The Perdition Score (Sandman Slim 8)

“Allegra. I don’t understand,” he says.

“No, you don’t and we’re going to have a serious talk about that when Miss Thing leaves.”

Liliane sets down the forceps she was holding. She says, “I’m sorry if I offended you in any way. That was never my intention.”

“I don’t care about your intentions. I’d just like you to leave.”

“But we’ve made discoveries together,” says Vidocq. “We know so much more about the black milk.”

“Afte

r she leaves,” says Allegra.

Liliane puts her hands together.

“Before I go, may I please show you all one thing?”

“No.”

“It has to do with James,” she says.

“What do you mean?” says Vidocq, looking surprised.

“Please. Let me show you.”

Vidocq looks at Allegra.

“Fine,” she says. “But then she goes.”

“Of course,” says Liliane. To me she says, “May I see the drill for a moment?”

I bring it over to her. She takes it and opens the mechanism.

“Stay here so you can see,” she tells me.

I look at her working. She puts the top on the vial of black milk and holds it up for me to see.

I nod.

“Now what?”

“Watch.”

She takes the vial and snaps it into place inside the drill.

“It’s a syringe?” says Vidocq.

“Yes,” she says. Then lunges at my arm.

I back up, too fast for her reach.

Vidocq shoves her against the counter.

“Liliane. What is this?”

“Shut up, you oaf,” she says, and stabs the syringe into his throat. “Die like you should have died in Paris.”

Vidocq collapses, his face turning blue. Allegra screams. While I’m looking at him Liliane comes at me again. I grab her arm and toss her across the room back toward the door. She lands close to Allegra. Liliane swings the syringe at her, but Allegra sees it coming and ducks. She grabs a scalpel off the counter and jams it full force into Liliane’s chest.