“I don’t see why you’re bitching,” she said. “It obviously turned out okay.”

Franny stood, cleared his throat. Baba Yaga cracked one eye open. Mollie took a step back and bumped into Ray. So much for the tough front.

“Ah,” said the witch. “The little thief returns.”

“Cram it up your vodka-pickled twat, you bitch.”

“Guttersnipe.”

Ray muttered, “Oh, for crying out loud.”

“Hey! How dare you—”

“How dare I? How dare you!”

Baba Yaga’s jaw muscles twitched, as though she were conjuring up a big gob of saliva. Franny yanked Mollie aside and planted himself with arms raised between her and the woman in the hospital bed. Baba Yaga turned away and swallowed rather than letting spit fly at the detective.

Interesting. What was that all about? It was usually spit-first-and-ask-questions-never with her. She’d thought Ray had been kidding when he claimed Franny and Baba Yaga were tight. They must have had one hell of a trip back from Talas if he’d earned her respect. Insofar as she respected anyone.

“Ladies! Truce, okay? We’re all on the same side.”

Mollie crossed her arms. Baba Yaga poked the tip of her tongue into one cheek, bulging it. A moment passed while they glared at one another.

The Russian woman broke the silence. “The situation has been explained to you.” It wasn’t a question, but Mollie nodded. The other woman studied her face through narrowed eyes. Mollie wanted to squirm under the scrutiny. She looked away. Still staring at Mollie, Baba Yaga said, “She has been touched by it. I see she carries the taint of one who has been exposed to Horrorshow. It’s in her eyes. It leaves a mark. Nobody is quite the same after that.”

“Yeah. I’ve seen it.” Mollie hugged herself.

“Aha. Was it when you returned to rob my casino?”

Mollie glared at Billy Ray. “You asshole.”

He screwed his deformed face into something that approximated indignation. “Why do you assume I told her? We’re not idiots, you know. And you do have a record of predictable behavior. The Committee and Interpol have been taking an interest in you for quite a while. You’re real popular with the NYPD now, too.”

“It’s true,” said Franny. “You’re what we call a repeat offender.”

“You don’t have anything on me.”

Billy Ray said, “Only about thirty counts of kidnapping.”

“Well la-de-dah. You’ll never make it stick. I mean, hey, the world’s gonna end in a few days, right? So good fucking luck pressing those charges.”

The SCARE agent massaged his forehead. He turned to Franny. “Where on earth did you find this kid? Because she is a piece of work.”

“Tell me about it.”