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your choice.”
    The girl gasped and jumped back. My God, I didn’t hear him coming, didn’t see him move, how did he get so close so fast .… She felt the smoothness of satin brush against her arm as he towered over her. She heard the soft rustle of material and saw the long, black cape swirling around his feet.
    Staring, she tried to see his face, but his head was bent and his eyes were hidden.
    â€œLook,” she said, but her voice trembled and she knew he heard her fear. “I’m meeting someone. That’s probably him now.”
    She raised a hand, pretending to wave, and felt fingers clamp onto her arm.
    â€œWill you stay with me?” the voice said quietly.
    And again she stared … again his eyes were hidden.
    â€œLook, you,” she raised her voice, “get away from me right—”
    â€œWill you?” And the eyes, at last, began to raise … the voice so soft … so persuasive.… “Will you—”
    â€œGet out of here, you creep!”
    Angry now, she flung off his arm and turned to run.
    She never took a step.
    He caught her so suddenly that she didn’t even fight him, his arm beneath her chin, forcing back her head, his voice, his soft, calm breath trailing down her neck … lingering in her ear … whispering.…
    â€œWill you stay with me in eternity?”
    And horror flashed in her eyes then, as she realized— finally —what was happening … the cold, steel blade against her throat—the swift, searing pain—
    And in the last second of her life she tried to scream.

6
    I can’t find anything.”
    As Darcy came into the kitchen, Jake got up from the table and scowled at her.
    â€œYou cleaned up the place. I can’t find a damn thing.”
    Darcy was taken aback. “I’m sorry. It’s just that … I thought … I was trying to help.” She waited for an apology, but he only fiddled with the coffeemaker. “Don’t you think it looks better?” she coaxed him.
    â€œYou want cereal? Toast? Both?”
    â€œNeither. I’m not awake enough yet. I kept having nightmares all night. Rats and things.”
    â€œYeah, okay.” Jake poured a cup of coffee and slid it down the counter toward her.
    â€œWow. Not a spill.” Darcy looked impressed.
    â€œFrom my short-order cook days. Among other things.”
    â€œWhat other things?”
    â€œButcher. Baker. Garbage Taker. Only now I’d be called a Sanitation Engineer, I think.”
    Darcy sank into the chair and rested her elbows on the table, chin in hands. “I didn’t hear you come in last night.”
    â€œI never get in early. Early night, that is.”
    â€œDoesn’t the Club ever close?”
    â€œThat doesn’t mean the boss quits working.”
    â€œOh.” Darcy spooned some sugar into her cup and stirred it thoughtfully. “I was wondering … how come there aren’t any mirrors around here? Not even in the bathroom.…”
    Jake busied himself at the counter and didn’t look at her. “Mirrors?” He was silent for a long moment, then glanced back over his shoulder. “Gus was pretty blind the last years of his life. He didn’t need mirrors. When I got this place, I just never got around to buying any.” He picked up his own coffee mug and sat down opposite her. “Ready to work?”
    Darcy looked surprised. “What am I doing?”
    â€œEarning minimum wage. You’re in charge of the Dungeon.”
    â€œI am? How do I do that?”
    â€œStand in the lobby and welcome people. Take their money. Hand them a brochure. Tell them to have a good time.”
    â€œI thought Liz did all that,” Darcy mumbled.
    â€œLiz is too sour. She scares people away. As a matter of fact, she should be one of the exhibits.” He stood up and stretched. “Anyway, I fired her.”
    â€œYou what? ”
    â€œFired her.