Hollywood Dead (Sandman Slim 10)

“The world is funny that way.”

“And if I still won’t tell you?”

“I’ll put you right back in the ditch.”

She looks at me.

“I think you would.”

“Test me.”

“Okay,” she whispers. “Ask your questions.”

I hold out a hand to her.

“Get off the floor. Let’s pretend we’re people for a minute.”

I help her up and we sit on the padded seats by the scoring table.

“You ready?” I say.

“You’ll really come for me if I help you?”

“I haven’t lied to you so far. Well, except for my name. But you’re lying to me about your name, so we’re even there.”

She rubs her hands together nervously.

“Ask your questions.”

“Let’s start with what’s going to happen. The way I heard it, you’re going to nuke L.A.”

That makes her chuckle.

“It’s a cleansing and consecration of the land. But, yes, the Los Angeles you know will be wiped away.”

“And you’ll do it with a ritual.”

She nods wearily.

“Yes.”

“Does it happen Saturday or Sunday?”

With her thumb, she draws a cross in the dust on the table. Wipes it away with her fist.

“You might want to fire whoever is getting you your information.”

“It’s not this weekend? Then when?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Friday?”

Finally, some good news. Wormwood wants me to clean up their mess by Sunday, but I’ll have it done tomorrow. Then Howard does his spook show and I’m home free. I could be talking to Candy by sometime Saturday.

“Where does it happen?”

“The Chapel of St. Alexis.”