Novak reverted to normal, probably to keep things fair, but he kept that smile on his face. His hand hovered by his holstered gun. “Mr Sebastian,” he called, widening his stance, “you are right on time. Amber tells me you read westerns. It might not be high noon, but I’m sure you can appreciate—”

Amber lunged, flattening her hand against Novak’s holster. Immediately, he tried to draw, but the gun caught, and Milo had already fired two shots into his chest. Novak fell to one knee, gasping.

He coughed. Blood sprayed. His chin dipped to his chest, but he raised his eyes to Milo as he reached them. “You cheated …”

Milo ignored him and frowned at Amber. “You okay?”

“Barely.”

Beside them, Novak fell forward, his eyes wide and unseeing.

“Barely okay will do for now,” said Milo, and started walking back to the Charger. “Let’s get going.”

Chapter 55

VIRGIL’S HOUSE WAS DARK, but he didn’t need the lights on to see.

He undressed to just his socks and underpants, and opened his wardrobe. Sliding the shirts and slacks off to one side, he took the garment bag from the rail and laid it carefully on the bed. He moved slowly, methodically, the way he used to back in the old days, just before he went on set.

The costume, he’d once said to Johnny Carson, informed the character as much as any research. Buttoning those buttons, tying that tie, tilting that hat just right – they were all part of the mask of the character. Except, in the case of the Shroud, the costume also came with an actual mask.

He dressed. The shirt first. Then the tie. The trousers and shoes. Vest. Cufflinks.

He became aware of Javier standing in the doorway. “What the hell are you doing?”

“It’s not over yet,” said Virgil, not turning round.

“I know,” said Javier. “And I repeat, what the hell are you doing?”

“Preparing.”

“For what? A reunion show?”

“You feel it, too, don’t you? The Narrow Man is coming.”

“Are you professing to be psychic all of a sudden?”

“Warrick told me about the Demon Road.”

“Yeah? Where’s it go?”

“No, it’s not an actual road. It links people, places …”

“Oh God, is this one of those ‘road of the mind’ things they used to talk about all the time in the sixties?”

“It’s how the world works,” said Virgil. “That’s how I understand it, anyway. Whether it’s coincidence or fate or destiny or divine intervention, we’re all connected. Just being here, right now, will have connected you to forces beyond your comprehension for the rest of your life.”

“Seeing as how, these days, telephones are beyond my comprehension, that’s not too difficult. Why on earth are you wearing those clothes? If the Narrow Man does show up, you’re going to be letting the others handle him, aren’t you? Virgil?”