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“Do you remember when you got shot, when my husband came to town?” asked Amanda, adjusting her long legs.
“And you gave me that cock-and-bull story about being imm…,” Bert’s voice trailed off and he tried to comprehend. “So all that was true?”
“I told you it was true,” answered Amanda.
“You partied with Richard the Lion-Hearted, and Mozart dumped you and you’re over a thousand years old?”
“Yes, yes and don’t tell anyone, okay?”
“And you cut each other’s heads off?” Bert waited at a red light. “Wait a minute, is that what happened to Markham?”
“Yes. I’m widowed now,” said Amanda managing to sound demure.
Something else clicked in Bert’s mind. “What about you Wolfe? You knew! But when Korda’s goon shot you, you nearly died.”
“I wasn’t immortal then. But I am now.” Nick squirmed on the hard floor. “Are we there yet?”
“How do you become immortal? Can it happen to anyone?”
“You’re not one,” said Nick.
“How do you know?”
“I’ve met your parents, and you’re a dead ringer for your dad. Immortals don’t have parents.”
“Then how?”
“We’re not sure about that,” responded Amanda. “And Nick would have died if I hadn’t shot him. That’s why he’s avoided me for ten years.”
“You should have asked me!” Nick shouted.
“Then it wouldn’t have worked!” yelled Amanda.
“She made you live forever and you’re mad at her?” asked Bert.
“It’s not fun!” Nick growled.
“But you won’t go bald, you’ll always be strong and the women will always adore you. What’s the downside?”
“I tried to tell him that, but would he listen to me?” Amanda put a serious pout into her voice.
“Oh, yeah, and all I have to do is decapitate people. And getting shot still hurts,” grizzled Nick.
“It’s been ten years, Nick. Aren’t you over it yet?” Amanda put a hand on his knee and tried to look into his face.
“Shush! Honestly, guys, you two bicker more than my two maiden aunts,” ordered Bert. Silence reigned for a few blocks. “This is nuts,” he finally muttered. “If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I’d never believe it. But we’re here.” He parked behind a tall, narrow townhouse. “Let’s get some sleep before we attack this case.” He pulled the van into the garage and made sure the door was closed and locked before opening the van.
“Is this where you live?” asked Amanda looking around at the neat kitchen. “What happened to that charming little beach house?”
“It lost its charm after Catherine double-crossed me,” answered Bert. “This place has bullet-proof glass, is completely sound and bug proof and will withstand a major earthquake.”
“Charming in its own way,” said Nick.
“Hmmm,” agreed Bert. “It helps me sleep at night.” He took off his suit jacket and put it on a chair. A soft clink alerted him, so he reached into the inside pocket of the coat and pulled out the vial of blood. Looking at it, he turned slowly to Amanda. “Now I get it. You didn’t want his blood tested or they might find out something hinky about it.”
“Hinky indeed,” agreed Amanda. “You said you had a lab of sorts here, right?”
“You’re a lawyer and a chemist now?” asked Nick.
“In a thousand years, she’s probably at least that many things,” said Bert. His face was still pale and he shook his head trying to comprehend what he had been told.
“Mostly a thief,” said Nick.
“Listen, tough guy, I’m trying to help you, because deep down I refuse to believe you killed Lucy. Now, you can help, or you can continue to complain,” Amanda blazed.
Nick glared but held his tongue. Bert looked from one to the other and stepped in. “We’ve been up for a long time, and I have no idea how death affects you, but you both look like you could use a bath and some sleep.”
Amanda craned her neck around to see the blood on the back of her suit. “You’re right, Bert, but I want to send this blood sample to a friend first. Where, Bert?”
Bert held the door to the basement. Amanda made her way down the stairs as the men trailed behind her. “Dr. Grace Chandel will help us. She’s an immortal who knows all about diseases and drugs and things. She’s a huge help to me.”
“How many immortals are there?” Bert asked Nick as he turned on the light revealing a host of electronic equipment. Amanda sat at a computer and started tapping on the keys.
“Amanda seems to attract them like a magnet. I’ve gone months without meeting one, but when I get near Amanda, it gets dangerous.”
“Did you find a teacher?” Amanda tried to seem nonchalant as she whirled in the chair, took the vial of blood and inserted it into a sliding door which had opened.
“Yeah,” admitted Nick. “I’m still here, aren’t I?”
“I’m glad,” said Amanda, turning briefly to smile warmly at the big man. “I knew you’d be a great immortal.” She returned to the computer, tapped on the keyboard rapidly while Nick brooded on that. “Okay, all done! Now where is that bathtub, Bert?”
Bert shook his head and silently led the way to the top of the house. He showed Amanda to the remaining guest room and promised to be awake in a few hours to continue their investigation. He stood looking at their closed doors, listened as water taps gushed, trying to make sense of the last several hours. Finally, his brain a foggy swirl of memories, hints and half-remembered conversations all trying to coalesce into a reasonable explanation, he turned and went to his own room. A huge yawn split his face as he collapsed on his bed, closed his eyes and let sleep overcome him.
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