Chapter 97

Da’ shrugged. “Other times the site of the bite will become necrotic. The living tissue will rot.”

“Bloody hell.”

“Yeah. Not a pretty way to go, nor an easy one. Hurts like hell, I understand.” He glanced at the plate that held the remainder of my meal. “If you’re done, Brit, shall we go?”

We left Joe’s Noshery, and I found a phone box and rang Billy. “He’ll be right down to meet us, Da’.” I hung up and turned to face him, to find he was gone.

* * * *

I had my hand on the door handle of the cab, ready to find my lover and drag him out of the pub if need be, when Da’ reeled out of the Battered Cruiser, playing the drunk. He paused for a moment in front of the pub, his shoulders hunched against the cold night air, then came to the cab. I threw open the door, and he slid in beside me. Silently, I handed him a handkerchief, and he wiped the blood…and other things off his right hand.

“Thanks.”