Killing Pretty Read Online Free PDF

answer than a quick wrong one.”
    â€œOkay. But I just started a new job and I kind of have my hands full right now. Let’s maybe talk the next time you come by.”
    â€œGreat. Thanks.”
    â€œNo. Thank you,” says Kasabian. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t forget.”
    Maria puts her handbag under one arm.
    â€œI appreciate it. I’ll come by when Dash gives me your movie.”
    â€œThanks. You’re always welcome to come by,” says Kasabian, suddenly a fucking diplomat. He and Fairuza broke up a few days ago. Is he already on the prowl? Does Maria know he’s 90 percent machine?
    â€œSee you around, Maria,” I say.
    She smiles and starts out. Stops.
    â€œDid you know there’s something sprayed on the front of your store?”
    â€œYeah. I’ll take care of it tomorrow.”
    â€œOkay. Bye.”
    Kasabian and I watch the big-­screen monitor bolted to the ceiling for a few more minutes. He was right, of course. The movie has a completely different feel with McQueen playing the Sundance Kid. We could make a mint if we can get more never-­mades like this.
    Candy comes in during the closing credits.
    â€œChihiro?” Kasabian says. “Holy shit.”
    She smiles and does a turn.
    â€œYou like the new me?”
    â€œYou look great. I mean you always looked great, but I think you nailed it this time.”
    I take out a Malediction.
    â€œShe doesn’t look like Candy. That’s the important thing.”
    â€œDon’t light that cigarette,” she says.
    â€œWhy?”
    She comes over to me.
    â€œWhy this?”
    She leans in and kisses me. I kiss her back. It’s been long enough that we’ve been even somewhere safe together that it feels strange and new to hold her. And I’m not used to her being Chihiro yet. It feels a little like I’m cheating on Candy. But she is Candy. This whole thing is going to take a while longer to get used to.
    When she lets go of me she steps back and laughs.
    â€œWhat?” I say.
    â€œYou have lipstick all over yourself. Hold it.”
    She gets a napkin from the Donut Universe bag and wipes my lips. Which, with perfectly lousy timing, is when Fairuza decides to walk in. She’s a Lurker. A Ludere. Blue-­skinned, blond, and sporting a small pair of Devil horns. She knew Candy for a long time. She played drums in Candy’s band back before she “died.”
    Fairuza takes a DVD from her bag and slams it down on the counter. Walks over and slaps me hard enough it feels like hornets are having a hoedown on my cheek.
    â€œCandy’s barely gone you’re already with this little bitch? Fuck you.”
    She starts to hit me again, but I get my arm up and her hand glances off.
    â€œFairuza,” says Kasabian.
    She turns and stabs a finger at him.
    â€œAnd fuck you too for hanging around with this asshole. Is this the bitch he gave Candy’s guitar to? Yeah, I heard about that. Fuck all of you.”
    She heads for the door and slams it hard enough I half expect the glass to crack.
    Candy takes a step back and hands me the napkin. I wipe the last of the lipstick off my face myself.
    â€œI’ve got to tell her,” says Candy.
    â€œNo, you don’t. The more ­people that know, the more dangerous this gets. Let her hate me. I can live with that.”
    â€œGoody for you,” says Kasabian. “What about me? She’s never going to speak to me again as long as I’m here with you two.”
    â€œWhat are you worried about? I thought you broke up.”
    â€œWe did,” he says. “But at least we were friends and . . . I don’t know. Maybe there was some chance of getting back together. Now, though . . .”
    I put my hands out like a goddamn preacher.
    â€œNo one tells Fairuza or anybody else. We are on thin fucking ice. One mistake and Candy ends up in a federal pen. It’s too much of a