14 THE GROTTO WASN’T as seedy as Valentino had expected. Located directly on San Diego Bay with a dock in back where boaters could put in to replenish their stock of refreshments, it had a faux stone façade, a bar and restaurant on the first level, a second story reserved (according to a sign) for private parties, and a rounded tunnel-like entrance with waterfalls on either side bathed in colored lights. Tawdry was the word that came to mind. Before they went in, Jason Stickley asked Valentino if he should leave his top hat behind and remove the padlock and chain hanging around his neck. Valentino considered, then shook his head. “The more attention we attract going inside, the better chance we have of coming back out.” The boy’s smile was sickly. Here in actual enemy territory, they both found it difficult to laugh their adventure off as melodrama. “You can stay in the car if you like,” Valentino said. “I wouldn’t go in myself if it weren’t for that damn film.”
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