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“Did you see it?” asked Jerome after Jack had not spoken for some moments.
“Ye-e-es,” said Jack slowly, unsure of what he had seen but not liking it one bit. The creature was an ugly little monkeylike brute with hair that looked like that of a black pig with psoriasis. What was worse was that it had a chillingly humanoid face, and it had given Jack an impish grin and a wink before vanishing.
“Jerome?”
“Yes, Jack?”
“What was that?”
“His name’s Caliban, and he’s my friend.”
“Well, you can tell him from me he’s got to live somewhere else.”
“But—”
“No buts. He’s got to go.”
Jack left Jerome in the closet and rejoined Madeleine.
“The brooch you thought you’d lost,” he said, placing the jewelry on the table.
“Where was it?”
“Jerome’s pet is something of a magpie. Have you seen it?”
“No.”
“It’s a bit… odd. If anything else goes missing, you’ll probably find it in the closet under the stairs.” He thought for a moment. “Do we have to go out tonight? I’m a bit pooped.”
“I’d like you to accompany me,” she replied with a smile, “but I can go on my own and flirt outrageously and in a totally undignified ma
“You know, I don’t feel quite so pooped anymore.”
“Good. We should be out the door by seven-thirty.”