Part 17 (2/2)

”But since they aren' aren't the real thing,” Max mused, ”it's possible that interviewing one of them will help me understand their purpose. Are they self-aware? Or do they actually believe they are are the individuals whom they're merely mirroring? Are they appearing in an attempt to warn the doomed individuals? Or are they, in fact, a.s.sa.s.sins?” He tugged on his beard as he added, ”Based on what little material I've currently got access to, I do know one thing.” the individuals whom they're merely mirroring? Are they appearing in an attempt to warn the doomed individuals? Or are they, in fact, a.s.sa.s.sins?” He tugged on his beard as he added, ”Based on what little material I've currently got access to, I do know one thing.”

”Which is?”

”The fact that others can see and interact with these ent.i.ties . . . that is most most unusual. Traditionally, the person destined to die by nightfall is the only one who sees the perfect double. Whereas in the two cases we're dealing with, other people not only see and interact with the 'double walker,' they even do so before the mirrored individual is aware of the double's existence.” unusual. Traditionally, the person destined to die by nightfall is the only one who sees the perfect double. Whereas in the two cases we're dealing with, other people not only see and interact with the 'double walker,' they even do so before the mirrored individual is aware of the double's existence.”

I blinked. ”That's right! Whichever Charlie Chiccante was the real one the night I first saw his doppelgangster, he didn't seem to be aware of its existence. Both versions of Charlie were in a normal mood that evening. It was only on the night he died that he was scared, anxious, and talking about his perfect double.”

”So Esther and I saw Charlie's double before he did,” Lucky said pensively.

”And now we may know about Doctor Dapezzo's double before he does,” Max added.

I checked my watch and gasped when I saw the time. ”I have to go! I'm going to be late for my date.”

”How can you think about your love life at a time like this?” Lucky demanded.

”How can you pursue a woman whose husband you whacked?” I retorted.

”We can't accomplish anything more until we can meet with Doctor Dapezzo,” Max said. ”And I gather that, based on the enmity between your famiglie famiglie, that can't be accomplished this very moment?”

”No,” Lucky admitted. ”It'll take a little time and finesse to arrange a sit-down.”

”So Esther might as well go enjoy the evening she has planned with her young man,” Max said, rising to his feet and gesturing for us all to leave the crypt.

”The way she's dressed,” Lucky muttered as I started up the stairs, ”I can guess guess what she has planned.” what she has planned.”

”He's taking me to an expensive restaurant,” I said primly, speaking over my shoulder.

Lucky snorted. ”In that case, there ain't no question what he he has planned.” has planned.”

”As long as it doesn't involve murder or perfect doubles,” I said sincerely, ”I'm all in favor of it.”

At the top of the stairs, I could hear that Father Gabriel had started the evening service, so I shushed my two companions. The church smelled of incense as we entered it and quietly turned down the side aisle to make our exit.

The priest and congregation were chanting liturgical prayers together. I was surprised by how many people were attending a regular Monday twilight service. Then I noticed they were mostly women, and they were almost as dressed up for vespers as I was for a date. They were also gazing at Father Gabriel with expressions of devotion that did not strike me as entirely spiritual.

I glanced at Lucky and couldn't repress an amused smile. Whether or not he knew what I was thinking, he scowled at me and nudged me toward the exit.

Outside on the street, I said, ”Rabbis can get married, you know. In fact, they're expected to. But I don't remember ever seeing one as dishy as Father Gabriel.”

”You shouldn't talk that way about a priest,” Lucky said. ”They're above matters of the flesh.”

Given what the news headlines and law courts had revealed about priests in recent years, I rolled my eyes. But I wanted to stop short of really offending Lucky, so I dropped the subject and checked my cell phone. I hadn't been able to get a signal in the crypt, and now I saw that I had missed a call from my agent, as well as one from Lopez.

Since I was going to be a few minutes late for our dinner reservation, I decided to call back my date first.

Lopez answered on the second ring. ”Esther! Are you okay? Where are you?”

I blinked, realizing that when he'd called without getting an answer, it had made him worry about my safety again. ”I'm fine,” I a.s.sured him. ”Are you at the restaurant already?”

”No. Look, I tried to call you a little while ago-”

”I know. I was out of range. I'll be a few minutes late,” I said, ”but I'm looking for a cab right now.”

Actually, Lucky was trying to get me a cab, but I decided that fell under the heading of Too Much Information.

”That's why I called,” Lopez said. ”I'm really sorry about this . . .”

”What?”

”I have to cancel.”

”Oh.” I looked down at my s.e.xy dress as my heart sank. ”You do?”

”I just got called in to work,” he said.

”I could wait for you.” A cool evening breeze drifted across my bare shoulders, and I realized I'd left my wrap down in the crypt. ”Or meet you somewhere later?”

”I don't want you to do that,” he said with obvious regret. ”I think this is going to take most of the night.”

”What happened?”

”Johnny Be Good Gambello was just found dead.”

”What?”

Lucky and Max looked at me.

”Yeah, they just fished him out of the East River,” Lopez said. ”The initial estimate is that he's been dead for twenty-four hours.”

10.

”Whaddya mean, an 'operation'?” Lucky demanded.

”Apparition,” I corrected, waving my research book at him. ”According to this, an apparition can be corporeal even if the person it's replicating is already dead.”

”Huh?”

”While I would much rather not hear myself say something like this aloud,” I told Lucky, ”apparently it's possible for an apparition apparition of Johnny to look and sound real while he's already sleeping with the fishes.” of Johnny to look and sound real while he's already sleeping with the fishes.”

”So now we got operations and and doppelgangsters?” doppelgangsters?”

”Actually, a doppelgangster is a type type of operation. So, even though he was dead at the time, I think we saw Johnny's perfect double yesterday.” I repressed a shudder of revulsion and tried not to think about the way the doppelgangster had eyed me in my little black dress. of operation. So, even though he was dead at the time, I think we saw Johnny's perfect double yesterday.” I repressed a shudder of revulsion and tried not to think about the way the doppelgangster had eyed me in my little black dress.

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