Hard Candy

138

"I'M ON MY WAY," I told Train over the phone.

"I'll be here."

They let me in downstairs. Two of them went with me, close enough to touch. The two Elvira said had made the crazy girl disappear.

He was standing this time. By the window. The one with the little round hole in it. The monster's word was always good. I stepped close to him, keeping my voice down.

"He's dead."

"You're sure? Who is he?"

"Wesley. I'll take you to him- you said you'd know his face."

"How can I be sure?"

"You'll see for yourself."

"Sure of you."

"Ask Reba."

His blue eyes blinked rapidly.

"I don't know how you'll know him," I said, my voice soft, slightly awed, "but I know you will. You can go in my car. Take a couple of your men with you. Hold a gun to the back of my neck all the while, if you want. This is the truth- Wesley is a dead man."

"Where?"

"I left him on Wards Island. I'll show you. I've got a flashlight in the car."

He gestured to the two men. Left me alone in the room. Reba came through the door. I stayed against the window, tapping the ashes from my cigarette onto the sill. She walked against me, wrapping her arms around me, grinding her hips. I slid my hands inside the robe, cupping her buttocks. The globes seemed to swell in my hands.

"Can you work your trick standing up?" I asked her.

"The man is dead?"

"The man is dead."

She pressed against me, a fleshy heat-exchanger. "Will you come back? After you show him?"

"What for?"

"For me. I'll tell you the truth."

"Then I'll come."

"Yes," she said, promising.

Train came back in with the same two men who'd taken me upstairs. "I'll go with you. We all will. When we come back, you'll have your money."

I nodded.

"And whatever else you want here."

"Let's go," I said.