looked withered and shriveled, these days. The second I turned the water off, the full sensation of icy cold returned, and I shivered violently as I toweled off and got dressed.
I took care of Mouse and Misters various needs, ate several leftover biscuits from the fridge for breakfast, and opened a can of Coke. After a moments thought, I headed down to my lab and grabbed Bobs skull from the shelf.
Faint orange lights flickered in the sockets. Hey, Bob mumbled in a sleep-slurred voice. Where are we going?
Investigating, I said. I went back upstairs with the skull and dropped it into my nylon backpack. I might need you today. But there are going to be straights around, so keep your mouth shut unless I open the pack.
Kay, Bob said with a yawn, and the lights in the skulls eye sockets winked out again.
I strapped on the magical arsenalmy shield bracelet, the energy ring, and my silver pentacle amulet. I slipped my newly carved blasting rod into a side pocket of the pack, leaving the handle out where I could reach up behind my right ear and whip it out in a hurry. I picked up my staff and eyed my leather duster, hanging on its hook by the door. I had layered spells over the duster in an effort to provide myself with a measure of protection against various fangs and claws and bullets and such, and as a result the coat had effectively become a suit of armor.
But, like most suits of armor, it lacked its own air-conditioning systemand if I wore it around in the blazing summer heat, Id probably die of heat prostration before anyone had the chance to bite, slice, or shoot me. Hell, even the blue jeans I was wearing would feel too heavy long before noon. The duster stayed on its hook.
That rattled me a little. Im used to the duster, and the spells on its leather had saved my life before. It made me feel a little vulnerable to think of getting into some kind of supernatural conflict without it. So I grabbed Mouses lead, much to the dogs tail-wagging approval, and clipped it onto his collar. Youre with me today, I told him. I need someone to watch my back. Maybe to help me eat a hot dog later.
Mouses tail wagged even more at the mention of hot dogs. He chuffed out a breath, nudged my hip with the side of his head in a fond gesture, and we went outside to wait for Murphy.
She pulled up and eyed Mouse warily as I opened the back door and he jumped up onto the backseat. The car rocked back and forth with his weight and sank a little.
Hes car-broken, right?
Mouse wagged his tail and gave Murphy an enthusiastic, vacant doggie grin, tilting his head back and forth quizzically. It was easy for my imagination to subtitle the look: Car-broken? What is that ?
Wiseass, I muttered at the dog, and got in the passenger side. Dont worry, Murph. We did an insane amount of work on the whole bodily function issue as soon as I realized how big he was going to get. Hell be good. I glared at the backseat. Wont you?
Mouse gave me that same grin and puzzled tilting of his head. I frowned at him more deeply. He leaned forward to nuzzle my shoulder with his heavy muzzle, and settled down in the backseat.
Murphy sighed. If it was any other dog, Id make him ride in the trunk.
Thats right, I said. You have dog issues.
Big dog issues, Murphy corrected me. Just big dogs.
Mouse isnt big. Hes compactly challenged.
She gave me an arch look as she pulled out and said, Youd fit in the trunk, too, Harry. Then she frowned at me and said, Your lips are blue.
Long shower, I said.
She gave me a sudden, swift grin. Wanted to keep your mind on business? I think Ill interpret that as a compliment to my sexual appeal.
I snorted and buckled in. You heard anything from the hospital?
Murphys smile faded and she kept her eyes on the road. She nodded without looking at me, her face impossible to read.
Bad, huh? I asked.
The young man the paramedics carried off died. The girl who was already down when you came in is going to make it, but shes in some kind of shock. Catatonic. Doesnt focus her eyes or anything. Just lies there.
Yeah, I said quietly. I was sort of expecting that. What about the other