Ballistic Kiss (Sandman Slim 11)

“Thanks. Want me to drop you at Vidocq’s so you can tell him a story?”

She throws away all the used gear and says, “What I want is for you to go home and rest. You’ve lost a lot of blood.”

She leans against the exam table.

&nb

sp; “With the amount of muscle damage you have I’m amazed you can move your hand at all.”

“You know me. I’m a fast healer.”

“Go home and call me tomorrow so I know you’re all right.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Call me,” she says firmly.

“I will.”

“And take a lorazepam when you get home.”

“Yes, doctor.”

Janet says, “Thanks for helping him.”

Allegra gives them a look. “Try not getting him killed again tonight.”

I hug Allegra and pull Janet into a shadow.

We come out in the flying saucer house.

Janet swivels around like they can’t believe they’re back again.

“Your shadow trick is freaking me out a little.”

“It’ll do that the first couple of times. Right now, I need to take those pills Allegra gave me.”

Janet pushes me down onto the sofa.

“You sit. I’ll get you some water.”

As they go to the kitchen I yell, “Bourbon. I want bourbon.”

“I’ll bring you both.”

Janet returns a minute later with two glasses, one filled to the top and the other filled barely an inch.

“Kind of stingy with the bourbon,” I say. “I can afford more.”

“Maybe you should have the water instead.”

“You hold on to that. It will be plan B.”

I swallow the pills with bourbon and lean my head back to rest on the sofa cushions. Janet sits down next to me.

“Feeling better?” they say.

“I hurt like hell.”