"Are you saying that they weren't our real parents, or just that they had a hidden past, or agenda?"
"This is truly delicious," he said, taking another helping of pasta.
"Glad you like it, but answer the question."
"I don't think they were our real parents. And, if Li Li is right, we aren't the only two. Not by a long shot. How'd you do Noonan?"
"In line in a coffee shop. I told you I was good with knives. How'd you do the Freak?"
"Double tapped him while he was at lunch."
"It's nice being able to talk about our work," she said, pushing a lettuce leaf through the salad dressing.
"Li said she doesn't know the full story of what's behind the curtain. She doesn't know the main players. Besides me, she's only put our tattoo one other man and woman. Both were teens when she did them."
"Do you want me to check with the artist who did mine?"
"Yes. We might get additional information."
She nodded. "I'll give him a call."
The cat was busy breaking in the new bed that he had only partially extracted from the bag.
"What?" she asked. "Why are you staring at me?"
"Li said that she used a special ink for my tattoos. They were delivered by a regular carrier, so she never saw anyone."
"Why would she get involved in something so clandestine?"
"She said it was a long time ago. I was just a kid who was sent to her."
"That doesn't make sense."
"She did try and talk me out of it," he said. "She told me I was too young, and maybe I should just get a tiger on my arm."
"My guy didn't do that," she said. "I was walking by his shop and he came outside and said he just drew a new design and wanted to try it out. He said it would be free of charge. I was under age, but he didn't seem to care, so I went inside with him."
"I asked Li why our parents were exactly the same and she said she thought they all were."
"How is that even possible?"
"I believe Li Li is immortal, or as close to it as anyone can get. I'm wondering if we are as well."
"Seriously?" she said, her eyes wide.
"Haven't there been times when you should have died?"
"Well, sure," she said, leaning back in her chair. "In our line of work that's bound to happen once in awhile, no matter how good we are."
He just sat there looking at her.
"Oh," she said. "I should have died, but I didn't, is that what you'e saying? What do you think would happen if we stopped doing our jobs?"
"I'd like to find out. How about you?"
"I have homemade pie for dessert."
"Ice cream?"
"Of course."
"Let's have it later," he said, holding out his hand.
The cat sighed and crawled inside the bag and dug through the toys.
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