Oooh, the ladys pissed. No pun intended.
Come on, Larry said, getting quickly to his feet. Lets put on the nose bag.
Lets muzzlePeter.
When they were all seated at the dining room table, Pete raised his glass of wine and toasted, To Bonnie. Will she or wont she?
Only her hairdresser knows for sure, Barbara said.
Larry took a sip of his wine. He felt more than a little light-headed. Weve all been drinking too much, he thought. Joking around too much. Doesnt anyone realize?..
Going out to fool with a dead person.
Let me say something, he said. They all looked at him except Lane. She was sitting beside Hal, frowning at her empty plate. Bonnie Saxon was a sweet and beautiful young woman, murdered. She was just a little older than Lane, and she wouldve had a whole life ahead of her if some goddamn nut hadnt... Larrys voice started to tremble, and tears filled his eyes. It shouldnt have happened. It was a cruel... He sobbed. He shook his head. Im sorry, he muttered.
Youd better lay off the stuff, Jean warned.
Eighty-six Lar, Barbara blurted.
I think what Dad said is right. Lane sounded upset. She looked angry. This isnt a movie, you know. That corpse out in the garage wasnt put together by a special effects department. She was a real girl. Some damn bastard...
Lane!
Im sorry, Mom, but really. Youre all kidding around about this thing like its fun and games. Will she or wont she sit up and say boo! Well, its real, and shes really dead. Just because shes got a stake in her chest, its a Halloween party. How do you think her parents would feel if they were here listening to all this shit?
Watch your language, young lady.
What if that was meout there? Would you all party it up and go out with a video camera?..
Stop it! Jean snapped.
Lane lowered her head. I just think you should leave the poor girl alone. Its not right.
Nothing good can come of it, Larry muttered.
Well, Im in agreement with that, Jean said. I just want the body gone.
Now, hold on a minute, Pete said. None of us are ghouls, here. Me and Larry know this is serious business. God knows, we faced down her murderer Saturday and damn near got ourselves wasted. So maybe were all a little edgy about this business, and maybe were carrying on a bit too much. But thats no reason to call things off. Somebodys gonna take that stake out of her. If it isnt us, itll be people from the cops, or the coroners, or someone. It might as well be us. Our book depends on it, right, Lar?
Yeah, he muttered.
Weve gone this far. Weve gotta see it through. Looking at Lane, he added, Its not like well be desecrating the body. The girls already been desecrated by that lunatic Uriah. We pull out the stake, well be un-desecrating her. Itll be doing her a favor.
Especially if shes a vampire, Barbara said.
Jean, groaning, rolled her eyes upward.
What do you think, Hal? Barbara asked.
Solemnly, he shook his head. Im just here as an impartial observer. But I have to say that Larry and Pete wont have much of a book if they dont go ahead with pulling out the stake.
My man, Pete said.
I think we should eat before the roast gets cold, Jean said.
Nobody spoke much during the meal. Larry felt ravenous. As he forked beef and mashed potatoes into his mouth, he noticed that the others were also gobbling their food as if theyd been starved. Everyone except Lane. When the others were done, her plate looked as if it had hardly been touched.
Are we ready, pardner? Pete asked.
As well ever be, Larry said, his heart suddenly thumping so hard he felt dizzy.
Hang on, Ill get my camera.
Think Ill pay a visit to Mr. Toilet, Barbara said.
They both left the room.
That was a delicious dinner, Jean, Hal said.
Well, thank you. I made some Black Forest pie for dessert, but I think we should wait and have it afterward. Let the boys get this nonsense out of their systems first.
Pete returned with the camcorder hed left in the living room. Lets hope this one survives the night, he said.
Just dont pull any cute tricks like last time, Jean told him.
Not a chance.
When Barbara came back, she said, All set.
They went to the kitchen door. As Larry slid it open, Jean said, I think Id better pay a visit, too. Go on ahead. Ill be out in a minute.
Right, Pete said. Lets not have any more accidents.
The others followed Larry outside. He started to shudder as he strode toward the garage. Hunching over, he hugged his chest. He clenched his teeth.
Oh Bonnie, he thought. Here we come, ready or not.
Stopping at the garage door, he dug into a front pocket of his pants. He brought out the keys. The padlock felt like ice in his hand as he tried to hold it steady. The key shook, but finally he got it in. He twisted it and the lock dropped open. He removed it, flipped away the latch, and tugged the door sideways a few feet. He dropped the padlock into his pocket, where it pressed heavy and cold against his thigh.
Jean entered ahead of them. Seconds later the overhead bulb came on and the others stepped into the garage.
Larry was surprised to see the ladder down. Had someone been in here?
Then he remembered that they hadnt put it up again after the last try.
He stared at the dark opening to the attic.
Whats this? Hal nudged Petes bow, which lay on the concrete floor beside the quiver of arrows.
Our insurance, Pete told him. Just in case she gets lively after we take out the stake. Hey, maybe youd like to keep her covered with that. Ill be busy filming. Any good at archery?
I used to be pretty fair, he said, as he picked up the bow. Im no William Tell but...
Itll be point-blank.
It wont be necessary, Jean said to Hal. Just more of their foolishness.
Well, Ill be happy to play along. He left the quiver on the floor, but slipped an arrow out.
Good man, Pete said. Just go for the heart if she turns out to be Draculas daughter.
Hal chuckled softly and nodded.
Pete took a step toward his wife and raised the camera toward her.
No way, Jose.
Hey, come on.
And break this one?
Dont be such a pussy.
Screw you.
Come on, Barb! This is no time to be...
Ill do it, Jean offered. Show me how it works.
Great. Just get us coming down with the coffin. Then Ill take over and get Larry when he unsticks the babe. He gave the camera to Jean, showed her how to hold it, and pointed out the viewfinder. Its all set, he said. Automatic focus, the whole ball of wax. Just push this button here, and youre rolling.
He turned away from her. He grinned at Larry and rubbed his hands together. Anything you want to say for our home viewers?
Lets just do it, he said. His voice came out shaky.
Pete slapped his upper arm, then hurried past him to the ladder. As he started to climb, he glanced back at Jean. You getting this?
Yeah.
Larry waited until Pete crawled onto the attic floor. Then he began climbing. Though he didnt feel especially cold, he couldnt stop shaking. His bowels ached. His legs seemed so weak that he feared they might give out.
In a few minutes, he told himself, itll all be over.
Ill be yours forever, Bonnie seemed to whisper in his mind.
What if its true? he thought.
Its not. Shes dead. Her voice is nothing more than my damned imagination trying to mess with me.
What if she doescome back to life?
As Larrys head rose into the gloom of the attic, he saw himself in bed, Bonnie straddling him, naked and more beautiful than any woman hed ever had.
What if it could be that way?