Page 100 of The Music Demon

Lyric was pleased. The kid was making connections. “You said she’s a matchmaker?” He made a mental note to check that out.

“Word is she puts musicians together.”

“Where did this word come from?”

“You’re not gonna believe it.” Doo did a little drum roll on the seat of the chair. “Jerry Slick.”

“Slick pointed you toward a music matchmaker?” Lyric asked. “How’d you manage that?”

“Craziest thing. Saw him on the street and waited until he was done talkin’ to people. Then I kind of fell in with him walkin’ home. Nice guy. Asked my advice about the name of the album they’re workin’ on. It was hard to keep from tellin’ him not to worry about the title, that it goes platinum.”

“You’ve had quite a day.”

“Yeah! And it’s kind of just starting!” He looked at his watch. “I’ve gotta get movin’ soon. I’m pickin’ her up at seven fifteen.”

Lyric hated downgrading the elevated mood to somber, but thought it had to be said. “You know you cannevertell her you knew her as an old woman.”

Doo got immediately serious. “Of course, I know that.”

“I’m just saying that relationships can bring out unexpected things in a person.”

Shivaun turned and looked at Lyric, wondering what he meant.

“So how are you getting to the Fillmore?”

“Taxi.”

“We can do better than that. You get ready.” To Shivaun, he said, “You come with me,” as he took her hand and popped into the passes.

In seconds they were in Golden Gate Park. Lyric spotted a brand new Mustang and offered to rent it for more than the car was worth. Cash. The owner said yes.

As they drove away, Lyric grinned. “Any era. Money talks.”

The closest they could get to Doo’s apartment was three blocks away and even then it was a no park, loading zone.

“You stay with the car. I’ll go get him,” Shivaun said.

“Are you sure you…?” Lyric began, but she was already out and running.

She was back with Darby in ten minutes.

Lyric got out, dangling the keys enticingly.

“No way!” Doo said. “I feel like Cinderella.”

Shivaun’s evident pleasure was all the thanks Lyric needed.

As Darby drove away, she said, “That was a nice thing you did.”

“I keep telling you, I’m a nice demon.”

“You havene’ersaid any such thing.”

“Then I’ve been remiss. The list of people who would vouch for my niceness is growing exponentially.”

“Meaning that it’s gone from zero to two?”

“Basically. Yeah.” She laughed. “Hey. You want to have some fun?”