Part 2 (1/2)
”What the h.e.l.l for?”
”Beats me. He didn't leave a note.”
”That is sick,” said Dominic.
Carlos took another bite of his candy bar and shook the stub at me. ”So, what did I miss? Were you talking about me?”
”No. Dominic and I were just talking about Ursula and how”
”The wedding,” said Dominic, and the look he gave me told me to let it go. He turned to Carlos and smiled nervously. ”She wants to do a handfasting ceremony.”
”Handfasting? What is that?” He looked at me. I had no idea either.
”It's an ancient custom,” Dominic said. ”A pagan thing. See, traditionally, the bride and groom spend the last twenty-four hours before the wedding with their hands tied together. It is supposed to strengthen their commitment and symbolizes the eternal bond that they will pledge to one another. It is where the phrase tying the knot comes from.”
”They walk around like that all day?”
”Yup, all day.”
”What do they do when one of them has to....”
”Go to the bathroom?”
”Yeah.”
”I don't know. I guess they go to the bathroom.”
”Are you sure about that?” I asked. ”Did Ursula suggest this?”
”Yes. She said she wanted a handfasting wedding. I told her okay.”
”Did you know what that was?”
”Sure I knew, but what could I say?”
”Well, that sucks,” said Carlos. ”I wouldn't want anyone in the bathroom with me when I drop a duce.”
I laughed openly. ”Carlos, trust me. n.o.body wants to be in the bathroom with you when you drop a duce.”
Dominic said, ”Can we please not go there?”
”Ooh, that reminds me. Dominic, Ursula has something for you. I was supposed to bring it with me this morning and give it to you, but I forgot.”
”What is it?”
”A promise stone.”
”A what?” Carlos asked.
Dominic said, ”I know what it is. It is like a river rock. She makes a promise on it, locks the promise in with a spell and then gives it to me. That way I hold her promise for as long as I want and she can't take it back.”
”The stone or the promise?”
”Both.”
”Aww, that's sweet.”
”Yes, sticky sweet,” I said. ”Sorry, Dominic. I'll go back to the house later today and get it for you.”
”All right, but while you're there, don't mention to Ursula that I said anything about the handfasting thing.”
”Don't worry. I won't. Carlos.” I gave a nod. ”Would you get the phone?”
”What?” He alternated glances between the phone and me. Two seconds later, it rang.
He answered it. ”Detective Rodriquez, Second Precinct. How may I help you?”
Dominic continued. ”Like I was saying, Tony, I don't want Ursula to think I have reservations about spending the day before the wedding bond to her.”
”I understand. I promise I won't say a word. But I will ask Lilith if there are provisions in the custom allowing for bathroom breaks.”
”No. Don't. She will only tell Ursula. You know, on second thought, forget I said anything at all.”
”Dominic, I don't know why you”
”That's it,” said Carlos, hanging up the phone with a heavy hand. ”We have to roll.”
”Where to?”
”That was a Mister Ferguson at the Biocrynetix Laboratories down off Lexington. Seems someone stole company plans to a top-secret project they were working on. We gotta go check it out.”
”All right,” I said, wringing my hands briskly. ”A nice white collar crime for a change. This should be good.” I stood and came around the desk. ”You driving?”
Carlos pulled his keys from his pocket. ”Can we take my Corvette?”
I s.n.a.t.c.hed the keys from his hand as I brushed pa.s.sed him. ”Sure. I'll drive?”
Out in the parking lot, I clicked the remote alarm b.u.t.ton on Carlos' keychain. A black Corvette five s.p.a.ces down chirped twice. I looked at Carlos, convinced there must be a mistake.
”It's black,” I said.
”Yes.”
”I thought you had a red Corvette.”
”I do.”