The Laughing Corpse by Laurell K. Hamilton Page A

off without a word. He hadn’t asked to come up, and I hadn’t offered. I still didn’t know what to think about him, Dominga Salvador, and nonrotting zombies, complete with souls. I decided not to think. What I needed was good physical activity. As luck would have it, I had judo class this afternoon.
    I have a black belt, which sounds a lot more impressive than it really is. In the dojo with referees and rules, I do okay. Out in the real world where most bad guys outweigh me by a hundred pounds, I trust a gun.
    I was actually reaching for the doorknob when the bell chimed. I put the overstuffed gym bag by the door and used the little peephole. I always had to stand on tiptoe to see out of it.
    The distorted image was blond, fair-eyed, and barely familiar. It was Tommy, Harold Gaynor’s muscle-bound bodyguard. This day was just getting better and better.
    I don’t usually take a gun to judo class. It’s in the afternoon. In the summer that means daylight. The really dangerous stuff doesn’t come out until after dark. I untucked the red polo shirt I was wearing and clipped my inter-pants holster back in place. The pocket-size 9mm dug in just a little. If I had known I was going to need it, I would have worn looser jeans.
    The doorbell rang again. I hadn’t called out to let him know I wasin here. He didn’t seem discouraged. He rang the doorbell a third time, leaning on it.
    I took a deep breath and opened the door. I looked up into Tommy’s pale blue eyes. They were still empty, dead. A perfect blankness. Were you born with a stare like that, or did you have to practice?
    â€œWhat do you want?” I asked.
    His lips twitched. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”
    â€œI don’t think so.”
    He shrugged massive shoulders. I could see the straps of his shoulder holster imprinted on his suit jacket. He needed a better tailor.
    A door opened to my left. A woman came out with a toddler in her arms. She locked the door before turning and seeing us. “Oh, hi.” She smiled brightly.
    â€œHello,” I said.
    Tommy nodded.
    The woman turned and walked towards the stairs. She was murmuring something nonsensical and high-pitched to the toddler.
    Tommy looked back at me. “You really want to do this in the hallway?”
    â€œWhat are we doing?”
    â€œBusiness. Money.”
    I looked at his face, and it told me nothing. The only comfort I had was that if Tommy meant to do me harm he probably wouldn’t have come to my apartment to do it. Probably.
    I stepped back, holding the door very wide. I stayed out of arm’s reach as he walked into my apartment. He looked around. “Nice, clean.”
    â€œCleaning service,” I said. “Talk to me about business, Tommy. I’ve got an appointment.”
    He glanced at the gym bag by the door. “Work or pleasure?” he asked.
    â€œNone of your business,” I said.
    Again that bare twist of lips. I realized it was his version of a smile. “Down in the car I got a case full of money. A million five, half now, half after you raise the zombie.”
    I shook my head. “I gave Gaynor my answer.”
    â€œBut that was in front of your boss. This is just you and me. No one’ll know if you take it. No one.”
    â€œI didn’t say no because there were witnesses. I said no because I don’t do human sacrifice.” I could feel myself smiling. This was ridiculous. I thought about Manny then. Alright, maybe it wasn’t ridiculous. But I wasn’t doing it.
    â€œEveryone has their price, Anita. Name it. We can meet it.”
    He had never once mentioned Gaynor’s name. Only I had. He was being so bloody careful, too careful. “I don’t have a price, Tommy-boy. Go back to Mr. Harold Gaynor and tell him that.”
    His face clouded up then. A wrinkling between his eyes. “I don’t know that name.”
    â€œOh, give me a break. I’m