Chapter 14: A Persistent Trait

Victor's scanner gave a man born before 1930 a blue forehead. "It is altering the tonal balance," Su said. "It's a pharmacy machine, not the Louvre." Victor turned the print a fraction on the glass. "Evan, tell her the dead won't object." "I don't speak for the dead," Evan said. "Not without paperwork." "See?" Su said. Victor looked between them. "This is why nothing in this neighborhood gets finished." Evan had come because Victor swore the albums needed two pairs of steady hands. He had not agreed to referee color, but Su had given him the job at the door. It was the first ordinary thing between them in eight days. Tuesday's clinic had been canceled while she recovered. Since then she had texted him her pulse every morning, a bare number with no greeting. He had answered each one with Thank you. Apparently two adults could kiss hard enough…