The Getaway God (Sandman Slim 6)

“Like hell you do. Doc Kinski took you out of the killing life so something just like this wouldn’t happen.”

“Fuck Doc too.”

That’s new. I’ve never heard her talk that way about Kinski.

“You can’t run around taking down random ­people and you know it.”

She flicks the bars with one of her broken nails.

“Listen to you. All you do is kill, but no one else is allowed or you won’t feel special anymore.”

“I don’t kill random civilians in the street.”

“No. You kill other creeps no one cares about. I’ll have to remember that for next time.”

She smiles and tugs at the net. Julie comes closer to the cell, ready to pull her gun.

“You always did think you were better than me, didn’t you?” says Candy. “I was your pet monster. Something you could take home and feed and fuck so you could show your friends the wild girl you tamed.”

“If you really think that, why are we even talking?”

Candy goes over and sits on the cot.

“Go and rescue someone, hero. I don’t need you condescending to me anymore.”

She stretches out and rolls over so she’s facing the wall. I wait a minute to see if she’s going to say anything, wanting to say something else myself, but having no idea what.

“Come on,” says Julie, and leads me to the jailhouse door.

Before we go out I turn around.

“You might have gone crazy, but I didn’t. I’m going to figure a way out of this.”

From the cell I hear, “Go away, please. Just go away.”

Outside, Julie says, “She’s been like that since we brought her in.”

“Yeah.” Then, “Sorry about yelling at you. Thanks for what you did for Candy.”

“You’re welcome. See how easy it is to be nice?”

“I’m always nice. It just comes out funny sometimes.”

“Most of the time.”

“I know.”

Julie leads me to the break room. I spot Vidocq, nursing a cup of tea.

“What are you doing here?”

“Marshal Sola called me when Candy was arrested. She thought you might need someone to talk to.”

“I need someone to punch.”

His eyes go to my knuckles.

“It looks like you already found that.”