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The Dakota Building stood on West 72nd Street on the
western edge of the park. It was a strange, gothic place,
full of contradictions. The price of even the smallest
condominium there must be high, Sue was sure, but the
windows had air-conditioners sticking out, just like
the poorest apartments in the worst neighborhood in
Brooklyn. Central air is quiet, window-mounted units
are not.
Furthermore there was subway station right under the
building. The steps emerged on the sidewalk, right next
to someone's window. Sue would never understand rich
people.
The Dakota was famous, used from time to time in movies.
The most famous part of all was the entrance, a short
corridor manned round the clock by a guard. This part
had been filmed the most. This was where a man was shot,
one cold, heartbreaking December evening. This was where
Lennon fell.
People still came to look but Sue never had until now.
Walking across the threshold she shuddered, as if a
cold wind had suddenly come in from the south. She kept
an eye out for Yoko.
Bill and Sophie had a spacious area, not quite on the
top floor. It was tastefully furnished. When they arrived
Bill was waiting, wearing a smoking jacket. Sue had
only ever seen them in movies.
"My dear," he said. "Welcome to our
humble home. Please come in. I'm so sorry that we embarrassed
you in front of a mortal. The error was all mine. We
thought you were 'in coven'. We wanted to make an entrance.
I'm afraid the theater is in our blood. Will you forgive
us?"
"OK," said Sue. Control of her day was unlikely
to come back anytime soon. There was no point in even
pretending. "Thanks for the gift."
"Did you like it? I'm so pleased."
"Mmm, yes. A lot."
"Come this way." He could tell that she was
a rough diamond but who cared? She sparkled anyway.
The entire haul was laid out proudly on display in
their main room. It was stunning. Sue remembered from
the newspaper clippings that 51 different items had
been stolen. They all seemed to be here, before her
eyes. To see them like this, not in a display cabinet,
was more moving than Sue could say. Suddenly she understood
why Bill and Sophie had given in to temptation.
"How did you get them?"
"Oh, you know. Just a simple translocation spell,"
said Bill, distractedly. "Come and look at the
statue. It's exquisite."
"You mean you just wiggled your nose and it all
came here?"
"Lord, she's so cute," thought Bill. "My
heart soars like an eagle."
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