The Perdition Score (Sandman Slim 8)

“Stark is the same way. Except for some ladies.”

I lean on the bar.

“Brigitte picks up bad habits fast. And she enjoys tormenting me.”

“Buck up, boy. That means she likes you. The respect of men is important, but women, in my experience, usually have a truer sense of a man’s character. They see through the veil of horseshit we build around ourselves. Pardon me again.”

“You don’t have to apologize, Jim,” says Candy. “You should hear Stark at home. One little annoyance and he’d make a pirate blush.”

“You must be a good woman to put up with the likes of him.”

“She is,” I say. “Better than I deserve.”

Candy does a theatrical eye roll. Says, “Don’t fish for compliments in front of family, dear.”

Bill laughs.

“As charming as this reunion is, will one of you explain to me what you’re doing in this godforsaken pig wallow?”

“We’re here to fix things, Bill. Or try to. There’s trouble back in the world and some of it comes from here. If I can stop what’s wrong in Hell, maybe it will help both of our worlds.”

“Will it get folks into Heaven?”

“That’s what I hope.”

Bill holds up the newspaper he was reading when we came in.

“You see this? I’ve been reading this damned thing over and over again for months. It’s a dismal pastime and I’m ready for a fresh venture. So, how can I help?”

“We need to find a man named Norris Quay. Ever heard of him?”

Bill thinks for a minute.

“Can’t say that I have. Are you saying this Norris feller is the source of this affliction?”

“No. That’s a bunch called Wormwood.”

“Haven’t heard of them either. Damn. I thought a man would hear every kind of secret running a saloon.”

“Quay isn’t the source of the trouble, but he’s the man in the center. If we can get to him, maybe we can shut the whole thing down.”

“Well, I’m game,” says Bill. “Where is the son of a bitch?”

“That’s the problem. We don’t know,” says Candy.

“That a bit constraining. Hell’s a big place to wander with no sure destination.”

A candle at the end of the bar gutters out. Bill takes a box of similar candles from under the bar and lights a replacement. Putting the box back, he says, “This is currently my sole and most prized possession. Some days a little light is all that keeps a body’s spirits up.”

I take out the Maledictions and offer one to Bill.

“Don’t mind if I do,” he says.

He lights us up with one of the candles and takes a long puff.

“Like smoking skunkweed. But if skunkweed is what you have, be grateful for it.”

Candy looks at us. “You’re both going to get cancer from those things.”