The Getaway God (Sandman Slim 6)

“Is Fairuza all right?”

“I don’t know.”

“What do you know?”

“Go downstairs and watch your movie. There’s nothing you can do.”

He comes over, looking like a tin toy John Wayne.

“Where is she?”

“LAPD and the feds are rounding up Lurkers.”

“What’s going to happen to her?”

“I don’t know. They still have Candy at Vigil headquarters, so maybe they’re just holding everyone until Washington decides what it wants.”

“You’re not going to let them hurt her, are you?”

“I don’t even know where she is.”

He takes a beer from the fridge, but he doesn’t open it. Just stands there holding it.

“I have some of her stuff. We could do a locator spell.”

I nod and smoke.

“Tell you what. You do it and tell me what you find. I’ll see what I can do after that.”

“Can’t you help? You’re the better magician.”

“Am I? I’m not feeling so good hoodoo-­wise right now.”

“Mason’s really getting to you, isn’t he?”

“No. I just can’t get these soup stains out of the drapes.”

“You want some advice?”

“Not even a little.”

“Kill him. He beat you once and sent you to Hell. He’s going to beat you again and it’ll be worse for everyone this time.”

“I can’t. He has information I need.”

“He’ll never give it to you.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you doing it?”

“ ’Cause these are my last cigarettes and there’s nothing good on TV.”

Kasabian shakes his head and looks out the window.

“Don’t talk like that. Even if you’re kidding.”

“I told you. I’m not in a comforting mood right now.”