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“Let him go,” she says. “He knows what he’s doing. This is his thing, right?”

“Right,” I say.

Candy’s face gets red.

“I’m afraid if you go you’ll never come back.”

I go over to her.

“I’ll be back. I promise. No matter what shape I’m in. I’ll be back.”

She looks away.

“I’m not going to forgive you if you don’t. Not this time.”

“I’ll be back.”

Alessa tugs her hand and Candy slowly sits down again.

“Take care of her,” I say.

“Go do whatever it is you’re going to do,” says Alessa.

Vidocq and Howard are arguing about whether getting high on ayahuasca is the door to universal consciousness or just a good way to meet girls at parties.

I put a hand on Howard’s shoulder and turn him toward me.

“Eva Sandoval. She’s not the type to stay in the hospital long. With all the shit that’s going on, where would she hide? And bear in mind that if you lie, I’ll hurt you more than being dumped on prom night.”

“At home,” Howard says. “The mansion is the only place she feels safe. It’s protected by powerful curses.”

“The faction got through them pretty easily when they shot up the place.”

“She’ll have added more layers of protection. By now, the mansion will be impregnable.”

“We’ll see. Is there any chance you’ll help Vidocq and Ray keep me from turning into Frosty the Snowman?”

“Not while I’m held against my will.”

“Trust me. No one wants you here. But you’re not going anywhere until I say.”

“I’ll keep an eye on him,” says Vidocq.

“Between you and Candy I don’t think he’s going anywhere. By the way, I used to have bullets here. Are there any left?”

“One box. I’ll get them.”

He brings them to me and I load the Colt. I feel a little bit better. I put it in my waistband at the back.

“I’ll see you soon.”

“Where are you going?” Vidocq says.

“Bowling.”

This time I don’t look around. I don’t want any teary eyes, plaintive looks, or what-the-fuck-are-you-doing stare-downs. I shadow-walk out of the apartment, giving myself 90 percent odds that I’ll never be back.

I COME OUT in Sandoval’s bowling alley. It’s dark and when I turn on the lights, it looks like no one’s been there since I let Marcella go.