Page 68 of The Music Demon

When the waiter left, Lyric said, “So? What’d you find?”

With another huge grin, Doo said, “Top floor apartment in this old house two blocks over. Well. I guess all the houses are old.” He laughed. “It used to be an attic, I think. The ceilings are kinda low but it’s roomy and has a great view of the street.” Lyric sat back, said nothing, but was clearly amused. “What?”

“Don’t try a sales job on a demon, kid. What’s the real reason?”

A flush crept up Doo’s neck toward his face as a smile of sheepishness turned up the corners of his mouth. “Jefferson Airplane is in the house next door.”

Lyric nodded knowingly. “How’d you find that out?”

“The property manager said there’s a band next door that throws legendary parties. I asked if she knew the name of the band.” He shrugged.

“Did you tell her you’d take it?”

“Yeah. Told her to hold on for a half hour. That I’d be back with the money guy.”

Shivaun repeated, “The money guy,” while laughing and pointing at Lyric.

“As nicknames go, I could do worse,” Lyric said. “A lot of people in the world would like to be known as ‘the money guy’.”

Doo wolfed down his burger, talking fast with his mouth full. He didn’t want the apartment to get away. He told them about the people he’d already met. The old Victorian mansion had been converted into seven apartments. Two on each of three floors, plus the former attic space.

“That was great,” he said as he swallowed the last bite. “Ready to go?”

The demons got up to follow him out of the café into the street, but a few feet shy of the door, Shivaun caught Lyric’s sleeve and brought him to a stop. He turned to see her pointing to one of the framed black and white photos on the wall.

Jimi Hendrix was standing on a vintage Oriental rug, carpeting a temporary stage at the Panhandle, a stretch of park that borders the Haight-Ashbury district. Victorian homes lined the perimeters and created a surreal, anachronistic event.

The park was full, elbow to elbow, standing room only. The photography caught the moment of the musician’s intensity on film, preserved for all time. He also caught the euphoria of witnesses. Directly in front of the stage a fan leaned elbows on the stage and looked up at Hendrix with a mix of ecstasy and adoration. The guy was familiar. Even with the weird fur hat, there was no mistaking Lyric.

The demon smiled and said, “’Twas a good day to be sure.”

She slapped at his chest playfully for teasing her about her accent. “You have no’ changed a bit.”

“Not on the outside.” He put his arm around her waist and pulled her in for a quick squeeze. He held onto her hand as they headed into the crowds on the street. He wasn’t worried about losing her if they were accidentally separated. He was mindful that she’d reported seeing something and wouldn’t take chances. Not with her.

Without conscious thought, Shivaun looked around for the striking man who’d raised her antennae. He was nowhere in sight. So, she decided it was time to let that go and call her reaction a flight of fancy.

Gray looked back constantly to make sure he wasn’t outpacing his companions, but they stayed right on his heels. Once, a kid stumbled into Shivaun and, had she not stepped between Lyric and his target, the kid might have had his head ripped away from his shoulders.

“Stop that right now,” she said. “There’s no reason for anger. ‘Twas an accident. Purely so.” When it was clear that Lyric was once again his calm self, she said, “Are you on edge?”

“No,” he said carefully. “I just…” He glanced away with a hard to read look that might have been embarrassment. “I don’t like males touching you.”

She nodded. “Thank you for the thought. If such a thing happens on purpose, I’m prepared to put the bugger in his place. Let’s no’ ruin Doo’s excitement with somethin’ so silly.”

He smiled as she took his hand in hers.

Minutes later they stood in front of a house that could have used a little TLC.

“Pink?” Lyric asked.

“You have prejudice about the color of houses?” Shivaun asked.

“No. I… It’s fine,” Lyric said. He looked up to see the FOR RENT sign in the window of the top story. “Is it furnished?”

Doo barked out a laugh. “Sort of. You wanna see?”

Lyric looked to Shivaun for an answer to that. When she nodded, he said, “Lead the way.”