The Perdition Score (Sandman Slim 8)

“He runs my video store,” I say.

“Our video store,” he says.

“It’s mine because you’re technically dead.”

“So are you.”

“No. I’m just legally dead. Big difference.”

Kasabian shrugs.

“Maybe it’s really Chihiro’s store.”

“I can live with that.”

“I never quite imagined you as a shopkeeper, Stark,” says Marilyne.

“She’s being polite,” says Brigitte. “I told her all about you. The slightly tarnished white knight.”

“The schmuck who kills schmucks,” Kasabian says.

I glance at the bar. This is more talk about me than I like around strangers, even friends of Brigitte.

“I don’t do much of that these days. I’m just the monster who falls asleep at meetings.”

“Meetings?” says Marilyne. “From what Brigitte told me, I find that hard to believe. What kind of meetings?”

I glance at Brigitte.

“It’s all right, James. She’s not Sub Rosa, but she knows all about your world.”

“In school, my best friend and her family were Sub Rosa,” Marilyne says.

I try to get my brain around that for a second.

“You aren’t Sub Rosa, but you went to a Sub Rosa school?”

“No. In France, Sub Rosa children go to ordinary school like the rest of us. It’s not until collège that they’re separated from the other children.”

“It keeps them from being too insulated,” says Brigitte. “Is that the right word?”

“Insular,” says Kasabian. “But it sounds good however you say it.”

“How very sweet of you.”

I can’t stand watching Kasabian doing Cary Grant, so I say, “I need a drink. Anyone else need one?”

“I’m fine,” says Brigitte.

“No, thank you,” says Marilyne.

“Why don’t you fetch me something frosty, Jimmy?” says Kasabian. “I’ll keep the ladies company.”

I head to the bar to keep from shooting him.

Carlos already has a glass of Aqua Regia ready for me. I thank him.

“Can I get a beer for Rin Tin Tin, too?”