I washed my hair this morning.Even as much as he understood a toddler needed simple explanations, Konrad couldn’t help being slightly offended.
The woman didn’t say another word. She simply plucked the boy up off the ground before he went after the fallen hair and wrestled him into his stroller while he squirmed and whined. Eventually she pushed the screaming child away.
So much for peace and quiet to think.
***
Finally I have some of this freak’s DNA, and I know right where to put it, Reginald said to himself later that evening.
The long strands of hair appeared to float on an invisible wind, through the dark gallery and down to the basement.
They didn’t have that type of testing back inmyday. They didn’t even fully understand fingerprinting back then. Of course, they did in the ’90s, but therealthieves wore gloves, so they didn’t leave any prints.
As the hairs disappeared behind some shelving, they attached themselves to a piece of duct tape that had been left behind when one of the bound security guards was cut loose after the robbery.
***
Konrad strolled along the wide sidewalk with his twin brother, Nick. Their broad shoulders seemed to span the whole width, and a passerby walked into the gutter to avoid the two men.
“Now that you’ve ignored my advice and gotten involved with this human lawyer, you want my advice again? Isn’t that a little ironic, bro?”
Nick hadn’t used the concept of irony properly, but Konrad wasn’t about to correct him. He needed his compassion, and Nick was sensitive to criticism, no matter how well intended.
“How should I tell her?”
Nick shrugged. “Don’t ask me. I’ve never had to fess up to a woman before. I just love ’em and leave ’em. It’s what we do.”
“I’ve never liked that part.”
“Yeah? Well, you should try it. Much less messy.”
“How would you know that?”
Nick gave his brother a sidelong glance. “Because it is. Look at you. You’re a wreck. I’ve never seen you this insecure!”
“She’s worth whatever pain I have to go through.”
“You mean, ‘It’s better to have loved and lost,’ and all that?”
“Maybe, but I’m hoping not to lose her at all. How can I manage that? I mean the stakes are ridiculous. I just don’t know if she trusts me enough, yet.”
“You should have stuck to our own kind. They know the ropes. Speaking of ropes, you could test her trust.”
Konrad raised his brows. “How?”
“Ask if she’ll let you tie her up.”
He laughed. “I guess letting me do that might be a sign of trust. Or how kinky she is.”
Nick looked over at him. “By the way, that doctor you sent my way? What a freak!”
“Oh, shit. Sorry, bro. I didn’t realize.”
Nick laughed again. “I meanfreakyin a good way! She was all over me like an octopus on caffeine.”
Konrad laughed out loud with his booming voice. “Must have been a fun night.”
“The best.”
