(xl.)

Knock. Knock, knock.

"Oh, what the fuck, man? What time is it?"

Knock, knock.

"Seriously, it's like..."

The only visible thing in the room was the digital clock.

"It's two in the fucking morning."

He slid out from under Muffy's arm.

Knock, knock.

"Yeah, yeah, hang on."
"Pierpont, who is it?"
"Uh, I dunno. Go back to sleep."

Knock.

He stumbled into the living room, to the door, and fumbled with the chain.

He opened the door.

"Pierpont, we gotta talk. It's important."
"Joe? Seriously, man, it's two in the morning. Can this wait?"
"No. No it can't."
"What is so important that you had to--"
"--It's Lory."

Pierpont rubbed his eyes.

"What about Lory?"

Joe sighed heavily.

"You got any hard liquor?"
"The hell kinda question is that? Of course I do--"
"Good--"
"Why?"

Joe pushed his way into the apartment, and closed the door.

"Listen, you remember how much Chet hated Lory?"
"Yeah..."
"And how much he wanted revenge?"
"What happened?"

There was an awkward silence.

Muffy stepped into the living room. "Pierpont, what's going on?"

Pierpont didn't even notice her. "Where is she now?"

Joe sighed heavily. "Ted dragged the charred remains of the Ice Cream Truck into the shop about two hours ago."
"...How badly charred?"
"There's a gaping hole in the back, like someone shot something at it. The top is just... gone. It was on fire for a while, I figure."

Pierpont walked over to the couch, and slumped down.

"You need a drink?"
"...no."
"Well, um, if it makes you feel any better, Fred was still in the freezer. He was mostly intact."
"It doesn't make me feel any better, no."
"Well..."
"What about the katana?"
"...no, actually. We didn't find it."

He slumped down further.

"Wait, what happened?" Muffy asked, quietly.



[chapter xl.]