An animal sound emanated from Molly’s throat and bubbled out through blood and saliva.

Theo stroked her hair out of her face. “I can’t fix the problem if you don’t tell me what it is, Molly. I can’t understand you with that guy’s leg in your mouth.”

“Stand back, Theo,” Mavis said. “I’m going to brain her.”

Theo waved Mavis away. The gray-haired man screamed even louder.

“Hey!” Theo shouted. “Pipe down. I’m trying to have a conversation here.”

The gray-haired man lowered his volume.

“Molly, look at me.”

Theo saw a blue eye look away from the leg and the bloodlust faded from it. He had her back. “That’s right, Molly. It’s me, Theo. Now what’s the problem?”

She spit out the man’s leg and turned to look at Theo. Mavis helped the man to a bar stool. “Get her out of here,” Mavis said. “She’s eighty-sixed. This time forever.”

Theo kept his eyes locked on Molly’s. “Are you okay?”

She nodded. Bloody drool was running down her chin. Theo grabbed a bar napkin and wiped it away, careful to keep his fingers away from her mouth.

“I’m going to help you up now and we’re going to go outside and talk about this, okay?”

Molly nodded and Theo picked her up by the shoulders, set her on her feet, and steered her toward the door. He looked over his shoulder at the bitten man. “You okay? You need a doctor?”

“I didn’t do anything to her. I’ve never seen that woman before in my life. I just stopped in for a drink.”

Theo looked at Mavis for confirmation. “He hit on her,” Mavis said. “But that’s no excuse. A girl should appreciate the attention.” She turned and batted her spiderlike false eyelashes at the bitten man. “I could show you some appreciation, sweetie.”

The bitten man looked around in a panic. “No, I’m fine. No doctor. I’m just fine. My wife’s waiting for me.”