I say, “The stuff you do with Netzach, it has to do with black milk?”
She hesitates then says, “Yes.”
“They bring the raw stuff and you get them the refined product.”
“Yes.”
“How does it work?”
“I don’t know. Norris is very secretive about it. He promised to tell me all about it when I’m in Wormwood.”
Her eyes are steady but she doesn’t have sweat or a heartbeat for me to check. I go to Hesediel.
“What do you think? Is she telling the truth?”
“I think so.”
“Me too. Which stinks. I was hoping for more from her.”
“Mortals will believe many things if they think it will relieve their suffering, if even for a moment.”
“We just hate missing The Brady Bunch is all.”
Not a peep from Hesediel.
Tough crowd.
“Holly sounds stupid enough to hook up with Quay without even knowing what Wormwood is.”
Hesediel calls to Holly.
“Did you know the mortal Norris Quay when you were alive?”
“No. We met here. When things were getting bad. You know? He saved me.”
“Naturally.”
Bill and Candy come over. Bill keeps the Colt on her.
“If she’s not in Wormwood, we should let her go, right?” says Candy.
I shake my head.
“She’s not in Wormwood but she’s doing important work for them. And she’ll probably do even worse when she gets in.”
“Yeah, but she hasn’t done it yet. If Quay doesn’t show or does something stupid, I don’t want to kill her. She’s just scared and lost.”
“She’s in Hell. She did something to get here.”
“Still.”
I look at Candy and remember what a mess she was when Doc Kinski died. A bit lost and freaked out herself.
“We won’t kill her. But we can’t let her or Quay know that.”
Candy takes a breath.
“Thanks.”