< previous page page_172 next page >

Page 172
so melancholy that Kyna laid a hand on his arm. ''What is it?"
He laughed it off. "Nothing, really. I guess I just feel sorry for him. Dead, God only knows how many years. Stuffed and stuck in here for a bunch of snot-nosed rug rats to shoot paper wads at. I think he deserved better."
Kyna took a second to remove her Seattle Seahawks baseball cap and fluff her hair. She looked at him like he'd lost his mind, but let it pass.
Once they had completed the rounds of the exhibits, they walked outside, crossed in front of the band shell and entered the Japanese gardens. Kyna ordered tea and biscuits from a pale young Japanese girl in platform sandals, and then they returned to the car.
Cyrus said, "If we have time, I'd like to visit this shop Mr. Mabuto told me about."
Kyna unlocked the Lincoln and faced him across the roof. "Where?"
He fished the piece of paper from his pocket. "Eighteen-fifty San Carlos."
Kyna thought for a moment. "That's in the Mission District, isn't it?"
"Beats me."
"What's there?"
"This old black lady Kazie told me about."
"Kazie? You two got to be friends awfully fast."
"Yeah. You know how it is. After five minutes I felt like we were blood brothers."

"Is this it?" Kyna asked as they pulled up at the curb in front of 1850 San Carlos. "You came to get your fortune told?"
Cyrus smiled. The dingy glass window had a simple, hand-painted sign: TAROT.
"You bet. I want to make sure you're not gonna dump me and run off with some rich diamond merchant."
Stepping through the narrow doorway, they were momen-

 
< previous page page_172 next page >