I look for Carlos to order a shot of Jack and there’s already one at my elbow. Who says he’s not psychic?
“How’s that hole in your chest doing?” comes a voice from behind me.
“I have a nice new scar. I don’t know how much of Johnny’s blood you put on the knife, but it left a mark on my heart. I might need a doctor.”
“We’ll stock up on lollipops,” says Candy.
She and Allegra squeeze in next to me at the crowded bar.
I say, “Next time you decide to stab someone to cure them from a horrible disease, try using a smaller knife.”
“I could have given you the potion in a needle like I gave Brigitte, but no, you had to be a baby about it.”
“You shouldn’t stab babies either. I’m not even a doctor and I know that.”
“We only stab the ugly ones,” says Allegra.
Allegra and Candy have been stuck together like Chang and Eng since the night I came back from the Jackal’s Backbone. With Kinski gone, we need a new hoodoo doc who can help Lurkers, take bullets out of chests without cracking them open, and juggle those hunks of God’s broken glass.
“How’s boot camp?”
Allegra does an exaggerated sigh.
“Harder than art school, but more fun than stopping kids from shoplifting Faces of Death at the store.”
“She picks up on doc’s magic healing gear fast,” says Candy. “I never had the head for it, but she zeros right in.”
“Eugène’s books help with the obscure stuff. Did you know that when necromancers and Houngans are allergic to Mandrake root, their balls can swell up to the size of cantaloupes?”
“I never wanted to know that. Soon you’ll be doctor to the stars and monsters. Dr. Kildare with two l’s.”
“Florence Frightingale,” says Allegra.
Candy smiles.
“I told her that one.”
Allegra says, “We’re going to head back to the clinic. Candy is going to show me fun things to do with leeches.”
“It’s always a party with you two.”
It’s good to see Allegra excited. And Candy with something to occupy her mind.
I hold up my drink.
“To Doc Kinski.”
We clink glasses and drink.
“And Doc Allegra.”
We drink again.
Candy nods at the door.
“We have to go.”
“Don’t let the leeches push you around.”