

lesson:

I

lesson:

can’t

lesson:

give

lesson:

you

lesson:

what

lesson:

I

lesson:

don’t

lesson:

have,

lesson:

David.

lesson:

Do

lesson:

you

lesson:

want

lesson:

your

lesson:

money

lesson:

back?”

Steward

lesson:

took

lesson:

the

lesson:

offer

lesson:

seriously.

lesson:

The

lesson:

fey

lesson:

were

lesson:

bound

lesson:

to

lesson:

abide

lesson:

by

lesson:

the

lesson:

letter

lesson:

of

lesson:

any

lesson:

deal

lesson:

made,

lesson:

and

lesson:

would

lesson:

not

lesson:

suggest,

lesson:

or

lesson:

accept,

lesson:

undoing

lesson:

a

lesson:

bargain

lesson:

if

lesson:

there

lesson:

were

lesson:

any

lesson:

other

lesson:

option.

“I

lesson:

need

lesson:

to

lesson:

know

lesson:

what

lesson:

I’m

lesson:

facing,

lesson:

Ash,”

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

told

lesson:

them. “What

lesson:

if

lesson:

I

lesson:

can

lesson:

get

lesson:

you

lesson:

more

lesson:

information?”

“Maybe,”

lesson:

the

lesson:

puca

lesson:

still

lesson:

looked

lesson:

dubious. “But

lesson:

if

lesson:

I

lesson:

still

lesson:

don’t

lesson:

know,

lesson:

will

lesson:

you

lesson:

consider

lesson:

the

lesson:

bargain

lesson:

fairly

lesson:

met?”

“I

lesson:

will,”

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

said,

lesson:

and

lesson:

reached

lesson:

across

lesson:

the

lesson:

bar

lesson:

to

lesson:

shake

lesson:

Ash’s

lesson:

hand.

lesson:

Then

lesson:

he

lesson:

fished

lesson:

another

lesson:

coin

lesson:

out

lesson:

of

lesson:

his

lesson:

pocket

lesson:

and

lesson:

added

lesson:

it

lesson:

to

lesson:

the

lesson:

pile. “And

lesson:

I’ll

lesson:

take

lesson:

that

lesson:

drink

lesson:

now.”

Ash

lesson:

started

lesson:

mixing

lesson:

a

lesson:

cocktail,

lesson:

and

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

turned

lesson:

towards

lesson:

Strauss.

lesson:

The

lesson:

fox

lesson:

smiled

lesson:

broadly,

lesson:

revealing

lesson:

canines

lesson:

significantly

lesson:

longer

lesson:

and

lesson:

sharper

lesson:

than

lesson:

normal.

lesson:

She

lesson:

tipped

lesson:

her

lesson:

glass

lesson:

at

lesson:

him

lesson:

before

lesson:

taking

lesson:

another

lesson:

sip,

lesson:

glowing

lesson:

red

lesson:

eyes

lesson:

watching

lesson:

without

lesson:

blinking.

“What

lesson:

do

lesson:

you

lesson:

know

lesson:

about

lesson:

all

lesson:

this?”

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

asked

lesson:

her.

“Why,

lesson:

Härr

lesson:

Detektiv,

lesson:

would

lesson:

you

lesson:

assume

lesson:

I

lesson:

know

lesson:

anything

lesson:

about

lesson:

it?”

“Because

lesson:

you

lesson:

sent

lesson:

her

lesson:

to

lesson:

me.

lesson:

You

lesson:

must

lesson:

have

lesson:

had

lesson:

a

lesson:

reason.”

“My

lesson:

dear,”

lesson:

Strauss

lesson:

feigned offense, “is

lesson:

it so outside of

lesson:

the

lesson:

realm

lesson:

of

lesson:

possibility

lesson:

that

lesson:

I

lesson:

might

lesson:

simply

lesson:

have

lesson:

wanted

lesson:

to

lesson:

help

lesson:

a

lesson:

poor

lesson:

young

lesson:

woman

lesson:

get

lesson:

help?”

“If

lesson:

one

lesson:

of

lesson:

the

lesson:

Folk

lesson:

said

lesson:

that,”

lesson:

Ash

lesson:

broke

lesson:

in,

lesson:

sliding

lesson:

Steward’s

lesson:

drink

lesson:

over

lesson:

to

lesson:

him, “the

lesson:

answer

lesson:

would

lesson:

be

lesson:

yes,

lesson:

absolutely,

lesson:

one

lesson:

hundred

lesson:

percent

lesson:

outside

lesson:

the

lesson:

realm

lesson:

of

lesson:

possibility.”

Strauss

lesson:

turned

lesson:

her

lesson:

gaze

lesson:

on

lesson:

the

lesson:

puca.

lesson:

They

lesson:

raised

lesson:

their

lesson:

hands

lesson:

in

lesson:

mock

lesson:

surrender.

“Seriously,

lesson:

Maria,”

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

pressed

lesson:

her.

Strauss

lesson:

sighed. “I

lesson:

did,

lesson:

do,

lesson:

want

lesson:

to

lesson:

help

lesson:

her,

lesson:

David,

lesson:

but

lesson:

also

lesson:

she’s

lesson:

not

lesson:

the

lesson:

first

lesson:

ghost

lesson:

I’ve

lesson:

met

lesson:

in

lesson:

the

lesson:

past

lesson:

few

lesson:

days.

lesson:

Something is

lesson:

making

lesson:

them,

lesson:

on

lesson:

purpose,

lesson:

and

lesson:

I

lesson:

don’t

lesson:

know

lesson:

why.”

“Why

lesson:

send

lesson:

her,

lesson:

then,

lesson:

and

lesson:

not

lesson:

one

lesson:

of

lesson:

these

lesson:

other

lesson:

ghosts?”

“Because,”

lesson:

Strauss

lesson:

said,

lesson:

pinning

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

down

lesson:

with

lesson:

her

lesson:

blazing

lesson:

stare, “she’s

lesson:

the

lesson:

first

lesson:

one

lesson:

I

lesson:

met

lesson:

who

lesson:

hadn’t

lesson:

festered.

lesson:

And

lesson:

they’ve

lesson:

all

lesson:

smelled…”

lesson:

She

lesson:

shook

lesson:

her

lesson:

head,

lesson:

unable

lesson:

to

lesson:

find

lesson:

the

lesson:

word

lesson:

to

lesson:

explain.

Before

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

could

lesson:

react,

lesson:

Figueroa

lesson:

faded

lesson:

into

lesson:

existence.

lesson:

Ash

lesson:

backed

lesson:

into

lesson:

the

lesson:

rack

lesson:

of

lesson:

dusty

lesson:

alcohol,

lesson:

golden

lesson:

eyes

lesson:

looking

lesson:

for

lesson:

a

lesson:

bolt-hole.

lesson:

Strauss

lesson:

merely

lesson:

straightened,

lesson:

a

lesson:

look

lesson:

of

lesson:

keen

lesson:

interest

lesson:

passing

lesson:

over

lesson:

her

lesson:

flame

lesson:

colored

lesson:

muzzle.

Steward

lesson:

saw

lesson:

the

lesson:

other

lesson:

two

lesson:

move

lesson:

before

lesson:

he

lesson:

saw

lesson:

the

lesson:

why.

lesson:

Figueroa

lesson:

was

lesson:

in

lesson:

a state of

lesson:

complete

lesson:

discomposure.

lesson:

Her

lesson:

hair

lesson:

and

lesson:

clothes

lesson:

were

lesson:

whipped

lesson:

and

lesson:

tossed

lesson:

by

lesson:

an

lesson:

invisible

lesson:

storm,

lesson:

and

lesson:

ectoplasmic

lesson:

blood

lesson:

flowed

lesson:

freely

lesson:

from

lesson:

the

lesson:

wounds

lesson:

on

lesson:

her

lesson:

ribs,

lesson:

pouring

lesson:

down

lesson:

her

lesson:

side

lesson:

before

lesson:

boiling

lesson:

away

lesson:

into

lesson:

smoke.

lesson:

In

lesson:

one

lesson:

hand

lesson:

she

lesson:

clutched

lesson:

an

lesson:

NYPD

lesson:

evidence

lesson:

bag,

lesson:

in

lesson:

the

lesson:

other

lesson:

she

lesson:

reached

lesson:

out

lesson:

toward

lesson:

him.

Steward

lesson:

reacted

lesson:

instinctively.

lesson:

He

lesson:

stood

lesson:

and

lesson:

took

lesson:

her

lesson:

hand

lesson:

in

lesson:

his.

lesson:

It

lesson:

felt

lesson:

ephemeral,

lesson:

but

lesson:

still

lesson:

her

lesson:

claws

lesson:

dug

lesson:

into

lesson:

his

lesson:

flesh,

lesson:

drawing

lesson:

blood

lesson:

in

lesson:

fat

lesson:

droplets

lesson:

that,

lesson:

unlike

lesson:

hers,

lesson:

did

lesson:

not

lesson:

dissolve

lesson:

away.

lesson:

He

lesson:

forced

lesson:

her

lesson:

to

lesson:

face

lesson:

him,

lesson:

forcing

lesson:

himself

lesson:

not

lesson:

to

lesson:

flinch

lesson:

away

lesson:

from

lesson:

the

lesson:

wild

lesson:

tempest

lesson:

flashing

lesson:

behind

lesson:

her

lesson:

wide,

lesson:

staring

lesson:

eyes.

“Jane,

lesson:

listen

lesson:

to

lesson:

me,”

lesson:

he

lesson:

told

lesson:

her,

lesson:

cutting

lesson:

above

lesson:

the

lesson:

soft

lesson:

wail

lesson:

that

lesson:

was

lesson:

forming

lesson:

in

lesson:

her

lesson:

throat. “This

lesson:

isn’t

lesson:

you.

lesson:

Don’t

lesson:

get

lesson:

stuck

lesson:

in

lesson:

that

lesson:

moment,

lesson:

let

lesson:

it

lesson:

go.”

“David?”

“That’s

lesson:

it,”

lesson:

he

lesson:

said, “let

lesson:

me

lesson:

be

lesson:

your

lesson:

anchor.

lesson:

You

lesson:

met

lesson:

me

lesson:

after

lesson:

you

lesson:

were

lesson:

dead,

lesson:

remember?

lesson:

You’re

lesson:

not

lesson:

stuck,

lesson:

you

lesson:

can

lesson:

move

lesson:

forward.”

“David,

lesson:

they

lesson:

got

lesson:

him,”

lesson:

June

lesson:

said.

lesson:

She

lesson:

stared

lesson:

past

lesson:

him,

lesson:

as

lesson:

though

lesson:

he

lesson:

were

lesson:

invisible

lesson:

to

lesson:

her,

lesson:

but

lesson:

her

lesson:

claws

lesson:

retracted

lesson:

from

lesson:

his

lesson:

wrist. “They

lesson:

arrested

lesson:

Seth.”

“Who’s Seth?”

lesson:

Ash

lesson:

asked

lesson:

in

lesson:

a

lesson:

timid

lesson:

voice.

“Her

lesson:

boyfriend,

lesson:

I

lesson:

think,”

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

said

lesson:

over

lesson:

his

lesson:

shoulder.

lesson:

The

lesson:

ephemeral

lesson:

storm

lesson:

surrounding

lesson:

Figueroa

lesson:

seemed

lesson:

to

lesson:

be

lesson:

dying

lesson:

down,

lesson:

so

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

led

lesson:

her

lesson:

over

lesson:

to

lesson:

one

lesson:

of

lesson:

the

lesson:

bar

lesson:

stools

lesson:

and

lesson:

sat

lesson:

her

lesson:

in

lesson:

it

lesson:

as

lesson:

best as

lesson:

he

lesson:

could.

“Hey,”

lesson:

said

lesson:

Ash,

lesson:

pointing

lesson:

at

lesson:

the

lesson:

evidence

lesson:

bag. “Is

lesson:

that

lesson:

what

lesson:

I

lesson:

think

lesson:

it

lesson:

is?”

Strauss

lesson:

extracted

lesson:

it

lesson:

from

lesson:

the

lesson:

ghost

lesson:

and

lesson:

laid

lesson:

it

lesson:

flat

lesson:

on

lesson:

the

lesson:

bar.

lesson:

Inside

lesson:

was

lesson:

a

lesson:

beautiful

lesson:

bracelet

lesson:

set

lesson:

with

lesson:

a

lesson:

dozen

lesson:

emeralds.

lesson:

Eight

lesson:

of

lesson:

them

lesson:

were

lesson:

dark

lesson:

and

lesson:

broken,

lesson:

the

lesson:

cracks

lesson:

crusting

lesson:

with

lesson:

something

lesson:

like

lesson:

a

lesson:

scab.

lesson:

Of

lesson:

the

lesson:

rest,

lesson:

one

lesson:

was

lesson:

broken

lesson:

but

lesson:

the

lesson:

gem

lesson:

still

lesson:

shone,

lesson:

and

lesson:

the

lesson:

other

lesson:

three

lesson:

were

lesson:

whole

lesson:

and

lesson:

bright.

lesson:

She

lesson:

looked

lesson:

up

lesson:

at

lesson:

Steward.

“Six

lesson:

ghosts,

lesson:

plus

lesson:

Jane?”

lesson:

he

lesson:

asked.

“I

lesson:

might

lesson:

have

lesson:

missed

lesson:

one,”

lesson:

she

lesson:

told

lesson:

him.

“Jane?”

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

turned

lesson:

back

lesson:

to

lesson:

the

lesson:

ocelot.

lesson:

She

lesson:

was

lesson:

staring

lesson:

down

lesson:

at

lesson:

her

lesson:

hands,

lesson:

Steward’s

lesson:

blood

lesson:

drying

lesson:

on

lesson:

her

lesson:

claws. “Jane,

lesson:

where

lesson:

is

lesson:

Seth

lesson:

now?”

“In

lesson:

a

lesson:

car,”

lesson:

she

lesson:

said

lesson:

vaguely. “The

lesson:

big

lesson:

one,

lesson:

he’s

lesson:

driving.”

“To

lesson:

the

lesson:

precinct?”

Figueroa

lesson:

shook

lesson:

her

lesson:

head. “East.”

lesson:

She

lesson:

turned

lesson:

to

lesson:

look

lesson:

up

lesson:

at

lesson:

Steward,

lesson:

her

lesson:

eyes

lesson:

big

lesson:

and

lesson:

something

lesson:

of

lesson:

the

lesson:

storm

lesson:

lingering

lesson:

in

lesson:

them. “Towards

lesson:

the

lesson:

bridges.”

Steward

lesson:

did

lesson:

not

lesson:

know

lesson:

why

lesson:

Vito

lesson:

would

lesson:

take

lesson:

the

lesson:

ocelot’s

lesson:

boyfriend

lesson:

anywhere

lesson:

other

lesson:

than

lesson:

the

lesson:

precinct.

“Ash,

lesson:

can

lesson:

you

lesson:

get

lesson:

me

lesson:

to

lesson:

the

lesson:

east

lesson:

side

lesson:

in

lesson:

a

lesson:

hurry?”

The

lesson:

puca

lesson:

grinned

lesson:

broadly

lesson:

and

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

caught

lesson:

his mistake. With an annoyed grunt, Steward fished

lesson:

the

lesson:

last

lesson:

of

lesson:

the

lesson:

copper

lesson:

coins

lesson:

out

lesson:

of

lesson:

his

lesson:

pocket and

lesson:

dumped

lesson:

them

lesson:

on

lesson:

the

lesson:

bar.

lesson:

For

lesson:

good

lesson:

measure

lesson:

he

lesson:

pulled

lesson:

a

lesson:

twenty

lesson:

out

lesson:

of

lesson:

his

lesson:

wallet

lesson:

and

lesson:

added

lesson:

that

lesson:

to

lesson:

the

lesson:

stack.

Ash

lesson:

pouted

lesson:

a

lesson:

little

lesson:

bit

lesson:

but

lesson:

shrugged. “A

lesson:

trade’s

lesson:

a

lesson:

trade.”

Steward

lesson:

pushed

lesson:

the

lesson:

evidence

lesson:

bag

lesson:

over

lesson:

to

lesson:

the

lesson:

puca. “Maybe

lesson:

this

lesson:

can

lesson:

give

lesson:

you

lesson:

a

lesson:

clue

lesson:

as

lesson:

to

lesson:

what

lesson:

I’m

lesson:

fighting.

lesson:

Maria,

lesson:

can

lesson:

you

lesson:

try

lesson:

and

lesson:

calm

lesson:

Jane

lesson:

down.

lesson:

I’ll

lesson:

stop

lesson:

back

lesson:

when—”

But

lesson:

the

lesson:

vampire

lesson:

was

lesson:

shaking

lesson:

her

lesson:

head

lesson:

no. “You’ll

lesson:

need

lesson:

me, and

lesson:

my

lesson:

Theo

lesson:

won’t

lesson:

be

lesson:

well

lesson:

pleased

lesson:

if

lesson:

I

lesson:

let

lesson:

his

lesson:

pet

lesson:

detective

lesson:

get

lesson:

torn

lesson:

asunder

lesson:

while

lesson:

he’s

lesson:

away.

lesson:

Ash,

lesson:

mon trésor, may

lesson:

I

lesson:

assume

lesson:

you’ll

lesson:

watch

lesson:

the

lesson:

girl?”

“Of

lesson:

course,”

lesson:

the

lesson:

puca

lesson:

said

lesson:

instantly. “And

lesson:

you

lesson:

can

lesson:

use

lesson:

the

lesson:

same

lesson:

door as

lesson:

David,

lesson:

down

lesson:

the

lesson:

hall,

lesson:

marked

lesson:

departures.”

lesson:

To

lesson:

Steward’s

lesson:

disbelieving

lesson:

look,

lesson:

they

lesson:

added, “I

lesson:

owed

lesson:

her

lesson:

one.”

“Fine,”

lesson:

David

lesson:

growled,

lesson:

pushing

lesson:

away

lesson:

from

lesson:

the

lesson:

bar

lesson:

and

lesson:

heading

lesson:

down

lesson:

the

lesson:

hall.

The

lesson:

exit

lesson:

led

lesson:

to

lesson:

a

lesson:

little

lesson:

door

lesson:

facing

lesson:

the

lesson:

Queensboro

lesson:

Bridge.

lesson:

Headlights

lesson:

made

lesson:

weird

lesson:

shapes

lesson:

over

lesson:

the

lesson:

bridge

lesson:

as

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

and

lesson:

Strauss

lesson:

emerged

lesson:

into

lesson:

the

lesson:

night.

“Stay

lesson:

behind

lesson:

me,”

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

told

lesson:

the

lesson:

fox.

lesson:

She

lesson:

flashed

lesson:

him

lesson:

her

lesson:

long

lesson:

fangs

lesson:

in

lesson:

a

lesson:

morbid

lesson:

smile.

“Härr

lesson:

Steward,

lesson:

is

lesson:

that

lesson:

a

lesson:

streak

lesson:

of

lesson:

chivalry

lesson:

showing?

lesson:

I

lesson:

have

lesson:

little

lesson:

need

lesson:

of

lesson:

your

lesson:

protection.”

“If

lesson:

things

lesson:

go

lesson:

sideways,

lesson:

I

lesson:

have

lesson:

every

lesson:

intention

lesson:

of

lesson:

letting

lesson:

you

lesson:

stand

lesson:

between

lesson:

me

lesson:

and

lesson:

whatever

lesson:

can

lesson:

punch

lesson:

a

lesson:

hole

lesson:

through

lesson:

a

lesson:

person,”

lesson:

he

lesson:

told

lesson:

her

lesson:

darkly. “I

lesson:

need

lesson:

you

lesson:

behind

lesson:

me

lesson:

because

lesson:

I’m

lesson:

going

lesson:

to

lesson:

try

lesson:

and

lesson:

find

lesson:

the

lesson:

cop

lesson:

that

lesson:

has

lesson:

Jane’s

lesson:

boyfriend

lesson:

by

lesson:

his

lesson:

aura,

lesson:

and

lesson:

yours

lesson:

is

lesson:

so

lesson:

bright

lesson:

I

lesson:

won’t

lesson:

be

lesson:

able

lesson:

to

lesson:

see

lesson:

anything.”

If

lesson:

anything,

lesson:

Strauss

lesson:

smiled

lesson:

wider,

lesson:

but

lesson:

she

lesson:

took

lesson:

a

lesson:

step

lesson:

behind

lesson:

him.

lesson:

He

lesson:

suppressed

lesson:

the

lesson:

creeping

lesson:

feeling

lesson:

that

lesson:

she

lesson:

was

lesson:

staring

lesson:

at

lesson:

his

lesson:

neck

lesson:

and

lesson:

opened

lesson:

the

lesson:

Sight.

lesson:

He

lesson:

scanned

lesson:

the

lesson:

bridge

lesson:

first,

lesson:

afraid

lesson:

that

lesson:

Vito

lesson:

was

lesson:

already

lesson:

on

lesson:

Long

lesson:

Island

lesson:

for

lesson:

some

lesson:

unknown

lesson:

purpose.

lesson:

There

lesson:

was

lesson:

nothing

lesson:

with

lesson:

Vito’s

lesson:

spotlight

lesson:

intensity.

lesson:

He

lesson:

turned

lesson:

his

lesson:

gaze

lesson:

up

lesson:

the

lesson:

major

lesson:

thoroughfares,

lesson:

but

lesson:

those

lesson:

were

lesson:

useless,

lesson:

too.

“I

lesson:

need

lesson:

to

lesson:

get

lesson:

on

lesson:

top

lesson:

of

lesson:

one

lesson:

of

lesson:

these

lesson:

buildings,”

lesson:

he

lesson:

said,

lesson:

more

lesson:

to

lesson:

himself

lesson:

than

lesson:

to

lesson:

Strauss. “I

lesson:

can’t

lesson:

see

lesson:

anything

lesson:

down

lesson:

here.”

“There,”

lesson:

Strauss

lesson:

said,

lesson:

pointing

lesson:

over

lesson:

his

lesson:

shoulder

lesson:

at

lesson:

a

lesson:

large

lesson:

apartment

lesson:

complex

lesson:

a

lesson:

block

lesson:

away.

They

lesson:

dashed

lesson:

into

lesson:

traffic,

lesson:

ignoring

lesson:

the

lesson:

honks

lesson:

and

lesson:

shouts

lesson:

of

lesson:

dozens

lesson:

of

lesson:

irate

lesson:

Manhattanite

lesson:

drivers.

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

knew

lesson:

that

lesson:

each

lesson:

moment,

lesson:

Vito

lesson:

was

lesson:

getting

lesson:

farther

lesson:

away,

lesson:

closer

lesson:

to

lesson:

some

lesson:

goal

lesson:

of

lesson:

which

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

had

lesson:

no

lesson:

knowledge.

It

lesson:

was

lesson:

a

lesson:

testament

lesson:

to

lesson:

Steward’s

lesson:

concern

lesson:

that

lesson:

he

lesson:

raised

lesson:

no

lesson:

objections

lesson:

when

lesson:

Strauss

lesson:

ripped

lesson:

the

lesson:

apartment’s

lesson:

fire

lesson:

exit

lesson:

door

lesson:

out

lesson:

of its

lesson:

hinges.

lesson:

Strauss

lesson:

took

lesson:

the

lesson:

stairs,

lesson:

while

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

wasted

lesson:

more

lesson:

time

lesson:

waiting

lesson:

for

lesson:

an

lesson:

elevator.

lesson:

For

lesson:

a

lesson:

wonder,

lesson:

it

lesson:

gave

lesson:

him

lesson:

no

lesson:

trouble

lesson:

when

lesson:

he

lesson:

hit

lesson:

the

lesson:

button

lesson:

for

lesson:

the

lesson:

roof.

Strauss

lesson:

was

lesson:

waiting

lesson:

for

lesson:

him,

lesson:

looking

lesson:

as

lesson:

though

lesson:

she

lesson:

frequently

lesson:

hung

lesson:

out

lesson:

on

lesson:

dark

lesson:

roofs

lesson:

in

lesson:

the

lesson:

upper

lesson:

east

lesson:

side.

lesson:

For

lesson:

all

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

knew,

lesson:

she

lesson:

did.

He

lesson:

dashed

lesson:

to

lesson:

the

lesson:

tall

lesson:

railing,

lesson:

raking

lesson:

his

lesson:

gaze

lesson:

across

lesson:

Manhattan,

lesson:

squinting

lesson:

into

lesson:

the

lesson:

dark

lesson:

and

lesson:

the

lesson:

chill

lesson:

fall

lesson:

air.

lesson:

He

lesson:

trotted

lesson:

along

lesson:

the

lesson:

edge

lesson:

of

lesson:

the

lesson:

roof,

lesson:

constantly

lesson:

searching

lesson:

for

lesson:

a

lesson:

better

lesson:

position,

lesson:

a

lesson:

better

lesson:

vantage

lesson:

point

lesson:

to

lesson:

hunt

lesson:

for

lesson:

his

lesson:

quarry.

Steward’s

lesson:

heart

lesson:

sank

lesson:

into

lesson:

his

lesson:

chest

lesson:

when

lesson:

he

lesson:

finally

lesson:

found

lesson:

Vito’s

lesson:

spotlight

lesson:

aura,

lesson:

strangely

lesson:

dimmed

lesson:

by

lesson:

what

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

assumed

lesson:

was

lesson:

distance,

lesson:

half way

lesson:

down

lesson:

the

lesson:

city,

lesson:

near

lesson:

the

lesson:

entrance

lesson:

to

lesson:

the

lesson:

Midtown

lesson:

Tunnel.

Some

lesson:

little

lesson:

voice

lesson:

in

lesson:

his

lesson:

ear

lesson:

nagged

lesson:

at

lesson:

him,

lesson:

and

lesson:

to

lesson:

distract

lesson:

himself

lesson:

from

lesson:

was

lesson:

a

lesson:

complete

lesson:

failure

lesson:

to

lesson:

catch

lesson:

Vito

lesson:

before

lesson:

leaving

lesson:

Manhattan,

lesson:

he

lesson:

search

lesson:

the

lesson:

vista

lesson:

below

lesson:

him

lesson:

to

lesson:

try

lesson:

and

lesson:

figure

lesson:

out

lesson:

what

lesson:

he

lesson:

wasn’t

lesson:

seeing.

“Ghosts,”

lesson:

he

lesson:

said aloud,

lesson:

shocking

lesson:

himself

lesson:

with

lesson:

the

lesson:

realization.

lesson:

He

lesson:

turned

lesson:

to

lesson:

face

lesson:

Strauss,

lesson:

who

lesson:

had

lesson:

one

lesson:

elegantly

lesson:

curved

lesson:

eyebrow

lesson:

arched. “All

lesson:

day

lesson:

I’ve

lesson:

been

lesson:

seeing

lesson:

ghosts,

lesson:

dozens

lesson:

of

lesson:

them.

lesson:

I

lesson:

don’t

lesson:

see

lesson:

any

lesson:

of

lesson:

them

lesson:

here.

lesson:

Anywhere

lesson:

in

lesson:

sight.”

lesson:

He

lesson:

paused—facing

lesson:

Strauss

lesson:

also

lesson:

meant

lesson:

facing

lesson:

west. “Except

lesson:

there.”

Strauss

lesson:

spun

lesson:

on

lesson:

her

lesson:

heel. “I

lesson:

don’t

lesson:

see

lesson:

anything.”

“By

lesson:

the

lesson:

bar.

lesson:

There

lesson:

must

lesson:

be

lesson:

hundreds

lesson:

hanging

lesson:

out

lesson:

on

lesson:

those

lesson:

buildings.”

Steward’s

lesson:

phone

lesson:

rang,

lesson:

and

lesson:

he

lesson:

nearly

lesson:

jumped

lesson:

out

lesson:

of

lesson:

his

lesson:

skin.

lesson:

The

lesson:

caller

lesson:

ID

lesson:

said

lesson:

it

lesson:

was

lesson:

Vito.

lesson:

He

lesson:

answered

lesson:

on

lesson:

the

lesson:

third

lesson:

ring.

Steward

lesson:

could

lesson:

hear

lesson:

Vito

lesson:

breathing

lesson:

on

lesson:

the

lesson:

other

lesson:

end

lesson:

of

lesson:

the

lesson:

line,

lesson:

but

lesson:

the

lesson:

jaguar

lesson:

said

lesson:

nothing.

“Riley?

lesson:

Listen,

lesson:

I

lesson:

know

lesson:

you’ve

lesson:

got

lesson:

that

lesson:

kid,

lesson:

but

lesson:

I

lesson:

don’t

lesson:

think

lesson:

he

lesson:

did

lesson:

it.

lesson:

Can

lesson:

you

lesson:

give

lesson:

me

lesson:

some

lesson:

time

lesson:

to

lesson:

explain

lesson:

it

lesson:

to

lesson:

you?”

Silence

lesson:

on

lesson:

the

lesson:

other

lesson:

end.

“Riley?”

Steward

lesson:

could

lesson:

hear

lesson:

slow,

lesson:

steady

lesson:

breathing,

lesson:

but

lesson:

still

lesson:

Vito

lesson:

did

lesson:

not

lesson:

respond.

Strauss’s

lesson:

phone

lesson:

chimed,

lesson:

and

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

watched

lesson:

her

lesson:

pull

lesson:

it

lesson:

out

lesson:

and

lesson:

read

lesson:

the

lesson:

message,

lesson:

the

lesson:

hand

lesson:

holding

lesson:

his

lesson:

own

lesson:

phone

lesson:

dropping

lesson:

down.

lesson:

Strauss’s

lesson:

face

lesson:

paled

lesson:

and

lesson:

her

lesson:

ears

lesson:

folded

lesson:

back,

lesson:

almost

lesson:

invisible

lesson:

against

lesson:

her

lesson:

bright

lesson:

orange

lesson:

hair.

lesson:

She

lesson:

held

lesson:

up

lesson:

the

lesson:

phone

lesson:

so

lesson:

that

lesson:

Steward

lesson:

could

lesson:

read

lesson:

the

lesson:

message.

It

lesson:

was

lesson:

from

lesson:

Ash.

lesson:

It

read:

“It’s

read:

a

read:

body

read:

stealer.”

Steward

read:

stared

read:

at

read:

the

read:

message

read:

for

read:

two

read:

long

read:

breaths,

read:

then

read:

raised

read:

his

read:

phone

read:

to

read:

his

read:

ear

read:

again.

“Who

read:

are

read:

you?”

read:

he

read:

asked.

“Ah,”

read:

said

read:

Vito’s

read:

voice,

read:

dark

read:

laughter

read:

tinging

read:

the

read:

edges

read:

of

read:

his

read:

words. “Now

read:

we’re

read:

getting

read:

somewhere,

read:

puppy.”



This

read:

was

read:

the

read:

first

read:

of

read:

two

read:

parts

read:

of “The

read:

Other”

read:

by

read:

J.S. Hawthorne,

read:

read

read:

for you

read:

by

read:

Apollo

read:

Brightflank,

read:

who

read:

still

read:

returns

read:

to

read:

the

read:

prairie.

read:

Tune

read:

in

read:

next

read:

time

read:

to

read:

find

read:

out

read:

whether

read:

David

read:

Steward

read:

can

read:

save

read:

his

read:

ex

read:

from

read:

the

read:

thing

read:

that

read:

is

read:

possessing him.

As

read:

always,

read:

you

read:

can

read:

find

read:

more

read:

stories

read:

on

read:

the

read:

web

read:

at

read:

thevoice.dog,

read:

or

read:

find

read:

the

read:

show

read:

wherever

read:

you

read:

get

read:

your

read:

podcasts.

read:

Thank

read:

you

read:

for

read:

listening

read:

to

read:

The

read:

Ghost

read:

of

read:

Dog.

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About the Podcast

Show artwork for The Voice of Dog
The Voice of Dog
Furry stories to warm the ol' cockles, read by Rob MacWolf and guests. If you have a story that would suit the show, you can get in touch with @VoiceOfDog@meow.social on Mastodon, @voiceofdog.bsky.social on Blue Sky, or @Theodwulf on Telegram.

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Khaki