Meanwhile, after breakfast that morning, Terrence does in fact, sit down with his checkbook, and thinking about the injustice of censorship, runs through the numbers.

His bank account is lighter than hoped on account of the, uh, not doing much of his actual work, but he had savings to start with and the sizeable check from Aarons certainly isn't hurting. He writes out a hearty check for Oscar.

(Jing Yi has yet to acquire a dream journal, and just scribbles notes about a fish mosaic on a piece of scrap paper, before having the realisation that he is turning into Terrence.)

The appropriate place to meet seems to be Terrence and Jing Yi's apartment. Are there new signs of life here? Not all of these things recognizably belong to either of the boys.

I mean, maybe Jing Yi got really into sewing recently. Who's Sal to judge?

"Making something?" he asks as he settles in. Maybe William Jing finally properly told Terrence about certain extracurriculars. Or maybe they're just getting really lazy. "And did Terrence mention he's running off with me and Inaaya this Friday?"

"No?" He turns to Terrence. "Terrence, you cad, how could you?" he says jokingly.

"Oh, hello, Sal. - It's true. We're all moving to a small country village where nobody has ever died under mysterious circumstances. As a treat for ourselves."

"Sounds positively splendid. I assume Dr Aarons is paying for the expenses?"

"We're telling him Roby performed pagan rituals and human sacrifices there. It's a foolproof plan."

"The soundest I ever heard of."

"Perfect. Is there any way I can get in on this con?"

"Do you want to? The more the merrier." Wait, Jing Yi doesn't know about magic. This might be easier if he knew about magic. Terrence mentally sticks his foot in his mouth but - probably it's safer with more people anyway, whatever. He commits to what he said.

"Do you know anything about Clare Melford?"

"I've heard some things. It's very picturesque."

"It's come up a few times. Ben Best and Roby have gone there."

"It's the historical site of worship for an old British god, Terrence knows all about it. Roby did actually participate in a ritual there. Five people died afterwards but we don't actually know it was related." 

"...I have heard a bit about that. Checking out Roby's old stomping grounds may actually be useful."

"I will mention to Inaaya you're interested." They don't need to agree to anything just yet. "How go your lines of inquiry?"

"I've kind of hit a dead end with Roby, and have been chasing up after Parker. He does seem to have actually killed someone, just... in a basically impossible to prove way."

"I have been hearing some things about Parker but not much that can be repeated in court. There's a man who says he's over a century old and drains people's life force to fuel his youth. Take that as you will."

Terrence raises his eyebrows. Glances at Sal. Does Sal think that's possible????

"I mean, it's completely preposterous," he says in the tone of someone who has a) heard that before and b) at least somewhat believes it.

Terrence folds his paper closed. "We may be dealing with a Dracula scenario. Splendid. It would make being an antiques dealer easier, you must admit."

"I don't think Parker has the style to be a vampire."

"Do you think he has the style to be something else?"