“That’s not good,” Vic said.
“I don’t know what to do.”
“Maybe the only thing you can do,” he said. “Go confront me.”
I recoiled.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“Past me seems to be on the take from Tremblay. Go confront me. Tell me what’s going to happen, and see what he says.”
“You understand why I don’t want to do that?”
Vic nodded.
“Absolutely,” he said. “But you know if I went to talk to him, the resonance effect from the two of us meeting would distort the Echo. There’s no way to find out without you here.”
“You’re insane,” I said.
“No. This is the only option we have left without approaching Tremblay directly. Maybe past me can get in and undo whatever it was, or see what was going to happen.”
“I can’t risk it,” I said. “I’m scared. I already have to tell Eddie—”
“If there’s no you to come back to Eddie because we’re stuck here, then what’s the point?”
I didn’t like it. Still, off I went, feeling ridiculous, and swept into the dance/dining hall again, trying my hardest to blend in. Past Vic was there, reclining against a wall, as Tremblay nattered in the background to polite applause.
I tapped him on the shoulder. He turned and saw me, a slick grin on his wild face, and I tried my hardest not to look directly into his eyes again…
“How you doing?” he asked.
“I know you’re on the take from Tremblay,” I said. “You’re working for him, right?”
“Yup,” he said.
“Someone’s trying to kill him,” I said. “William Corcoran, I think. And he’s going to succeed. Tonight. In less than an hour. I need to know how it’s going to happen.”
He narrowed his eyes at me, biting one corner of his lip. His canine stuck out.
“You’re a feisty one, aren’t ya?”
“I’ve been told that,” I said. “I didn’t know who else to turn to.”
“Not that other guy you’ve been schmoozing up to?” he asked. “You look like you might have a type.”
“Look. This is important.”
“Darling, darling. I understand. I know you’re worried about your employer. But trust me. I’m the best one to be on his side right now. Can you trust me?”
“No,” I said. “I need to see it for myself.”
“Well, I got an idea,” he said. “Come with me.”
He nodded to Tremblay, and we left. I followed him down to the Lavender Staircase, nearabouts, and he turned and knocked on a door. He kept me outside, and stepped in, closing it behind him.
“I think we have a problem,” he said.
“Oh?” it was a familiar voice, fluted on the edge. “Tell me all about it.”
