Part 2 (1/2)

”So you've said previously. And, once again, I believe you.” He steepled fingers the size of well-muscled bratwurst. ”However, as Brianna does not, I think it's time we move on.”

”Move on?” Tony cleared his throat and tried again an octave lower. ”Move on?”

”Yes.”

No. He was not going to teach CB's youngest daughter how to be a wizard. First, wizardry was a talent more than a skill, and while Brianna had proved sensitive to the metaphysical, he had no idea if that equaled talent. Or what, exactly, did equal talent, for that matter. Second, he was still teaching himself how to be a wizard and, frankly, as a teacher, he sucked. Scrubbing bubbles and one p.i.s.sed-off eater-waiter had to be incontestable evidence of that. Third, giving this particular eight-year-old access to actual power would be like... his mind s.h.i.+ed away from comparisons and settled on the height of irresponsibility. No one, including her father, could control the kid now. And fourth, he'd rather have toothpicks shoved under his nails.

Mouth open to lay everything but the last point out in front of CB-not smart to give the big guy ideas-he closed it again as CB continued speaking.

”I have a friend putting together a PBS miniseries for Black History Month, so I called in some favors, and he gave my ex-wife a sizable part. She's taking both girls to South Carolina with her. Shooting ends December twentieth. You have until then to come up with a permanent solution.”

The pause lengthened.

”Was there anything else?”

Like invasions from another world or a waxy buildup of evil.

”Um, no?”

”Good.”

”Permanent solution. Permanent solution.” Tony paused, one hand on the door leading out to the parking lot, frozen in place by the sudden memory of his mother sitting at the kitchen table twisting her hair onto multicolored rollers shaped like bones. A home perm.

And the permanent solution had totally reeked. He remembered because they were called Tonys and his mother used to tease him about being a hairdresser.

Later, like around the time he hit p.u.b.erty, his father stopped finding the hairdresser jokes quite so funny-Warren Beatty's enthusiastically hetero performance in Shampoo conveniently ignored.

His father was no longer a problem given that they hadn't spoken to each other for about ten years.

Brianna's father, however...

The door jerked out of his hand, and he stumbled forward, slamming up against a solid body on its way in.

His way in.

Tony recognized the impact. And the black leather jacket he was currently clutching with both hands. ”Lee.” Two fast steps back.

He stared down at his arms still stretched out... Right. Release the jacket.

”Tony.”

Just for a second, Tony was unsure of what Lee's next words were going to be. Just for a second, it almost looked as if the show was over for the day and reality was going to get its time in. Just for a second. Trouble was, a second later Lee pulled his hail- fellow-well-met actor-face back on.

”You okay? I didn't realize there was someone standing there.”

”Well, why would you? You know, solid door and all and you not having X-ray vision.” X-ray vision? Could he sound any more geeklike? ”I was just leaving.”

”Right. You're doing second unit work tonight.”

Everyone seemed to know that. Were they posting his schedule now or what?

Lee s.h.i.+fted his motorcycle helmet from under his left arm to under his right but didn't actually move out of the doorway. ”So you were here to...”

”Meeting. I had a meeting with CB.”

”Good. I mean, it was good?”

”Yeah. I guess. Still dealing with Brianna's reactions in the...” s.h.i.+t. Never bring up the house thing with Lee.

The actor-face slipped. ”In the house?”

Unless he brings it up first. ”Yeah. In the house.”

Lee's eyes closed briefly, thick lashes lying against his cheeks like the fringe on a theater curtain. Only darker. Not gold. And without the ta.s.sels. Tony realized he was babbling to himself, but he couldn't seem to stop. They hadn't been alone together, standing this close, since, well, since the house. For a moment, he hoped that when Lee opened his eyes, the actor-face would be gone and they could maybe start dealing with what had happened.

Lee had to make the first move because Lee was the one with the career he could lose. It was Lee's face plastered on T-s.h.i.+rts worn by teenage girls and forty-year-old women who should know better. Tony was a TAD. Professionally, no one gave a c.r.a.p about him.

The moment pa.s.sed.

Lee opened his eyes. ”Well, I have to say that it's been nice running into you and all, but I need to get to my...” Dark brows drew in, and he waved the hand not holding the helmet.

”Dressing room?”

”Yeah.” The smile was fake. Well done, but fake. ”My memory sucks some days.”

Tony reflected the smile back at him. ”Old age.”

”Yeah.” The smile was still fake, but the regret flattening his words seemed real. ”That has to be it.”

Tony squinted up at the top of the building, trying to count the number of people standing at the edge of the roof. Sorge's request for a steadicam had been overruled by the budget, so there should only be two: Leah Burnett, the stuntwoman doing the fall, and Sam Tappett, one of Daniel's safety crew. Two. Not a hard number to count. Most nights he could even do it with his shoes on.

So why did he keep getting three? Not every time-because that would have made sense. Every now and then, he thought-no, cancel that, he was sure-he could see a third figure.

Not Henry.

Not tonight.

Not unless Henry had been growing an impressive set of horns in his spare time and had then developed the ability to share his personal s.p.a.ce with mere mortals. The same actual s.p.a.ce. Sort of superimposed.

Welcome to the wonderful world of weird.

Deja vu all over again.The question now: should he do anything about it and, if so, what?

It wasn't like his spidey-sense was tingling or something in his subconscious was flailing metaphorical arms and wailing Danger, Will Robinson! Danger! He didn't have a bad feeling about things, and he had no idea if this was a threat or some kind of symbolic wizard experience. Maybe it was something all wizards saw on top of buildings at-he checked his watch-11:17 on Thursday nights in early October and he'd just never been looking in the right place at the right time.

Still, as a general rule, when he saw things others couldn't, the situation went south in a big way pretty f.u.c.king fast.