"Finished?" She almost choked on the word. "Uh… no," she said, glancing away from him. "I doubt I'll be shoving off to the next realm anytime soon."
"Oh," he said. "So, what happened in New York?"
"Uh… I don't think I should tell you. It'll probably be in the papers tomorrow, anyway."
Tristan nodded. "So you're earning back a few points now."
"Take advantage of me while you can," she urged.
Tristan smiled.
"I get points for that," she said, just touching his lips with the tip of a long nail, but his smile had already disappeared. "You're really worried."
"You heard the dream," he said. "It's pretty obvious. There's some connection between Caroline's death and mine."
"Tell me about Caroline. How'd she croak?" Lacey asked.
"Shot herself, in the head."
"And they're sure it was a suicide?"
"Well," said Tristan, "the police found only her fingerprints on the gun, and her fingers were still twisted around it. She left no note, but she had torn up photographs of Gregory's father and Ivy's mother."
Lacey sprang off the headboard and began to pace the room in a circle.
"I suppose someone could have set it up to look like a suicide." Tristan said slowly. "And Ivy was in the neighborhood that night. She could have seen something. Lacey! What if she saw something she shouldn't have—" "Did I ever tell you I was in Perry Mason?" Lacey interrupted.
"— and what if she didn't even realize it?" Tristan exclaimed.
"Of course, Raymond Burr is dead now," Lacey continued.
"I need to check out the address of Gregory's mother," Tristan told her, "and the address where Ivy made the delivery that night."
"As soon as I read the obit, I looked Raymond up," Lacey said.
"Listen to me, Lacey."
"I was sure he would be assigned some kind of mission."
"Lacey, please," he begged.
"I thought we could pal around together."
"Lacey!" he shouted.
"I mean, Raymond would make an awesome angel."
Tristan dropped his head in his hands. He needed time to think about what was going on and how he could keep Ivy safe.
"But he must have whisked right on," Lacey said.
"Must have," Tristan mumbled. He could feel his mind growing dim. He needed rest before he could figure things out.
"I can't tell you how disappointed I was!"
"You just did," Tristan observed wearily.
"Raymond said he'd never forget the episode I did with him."
There could be a lot of reasons for that, Tristan thought.
"Raymond always appreciated my talent."
Ivy was in danger, and he didn't know how to warn her or whom to warn her against, and Lacey was going on and on about a dead actor.
"So what I am saying is that I can probably help you on this matter," Lacey said.
Tristan stared at her. "Because you played a supporting role in one episode with another actor who pretended he was a lawyer who somehow ended up solving television crimes?"
"Well, if you're going to put it that way, don't expect my help!"
She stalked across the room, then paused theatrically and looked over her shoulder.
Tristan wished she'd keep right on going. The room was washed in the palest of morning light now, and the first birds were up, their flickering song being passed along from one tree to the next. He wanted the last bit of time he could have alone with Ivy. He turned coward her, longing to touch her.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
"You don't know what I'm going to do," Tristan replied.
"Oh, I can guess," she said to his back. "And you're too exhausted."
"Leave me alone, Lacey."
"I just thought I'd warn you."
"Leave me alone!"
She did.
As soon as she left he stretched out his hand. Ivy slept quietly beneath it. He wanted so badly to touch her, to feel her warmth, to know her softness just one more time. Gathering all his strength, Tristan focused on the tips of his fingers. He knew he was tired, too tired, but still he concentrated with his last bit of energy. The ends of his fingers stopped shimmering. They were solid now.
Slowly, gently, he ran his fingers down her cheek, feeling the silk of her, the wonder of her. He traced Ivy's mouth.
If only he could kiss those lips! If only he could hold Ivy, fold all other in his arms…
Then he began to lose the sense of her.