The Getaway God (Sandman Slim 6)

“I’ll bake an apple pie to pass the time.”

I kiss her and we step through the Room and out again into Max Overdrive.

Kasabian is eating microwave chow mein when he sees us. He blinks at Candy.

“I thought you were under arrest.”

“It wasn’t any fun. And I missed you,” she says.

I have to hold up her upright.

“Get over here,” I say.

“Is she safe?” he says.

“She’s fine. Don’t be such a jellyfish and get over here.”

He puts down the chow mein and comes over. I put her arm around his shoulders. Candy smiles at us.

“Do-­si-­do, boys.”

I aim them at the stairs.

“Take her to our room. She’ll show you where my guns are. If anyone but me tries to get in, shoot them.”

Kasabian says, “I don’t know anything about guns.”

“You point the hole at the bad guys,” says Candy.

“Just take her upstairs and stay with her.”

Candy blows me a kiss as I head out.

“Bring me some ice cream when you come back.”

“L.A. is closed, dear. There isn’t any ice cream.”

“Then bring me a kitten.”

“Kittens aren’t ice cream.”

“Oh. Then bring me some ice cream.”

“You got it.”

Kasabian steers her up the stairs.

BACK AT VIGIL headquarters things are settling down. Agents are cleaning up the wreckage from the earthquake. Rain still pours through the hole in the roof. It’s gotten worse since I was gone.

I head for the Shonin’s lab.

The door is off the hinges and a ­couple of agents stand guard. They stop me when I try to go in.

“Shonin. It’s Stark.”

“Is your belly too big to fit through the door, tubby? Come in here.”

The agents give me a look that tells me I won’t get on the group insurance plan anytime soon. I go into the lab.