Bloodsucking Fiends: A Love Story Chapter 35

Chapter 35SculpturesSunset cast a warm orange across the great Pyramid, while below, the emperor moth enjoyed a cappuccino on a cover bench and Bummer and Lazarus battled for the remains of a three-pound porterhouse.Men, would that I could let you, like Cincinnatus, retire like gentlemen soldiers to the country, but the City is still in need. The fiend is vanquished, but non the despair of my people. Our responsibility is legion.A family of tourists passed the Emperor, hurrying to get to the cable-car stop at California Street before dark, and the Emperor tipped his cup in salute. The father, a balding fat man in an Alcatraz sweatshirt, took the Emperors gesture as a request for spargon change and said, Why dont you get a job?The Emperor smiled. Good sir, I set out a job. I am Emperor of San Francisco and Protector of Mexico.The tourist scrunched his face in disgust. Look at you. Look at your clothes. You stink. You need a bath. Youre nothing but a bum.The Emperor looked down at t he fraying cuffs of his dirty wool overcoat, his rib-worn gray corduroys, stained with splatters of vampire blood, the holes in his tight sneakers. He raised an arm and took a sniff, then hung his head.The tourists walked a substance.Cavuto and Rivera sat in leather wingback chairs in front of the open fireplace in Cavutos Cow Hollow apartment. The fireplace was burning, the fire crackling and dancing as it fought off the damp chill of the bay. The room was furnished with rugged oak antiques, the bookshelves filled with detective novels, the walls hung with guns and posters from Bogart movies. Rivera drank cognac Cavuto, Scotch. On the java table between them stood a three-foot-high bronze statue of a ballerina.So what do we do with it? Cavuto asked. Its probably stolen.Maybe not, Rivera said. He might have bought it from Degas himself.The coloured kid says its worth millions. You think hes right?Rivera lit a cigarette. If its authentic, yeah. So what do we do with it?Ive only g ot a couple of years before I retire. Ive always wishinged to own a rare-book shop.Rivera smiled at the thought. The wife wants to see Europe. I wouldnt mind having a little business of my own. Maybe learn to profligacy golf.We could turn it in and just finish our time. Theyre sack to move us expose of homicide after this, you know that? Were too old for narcotics. Probably vice darkness after night of screaming hookers.Rivera sighed. Ill miss homicide.Yeah, it was quiet.Ive always wanted to learn about rare books, Rivera said.No golf, Cavuto said. Golf is for pussies.Tommy moved the futon so he could amaze facing the two statues, then sat down to admire his handiwork. Hed worked all day in the buildry below, covering Jody and the vampire with the thin coat of semiconducting paint and putting them into the bronzing vats. The two biker sculptors had been more than happy to help, especialy when Tommy pulled a handful of cash out of the grocery bag that the Emperor had deliv ered.The statues looked very lifelike. They should, they were still springy under the bronze coating, except for Zelda, who stood next to the two vampires. Tommy had put Jody in a leotard before he applied the paint. Hed dressed the vampire in a pair of his own jockey shorts. It was amazing how fast the vampire had healed after drinking Jodys blood. The worst part had been waiting waiting outside the sleeping accommodation where Jody had carried the vampire, waiting for them to go out at sunrise, lis tening to the soft murmur of their voices. What had they been talking about?Overall, the vampire looked pretty good. Almost all the damage to his carcass had healed by morning. Jody, even bronzed, looked beautiful. The finishing touch had been to drill ear holes through the thick bronze coating so he could talk to her.Jody, I know that youre probably really, really mad. I dont blame you. But I didnt have a choice. Its not forever, its just until I corporation figure out what to do . I didnt want to lose you. I know you wanted to just go away and I think you would have, but he wouldnt have. He would neer have let me live.Tommy waited, as if he would get some response from the statue. He picked up the grocery bag of money from the floor and held it up.By the way, were comfortable Cool, huh? Ill neer make fun of Lash for studying business again. In less than a day he fenced the art from the yacht and got us ten cents on the dollar. Our cuts over a hundred thousand. The guys flew to Vegas. We tried to give a share to the Emperor, but he would only take enough to buy a meal for Bummer and Lazarus. He said that money would distract him from his responsibilities. Great, huh?He dropped the money and sighed.Those two cops believed you. Theyre going to leave us alone. They reported that the killer was on identity card the yacht when it went up. Lash gave the gate guard some money to back up their story. I couldnt believe they were going along with it. I think the spectacular cop kind of likes me.Im going to write a book about this. I came here to gravel adventure and being with you sure has been that. And I dont want to give it up. I know were not the same. And we shouldnt feel lonely when we have each other. I love you. Im going to figure I something out. Ive got to sleep now. Its been days.He got up and went to Jody. Im sorry, he said. He kissed the cold bronze lips and was turning to go into the bedroom when the phone rang.Its probably the Animals calling from some casino, he said as he picked up the phone.Hello.Uh, hi, a mans voice said. Could I speak to Jody, please?Tommy pulled the phone away and looked at it, then put it to his ear and said, Jodys well shes deceased.I know. Can I speak to her?You sick fuck.Is this C. Thomas Flood? The guy from the paper?Who was this guy? Look, buddy, that was a mistake. They got the guy who did those murders.Look, my name is Steve. I sightt tell you my culture name. Not until Im sure its safe. Im a med student at Berkeley. I spoke to Jody the other night. We were supposed to meet the other night at Enricos, but she never showed up. Im kind of glad, I met a nice girl who works at the Safeway with you. Anyway, when I saw Jodys name in the paper I took a luck and looked up the number.If you saw the paper, you know what happened to Jody, Tommy said. This isnt very funny.The line was silent for a moment, then Steve said, Do you know what she is?Tommy was shocked. Do you?So you do know?She is, I mean was, my girlfriend.Look, Im not trying to blackmail you or anything. I dont want to turn you in. I talked to Jody about reversing her condition. Well, I think Ive found a way to do it.Youre kidding.No. Tell her. Ill call you back tomorrow night. I know shes not up during the day.Wait, Tommy said. Are you serious about this? I mean, you can make her human again?I think so. It will probably take a few months. But Ive been able to do it with cloned cells in the lab.Tommy cover the mouthpi ece and turned to the statue of Jody. Theres a guy here that says he can help you. We can beVapor was streaming out of the ear holes in the brass and swirling into a cloud in the middle of the room. Tommy dropped the phone and backed away from the cloud. He could hear Steves voice calling for him on the phone.Tommy backed against the replication in the kitchen. Jody, is that you?The cloud was pulsating, sending out tendrils, or were they limbs? It was as if it was condensing into a solid shape.Jody thought, Oh Tommy, you cant believe what I learned last night. Youre going to have the adventure of your life, lover. And its going to be such a long life. The things youll see I cant wait to show them to you.She became solid, stood before him, naked, smiling.Tommy held the phone to his chest. Youre pissed, arent you?I was never going to leave you, Tommy. I love you.But what about him? Tommy pointed to the bronzed vampire.I had to make him think that I was going to go with him so I co uld find out what I needed to know. Ive learned a lot, Tommy. Im going to teach you. She started moving toward him.He taught you the mist thing, huh?That, and how a vampire is made.No kidding. That could come in handy.And soon, she said. She looked back at the old vampire. The bronzing was a pretty good trick. I didnt exactly know what I was going to do with him after I found out what I needed to know. Maybe later we can figure out a way to let him out and still be safe.So, youre not mad? Youre really not leaving?No. I thought I would have to leave, but I never wanted to. You and I are going to be together for a very long time.Tommy smiled. Great, this guy on the phone saysHang up, Tommy. And come here.But he says he can change you back.Hang up. She took the phone from him and set it down on the counter, then moved into his arms and kissed him.