by J. L. Murray
"Peachy," I said. "As if his head wasn’t big enough before."
"These are for you two," said Sam. He placed two yellow packages on the table. One was the size of the package I’d gotten the first day on the job. The other was quite a lot larger. He slid the small one toward Gage and the big one towards me. "Your payment," he said.
"Why’s hers bigger?" said Gage.
"She asked for more," said Sam.
"What about me?" said Eli. "I helped too."
"And I am grateful," said Sam. "However, I did not employ you. We did not have an agreement. Your participation was your own choice."
Gage nodded to the pool table. "Fancy a game, Sam?"
"I have to warn you," said Sam. "I’ve been known to bring bigger men than you to tears at the billiards table."
"I’ll take my chances," said Gage.
Eli and I were alone. "Hey," I said. "Whatever happened with Shipp?"
Eli frowned. "He’s in the wind. I really thought I knew that guy."
"What will happen to him when they find him?"
Eli shrugged. "Hard to say. Depends on the new commissioner. The Department takes it pretty seriously when cops take bribes. On the other hand, it’s my word against his."
"Isn’t your word pretty solid?" I said. "Like you said, you’re a Boy Scout."
"Ron’s putting me on administrative leave for a while," said Eli. "Department’s going to suspect something funny if I bring down my partner. Usually when cops take leave it’s because they go batshit on the job, or they get shot. I didn’t get shot."
"You nearly had your guts torn out," I said. "Doesn’t that count for something?"
"No doctor can corroborate that. Besides, I need a break from the job."
"You?" I said. "Why?"
"I have a few things to figure out. And these aren’t getting any smaller." Eli pushed his hair back to reveal two bone-colored points curving up from his skull. They sat just below the top of Eli’s curly mop of hair.
"Jesus," I said. "How’d they get so big?"
"No idea," said Eli. "I don’t know what I’m going to do, Niki. Someone at the Department is going to find out what I am sooner or later." He shook his head. "I need some time to figure things out."
I took his hand under the table and he grasped it. "You’re not going to do it alone," I said. "I’m not going anywhere."
Eli smiled at me. "You sure about that? No more lies?"
"No more lies," I said. I thought for a moment. "Well, no more big lies, anyway. A girl’s gotta have her secrets."
"Peachy," said Eli.
Sam and Gage came back to the table, Sam looking irritated.
"Back so soon?" I said.
"Sam was a little rustier than he anticipated," said Gage.
"I may be a bit out of practice," said Sam, as if it pained him to say it.
I laughed. "So you got your ass kicked by Bobby here," I said.
Sam sighed. "I will live to fight another day. That means a rematch, Mr. Gage."
Janis came tottering over with more drinks, looking at me disdainfully as she put my whiskey in front of me. She gave Eli his beer with a wink. "Here you go, handsome," she said.
"Er, thanks," said Eli, his cheeks reddening.
"Sam," I said. "Can I talk to you?"
We went to another booth, ignoring the curious glances of Gage and Eli.
"How can I help you, Niki?" he said.
"I don’t get it," I said.
"What don’t you get? " he said. He sipped his drink.
"Why didn’t you just stop Abaddon yourself? It would have been easy for you. You have a lot of power, I know you do. Why’d you waste your money on us?"
Sam smiled. "As they say in the films, you’re on to me. I admit that I had ulterior motives in the matter. Also, I really am quite busy."
"What could your motives possibly have been to set two inexperienced humans on a powerful demon lord? No one’s that busy."
"I am," said Sam. "There are some things going on. You may have noticed some of them even in your world. With your ability, have you noticed more wayward spirits lately?"
"Yeah, I have," I said, surprised. "I thought my ability was getting stronger."
"You are quite talented, but no, I’m afraid it’s political."
"Political?" I said. "Hell has politics?"
"Oh, yes," said Sam. "And so does the other place. I guess you could say it’s sort of my hometown."
"What, Heaven?" I said.
"Mmm, yes," said Sam. "They’re having something of a disagreement right now. But we can talk about that at a later time. I have a confession to make."
"What’s that?"
"I was testing you," he said. "You passed, if you’d like to know." He sat back in his seat, looking satisfied.
"Testing me?"
"Your powers of interrogation are staggering, Miss Slobodian. Yes. I need someone on my side. There may be a struggle for power in the future, and I need – how do you say it? -- oh, yes. Backup. Can you back me up, Niki?"
I stared at him for a long moment. "People died,"I said. "A lot of people. The world almost got overrun by imprisoned creatures from Hell. And you were testing me?"
"It seems a bit crass when you put it like that," said Sam. "But yes."
"Did my father even release those things?"
"Oh, most assuredly. He is a very powerful man, your father. That part was the truth. You did quite well, though. I’m convinced you are the right person for the job."
"Take your job," I said, "and shove it up your ass. I’m taking the money, though."
I grabbed the yellow package and slid out of the booth.
"What if you couldn’t refuse?" said Sam. "What if I had something you wanted more than anything?"
"I don’t need any more money," I said, walking away.
"What if I told you I can heal your godmother?"
I stopped and turned to stare at him. He smiled, knowing he’d won already. I sighed. "You’re a real bastard, you know that?"
He smiled. "I’ve been called worse. We’ll be in touch."
"Peachy."
For more about J.L. Murray, visit the author page.
