Holding the canvas at the unpainted corners, Ivy frowned at him. “You were in the ever-after,” she said, one shoulder lifting in a shrug, and I took a step back from them, feeling unclean. Great, I hadn’t even noticed.

Oblivious, Nick carefully took the picture from Ivy, making a production out of rolling it up in the black cloth to put into the mailing tube he’d been carrying across his back like a sword. I couldn’t help but sourly wonder if it was stamped and addressed to his latest girlfriend.

While the two of them discussed who was going to carry it, I unzipped my belt pack and brought out the hoof pick. I’d leave it here where Trent would be sure to find it. If he didn’t make the connection that he was going to get the painting back, I might be in trouble.

Jenks joined me, and together we looked at the beautiful inlaid wood one last time before I set it on an open display case, bright with mirrors and lights. “I should have done this a long time ago,” I said softly, wondering if I’d ever get my entire memory back. But who really remembered anything about being twelve?

“Oh my God,” Jenks said, eying the statue next to it. It wasn’t any bigger than he was, but I felt myself warm as I looked more closely. It was two men and a woman, buck naked, doing the nasty. At the same time. One in front, one in back. She looked like she was enjoying herself, though, ample breasts heaving and back arched, which kind of made it hard for the guy in back, but by his expression, he didn’t care. They had pointy ears, the woman sporting a cute pageboy haircut and the men having hair past their shoulders, wild and feral.

“What is it?” I said, wanting to pick it up but feeling it might leave me sullied.

“Tink’s dildo, you’re asking me?” he said with a snort, but he didn’t elaborate. Not even one rude gesture or comment. The unusual restraint was clear evidence of his depressed state.

“Ivy?” I called. This was too good not to share, timetable or not. “You gotta see this.”

She came closer, Nick trailing behind as he capped the top of the tube the picture was now stashed in. “Whoa,” she said, nose wrinkling. “Elf porn?”

“It’s my ticket out of this life,” Nick said, and Ivy grabbed his wrist when he reached for it.

“Hey!” I said as he twisted out of her grip, frowning at her. “We’re not here to steal a statue. Didn’t you learn anything from last time, Nick?”