Killing Pretty Read Online Free PDF Page A

him next time you meet.”
    Next time. Great.
    â€œYou read lips,” I say.
    Maria nods.
    â€œI learned when I was a girl. Like Dash, some ghosts are shy and will only appear through a looking glass.”
    Kasabian shoulders me out of the way and practically sticks his mug in the mirror.
    â€œHey, Dash. How’s it going?”
    The kid’s grin widens. They’ve talked before.
    â€œYou working on getting us Dune ?”
    Dash nods and gives a thumbs-­up.
    â€œSwell. Do it and next time you come by I’ll have a steak dinner waiting.”
    Dash shakes his head.
    â€œHe’s vegetarian,” says Maria.
    â€œOkay,” says Kasabian. “How about a big salad with croutons and edible flowers?”
    Dash nods.
    I look at Kasabian.
    â€œEdible flowers?”
    â€œYeah. Fairuza uses them when she cooks. They’re not bad.”
    â€œIf you say so.”
    I lean over to the mirror.
    â€œKeep the movies coming and I’ll get you a whole damned wedding cake next time.”
    Dash mouths “thanks.”
    â€œThanks, Dash,” says Maria. “Now everybody knows everybody. Isn’t that nice? I’ll talk to you tonight.”
    Dash gives a little wave and drifts out past the edge of the mirror. Maria snaps the compact shut.
    â€œThat’s Dash,” she says.
    I pick up the shot glass.
    â€œSeems like a nice kid. Thanks for hooking us up.”
    Maria puts out a hand as I raise the glass to my lips.
    â€œI wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
    â€œWhy? What’s wrong with it?”
    â€œNothing. It’s just that when we present food to Dash, any looking-­glass ghost, he eats the essence of the offering. Don’t worry. The food isn’t poison or anything like that. It’s just a bit empty.”
    I look at the glass. Ghost leftovers. Why not? I open up and toss the Aqua Regia back.
    Maria was right. It isn’t awful, but it’s not booze anymore. The taste is thin and slightly sour, like the memory of a drink. I take a bite of the éclair. It’s worse. Like Play-­Doh and chalk. I go behind the counter and spit it into the wastebasket.
    â€œClassy,” says Kasabian. “You really know how to impress the ladies.”
    â€œI don’t need etiquette tips from you, Tin Man.”
    Maria is tugging on the loose threads of her jacket sleeves again. She’s used to nicer ­people than us.
    â€œWhat do we owe you for the movie, Maria? We aren’t exactly rolling in cash, you know.”
    â€œOh, no. It’s not like that,” she says. “I was just hoping you could show me some magic.”
    â€œYou’re a witch. What do you think you can learn from me?”
    â€œThat’s it. Kasabian said you know different kinds of magic. And that you’re good at improvising spells and hexes.”
    â€œYeah, I can improvise things. But that’s not what you’re after, are you?”
    She looks up from her sleeves.
    â€œNo. I want to see Hellion magic.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œIt’s different. I’m curious.”
    Her pupils contract almost imperceptibly. She’s lying.
    â€œMaria? What’s this really about?”
    She takes a breath and lets it out.
    â€œSome ghosts are angrier than others. They want to get out of where they are. Some are scared. Some are vicious. I’ll want to talk to one like Dash and one of the others will appear. It’s getting worse.”
    â€œDid you ever think about not talking to ghosts? You’re not a Dead Head necromancer. Why bother?”
    Her brow furrows.
    â€œThey’re my friends. I can’t abandon them. Would you refuse to see a friend because she lived in a bad neighborhood?”
    â€œNo. I guess not. But I’m not a ghost expert. Mostly I deal with things I can punch. For ghosts, I’d have to think about it.”
    â€œThat’s okay,” she says. “I’d rather have the right