III.

Lila walked casually into the police station and up to the front desk. The clerk – a large and unhappy looking man – blinked at her, his eyes never wavering from her face. She liked that as so few people could do it. "My wallet was stolen." She leaned across the desk to touch him. He slowly withdrew his unmarked hand.

Sgt. Connors was enamored with her. Lila knew the look. "Can you help me?" Her smile had genuine kindness in it. After all, he wasn't the appointment her Daddy wanted kept.

The Chief's heavy tread stopped just behind her. She didn't look around. He wouldn't recognize her in this form. Sgt. Connors shifted behind his desk. "Young lady's had her wallet lifted, Chief. Down at Wagner's, during the ruckus."

"In my office." The man grunted and motioned her to follow.

The Chief of Police looked across his desk at her. She noticed how impeccably pressed his clothing was, and relished how it would look when she was done with him. "So, little lady, your wallet was stolen." She smiled her best false smile and leaned forward, hand outstretched.

The Chief's breath was hard, and labored, as if he'd run a marathon. His black spot was internal, he wouldn't really know about it for hours; until the pain and the rot took him from within. But he shouldn't have tried to touch Lila; that was her job.

Lila tilted her head, first left, then right, a mock concern on her face. "Maybe you should see a doctor, or a nurse. You don't look well."

"I… what happened here?" He asked.

She smiled that dark smile again. "Nothing that shouldn't have, don't you agree? There's nothing to tell anyone, is there?"

He nodded his head, agreeing, but not wanting to. Before she left his office the man choked out a question. "Where, where do you come from?"

She didn't smile this time. "I'm here for the little girl in the blue dress."

He frowned, pressing his hand to his stomach as if he had bad heartburn. "But, she's dead," he said.

Her smile was a slit promising horrors to come. "I know." And she left him.

Someone in the police station lobby was whispering, "That Reverend's wife… they're saying she just lit up, like a firecracker!"

Sgt. Connors turned to see Lila standing at the desk. "Sorry, uh, there's a fire at the end of town. I, I thought the Chief was talking to you."

Her smile touched her eyes this time. "He's done."