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"You need a sidekick," Marc announced He&039;d just finished his second plateful of steak and eggs I was sticking with tea and honey

"I&039;ve already got one," I said gloomily "My friend Jessica"

"I mean a badass, not soer in his face "First of all, do not mock secretaries, nor their pools-I was a secretary until last week"

"Then you died?"

"No, I was laid off Then I died In fact, I should take a drive by the placeit&039;s probably gone up in flames by now" I chortled evilly "When they laid off the admin staff, they lost the capability to call their clients, make their computers work, make the sorter on the copy machine work, place orders for office supplies, update the database, figure out the postage e, then got back to business "Second, Jessica is at least twice as s at this table Third-cripes, how ed the waitress

"I&039;ve been a little too depressed to eat lately," he said defensively "Besides, you&039;re just jealous"

"You&039;re right about that My ht and I threw it up all over her bathroom"

"But you can drink?" He nodded towardfor mesure doesn&039;t make me less thirsty But it&039;s familiar, you know?"

"Sure That&039;s why I stay in the ER It&039;s depressing as hell and you get no closure, but at least I knohere everything is"

"That&039;s ridiculous If you&039;re so unhappy in that job, leave Go work in a nice fa down on his plate "Yeah, well"

"Iin a children&039;s hospital"

"It&039;s unbelievably awful," he said gloomily "You would not believe the evil shit people do to children"

"I don&039;t want to hear it," I said hurriedly

"I don&039;t want to talk about it, but it&039;s all I do Actually, I want to talk to you about it You&039;ve got to-to feed, right? Well, I could get you a list of abusive parents, the ones who like to use their babies as ash trays, the ones who decide to press a hot iron to the kid&039;s back because she slas"

"A blood sucking vigilante?" I was horrified And intrigued No, I was horrified "Did you not hear me? About how until last week I was a secretary?"

"Not anyht he&039;d found a purpose, his entire demeanor-even his smell!-was different Gone was the slump-shouldered sad-eyed boy In his place was the Cisco Kid "You told ht criht? Well, where better to start?"

I just shook my head and stirred my tea

"Well, what&039;s your alternative? You don&039;t seem the type to skulk in the shadows and lure the unwary into your fiendish eh

"And another thing-vaet" My hand shot out I pulled hilad you&039;re feeling better, but if you should relapse, you won&039;t Kill Yourself"

He stared back His pupils were dots; the lights in this all-night cafe were ferocious "I&039;ll doWhatever The hell I want But thanks Anyway"

I stared harder Co "Don&039;t Kill Yourself"

"Why Are you Talking Like this?"

I dropped his hands in disgust "Da since I woke up dead What&039;s so special about you?"

"Thanks for sounding so disgusted And I have no idea I-uh-" His jaw sagged and I could practically hear his IQ dropping He stared dreamily over my shoulder I looked-and nearly shrieked The psychopath fro in the doorway of the cafe, looking straight at me Ack! His hair was a mess, I was happy to see I couldn&039;t see his back, but he smelled like burned cotton Good!

"Oh my God," Marc rhapsodized "Who is that?"

"An asshole," Iupover here!" Marc squealed "Oh et a hold of yourself?" I hissed "You sound like a girl with a crush Ah-ha!" Realization hit, a little slowly as usual "You&039;re gay!" I realized I&039;d shouted and everyone in the cafe was staring at us

"Duh"

"What, &039;duh&039;? Hoas I supposed to know? I just assuht"

"Because you are" He was still staring overto fix his hair which was so incredibly short it could never be ay"

"Well, statistically that&039;s pretty dumb"

"I don&039;t have to take criticisht drop on ed it off

"Good evening," Jerkoff said

"Fuck off," I said warasp and thought Marc was going to swoon "I don&039;t believe we&039;ve been formally introduced"

"I was just about to take care of that when you stuck your finger inmy tea in his face, but the jerk would probably use Marc as a living shield

"Ah Yes Well, my name is Sinclair And you are?"

"Really pissed at you"

"Is that a fa Sinclair favored him with a war business"

"She talked risly death," Marc informed my archenemy "Then we ca to put an end to"

"We did not"

"Did too!"

Sinclair&039;s nostrils flared, he leaned in close for a good look at Marc&039;s neck (a bruise was rapidly forns of teeth marks), then he looked at me "You have fed on this man?"

I blushed Or at least, I felt like I blushed-who knew if I still could? "Again: none of your fucking business"

He druers on the table I tried not to stare They were sooo long and sli And here you both are now Hroaned, but they both ignored ?"

"I don&039;t drinkcoffee"

"Oh, very funny," I snapped "What are you doing here, Sink Lair? If it&039;s about the bill for your coat, too daaze was cool "Aup with you shortly, but as to your question, I am here for your benefit, my dear"

"Don&039;t call me that"

"You can call me that," Marc chirped helpfully

"Nostro wants you dead for your actions tonight The vas him your head will be richly rewarded"