He was gone. I screamed in frustration. A big metal can stood nearby, overflowing with trash. I kicked it and hurt my toe, then I turned sideways and karate-kicked it repeatedly until it rang and rang, spilling empty beer bottles on the sidewalk.
“There you are.”
I spun quickly, breathless.
My father walked toward me.
I prayed that he had seen and heard nothing of what had just passed between me and Veek.
“You will give your fuck buddy a message from me,” Papa said abruptly.
“How did you find me?” My pulse clamored in my ears.
“I just want to make him an offer for a fair settlement.”
I scowled. “You? Fair? How?”
“I make a very nice offer. He relinquishes his claim, and gives me the secret of his powers, and I don’t prosecute him for impersonating our ancestor. And a little money, perhaps. You can promise him that it will profit him to give up.”
“He won’t give up!” I flung out. “You’re going to lose!”
A phone rang and my papa held up one finger. He checked the number on his phone. “Yes?” I watched his face darken as he listened. “But you’re not sure? Eighty percent sure, or eighty percent DNA match? When will you know? Tomorrow? No. Tonight, I tell you.” He grunted. “Keep working.”
As he put the phone back in his pocket, I jeered, “Bad news from the lab? I told you. This is the true vicomte. My great grandfather stole his properties and his income and fobbed him off with a remittance, and you are holding stolen property. Now you want to steal the title too. And you think he’ll put up with that?”
“Why not?” My father’s face was still dark. He hadn’t liked that eighty percent verdict. “He’s put up with it for a lifetime already.”
“You have no idea what his lifetime is,” I said. “Veek will outlive us all. Don’t you wonder what he is? Don’t you fear his powers?”
“I want them. And the secret of his youth.” My father showed his teeth. “You can’t blame me for that. Besides, he is trapped in his own conundrum. If he’s not a man, he can’t win his case. And if he’s a man?” He pulled that horrible caul out of his pocket and showed it to me. “I have him where I want him.”
I struck at it, snake-quick, but he was quicker. He slapped me. My head snapped back and my ear rang. While I rubbed my cheek, I watched him put that hideous thing lovingly in his pocket.
“You see, I may not find him, but I can always find you—with this. And so you will bring him to me. See you tomorrow night, daughter.”
Papa walked briskly across the street, hailed a taxicab, got in, and drove away.