Kill the Dead (Sandman Slim 2)

“Why?”

“They were ambitious and they had the guts to do something about it. Europe was lousy with ancient Sub Rosa families who’d consolidated power centuries before. If you wanted to advance, the only way to do it was create your own dynasty and the only way to do that was to go very far away and start from nothing.”

“Like the Springheels.”

“Exactly. They were the first. They came a very long way and gave up virtually everything to get here.”

“I guess we won’t be seeing any of them tonight.”

“Why not?”

“Damn. I know something you don’t. Do I get a prize?”

“Be happy with your box.”

“The reason why you won’t see any Springheels is that the last of them, little Enoch, died a couple of days back.”

“How?”

“There was a severe chewing accident. The guy was playing around with eaters.”

Lucifer shakes his head and tosses his Malediction into the water.

“That family fell apart and just kept on falling. What a perfect way for the last of them to go.”

“That’s where I was going when I left you at the hotel. I met Wells at the Springheel place to help suss out what happened there.”

“Do you do a lot of magical forensics for the Vigil? Or was it a Homeland Security matter?”

“I don’t know if there’s any difference to Wells. And it was the first time.”

“And you’re sure it was eaters?”

“All the signs were there.”

“Good for you. Congratulations on your new job. I didn’t know you were such an expert on demons.”

“I’m not, but once I started looking, it seemed pretty obvious.”

“Did Wells agree?”

“I think so. It’s hard to tell with him. And his crew were everywhere. It was goddamn Woodstock at five hundred decibels in there. I could hardly think.”

“Sounds like a hard way to work.”

“It was a pain in the ass.”

“Interesting that he’d call you in just to have you working in such terrible circumstances.”

“That’s Wells. It was probably a test. Like he was hazing me.”

“Or distracting you.”

“What?”

“It’s what I’d do if I didn’t want someone to find something. I’d call in someone new and then make it impossible for them to do their job. They’d be flattered I’d asked them and too embarrassed to say anything when they didn’t perform well.”

“Why would Wells do that?”