A Dirty Job (Grim Reaper 1)

"I don't want anything to do with those bitches with the claws," Minty said.

"True dat," Charlie said. "I had a thing with one of them. "

"No. "

"Yeah, she got all up in my grille and shit - had to cut da ho loose. "

"Stop that. "

"Sorry. Anyway, I've got to go back. "

"You sure? I don't think they're dead. Doesn't look like they can be dead. "

"You could run over them again. By the way, how did you know where to find me?"

"After I heard about Anton's place burning, I tried to call him and got a disconnected message, so I went to your store. I talked to that little Goth girl you have working for you. She told me where you went. Talked to her for about ten minutes. She knows about me - I mean us? The Death Merchants?"

"Yes, I told her a long time ago. Wasn't she, uh, busy when you got there? With a guy, I mean. "

"No. She seeing anyone?"

"I thought you were gay?"

"I never said that. "

"Yeah, but you didn't go out of your way to deny it either. "

"Charlie, I run a music store in the Castro, I'd do more business as a gay Death Merchant than a straight shopkeeper. "

"Good point. I never thought of that. "

"Color me surprised. So, she seeing anyone?"

"She's half your age and I think she's a little twisted - sexually, I mean. "

"So is she seeing anyone?"

"She's like a little sister to me, Fresh. Don't you have employees like that?"

"Have you never met anyone who works in a record store? There's no greater repository of unjustified arrogance in the world. I'd poison my employees if I thought I could find replacements. "

"I don't think she's seeing anybody, but since the world is about to be taken over by the Forces of Darkness, you may not have time for dating. "

"I don't know. She seems like she might have an in with the Forces of Darkness. I like her, she's funny in a sort of macabre way, and she likes Miles. "

"Lily likes Miles Davis?"

"You don't know that about your little sister?"

Charlie threw his hands up. "Take her, use her, throw her away, I don't care, she's only part-time. You can date my daughter, too. She's going to be six and probably loves Coltrane for all I know. "

"Calm down, you're overreacting. "

"Just turn around and take me back to that Buddhist center. I've got to stop this thing. It's all on me, Fresh. I'm the Luminatus. "

"You are not. "

"I am," Charlie said.