Virtual Season Episode 14: Back in the Picture, Part 1
Written by Jake Collins
Story by Jake Collins and Rosey Collins
Story by Jake Collins and Rosey Collins
Eduardo, Kylie, Garrett, Roland, Egon, Janine and Slimer were mooching around the reception area at the firehouse, all looking expectant.
'Weren't they supposed to be here by now?' asked Garrett.
'Yes, they were,' said Egon. 'Obviously they've been delayed for some reason. Go home if you want to – you'll see them tomorrow.'
'What d'you reckon, Rolster?' Garrett asked Roland.
'Let's give them five more minutes,' said Roland. 'I need to get back by eight 'cause my mom's going out to her origami class, but I'd like to stick around and say hi if it's possible.'
'There haven't been any train crashes this afternoon,' Janine reported, looking up from her computer screen, 'so they really should be almost here.'
'That's a car,' Eduardo remarked, as the unmistakable sound of a vehicle drawing to a halt just outside the firehouse became audible. 'It's probably them.'
Egon went to open the small access door in the firehouse's main entrance. Sure enough, Peter Venkman and his family immediately tumbled through the opening, laden with luggage.
'Hello, Peter,' said Egon, allowing himself a small smile. 'Hello Dana, Oscar, Jessica. It sure is good to –'
'Hey, Egon, could you go outside and pay the cab driver for us?' Peter interrupted. 'He's getting a bit antsy.'
'Um... yes, certainly,' said Egon, fumbling in his pocket for his wallet. 'Let's see what we've got here...'
'Hi, Dana,' Janine smiled warmly. 'Hi, Peter. Hi, kids. We're so glad you could come.'
'We wouldn't have missed this for the world, Janine,' Peter smiled, but his expression quickly changed as Slimer attached himself to his face.
'Slimer's so glad too,' Janine remarked.
'Obviously,' said Peter, pushing the overenthusiastic ghost away from him as best he could. 'Always the warm welcome, huh Spud?'
'This is quite a welcoming committee,' Dana remarked, nodding towards the four young Ghostbusters.
'Oh, yeah, here's everybody!' Peter noticed. 'Eduardo, Kylie, Garrett and Roland, this is my family – my wife Dana, our son Oscar and our daughter Jessica.'
'It certainly is good to meet you all at last,' Dana said warmly, moving down the line to shake hands.
'The feeling's mutual,' Roland said tactfully.
'Oscar, Jess – aren't you gonna say hi to everyone?' said Peter. 'They've all stayed late just so they can meet you.'
Jessica immediately tottered over to join her mother, but Oscar stayed where he was and adopted an indifferent expression.
'Forty-seven dollars, Peter!'
Everyone swung around as Egon re-entered the firehouse and slammed the door behind him with some force.
'Oh, yeah, sorry about that,' Peter said, sounding anything but. 'He had to take the scenic route 'cause someone was digging a big hole in the middle of the street right in front of Grand Central. And you know what Friday night traffic can be like. But we're here now, and that's the important thing! We heard someone was getting married. Who is it, Egon, huh? Is it you?'
Egon flinched as Peter started punching him playfully and ruffling his hair.
'Stop it, Peter,' said Egon. 'You know very well it is me.'
'We're so happy for you both,' said Dana, giving Janine a hug.
'Thanks,' said Janine. 'I just hope we're not rushing into it.'
Everyone except Egon laughed.
'How was the train journey?' asked Kylie. 'Any delays?'
'No more than you'd expect,' said Dana. 'It was pretty bumpy, though – give me an airplane any day.'
'I don't like airplanes,' said Oscar. 'The train's much better 'cause you get loads of interesting views through the windows – it's not just ocean, ocean, ocean.'
'That depends where you fly to,' Jessica pointed out. 'And from.'
'Perceptive kid,' Garrett remarked.
'Why are you in a wheelchair?' Jessica suddenly piped up, giving Garrett a searching look. 'Did you have an accident or are you just lazy?'
'Jessica!' Dana exclaimed in horror.
'Just lazy, I guess,' Garrett beamed at her. 'I was born that way, y'see.'
'Does anyone mind if we talk itinerary for a minute?' said Janine. 'I've made up all four beds in the sleeping quarters for you and your family, Peter, and I've had an email from Ray to say he'll be landing at eleven thirty tomorrow morning.'
'Excellent,' said Egon. 'You and I can pick him up, Peter, then we're meeting Betamax Bill for lunch at one o'clock.'
'Oh yeah, that should be fun,' Peter laughed. 'I haven't seen old Bill for ages. Has he seen much of Bigfoot lately?'
'Actually, yes,' said Egon. 'I'll tell you about it later.'
'While the boys are catching up over lunch, I'm going to take Dana and Jessica shopping at Bloomingdale's,' Janine continued. 'Then Winston and my sister Doris will arrive later tomorrow afternoon, time to be confirmed.'
'They're not arriving together, are they?' said Peter.
'Not that I know of,' said Janine. 'Dana, are you sure Oscar doesn't want to come to Bloomingdale's with us?'
'I'm sure,' said Oscar. 'Shopping is boring.'
'So just what do you plan on doing while we're all out?' Dana asked, somewhat sharply.
'He could hang around here with us,' Roland suggested.
'What if we get a call?' said Kylie. 'We can't leave him here on his own.'
'I could come with you,' Oscar said brightly.
'That could be even more dangerous,' Roland pointed out.
'He can come and play with my nephew if he likes,' Eduardo announced. 'I happen to know he's at a loose end tomorrow.'
Everyone looked at Eduardo with expressions that seemed to indicate that this was the last thing anyone had expected him to say.
'I mean, they're about the same age and Kevin has some cool toys,' Eduardo felt the need to elaborate. 'I'm sure I can clear it with Carl and Beth... if you'd like.'
'Would you like that, Oscar?' asked Dana.
'I don't know; I guess,' Oscar shrugged. 'What did you say I'm s'posed to do with him?'
'Um... play with him,' said Eduardo.
'Play with him?' Oscar repeated, raising an eyebrow.
'Okay then – hang with him, chill with him, whatever,' said Eduardo. 'You want to do it or not, man?'
'Yeah, fine,' Oscar said disinterestedly, crossing his arms.
'Thanks, Eduardo,' said Peter. 'Okay, let's get these bags upstairs. Egon, can you give us a hand?'
'Certainly,' said Egon, 'but I'm afraid I can't stretch to forty-seven this time.'
Peter laughed and smacked Egon on the arm.
'Would you look at that?' he grinned. 'The guy's getting married and he finally cracks a joke!'
'Weren't they supposed to be here by now?' asked Garrett.
'Yes, they were,' said Egon. 'Obviously they've been delayed for some reason. Go home if you want to – you'll see them tomorrow.'
'What d'you reckon, Rolster?' Garrett asked Roland.
'Let's give them five more minutes,' said Roland. 'I need to get back by eight 'cause my mom's going out to her origami class, but I'd like to stick around and say hi if it's possible.'
'There haven't been any train crashes this afternoon,' Janine reported, looking up from her computer screen, 'so they really should be almost here.'
'That's a car,' Eduardo remarked, as the unmistakable sound of a vehicle drawing to a halt just outside the firehouse became audible. 'It's probably them.'
Egon went to open the small access door in the firehouse's main entrance. Sure enough, Peter Venkman and his family immediately tumbled through the opening, laden with luggage.
'Hello, Peter,' said Egon, allowing himself a small smile. 'Hello Dana, Oscar, Jessica. It sure is good to –'
'Hey, Egon, could you go outside and pay the cab driver for us?' Peter interrupted. 'He's getting a bit antsy.'
'Um... yes, certainly,' said Egon, fumbling in his pocket for his wallet. 'Let's see what we've got here...'
'Hi, Dana,' Janine smiled warmly. 'Hi, Peter. Hi, kids. We're so glad you could come.'
'We wouldn't have missed this for the world, Janine,' Peter smiled, but his expression quickly changed as Slimer attached himself to his face.
'Slimer's so glad too,' Janine remarked.
'Obviously,' said Peter, pushing the overenthusiastic ghost away from him as best he could. 'Always the warm welcome, huh Spud?'
'This is quite a welcoming committee,' Dana remarked, nodding towards the four young Ghostbusters.
'Oh, yeah, here's everybody!' Peter noticed. 'Eduardo, Kylie, Garrett and Roland, this is my family – my wife Dana, our son Oscar and our daughter Jessica.'
'It certainly is good to meet you all at last,' Dana said warmly, moving down the line to shake hands.
'The feeling's mutual,' Roland said tactfully.
'Oscar, Jess – aren't you gonna say hi to everyone?' said Peter. 'They've all stayed late just so they can meet you.'
Jessica immediately tottered over to join her mother, but Oscar stayed where he was and adopted an indifferent expression.
'Forty-seven dollars, Peter!'
Everyone swung around as Egon re-entered the firehouse and slammed the door behind him with some force.
'Oh, yeah, sorry about that,' Peter said, sounding anything but. 'He had to take the scenic route 'cause someone was digging a big hole in the middle of the street right in front of Grand Central. And you know what Friday night traffic can be like. But we're here now, and that's the important thing! We heard someone was getting married. Who is it, Egon, huh? Is it you?'
Egon flinched as Peter started punching him playfully and ruffling his hair.
'Stop it, Peter,' said Egon. 'You know very well it is me.'
'We're so happy for you both,' said Dana, giving Janine a hug.
'Thanks,' said Janine. 'I just hope we're not rushing into it.'
Everyone except Egon laughed.
'How was the train journey?' asked Kylie. 'Any delays?'
'No more than you'd expect,' said Dana. 'It was pretty bumpy, though – give me an airplane any day.'
'I don't like airplanes,' said Oscar. 'The train's much better 'cause you get loads of interesting views through the windows – it's not just ocean, ocean, ocean.'
'That depends where you fly to,' Jessica pointed out. 'And from.'
'Perceptive kid,' Garrett remarked.
'Why are you in a wheelchair?' Jessica suddenly piped up, giving Garrett a searching look. 'Did you have an accident or are you just lazy?'
'Jessica!' Dana exclaimed in horror.
'Just lazy, I guess,' Garrett beamed at her. 'I was born that way, y'see.'
'Does anyone mind if we talk itinerary for a minute?' said Janine. 'I've made up all four beds in the sleeping quarters for you and your family, Peter, and I've had an email from Ray to say he'll be landing at eleven thirty tomorrow morning.'
'Excellent,' said Egon. 'You and I can pick him up, Peter, then we're meeting Betamax Bill for lunch at one o'clock.'
'Oh yeah, that should be fun,' Peter laughed. 'I haven't seen old Bill for ages. Has he seen much of Bigfoot lately?'
'Actually, yes,' said Egon. 'I'll tell you about it later.'
'While the boys are catching up over lunch, I'm going to take Dana and Jessica shopping at Bloomingdale's,' Janine continued. 'Then Winston and my sister Doris will arrive later tomorrow afternoon, time to be confirmed.'
'They're not arriving together, are they?' said Peter.
'Not that I know of,' said Janine. 'Dana, are you sure Oscar doesn't want to come to Bloomingdale's with us?'
'I'm sure,' said Oscar. 'Shopping is boring.'
'So just what do you plan on doing while we're all out?' Dana asked, somewhat sharply.
'He could hang around here with us,' Roland suggested.
'What if we get a call?' said Kylie. 'We can't leave him here on his own.'
'I could come with you,' Oscar said brightly.
'That could be even more dangerous,' Roland pointed out.
'He can come and play with my nephew if he likes,' Eduardo announced. 'I happen to know he's at a loose end tomorrow.'
Everyone looked at Eduardo with expressions that seemed to indicate that this was the last thing anyone had expected him to say.
'I mean, they're about the same age and Kevin has some cool toys,' Eduardo felt the need to elaborate. 'I'm sure I can clear it with Carl and Beth... if you'd like.'
'Would you like that, Oscar?' asked Dana.
'I don't know; I guess,' Oscar shrugged. 'What did you say I'm s'posed to do with him?'
'Um... play with him,' said Eduardo.
'Play with him?' Oscar repeated, raising an eyebrow.
'Okay then – hang with him, chill with him, whatever,' said Eduardo. 'You want to do it or not, man?'
'Yeah, fine,' Oscar said disinterestedly, crossing his arms.
'Thanks, Eduardo,' said Peter. 'Okay, let's get these bags upstairs. Egon, can you give us a hand?'
'Certainly,' said Egon, 'but I'm afraid I can't stretch to forty-seven this time.'
Peter laughed and smacked Egon on the arm.
'Would you look at that?' he grinned. 'The guy's getting married and he finally cracks a joke!'
The next morning, Eduardo opened the front door of his apartment whilst struggling into his clothes. Peter and Oscar were on the other side. Oscar was carrying a guitar case.
'Not too early, are we?' Peter asked, a knowing smile on his face.
'No, you're right on time,' said Eduardo, smoothing down the creases in the front of his shirt. 'I'm the one who's running late.'
'A clear sign of an active and busy mind,' said Peter. 'Do you mind if I come in and take a look round your place?'
'Er... sure, if you want to,' said Eduardo, stepping aside to let his visitors enter, 'but I've arranged for Kevin and Oscar to meet downstairs, in the real house.'
'That's okay; I just like looking round other people's homes,' said Peter. 'And this is a real house – don't ever let anyone tell you it's not.'
'It's very small,' Oscar remarked.
'It's compact,' Peter said sternly. 'Everything within easy reach – very practical.'
'Yeah, it suits my needs pretty well,' Eduardo shrugged. 'Can I offer you a soda or something?'
'No thanks, kid,' said Peter, 'I've got to pick up Ray in twenty minutes. Egon's waiting in the Ecto.'
'You couldn't have more than one person living here,' Oscar persisted.
'Well, that's the idea,' said Eduardo.
'Plenty of room to bring a guest back, though, if you want to,' Peter grinned. 'I bet you've had some guests to stay the night, right?'
'Yeah, one or two,' said Eduardo, concealing a small smile. 'My nephew, for example.'
'What about Kylie?' Peter asked with false innocence.
'The need for that arrangement has never yet presented itself,' Eduardo said, somewhat primly.
'What a crime,' Peter muttered, turning away slightly and smiling to himself.
'So do I get to meet this Kevin kid or not?' Oscar broke in.
'Of course,' said Eduardo. 'I'll just –'
He was interrupted by another knock on the front door, which had been left slightly ajar. He ran to pull it open. Beth was standing on the other side; she saw Eduardo framed in the doorway with Peter mooching around behind him.
'Oh, Eduardo,' Beth said awkwardly. 'I'm sorry, I didn't realise you were... busy.'
'That's okay, I'm not,' Eduardo assured her.
'But you have a... guest.'
'Yeah, of course I do. This is Dr Peter Venkman. Peter, this is my sister-in-law Beth.'
'Oh, I see,' Beth smiled, shaking Peter's hand. 'Yes, that makes sense. Kevin's all set up in his room if his little playmate is ready.'
Oscar shuffled to the fore with his guitar case in one hand and an unimpressed look on his face.
'Oh, how nice, you brought a... musical instrument to show him,' Beth remarked. 'Just don't play it too loud, will you? My husband's got one of his headaches.'
'Eduardo, we'll drop you off at the firehouse on our way to the airport,' said Peter, 'as you're running slightly late.'
'What about Ray?' asked Eduardo.
'He won't explode if we're a few minutes late,' said Peter. 'Come on, don't leave me hanging.'
'Okay, sure,' said Eduardo. 'Thanks.'
Beth led the way down the staircase with Oscar mooching behind her. Peter came next and Eduardo brought up the rear, locking the front door on the way.
'Have fun, champ,' Peter said playfully, ruffling Oscar's hair.
'Dad, don't!' Oscar said peevishly. 'I hate that.'
'Not too early, are we?' Peter asked, a knowing smile on his face.
'No, you're right on time,' said Eduardo, smoothing down the creases in the front of his shirt. 'I'm the one who's running late.'
'A clear sign of an active and busy mind,' said Peter. 'Do you mind if I come in and take a look round your place?'
'Er... sure, if you want to,' said Eduardo, stepping aside to let his visitors enter, 'but I've arranged for Kevin and Oscar to meet downstairs, in the real house.'
'That's okay; I just like looking round other people's homes,' said Peter. 'And this is a real house – don't ever let anyone tell you it's not.'
'It's very small,' Oscar remarked.
'It's compact,' Peter said sternly. 'Everything within easy reach – very practical.'
'Yeah, it suits my needs pretty well,' Eduardo shrugged. 'Can I offer you a soda or something?'
'No thanks, kid,' said Peter, 'I've got to pick up Ray in twenty minutes. Egon's waiting in the Ecto.'
'You couldn't have more than one person living here,' Oscar persisted.
'Well, that's the idea,' said Eduardo.
'Plenty of room to bring a guest back, though, if you want to,' Peter grinned. 'I bet you've had some guests to stay the night, right?'
'Yeah, one or two,' said Eduardo, concealing a small smile. 'My nephew, for example.'
'What about Kylie?' Peter asked with false innocence.
'The need for that arrangement has never yet presented itself,' Eduardo said, somewhat primly.
'What a crime,' Peter muttered, turning away slightly and smiling to himself.
'So do I get to meet this Kevin kid or not?' Oscar broke in.
'Of course,' said Eduardo. 'I'll just –'
He was interrupted by another knock on the front door, which had been left slightly ajar. He ran to pull it open. Beth was standing on the other side; she saw Eduardo framed in the doorway with Peter mooching around behind him.
'Oh, Eduardo,' Beth said awkwardly. 'I'm sorry, I didn't realise you were... busy.'
'That's okay, I'm not,' Eduardo assured her.
'But you have a... guest.'
'Yeah, of course I do. This is Dr Peter Venkman. Peter, this is my sister-in-law Beth.'
'Oh, I see,' Beth smiled, shaking Peter's hand. 'Yes, that makes sense. Kevin's all set up in his room if his little playmate is ready.'
Oscar shuffled to the fore with his guitar case in one hand and an unimpressed look on his face.
'Oh, how nice, you brought a... musical instrument to show him,' Beth remarked. 'Just don't play it too loud, will you? My husband's got one of his headaches.'
'Eduardo, we'll drop you off at the firehouse on our way to the airport,' said Peter, 'as you're running slightly late.'
'What about Ray?' asked Eduardo.
'He won't explode if we're a few minutes late,' said Peter. 'Come on, don't leave me hanging.'
'Okay, sure,' said Eduardo. 'Thanks.'
Beth led the way down the staircase with Oscar mooching behind her. Peter came next and Eduardo brought up the rear, locking the front door on the way.
'Have fun, champ,' Peter said playfully, ruffling Oscar's hair.
'Dad, don't!' Oscar said peevishly. 'I hate that.'
Beth pushed open the door of Kevin's room and stepped inside. Oscar slid in behind her and dumped his guitar case on the floor.
'Kevin,' said Beth, 'Oscar's here.'
Kevin was sitting at his computer. He clicked the mouse a few times and then turned off the monitor before turning around to face his mother and Oscar.
'Hey,' he said, smiling slightly.
'Hey,' said Oscar, not sounding very enthusiastic.
'Well, I'll leave you boys to get acquainted,' said Beth. 'There's sodas in the fridge if you want them.'
She tactfully retreated, pulling the door not quite shut on her way out. Kevin and Oscar looked at each other for several seconds.
'You can sit on my bed if you want,' Kevin ventured.
'Thanks,' said Oscar, and did so.
'Sorry your family all decided to ditch you today,' said Kevin.
'It's fine,' said Oscar, 'don't worry about it.'
A few more seconds of silence followed.
'I haven't had a play date since I was like three,' said Oscar.
'Me neither,' said Kevin. 'I guess it was easier when we were happy to just sit around and play with Playmobil for two hours.'
Oscar's left eyebrow rose in interest.
'Do you like Playmobil?' he asked.
'Sure, I like it okay,' said Kevin. 'I have a pretty decent collection of cowboys and Indians.'
'Are we allowed to call them that nowadays?' said Oscar.
'I don't know,' said Kevin, 'but that's what I've always called them. Do you want to take a look at them?'
'Do you have the Indian camp with the wigwam?' asked Oscar. 'I mean, the tepee?'
'Yes,' said Kevin, 'and a fenced area for the cowboys with two cows, a bull and a calf.'
'Can we set it all up on the floor?' asked Oscar.
'Sure, if you want,' said Kevin.
'Yeah,' said Oscar, 'let's do that.'
'Kevin,' said Beth, 'Oscar's here.'
Kevin was sitting at his computer. He clicked the mouse a few times and then turned off the monitor before turning around to face his mother and Oscar.
'Hey,' he said, smiling slightly.
'Hey,' said Oscar, not sounding very enthusiastic.
'Well, I'll leave you boys to get acquainted,' said Beth. 'There's sodas in the fridge if you want them.'
She tactfully retreated, pulling the door not quite shut on her way out. Kevin and Oscar looked at each other for several seconds.
'You can sit on my bed if you want,' Kevin ventured.
'Thanks,' said Oscar, and did so.
'Sorry your family all decided to ditch you today,' said Kevin.
'It's fine,' said Oscar, 'don't worry about it.'
A few more seconds of silence followed.
'I haven't had a play date since I was like three,' said Oscar.
'Me neither,' said Kevin. 'I guess it was easier when we were happy to just sit around and play with Playmobil for two hours.'
Oscar's left eyebrow rose in interest.
'Do you like Playmobil?' he asked.
'Sure, I like it okay,' said Kevin. 'I have a pretty decent collection of cowboys and Indians.'
'Are we allowed to call them that nowadays?' said Oscar.
'I don't know,' said Kevin, 'but that's what I've always called them. Do you want to take a look at them?'
'Do you have the Indian camp with the wigwam?' asked Oscar. 'I mean, the tepee?'
'Yes,' said Kevin, 'and a fenced area for the cowboys with two cows, a bull and a calf.'
'Can we set it all up on the floor?' asked Oscar.
'Sure, if you want,' said Kevin.
'Yeah,' said Oscar, 'let's do that.'
Roland's Mustang drew to a halt outside the New York City Morgue and the four Extreme Ghostbusters decamped from the vehicle.
'I hope you're gonna claim back the gas for this trip,' Garrett said to Roland. 'Why should you have to pay for our professional transport while Egon and his old buddies are out joyriding in the Ecto-1?'
'Yeah, I will,' said Roland. 'I don't usually bother, but as they've actually gone off with our designated vehicle...'
They found a reception desk inside the mortuary but there was nobody manning it.
'This place is creepy, man,' Eduardo remarked. 'Where is everybody, huh?'
'Lying in big drawers with tags on their toes,' Garrett grinned. 'Sure makes you think about your own mortality, huh Eddie?'
Eduardo frowned but did not reply. Roland went up and banged on the desk.
'Hello, anyone here?' he called out. 'Ghostbusters!'
An office door immediately swung open and a bearded man in a white coat came out to stand behind the reception desk.
'Oh, thank goodness you're here,' he said. 'I'm Dr Jack Davis, the chief mortician. Thank you for coming so quickly.'
'So what's the deal, Doc?' asked Garrett. 'We're used to dealing with dead guys, but not like the ones you've got here.'
'What he means is, we usually work with spirits rather than bodies,' Kylie interjected. 'Unless it's zombies...'
'It's not zombies, is it?' Roland sighed. 'I'm getting pretty tired of zombies.'
'No, it's not zombies,' said Dr Davis. 'It's not exactly ghosts either. It's... well, I'd better show you. Please, come with me.'
The mortician came out from behind the desk and led the way down a long, white corridor.
'I hope you're gonna claim back the gas for this trip,' Garrett said to Roland. 'Why should you have to pay for our professional transport while Egon and his old buddies are out joyriding in the Ecto-1?'
'Yeah, I will,' said Roland. 'I don't usually bother, but as they've actually gone off with our designated vehicle...'
They found a reception desk inside the mortuary but there was nobody manning it.
'This place is creepy, man,' Eduardo remarked. 'Where is everybody, huh?'
'Lying in big drawers with tags on their toes,' Garrett grinned. 'Sure makes you think about your own mortality, huh Eddie?'
Eduardo frowned but did not reply. Roland went up and banged on the desk.
'Hello, anyone here?' he called out. 'Ghostbusters!'
An office door immediately swung open and a bearded man in a white coat came out to stand behind the reception desk.
'Oh, thank goodness you're here,' he said. 'I'm Dr Jack Davis, the chief mortician. Thank you for coming so quickly.'
'So what's the deal, Doc?' asked Garrett. 'We're used to dealing with dead guys, but not like the ones you've got here.'
'What he means is, we usually work with spirits rather than bodies,' Kylie interjected. 'Unless it's zombies...'
'It's not zombies, is it?' Roland sighed. 'I'm getting pretty tired of zombies.'
'No, it's not zombies,' said Dr Davis. 'It's not exactly ghosts either. It's... well, I'd better show you. Please, come with me.'
The mortician came out from behind the desk and led the way down a long, white corridor.
Kevin and Oscar had made an impressive display of Playmobil cowboys and Indians on the floor of Kevin's bedroom.
'You have to give some of the cowboys these grey knives in their holsters,' Kevin said apologetically. 'I've lost most of the little guns over the years.'
'That's fine,' said Oscar. 'It's funny how all these Indian figures have pink skin, isn't it?'
'Oh, I think they started to realise that after a while,' said Kevin. 'I've got a later model Indian chief somewhere with darker skin... hang on, I think I'm sitting on him.'
Kevin produced the figure from underneath himself and passed it to Oscar, who proceeded to inspect it closely.
'He has war paint too,' Oscar remarked.
'Yeah,' said Kevin, 'he's much more accurate.'
'He's cool,' said Oscar.
'I've always thought so,' Kevin grinned. 'So, what's in the guitar case?'
'My guitar,' said Oscar.
'Wow, cool,' said Kevin. 'Did you bring it so you could play me something?'
'I don't know,' Oscar shrugged. 'I guess I could, if you want.'
'Yes, I want,' Kevin grinned at him.
'I don't know, maybe I shouldn't,' Oscar demurred. 'Your mom said we might disturb your dad.'
'Oh, he won't care,' said Kevin. 'He's downstairs watching a movie. Go on, play me something.'
'I don't know what to play.'
'Let's think of something we both like. You play and I'll sing.'
'What do you want to sing?' said Oscar, laughing a little.
'Do you know “Scarborough Fair”?' asked Kevin.
'Yeah,' said Oscar.
'Let's do that one,' said Kevin.
'You have to give some of the cowboys these grey knives in their holsters,' Kevin said apologetically. 'I've lost most of the little guns over the years.'
'That's fine,' said Oscar. 'It's funny how all these Indian figures have pink skin, isn't it?'
'Oh, I think they started to realise that after a while,' said Kevin. 'I've got a later model Indian chief somewhere with darker skin... hang on, I think I'm sitting on him.'
Kevin produced the figure from underneath himself and passed it to Oscar, who proceeded to inspect it closely.
'He has war paint too,' Oscar remarked.
'Yeah,' said Kevin, 'he's much more accurate.'
'He's cool,' said Oscar.
'I've always thought so,' Kevin grinned. 'So, what's in the guitar case?'
'My guitar,' said Oscar.
'Wow, cool,' said Kevin. 'Did you bring it so you could play me something?'
'I don't know,' Oscar shrugged. 'I guess I could, if you want.'
'Yes, I want,' Kevin grinned at him.
'I don't know, maybe I shouldn't,' Oscar demurred. 'Your mom said we might disturb your dad.'
'Oh, he won't care,' said Kevin. 'He's downstairs watching a movie. Go on, play me something.'
'I don't know what to play.'
'Let's think of something we both like. You play and I'll sing.'
'What do you want to sing?' said Oscar, laughing a little.
'Do you know “Scarborough Fair”?' asked Kevin.
'Yeah,' said Oscar.
'Let's do that one,' said Kevin.
'Missing body parts?' said Eduardo, looking slightly sick. 'You called us about missing body parts?'
'Yes,' said Dr Davis. 'I think they're being taken from the delivery transport while our pick-up guy opens the security doors at the back of the morgue.'
'Takes him a long time, does it?' asked Garrett.
'Yes,' said Dr Davis. 'He keeps forgetting the entry code for the keypad.'
'Did you try writing it down for him?' asked Kylie.
'That's more than my job's worth,' said Dr Davis. 'If it comes out that I've written the code down then they'll install a whole new security system and take it out of my wages!'
'Sounds like your security system is pretty useless anyway, if someone can steal bits of the bodies before they even make it into the morgue,' Garrett remarked. 'Doesn't your delivery guy keep his van locked?'
'Well, he's supposed to,' said Dr Davis, 'but I don't think he always remembers.'
'It sounds like your real problem is your delivery guy,' said Roland. 'I'd give him an appraisal if I were you.'
'Yes, I will,' said Dr Davis, 'but what about the body parts that have already gone missing?'
'You don't think the delivery guy could be taking them himself, do you?' asked Eduardo.
'No, I'm sure he wouldn't do that,' said Dr Davis. 'He's worked here for more than thirty years... why would he suddenly start doing it now?'
'I'm sorry, Dr Davis, but I don't really understand why you've come to us with this problem,' said Kylie. 'Why didn't you call the police?'
'I did, but they didn't seem very interested,' said the mortician. 'They sent an officer over and I showed him the delivery area and the incomplete bodies, but he made it very clear that he thought I was wasting his time. Besides, I thought maybe the body parts were being taken for some kind of weird Voodoo ceremonies or something. Don't you people deal with stuff like that?'
'Um... not really, so far,' said Roland, 'but I guess we can take a look at this problem for you. You'd better show us everything you showed the cop.'
'Yes,' said Dr Davis. 'I think they're being taken from the delivery transport while our pick-up guy opens the security doors at the back of the morgue.'
'Takes him a long time, does it?' asked Garrett.
'Yes,' said Dr Davis. 'He keeps forgetting the entry code for the keypad.'
'Did you try writing it down for him?' asked Kylie.
'That's more than my job's worth,' said Dr Davis. 'If it comes out that I've written the code down then they'll install a whole new security system and take it out of my wages!'
'Sounds like your security system is pretty useless anyway, if someone can steal bits of the bodies before they even make it into the morgue,' Garrett remarked. 'Doesn't your delivery guy keep his van locked?'
'Well, he's supposed to,' said Dr Davis, 'but I don't think he always remembers.'
'It sounds like your real problem is your delivery guy,' said Roland. 'I'd give him an appraisal if I were you.'
'Yes, I will,' said Dr Davis, 'but what about the body parts that have already gone missing?'
'You don't think the delivery guy could be taking them himself, do you?' asked Eduardo.
'No, I'm sure he wouldn't do that,' said Dr Davis. 'He's worked here for more than thirty years... why would he suddenly start doing it now?'
'I'm sorry, Dr Davis, but I don't really understand why you've come to us with this problem,' said Kylie. 'Why didn't you call the police?'
'I did, but they didn't seem very interested,' said the mortician. 'They sent an officer over and I showed him the delivery area and the incomplete bodies, but he made it very clear that he thought I was wasting his time. Besides, I thought maybe the body parts were being taken for some kind of weird Voodoo ceremonies or something. Don't you people deal with stuff like that?'
'Um... not really, so far,' said Roland, 'but I guess we can take a look at this problem for you. You'd better show us everything you showed the cop.'
The final chord of 'Scarborough Fair' finished reverberating from Oscar's guitar.
'You have a good singing voice,' Oscar said to Kevin.
'Really?' said Kevin.
'Yeah,' said Oscar. 'We should record some stuff together before your voice breaks. I have a quality microphone with a pop shield and a decent computer recording programme back home in Connecticut.'
'Is that an invitation?' asked Kevin.
'Um, well... yeah, I guess it is,' said Oscar. 'What other songs do you like?'
'Do you know “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls?'
'Er... I could probably work out the chords, yeah.'
Oscar began to make some ear-piercing sounds on his guitar. Kevin winced slightly.
'Oh, I think those last two were right,' he interjected at length. 'If you wannabe my lover...'
Suddenly the bedroom door burst open and Carl entered the room with a black look on his face.
'What on earth is that horrible noise?' he demanded.
'It's Oscar's guitar, Dad,' said Kevin.
'It's making my headache fifty times worse!' Carl complained. 'And what's all that Playmobil doing on the floor? I thought we gave it to the church relief fund ages ago.'
'No, Dad, I decided to keep it,' Kevin said awkwardly.
'I can't cope with you two hanging around the house on my day off,' said Carl, reaching into his pocket and bringing out his wallet. 'Here's some money – why don't you go out and buy yourselves some lunch? Your mom's gone to the store to do her big shop so you won't find anything to eat around here for a few hours.'
'Okay, sure,' said Kevin. 'Thanks, Dad.'
Kevin took the money and led the way out of the house, with Oscar trailing behind him. Kevin set off in a direction he was obviously familiar with, so Oscar fell into step beside him.
'Where are we going?' he asked.
'A sandwich bar I like,' said Kevin. 'It's not too far.'
'Does your dad always treat you like that?' Oscar ventured.
'He doesn't make the best first impression, I guess,' Kevin smiled ruefully, 'but he's okay really. He has a stressful job and it gets to him sometimes.'
'He's a cop, right?'
'Yeah. He works in traffic right now.'
'If my dad spoke to me like yours spoke to you, I'd probably yell at him,' Oscar admitted.
'He doesn't mean it – he's just tired,' Kevin said confidently. 'And at least he gave us money, right? Look, there's sixty-five dollars here.'
'Oh, cool,' said Oscar. 'My dad would never give me sixty-five dollars just to buy a sandwich. Your dad, er... well, he doesn't seem too worried about sending you off into the city alone, does he?'
'I'm not alone – I have you,' Kevin pointed out.
'You think I can protect you from muggers and stuff?' Oscar laughed.
'Maybe we can protect each other,' said Kevin.
'I'm sorry, dude, but I think your dad has rage issues,' Oscar announced.
'You're right, he does, but it's not because of me,' said Kevin. 'He's ashamed of being Mexican.'
'Was he born in Mexico?'
'No, he was born in the USA.'
'He's a US citizen, then.'
'I know. His parents were Mexican. He thinks people hate him for being Mexican no matter where he was born. Can you tell by looking at me that I have Mexican grandparents?'
'It might not occur to me straightaway if I didn't already know,' Oscar considered. 'But I was expecting you to be... well, you know, darker than I am... because I'd already met your uncle, remember.'
'Oh yeah, of course,' said Kevin.
'Are you ashamed too?'
'Of my Mexican descent?'
'Yeah.'
'No, I think it's really interesting. I never mention it in front of my dad, though.'
'I have two brothers and a sister who're half English.'
'Yes, I thought you probably did.'
'They're half-brothers and a half-sister really... but then I guess Jess is my half-sister too, technically, even though I always just think of her as my sister.'
'That's because you've grown up together,' said Kevin.
'Yeah,' said Oscar. 'I don't like to talk about this stuff in front of my dad. That's why I started thinking about it, when you mentioned your dad and the Mexican thing.'
'Is your other family a touchy subject for him?' asked Kevin.
'I'm not really sure,' said Oscar. 'He's never acted weird about it or anything but I don't want to be insensitive. Hey, hang on a second – why did you think I probably had a half-English sister and brothers before I told you I did?'
'I've seen the movies,' said Kevin. 'That guy with the nasal spray in the first movie is your biological father, right?'
'Yeah, that's meant to be him. But how did you know he had English children?'
'Well, he'd gone off to London in the second movie, so it seemed to make sense.'
'Yeah, I guess so. Y'know, come to think of it, I've never seen him with a nasal spray myself.'
'Do you see him often?'
'No, not often.'
'He's got plenty of time to use a nasal spray without you knowing anything about it then, hasn't he?'
Oscar laughed and punched Kevin on the arm in a jovial way. Kevin grinned and punched him back.
'How much further to this sandwich bar?' asked Oscar.
'It's just on the next block,' said Kevin. 'Look, you can see the sign from here.'
'Halesworth Street Art Café,' Oscar read. 'What the heck is an art café?'
'Don't worry about that, man,' said Kevin. 'They have, like, displays of pictures from local artists and you can buy them for huge sums of money, but you don't need to take any notice of them. It's the sandwiches that make the place worth visiting.'
'That's why you called it a sandwich bar instead of an art café,' Oscar grinned.
'Exactly,' said Kevin.
'You have a good singing voice,' Oscar said to Kevin.
'Really?' said Kevin.
'Yeah,' said Oscar. 'We should record some stuff together before your voice breaks. I have a quality microphone with a pop shield and a decent computer recording programme back home in Connecticut.'
'Is that an invitation?' asked Kevin.
'Um, well... yeah, I guess it is,' said Oscar. 'What other songs do you like?'
'Do you know “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls?'
'Er... I could probably work out the chords, yeah.'
Oscar began to make some ear-piercing sounds on his guitar. Kevin winced slightly.
'Oh, I think those last two were right,' he interjected at length. 'If you wannabe my lover...'
Suddenly the bedroom door burst open and Carl entered the room with a black look on his face.
'What on earth is that horrible noise?' he demanded.
'It's Oscar's guitar, Dad,' said Kevin.
'It's making my headache fifty times worse!' Carl complained. 'And what's all that Playmobil doing on the floor? I thought we gave it to the church relief fund ages ago.'
'No, Dad, I decided to keep it,' Kevin said awkwardly.
'I can't cope with you two hanging around the house on my day off,' said Carl, reaching into his pocket and bringing out his wallet. 'Here's some money – why don't you go out and buy yourselves some lunch? Your mom's gone to the store to do her big shop so you won't find anything to eat around here for a few hours.'
'Okay, sure,' said Kevin. 'Thanks, Dad.'
Kevin took the money and led the way out of the house, with Oscar trailing behind him. Kevin set off in a direction he was obviously familiar with, so Oscar fell into step beside him.
'Where are we going?' he asked.
'A sandwich bar I like,' said Kevin. 'It's not too far.'
'Does your dad always treat you like that?' Oscar ventured.
'He doesn't make the best first impression, I guess,' Kevin smiled ruefully, 'but he's okay really. He has a stressful job and it gets to him sometimes.'
'He's a cop, right?'
'Yeah. He works in traffic right now.'
'If my dad spoke to me like yours spoke to you, I'd probably yell at him,' Oscar admitted.
'He doesn't mean it – he's just tired,' Kevin said confidently. 'And at least he gave us money, right? Look, there's sixty-five dollars here.'
'Oh, cool,' said Oscar. 'My dad would never give me sixty-five dollars just to buy a sandwich. Your dad, er... well, he doesn't seem too worried about sending you off into the city alone, does he?'
'I'm not alone – I have you,' Kevin pointed out.
'You think I can protect you from muggers and stuff?' Oscar laughed.
'Maybe we can protect each other,' said Kevin.
'I'm sorry, dude, but I think your dad has rage issues,' Oscar announced.
'You're right, he does, but it's not because of me,' said Kevin. 'He's ashamed of being Mexican.'
'Was he born in Mexico?'
'No, he was born in the USA.'
'He's a US citizen, then.'
'I know. His parents were Mexican. He thinks people hate him for being Mexican no matter where he was born. Can you tell by looking at me that I have Mexican grandparents?'
'It might not occur to me straightaway if I didn't already know,' Oscar considered. 'But I was expecting you to be... well, you know, darker than I am... because I'd already met your uncle, remember.'
'Oh yeah, of course,' said Kevin.
'Are you ashamed too?'
'Of my Mexican descent?'
'Yeah.'
'No, I think it's really interesting. I never mention it in front of my dad, though.'
'I have two brothers and a sister who're half English.'
'Yes, I thought you probably did.'
'They're half-brothers and a half-sister really... but then I guess Jess is my half-sister too, technically, even though I always just think of her as my sister.'
'That's because you've grown up together,' said Kevin.
'Yeah,' said Oscar. 'I don't like to talk about this stuff in front of my dad. That's why I started thinking about it, when you mentioned your dad and the Mexican thing.'
'Is your other family a touchy subject for him?' asked Kevin.
'I'm not really sure,' said Oscar. 'He's never acted weird about it or anything but I don't want to be insensitive. Hey, hang on a second – why did you think I probably had a half-English sister and brothers before I told you I did?'
'I've seen the movies,' said Kevin. 'That guy with the nasal spray in the first movie is your biological father, right?'
'Yeah, that's meant to be him. But how did you know he had English children?'
'Well, he'd gone off to London in the second movie, so it seemed to make sense.'
'Yeah, I guess so. Y'know, come to think of it, I've never seen him with a nasal spray myself.'
'Do you see him often?'
'No, not often.'
'He's got plenty of time to use a nasal spray without you knowing anything about it then, hasn't he?'
Oscar laughed and punched Kevin on the arm in a jovial way. Kevin grinned and punched him back.
'How much further to this sandwich bar?' asked Oscar.
'It's just on the next block,' said Kevin. 'Look, you can see the sign from here.'
'Halesworth Street Art Café,' Oscar read. 'What the heck is an art café?'
'Don't worry about that, man,' said Kevin. 'They have, like, displays of pictures from local artists and you can buy them for huge sums of money, but you don't need to take any notice of them. It's the sandwiches that make the place worth visiting.'
'That's why you called it a sandwich bar instead of an art café,' Oscar grinned.
'Exactly,' said Kevin.
Eduardo and Garrett were being treated to a parade of incomplete dead bodies; they were both looking rather queasy.
'I think that's all of them,' Dr Davis announced at length. 'We had one with a missing thumb last night, but it turned out he was a butcher and he'd cut it off himself twenty years ago.'
'Did he sell it in his shop?' asked Garrett.
'I don't know,' Dr Davis laughed, 'but the hospital records said it was an accident.'
'Well, thanks for the cadaver fashion parade, man,' said Eduardo. 'Do you mind if we go outside and join our colleagues now?'
'Oh, but I haven't shown you the most interesting thing yet,' said Dr Davis. 'You'll want to hear this. Look at this one – the hands have been taken.'
'Yes, we can see that,' said Garrett.
'But what you can't see is that he was a martial arts expert,' said Dr Davis. 'And this one with no legs won the New York Marathon in nineteen forty-eight.'
'Well, I guess he wasn't going to achieve that feat again, even when he still had feet,' Garrett remarked.
'Yes, but don't you see what I'm saying?' Dr Davis said excitedly. 'This one here was a gourmet chef, and he's had his entire digestive system cut out!'
Eduardo clapped a hand to his mouth and retched slightly.
'So are you saying that whoever's taking these body parts is picking and choosing the most useful bits from the specific people they belonged to?' Garrett inferred.
'That's exactly what I'm saying!' said Dr Davis. 'And if you add up everything that's been taken, it equates to pretty much one whole male body, except for a head and brain.'
'Okay, that is pretty interesting,' Garrett was forced to admit. 'Well, we've got the paperwork so we can start investigating whether there's any connection between these people.'
'I bet there won't be,' said Dr Davis, 'other than the fact that they all had a particularly useful or specialist body part that's now been stolen.'
'So do you think someone's planning to sew all the different parts together and make some kind of grotesque mannequin?' asked Eduardo. 'Why the heck would anyone want to do that?'
'Well,' Dr Davis said darkly, 'a couple of possibilities do spring to mind. There are some really sick people in the world today, you know.'
At that moment, Kylie and Roland entered the room. Everyone turned to look at them.
'The cop who examined that delivery area,' said Kylie. 'Was he blind?'
'Um... I don't think so,' said Dr Davis.
'He must have been incompetent, then,' said Roland, 'or else he just couldn't be bothered to look properly. We found this on the ground beside the security doors.'
Everyone crowded around to look at the small rectangular object in Roland's hand. It was a name badge with the logo of the Halesworth Street Art Café printed across the top.
'Hello, my name is Victor,' Garrett read off the badge. 'Well, looks like we've found our guy. That was easy.'
'Do we have to go to this art café and interview Victor?' Eduardo asked, sounding very unenthusiastic.
'Well, I think we should, now that we've started investigating the case,' said Roland. 'Dr Davis, you should update the police about this. We'll leave the name badge here so you can give it to them.'
'Okay,' said Dr Davis, 'thanks.'
'We'll stay in touch,' said Roland. 'Now, does anyone know where this art café actually is?'
'Yeah, I do,' Eduardo admitted reluctantly. 'It's not too far from my apartment. Kevin took me there and made me buy us sandwiches and chocolate milk one time.'
'Great,' said Roland, 'you can navigate.'
'I think that's all of them,' Dr Davis announced at length. 'We had one with a missing thumb last night, but it turned out he was a butcher and he'd cut it off himself twenty years ago.'
'Did he sell it in his shop?' asked Garrett.
'I don't know,' Dr Davis laughed, 'but the hospital records said it was an accident.'
'Well, thanks for the cadaver fashion parade, man,' said Eduardo. 'Do you mind if we go outside and join our colleagues now?'
'Oh, but I haven't shown you the most interesting thing yet,' said Dr Davis. 'You'll want to hear this. Look at this one – the hands have been taken.'
'Yes, we can see that,' said Garrett.
'But what you can't see is that he was a martial arts expert,' said Dr Davis. 'And this one with no legs won the New York Marathon in nineteen forty-eight.'
'Well, I guess he wasn't going to achieve that feat again, even when he still had feet,' Garrett remarked.
'Yes, but don't you see what I'm saying?' Dr Davis said excitedly. 'This one here was a gourmet chef, and he's had his entire digestive system cut out!'
Eduardo clapped a hand to his mouth and retched slightly.
'So are you saying that whoever's taking these body parts is picking and choosing the most useful bits from the specific people they belonged to?' Garrett inferred.
'That's exactly what I'm saying!' said Dr Davis. 'And if you add up everything that's been taken, it equates to pretty much one whole male body, except for a head and brain.'
'Okay, that is pretty interesting,' Garrett was forced to admit. 'Well, we've got the paperwork so we can start investigating whether there's any connection between these people.'
'I bet there won't be,' said Dr Davis, 'other than the fact that they all had a particularly useful or specialist body part that's now been stolen.'
'So do you think someone's planning to sew all the different parts together and make some kind of grotesque mannequin?' asked Eduardo. 'Why the heck would anyone want to do that?'
'Well,' Dr Davis said darkly, 'a couple of possibilities do spring to mind. There are some really sick people in the world today, you know.'
At that moment, Kylie and Roland entered the room. Everyone turned to look at them.
'The cop who examined that delivery area,' said Kylie. 'Was he blind?'
'Um... I don't think so,' said Dr Davis.
'He must have been incompetent, then,' said Roland, 'or else he just couldn't be bothered to look properly. We found this on the ground beside the security doors.'
Everyone crowded around to look at the small rectangular object in Roland's hand. It was a name badge with the logo of the Halesworth Street Art Café printed across the top.
'Hello, my name is Victor,' Garrett read off the badge. 'Well, looks like we've found our guy. That was easy.'
'Do we have to go to this art café and interview Victor?' Eduardo asked, sounding very unenthusiastic.
'Well, I think we should, now that we've started investigating the case,' said Roland. 'Dr Davis, you should update the police about this. We'll leave the name badge here so you can give it to them.'
'Okay,' said Dr Davis, 'thanks.'
'We'll stay in touch,' said Roland. 'Now, does anyone know where this art café actually is?'
'Yeah, I do,' Eduardo admitted reluctantly. 'It's not too far from my apartment. Kevin took me there and made me buy us sandwiches and chocolate milk one time.'
'Great,' said Roland, 'you can navigate.'
Oscar and Kevin were sitting opposite each other in a booth at the art café, eating their sandwiches.
'You were right, dude,' said Oscar. 'These sandwiches are great.'
'I know, man,' Kevin grinned. 'You have to try their chocolate milk after – it's the best in New York!'
'Yeah, I can see that from the menu board behind the counter.'
'But unlike in most places, here it's really true.'
Oscar started to smile, but the expression froze on his face as he caught sight of something over Kevin's shoulder.
'You did say all the pictures were by local artists, didn't you?' he asked.
'Yeah, I think so,' said Kevin. 'Why, did you see something you like?'
'Not exactly,' said Oscar. 'Take a look over your left shoulder.'
Kevin turned to look at the picture that had caught Oscar's eye. It featured an executioner holding up a head, which he had clearly just cut off. The eyes of the severed head were wide open and the mouth was parted as if in speech. The background was mountainous.
'I'm sure that's Vigo,' said Oscar.
'What, really?' Kevin asked in surprise. 'It doesn't look like the guy from the movie.'
'That's because he was an actor,' Oscar pointed out. 'That looks like the real Vigo – I've read a lot about him and I've seen a lot of portraits, and that is him!'
'Why have you read up about him?' asked Kevin, turning back round.
'Because I know what he tried to do to me when I was a baby,' said Oscar. 'It happened ten years ago... almost exactly. I've always felt that... well, that I should know as much as possible about him... just in case.'
'Just in case what?'
'Just in case I ever need to know it.'
Kevin frowned in thought, then turned round again and waved to the person behind the counter.
'Hey, Victor!' he called. 'Can you come over here a moment?'
Victor did so, smiling at Kevin in an ingratiating fashion.
'Ah, Mister Kevin,' he said warmly. 'You want me to bring you something else?'
'Yes, we'll each have a chocolate milk to follow,' said Kevin. 'But first I want you to tell us about that picture of the guy getting his head cut off.'
'Oh, that is a very old piece from central Europe,' said Victor, 'artist unknown. I bought it last week at an auction. It is not for sale, I'm afraid – I hung it there because I believe it adds a touch of class to the place.'
'You really think people want to stare at some guy's severed head while they're eating their sandwiches?' said Kevin.
'That is not just some guy, Mister Kevin,' said Victor. 'He was a very famous prince... and a great soldier and general... and a powerful mystic... and a genius, in many ways.'
'What's the picture called?' asked Oscar.
'Death is But a Door,' said Victor. 'Now I will bring you your milkshakes.'
He wandered off. Kevin looked at Oscar, who had adopted a serious expression.
'It's definitely Vigo,' said Oscar. 'That title is part of his last speech. The whole thing goes, “Death is but a door, time is but a window – I'll be back.” He said that after his head had actually been cut off.'
'Gnarly, bro,' Kevin remarked.
'Looking at that picture, I feel... strange,' said Oscar, wriggling slightly in his seat. 'It's almost like I... I feel a connection to it.'
'That's probably 'cause you're a Vigo expert, dude,' said Kevin.
'Yeah, I guess so,' said Oscar, still staring intently at the painting. 'Still, I can't help thinking there's more to it.'
'Well, maybe it's haunted, like the painting in the movie,' said Kevin.
'Yeah, maybe it is,' said Oscar.
'Do you want to leave?'
'No, I want to stay and try the milkshake. But would you switch seats with me?'
'Of course, man.'
After a significant amount of wriggling and shuffling, they managed this operation successfully.
'Thanks, dude,' said Oscar.
'No problem,' said Kevin. 'Do you feel better now?'
'Yeah, a bit,' said Oscar. 'But I still feel like he's staring at my back with his dead eyes.'
'Try not to think about it, man,' said Kevin.
'Yeah,' said Oscar. 'Yeah, I'll sure try...'
'You were right, dude,' said Oscar. 'These sandwiches are great.'
'I know, man,' Kevin grinned. 'You have to try their chocolate milk after – it's the best in New York!'
'Yeah, I can see that from the menu board behind the counter.'
'But unlike in most places, here it's really true.'
Oscar started to smile, but the expression froze on his face as he caught sight of something over Kevin's shoulder.
'You did say all the pictures were by local artists, didn't you?' he asked.
'Yeah, I think so,' said Kevin. 'Why, did you see something you like?'
'Not exactly,' said Oscar. 'Take a look over your left shoulder.'
Kevin turned to look at the picture that had caught Oscar's eye. It featured an executioner holding up a head, which he had clearly just cut off. The eyes of the severed head were wide open and the mouth was parted as if in speech. The background was mountainous.
'I'm sure that's Vigo,' said Oscar.
'What, really?' Kevin asked in surprise. 'It doesn't look like the guy from the movie.'
'That's because he was an actor,' Oscar pointed out. 'That looks like the real Vigo – I've read a lot about him and I've seen a lot of portraits, and that is him!'
'Why have you read up about him?' asked Kevin, turning back round.
'Because I know what he tried to do to me when I was a baby,' said Oscar. 'It happened ten years ago... almost exactly. I've always felt that... well, that I should know as much as possible about him... just in case.'
'Just in case what?'
'Just in case I ever need to know it.'
Kevin frowned in thought, then turned round again and waved to the person behind the counter.
'Hey, Victor!' he called. 'Can you come over here a moment?'
Victor did so, smiling at Kevin in an ingratiating fashion.
'Ah, Mister Kevin,' he said warmly. 'You want me to bring you something else?'
'Yes, we'll each have a chocolate milk to follow,' said Kevin. 'But first I want you to tell us about that picture of the guy getting his head cut off.'
'Oh, that is a very old piece from central Europe,' said Victor, 'artist unknown. I bought it last week at an auction. It is not for sale, I'm afraid – I hung it there because I believe it adds a touch of class to the place.'
'You really think people want to stare at some guy's severed head while they're eating their sandwiches?' said Kevin.
'That is not just some guy, Mister Kevin,' said Victor. 'He was a very famous prince... and a great soldier and general... and a powerful mystic... and a genius, in many ways.'
'What's the picture called?' asked Oscar.
'Death is But a Door,' said Victor. 'Now I will bring you your milkshakes.'
He wandered off. Kevin looked at Oscar, who had adopted a serious expression.
'It's definitely Vigo,' said Oscar. 'That title is part of his last speech. The whole thing goes, “Death is but a door, time is but a window – I'll be back.” He said that after his head had actually been cut off.'
'Gnarly, bro,' Kevin remarked.
'Looking at that picture, I feel... strange,' said Oscar, wriggling slightly in his seat. 'It's almost like I... I feel a connection to it.'
'That's probably 'cause you're a Vigo expert, dude,' said Kevin.
'Yeah, I guess so,' said Oscar, still staring intently at the painting. 'Still, I can't help thinking there's more to it.'
'Well, maybe it's haunted, like the painting in the movie,' said Kevin.
'Yeah, maybe it is,' said Oscar.
'Do you want to leave?'
'No, I want to stay and try the milkshake. But would you switch seats with me?'
'Of course, man.'
After a significant amount of wriggling and shuffling, they managed this operation successfully.
'Thanks, dude,' said Oscar.
'No problem,' said Kevin. 'Do you feel better now?'
'Yeah, a bit,' said Oscar. 'But I still feel like he's staring at my back with his dead eyes.'
'Try not to think about it, man,' said Kevin.
'Yeah,' said Oscar. 'Yeah, I'll sure try...'
Ten seconds after Kevin and Oscar emerged from the café, punching each other on the arm and pretending to shove each other into the street, Eduardo, Kylie, Garrett and Roland arrived from the opposite direction and entered the establishment. They noticed at once that it was deserted.
'Business isn't exactly booming, is it?' Kylie remarked.
'Hello?' Roland called out. 'Is anyone here? Service... er, please.'
The door to the back room opened and Victor emerged, wiping his forehead with a handkerchief.
'Forgive my unworthiness and my ignorance, but I have no idea who that boy –' he was muttering, but he stopped short in obvious alarm when he saw the Ghostbusters. 'What are you kooks doing in my art café?' he demanded. 'Get out – we're closed.'
'The sign on the door says otherwise, man,' said Eduardo.
'I'm just closing up now!' Victor insisted. 'Get out – you can't come in here!'
'Sir, we need to ask you a few questions,' Roland said firmly.
'Questions?' Victor snarled. 'What kind of questions?'
'Questions about the New York City Morgue, pal,' said Garrett. 'Now you'd better tell us exactly what –'
'No!' Victor roared. 'I refuse to talk to a gang of insane terrorists! Get out of here right now or I'll call the police. Go on – out, out, OUT!'
He picked up a broom and ran towards them. Garrett started to move to meet him, but Roland pulled him back.
'Come on, we might as well go,' he said. 'There's no point hanging around where we're not wanted.'
Victor chased them out onto the street and locked the door behind them, before flipping the sign on the door so that it read CLOSED.
'Friendly fella, ain't he?' said Eduardo.
'Clearly he's the one who stole those body parts,' said Kylie. 'We should go to the police and tell them what we know – this really is a police matter... or it should be.'
'Yeah – there's no ghosts involved, so it's nothing to do with us,' said Garrett.
'Kylie and Eduardo, I'd like to drop you two off at the police station so you can report everything we know to them,' Roland proposed. 'Meanwhile, Garrett and I will go back to the firehouse and tell Egon what's been going on.'
'If he's back from his lunch date,' said Garrett.
'Sure, that's fine by me,' said Eduardo.
'Yeah,' said Kylie, 'let's do it.'
'Business isn't exactly booming, is it?' Kylie remarked.
'Hello?' Roland called out. 'Is anyone here? Service... er, please.'
The door to the back room opened and Victor emerged, wiping his forehead with a handkerchief.
'Forgive my unworthiness and my ignorance, but I have no idea who that boy –' he was muttering, but he stopped short in obvious alarm when he saw the Ghostbusters. 'What are you kooks doing in my art café?' he demanded. 'Get out – we're closed.'
'The sign on the door says otherwise, man,' said Eduardo.
'I'm just closing up now!' Victor insisted. 'Get out – you can't come in here!'
'Sir, we need to ask you a few questions,' Roland said firmly.
'Questions?' Victor snarled. 'What kind of questions?'
'Questions about the New York City Morgue, pal,' said Garrett. 'Now you'd better tell us exactly what –'
'No!' Victor roared. 'I refuse to talk to a gang of insane terrorists! Get out of here right now or I'll call the police. Go on – out, out, OUT!'
He picked up a broom and ran towards them. Garrett started to move to meet him, but Roland pulled him back.
'Come on, we might as well go,' he said. 'There's no point hanging around where we're not wanted.'
Victor chased them out onto the street and locked the door behind them, before flipping the sign on the door so that it read CLOSED.
'Friendly fella, ain't he?' said Eduardo.
'Clearly he's the one who stole those body parts,' said Kylie. 'We should go to the police and tell them what we know – this really is a police matter... or it should be.'
'Yeah – there's no ghosts involved, so it's nothing to do with us,' said Garrett.
'Kylie and Eduardo, I'd like to drop you two off at the police station so you can report everything we know to them,' Roland proposed. 'Meanwhile, Garrett and I will go back to the firehouse and tell Egon what's been going on.'
'If he's back from his lunch date,' said Garrett.
'Sure, that's fine by me,' said Eduardo.
'Yeah,' said Kylie, 'let's do it.'
Oscar's right forearm crashed down onto Kevin's computer desk.
'Ha, I got you again!' Kevin grinned.
'You're too good at this, man,' Oscar laughed. 'Let's try the left arm one more time.'
They clapped their left hands together across the desk and began to push against each other. Oscar squealed in alarm as once again he found himself on the losing end.
'You sound like a girl, bro,' Kevin giggled.
'Well you laugh like one,' Oscar grinned back at him.
'Do you yield to my superior strength?'
'No way, dude! Arm-wrestling's for babies. I'll show you something much better that requires real strength, both mental and physical.'
A few minutes later, Carl was leading Dana up the stairs. Unrestrained laughter and cries of mock anguish were clearly audible coming through the closed door of Kevin's room; Carl scowled slightly as he opened it.
'Oh no, man,' Kevin was laughing, as he went tumbling over Oscar's left shoulder, 'not that one again!'
Kevin exhaled deeply and laughed again as he crashed down onto his bed. Carl looked on with a suspicious expression on his face.
'What the heck are you two doing now?' he demanded.
'Oh, hi Dad,' said Kevin, sitting up. 'Oscar's teaching me karate.'
'Hi, Mom,' Oscar said brightly. 'Good shopping trip?'
'Yes, it was fine,' said Dana. 'You certainly look like you've had a good time.'
Oscar smiled, and nodded rapidly. Kevin jumped up beside him and aimed his right fist at Oscar's head. Oscar blocked the blow, whereupon Kevin slammed his left fist into Oscar's stomach. Oscar doubled up and cried out, whilst also laughing.
'That's what he taught me,' Kevin said proudly.
'Now I wish I hadn't,' said Oscar. 'You were right all along, dude – you're too strong!'
'Well, just as long as you haven't been hurting each other,' said Dana, smiling.
'Mom, karate is not about hurting each other,' said Oscar, rubbing his aching abdomen. 'It's about discipline and self-control.'
'Right,' Dana smiled at him. 'Come on now, it's time to say goodbye to Kevin. Janine and Jessica are waiting in the car.'
Dana tactfully withdrew from the room, steering the bemused Carl in front of her. Oscar turned to Kevin and they both smiled, somewhat bashfully.
'Thanks for a fun play date, man,' said Kevin.
'Same to you, dude,' said Oscar.
Kevin held out his hand. Oscar shook it, smiled, and grasped Kevin by the shoulder. Kevin grasped him back and they indulged in a quick half-hug.
'Don't forget your guitar,' said Kevin.
'Thanks,' said Oscar. 'I'll talk to my parents about having you up for that recording session.'
'That'd be great,' said Kevin.
'Are you coming to the wedding?' asked Oscar.
'I'm not sure if I'm invited,' said Kevin. 'I'll have to check with Eduardo.'
'Maybe see you then, then,' said Oscar. 'Bye.'
'See ya.'
They punched each other on the arm and then Oscar picked up his guitar case and left the room. Kevin sat down on his bed, smiling to himself.
'Ha, I got you again!' Kevin grinned.
'You're too good at this, man,' Oscar laughed. 'Let's try the left arm one more time.'
They clapped their left hands together across the desk and began to push against each other. Oscar squealed in alarm as once again he found himself on the losing end.
'You sound like a girl, bro,' Kevin giggled.
'Well you laugh like one,' Oscar grinned back at him.
'Do you yield to my superior strength?'
'No way, dude! Arm-wrestling's for babies. I'll show you something much better that requires real strength, both mental and physical.'
A few minutes later, Carl was leading Dana up the stairs. Unrestrained laughter and cries of mock anguish were clearly audible coming through the closed door of Kevin's room; Carl scowled slightly as he opened it.
'Oh no, man,' Kevin was laughing, as he went tumbling over Oscar's left shoulder, 'not that one again!'
Kevin exhaled deeply and laughed again as he crashed down onto his bed. Carl looked on with a suspicious expression on his face.
'What the heck are you two doing now?' he demanded.
'Oh, hi Dad,' said Kevin, sitting up. 'Oscar's teaching me karate.'
'Hi, Mom,' Oscar said brightly. 'Good shopping trip?'
'Yes, it was fine,' said Dana. 'You certainly look like you've had a good time.'
Oscar smiled, and nodded rapidly. Kevin jumped up beside him and aimed his right fist at Oscar's head. Oscar blocked the blow, whereupon Kevin slammed his left fist into Oscar's stomach. Oscar doubled up and cried out, whilst also laughing.
'That's what he taught me,' Kevin said proudly.
'Now I wish I hadn't,' said Oscar. 'You were right all along, dude – you're too strong!'
'Well, just as long as you haven't been hurting each other,' said Dana, smiling.
'Mom, karate is not about hurting each other,' said Oscar, rubbing his aching abdomen. 'It's about discipline and self-control.'
'Right,' Dana smiled at him. 'Come on now, it's time to say goodbye to Kevin. Janine and Jessica are waiting in the car.'
Dana tactfully withdrew from the room, steering the bemused Carl in front of her. Oscar turned to Kevin and they both smiled, somewhat bashfully.
'Thanks for a fun play date, man,' said Kevin.
'Same to you, dude,' said Oscar.
Kevin held out his hand. Oscar shook it, smiled, and grasped Kevin by the shoulder. Kevin grasped him back and they indulged in a quick half-hug.
'Don't forget your guitar,' said Kevin.
'Thanks,' said Oscar. 'I'll talk to my parents about having you up for that recording session.'
'That'd be great,' said Kevin.
'Are you coming to the wedding?' asked Oscar.
'I'm not sure if I'm invited,' said Kevin. 'I'll have to check with Eduardo.'
'Maybe see you then, then,' said Oscar. 'Bye.'
'See ya.'
They punched each other on the arm and then Oscar picked up his guitar case and left the room. Kevin sat down on his bed, smiling to himself.
Egon stared at Roland and Garrett over his computer desk, removed his glasses, rubbed his eyes, replaced his glasses and adopted a thoughtful expression.
'It's a potentially interesting case, but it's really nothing to do with us,' he said. 'This Victor is probably just some strange person who likes to surround himself with dead body parts. Kylie's right – this is a police matter.'
'I hope they're actually going to do something about it,' said Roland. 'They can't have searched the unloading area properly, missing that name badge like they did.'
'I've got an old friend who's a deputy inspector with the NYPD,' said Egon. 'I'll give him a call and ask him to make sure this case is receiving the attention it deserves.'
'Is there any category of official in New York that doesn't have one of your old friends in it, Egon?' asked Garrett.
'Perhaps not,' said Egon, smiling slightly. 'Remember, I've done a lot of ghostbusting in this city over the years – people are grateful for that.'
'The ones who don't want to sue us,' said Garrett.
'Actually, sometimes they're the same people,' said Egon. 'Anyway, you can put this matter out of your minds now. I'll get Janine to bill the morgue for a standard consultation, and that will be that.'
'I hope you're right, Egon,' said Roland. 'I have to admit, I've started to wonder... no, never mind.'
'What's up, Rolster?' asked Garrett. 'Come on, don't hold it back.'
'It's just that I can't help feeling that something was going on at that art café,' said Roland. 'Something more than stealing pieces of dead bodies... something that we missed, or we didn't quite see...'
'Well, if you're right about that,' said Egon, 'I daresay we'll find out soon enough.'
'It's a potentially interesting case, but it's really nothing to do with us,' he said. 'This Victor is probably just some strange person who likes to surround himself with dead body parts. Kylie's right – this is a police matter.'
'I hope they're actually going to do something about it,' said Roland. 'They can't have searched the unloading area properly, missing that name badge like they did.'
'I've got an old friend who's a deputy inspector with the NYPD,' said Egon. 'I'll give him a call and ask him to make sure this case is receiving the attention it deserves.'
'Is there any category of official in New York that doesn't have one of your old friends in it, Egon?' asked Garrett.
'Perhaps not,' said Egon, smiling slightly. 'Remember, I've done a lot of ghostbusting in this city over the years – people are grateful for that.'
'The ones who don't want to sue us,' said Garrett.
'Actually, sometimes they're the same people,' said Egon. 'Anyway, you can put this matter out of your minds now. I'll get Janine to bill the morgue for a standard consultation, and that will be that.'
'I hope you're right, Egon,' said Roland. 'I have to admit, I've started to wonder... no, never mind.'
'What's up, Rolster?' asked Garrett. 'Come on, don't hold it back.'
'It's just that I can't help feeling that something was going on at that art café,' said Roland. 'Something more than stealing pieces of dead bodies... something that we missed, or we didn't quite see...'
'Well, if you're right about that,' said Egon, 'I daresay we'll find out soon enough.'
A little later that evening, Eduardo and Kevin ran into each other by the trash cans at the back of Carl's house, each with a bag of domestic rubbish in his hand.
'Hey, man,' said Eduardo.
'Hi, Uncle Eduardo,' said Kevin.
'Did you have a good time with Oscar today?'
'Yeah, I did. He says he's gonna invite me to Connecticut to record a song with him.'
'Is that right?' Eduardo laughed. 'I'm glad you two hit it off.'
'So am I,' said Kevin.
'Did you drink his blood?' Eduardo asked teasingly.
'Uncle Eduardo!' Kevin laughed. 'I don't do that anymore. Hey, let me show you something Oscar taught me. Try to block this punch, okay?'
Eduardo saw Kevin's right fist sailing towards his face, and quickly moved his arm to block it. He then found himself doubling over in pain as Kevin's left fist slammed into his abdomen.
'Jeepers creepers!' Eduardo wheezed. 'That was really painful!'
'Yeah,' Kevin grinned. 'It's cool, right?'
'If you're the one who's doing the punching, yeah,' Eduardo said ruefully. 'I think maybe Oscar's a bad influence on you, man.'
'Eduardo! Eduardo, are you here?'
The piercing call suddenly came to their ears around the side of the house. Eduardo went out through the back gate and came round to the front of the house, where he found Kylie staring up at his apartment. Roland's Mustang was parked against the kerb, with Roland and Garrett inside.
'Here I am,' Eduardo announced himself. 'What's up?'
'There's a major hullabaloo at the firehouse,' said Kylie. 'Oscar's gone missing.'
'Gone missing?' Eduardo queried in surprise.
'Yeah... or he's run away, or something,' said Kylie. 'No one can find him, anyway. Dana's gone to talk to the police, but we know they won't do anything for twenty-four hours so we're all helping to look for him. Peter's standing by at the firehouse for any news, or in case he goes back there. Do you want to come and search with us?'
'Yeah, sure,' said Eduardo. 'Just let me get my coat and lock my front door.'
It was not long before Roland's car was pulling away from the kerb. Kevin stepped out from the shadows of the alleyway at the side of the house, watching the vehicle disappear into the darkness. He then turned his head the other way, furrowed his brow in thought, and started walking off in the opposite direction.
'Hey, man,' said Eduardo.
'Hi, Uncle Eduardo,' said Kevin.
'Did you have a good time with Oscar today?'
'Yeah, I did. He says he's gonna invite me to Connecticut to record a song with him.'
'Is that right?' Eduardo laughed. 'I'm glad you two hit it off.'
'So am I,' said Kevin.
'Did you drink his blood?' Eduardo asked teasingly.
'Uncle Eduardo!' Kevin laughed. 'I don't do that anymore. Hey, let me show you something Oscar taught me. Try to block this punch, okay?'
Eduardo saw Kevin's right fist sailing towards his face, and quickly moved his arm to block it. He then found himself doubling over in pain as Kevin's left fist slammed into his abdomen.
'Jeepers creepers!' Eduardo wheezed. 'That was really painful!'
'Yeah,' Kevin grinned. 'It's cool, right?'
'If you're the one who's doing the punching, yeah,' Eduardo said ruefully. 'I think maybe Oscar's a bad influence on you, man.'
'Eduardo! Eduardo, are you here?'
The piercing call suddenly came to their ears around the side of the house. Eduardo went out through the back gate and came round to the front of the house, where he found Kylie staring up at his apartment. Roland's Mustang was parked against the kerb, with Roland and Garrett inside.
'Here I am,' Eduardo announced himself. 'What's up?'
'There's a major hullabaloo at the firehouse,' said Kylie. 'Oscar's gone missing.'
'Gone missing?' Eduardo queried in surprise.
'Yeah... or he's run away, or something,' said Kylie. 'No one can find him, anyway. Dana's gone to talk to the police, but we know they won't do anything for twenty-four hours so we're all helping to look for him. Peter's standing by at the firehouse for any news, or in case he goes back there. Do you want to come and search with us?'
'Yeah, sure,' said Eduardo. 'Just let me get my coat and lock my front door.'
It was not long before Roland's car was pulling away from the kerb. Kevin stepped out from the shadows of the alleyway at the side of the house, watching the vehicle disappear into the darkness. He then turned his head the other way, furrowed his brow in thought, and started walking off in the opposite direction.
Kevin peered into the darkness of Halesworth Street and quickly saw what he was looking for: the unmistakable outline of an adolescent male figure hanging around outside the art café.
'Dude!' Kevin called out as he ran up. 'What're you doing here, man? Everyone's looking for you – they think you've run away!'
Oscar did not respond, but continued to do what he had been doing, staring through the window at the picture of Vigo's execution. Kevin grabbed him by the shoulder and turned him round; he recoiled slightly when he saw the trance-like expression on Oscar's face.
'Dude!' Kevin said again, more loudly this time.
'The scourge of Carpathia,' Oscar muttered in hollow tones. 'The sorrow of Moldavia.'
'Jeez, that painting really is haunted!' Kevin exclaimed in alarm. 'Come on, buddy – let's get you out of here.'
'I sat on a throne of blood,' Oscar said distantly.
Frowning determinedly, Kevin hoisted Oscar's left arm over his own shoulders. He then moved his right arm around Oscar's back and grasped him firmly, taking most of his weight.
'What was will be, what is will be no more,' Oscar announced.
'Sure it will, dude,' said Kevin, as he began to set off along the street. 'We just need to get you the right kind of help.'
'Dude!' Kevin called out as he ran up. 'What're you doing here, man? Everyone's looking for you – they think you've run away!'
Oscar did not respond, but continued to do what he had been doing, staring through the window at the picture of Vigo's execution. Kevin grabbed him by the shoulder and turned him round; he recoiled slightly when he saw the trance-like expression on Oscar's face.
'Dude!' Kevin said again, more loudly this time.
'The scourge of Carpathia,' Oscar muttered in hollow tones. 'The sorrow of Moldavia.'
'Jeez, that painting really is haunted!' Kevin exclaimed in alarm. 'Come on, buddy – let's get you out of here.'
'I sat on a throne of blood,' Oscar said distantly.
Frowning determinedly, Kevin hoisted Oscar's left arm over his own shoulders. He then moved his right arm around Oscar's back and grasped him firmly, taking most of his weight.
'What was will be, what is will be no more,' Oscar announced.
'Sure it will, dude,' said Kevin, as he began to set off along the street. 'We just need to get you the right kind of help.'
As he approached, dragging his listless companion alongside, Kevin saw that the access door in the main entrance to the firehouse was open and an adult figure was silhouetted beyond.
'Dr Venkman!' Kevin called out.
The figure started visibly, then walked out onto the pavement.
'Who's there?' Peter called. 'Oscar, is that you?'
'Yeah, it's Oscar,' Kevin panted, 'with a friend.'
Peter's eyes widened in surprise as Kevin limped up to him and dumped Oscar into his arms. Kevin then proceeded to sink onto the ground and lean against the firehouse wall, breathing heavily.
'What on earth is going on?' Peter asked in bemusement.
'When I heard Oscar was missing, I just knew he'd gone back to the sandwich bar,' Kevin panted. 'I was right – he was just staring through the window at the picture, obviously in some kind of a trance. I practically had to carry him all the way here.'
'Oh, well... I'm sure glad you did,' said Peter. 'Thanks. Um... I'm sorry, kid, but who are you?'
'I'm Kevin, Eduardo's nephew.'
'Oh yeah, right. Oscar said he had a great time hanging out with you today.'
'Yeah?' said Kevin, smiling through his exhaustion. 'I had a great time hanging out with him too.'
'You'd better come inside and tell me about this picture,' said Peter. 'I'll make us all some cocoa. And I guess I'd better let everyone know that Oscar's turned up.'
'Do you think he's okay?' asked Kevin.
'I'm sure he will be when he's got some hot cocoa inside him,' said Peter. 'Come on, Kevin – let's go inside.'
'Dr Venkman!' Kevin called out.
The figure started visibly, then walked out onto the pavement.
'Who's there?' Peter called. 'Oscar, is that you?'
'Yeah, it's Oscar,' Kevin panted, 'with a friend.'
Peter's eyes widened in surprise as Kevin limped up to him and dumped Oscar into his arms. Kevin then proceeded to sink onto the ground and lean against the firehouse wall, breathing heavily.
'What on earth is going on?' Peter asked in bemusement.
'When I heard Oscar was missing, I just knew he'd gone back to the sandwich bar,' Kevin panted. 'I was right – he was just staring through the window at the picture, obviously in some kind of a trance. I practically had to carry him all the way here.'
'Oh, well... I'm sure glad you did,' said Peter. 'Thanks. Um... I'm sorry, kid, but who are you?'
'I'm Kevin, Eduardo's nephew.'
'Oh yeah, right. Oscar said he had a great time hanging out with you today.'
'Yeah?' said Kevin, smiling through his exhaustion. 'I had a great time hanging out with him too.'
'You'd better come inside and tell me about this picture,' said Peter. 'I'll make us all some cocoa. And I guess I'd better let everyone know that Oscar's turned up.'
'Do you think he's okay?' asked Kevin.
'I'm sure he will be when he's got some hot cocoa inside him,' said Peter. 'Come on, Kevin – let's go inside.'
Kevin and Oscar were sitting opposite each other at the kitchen table, drinking cocoa. Suddenly seeming to snap out of his reverie, Oscar looked up from his mug and stared at Kevin.
'You okay, man?' asked Kevin.
'Yeah, I think so,' said Oscar. 'Jeez, that picture... You brought me back here, didn't you? You saved me.'
'Well, I wouldn't say that,' Kevin said awkwardly. 'I just... I helped you.'
'How did you know I'd be at the sandwich bar?'
'Because of how you acted when we had lunch.'
Oscar thought for a few seconds before fixing Kevin with a searching expression.
'Why did you come after me?' he asked. 'I mean, why didn't you just tell my parents where you thought I'd be?'
'Well, you know,' Kevin shrugged, looking down into his mug. 'I guess because I wanted to see for myself... and because I wanted to help you myself.'
Oscar beamed at Kevin. 'Thanks, dude,' he said. 'You just keep on surprising me today.'
'When did I surprise you before?' Kevin asked.
'Well, before we met, I thought our play date was gonna suck,' said Oscar, 'but we had the best time, didn't we?'
'Yeah, we did,' said Kevin. 'But I've really got to warn you about that picture, dude. It is haunted, if you ask me. You should stay away from it.'
'What makes you think I won't... or I can't?' said Oscar.
'Because I know what it's like when a ghost gets inside your head,' said Kevin, 'and believe me, man, that is not a situation you want to be in!'
'Nothing's inside my head,' Oscar shrugged. 'I'm in control, dude.'
'That's what I thought, bro,' said Kevin, 'but take a look at this!'
Kevin pulled down the collar of his T-shirt and exposed his left shoulder. Oscar's mouth dropped open in response to what he saw there.
'How the heck did you get that, dude?' Oscar asked.
'I let a demon get inside my head and then she stole my strength, came out of my head and drank my blood,' Kevin explained. 'I know what I'm talking about.'
'Yeah, I guess you do,' said Oscar. 'Man, that's a big one. Do you think it'll scar?'
'Yeah, I'm sure it will,' said Kevin, sounding slightly uncomfortable for the first time during the exchange.
'That's okay, bro. I mean, don't worry about it,' Oscar hastily reassured him. 'Scars make you interesting, y'know?'
'You didn't already think I was interesting?' Kevin grinned.
'Yeah, I did,' said Oscar, 'but now I think you're even more interesting. And I won't forget what you said, or what you did for me tonight.'
Oscar held out his hand across the table in an upright position and Kevin grasped it firmly. After a few seconds, Peter entered the kitchen.
'What's this,' he said jovially, 'more arm-wrestling?'
'No, Dad,' said Oscar, 'not this time.'
'Everyone's on their way back to hear all about this picture of Vigo,' said Peter, 'so I hope you two are ready to tell your story again.'
'Of course,' said Kevin. 'If that picture really is haunted, I want to do whatever I can to help the Ghostbusters deal with it.'
'You've already done more than your fair share, Kevin,' said Peter, 'but something tells me that for the rest of us, there's a lot of work ahead.'
'You okay, man?' asked Kevin.
'Yeah, I think so,' said Oscar. 'Jeez, that picture... You brought me back here, didn't you? You saved me.'
'Well, I wouldn't say that,' Kevin said awkwardly. 'I just... I helped you.'
'How did you know I'd be at the sandwich bar?'
'Because of how you acted when we had lunch.'
Oscar thought for a few seconds before fixing Kevin with a searching expression.
'Why did you come after me?' he asked. 'I mean, why didn't you just tell my parents where you thought I'd be?'
'Well, you know,' Kevin shrugged, looking down into his mug. 'I guess because I wanted to see for myself... and because I wanted to help you myself.'
Oscar beamed at Kevin. 'Thanks, dude,' he said. 'You just keep on surprising me today.'
'When did I surprise you before?' Kevin asked.
'Well, before we met, I thought our play date was gonna suck,' said Oscar, 'but we had the best time, didn't we?'
'Yeah, we did,' said Kevin. 'But I've really got to warn you about that picture, dude. It is haunted, if you ask me. You should stay away from it.'
'What makes you think I won't... or I can't?' said Oscar.
'Because I know what it's like when a ghost gets inside your head,' said Kevin, 'and believe me, man, that is not a situation you want to be in!'
'Nothing's inside my head,' Oscar shrugged. 'I'm in control, dude.'
'That's what I thought, bro,' said Kevin, 'but take a look at this!'
Kevin pulled down the collar of his T-shirt and exposed his left shoulder. Oscar's mouth dropped open in response to what he saw there.
'How the heck did you get that, dude?' Oscar asked.
'I let a demon get inside my head and then she stole my strength, came out of my head and drank my blood,' Kevin explained. 'I know what I'm talking about.'
'Yeah, I guess you do,' said Oscar. 'Man, that's a big one. Do you think it'll scar?'
'Yeah, I'm sure it will,' said Kevin, sounding slightly uncomfortable for the first time during the exchange.
'That's okay, bro. I mean, don't worry about it,' Oscar hastily reassured him. 'Scars make you interesting, y'know?'
'You didn't already think I was interesting?' Kevin grinned.
'Yeah, I did,' said Oscar, 'but now I think you're even more interesting. And I won't forget what you said, or what you did for me tonight.'
Oscar held out his hand across the table in an upright position and Kevin grasped it firmly. After a few seconds, Peter entered the kitchen.
'What's this,' he said jovially, 'more arm-wrestling?'
'No, Dad,' said Oscar, 'not this time.'
'Everyone's on their way back to hear all about this picture of Vigo,' said Peter, 'so I hope you two are ready to tell your story again.'
'Of course,' said Kevin. 'If that picture really is haunted, I want to do whatever I can to help the Ghostbusters deal with it.'
'You've already done more than your fair share, Kevin,' said Peter, 'but something tells me that for the rest of us, there's a lot of work ahead.'
At the Halesworth Street Art Café, all the shutters had been pulled down and locked. The only source of light inside the building came from a circle of tall white candles that had been meticulously arranged on the floor in front of the portrait of Vigo's execution. Victor was kneeling in the centre of the circle, staring up in awe at the picture. As he watched, the lips on Vigo's severed head started to move.
'I, Vigo, the scourge of Carpathia,' the deep, ominous tones reverberated around the café, 'the sorrow of Moldavia, command you.'
Victor bowed his head in reverence and said, 'Command me, lord.'
'I, Vigo, the scourge of Carpathia,' the deep, ominous tones reverberated around the café, 'the sorrow of Moldavia, command you.'
Victor bowed his head in reverence and said, 'Command me, lord.'
