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passed. It became an abstraction, a distant part of something else that was not now and not here. The crowd shouted again, but Justine did not think she heard it. Or, rather, she probably did hear it but would not remember, and so it would be as if it had never happened.
    Now the girl no longer struggled to breathe. It was all that was left for her—breathing and looking blankly at the world and at Justine before her. La Madre. Always there to help.

Venice

Four
    I N THE END, THE HARDEST part was just the making up of her mind—stepping back into an evil she had abandoned when she rediscovered Will. It was an enterprise she’d sworn off, though it had paid her well for years. And yet, she found, the opportunity was so perfect, so laid out, so irresistible that the decision had already made itself. There was nothing difficult about it after all. The whole thing seemed to have been fated. She barely had to do anything beyond simply setting it in motion.
    After the GHB had kicked in and the girl went all vacant, Justine led her to a cot in an empty women’s dorm and posted Will in the doorway to make sure it stayed that way.
    He said, “What the hell?”
    â€œWhat the hell what?”
    â€œYou had to do this?”
    â€œWhat’re you talking about? You brought her in. You did well, Will. I take it all back, what I said earlier. You are learning. Developing a sense.”
    As she spoke, she was already in the wallet. She plucked out a nice fat wad composed mostly of liras and American dollars, with some emergency deutsche marks and francs mixed in. The wallet wad was more than she had even expected.
    â€œYou couldn’t’ve just lifted it?” he said. “You had to knock her out?”
    â€œShe’s not out.”
    The girl was looking at them. Just looking. No expression.
    When Justine put the wallet back, Will said, “She doesn’t have any cards?”
    â€œAmEx, Diners Club, and two Visas.”
    â€œWell?”
    â€œI don’t know. I have an idea.”
    â€œOh, tell. Please.”
    â€œDon’t be nasty. Think about it. Fencing plastic is a onetime shot, and a pretty small one at that. No? You’ve done it enough to know that. Even if you’re stupid enough to use the bloody things, you can only do that a couple of quick times.”
    â€œWhat’s your point?”
    â€œCards are worth much more attached to their rightful owner.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œBesides,” she added, “it’s not going to break your heart to have her along for a bit of a ride, is it? You can’t bear looking at her for a few more days?”
    â€œWhatever,” he said. “You still didn’t need to do this.”
    â€œYou like her, don’t you?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYou’re feeling protective. You care.”
    â€œJustine—”
    â€œMaybe I should slip out and leave you two alone for a little while?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œShe won’t complain.”
    He looked at her a moment, then said, “That’s sick.”
    â€œOh, come on, baby. I understand. It wouldn’t mean anything.”
    â€œJustine,” he said, “stop it.”
    She undid the girl’s blouse and removed it, and slipped off the jeans. Will stepped into the room, closer.
    â€œIt’s some body she has,” Justine said. She had a sudden image of herself pulling down the bra and squeezing one of those great charlies until it was long and pointed.
    â€œJustine,” said Will.
    â€œSo leave,” she told him.
    He did not leave.
    â€œYou know you’re gagging for it.”
    â€œPlease stop.”
    She looked at him, at the hurt on him, the confusion. Where was the jealous bitchy control freak he’d grown accustomed to? In the past she had spanked him for as much as looking at another woman’s behind.
    â€œWell,” she said, “good for you. You not only bring us back some nice