Page 49 of Hollywood Dead (Sandman Slim 10)

“Let me see.”

I use my boot to push the trunk in her directi

on.

“Have fun.”

She shakes her head.

“No. You open it.”

“You think I put a bomb in there? Maybe snakes? Maybe a snake bomb?”

“I think I know how your brain works now and I believe that it’s deeply damaged by your time in Hell. Therefore, you open it.”

I look at Sinclair.

“Why don’t you do it?”

He just takes a pill from one of his collection of bottles.

“I have to agree with Eva. It would be better for everyone if you did it.”

I look around for the roaches.

“How are Roger and Sandra doing?”

“Sandra is fine,” says Sandoval. “Roger is in the hospital.”

“Poor guy. You know, I got tagged tonight, too. Shot twice in the chest. It really hurts.”

“I’ll weep for you later. Now, the trunk.”

I say, “Tough room,” and kick the trunk open.

They approach it with caution.

Sandoval says, “Put everything on my desk.”

“I’m not your fucking butler.”

“Just do it.”

I drag the trunk to her desk, sweep everything off it, and dump the remains of the ritual objects. They clatter out in a heap.

“It’s garbage,” says Sandoval.

I look at her.

“I told you there was some breakage.”

“What happened to it?”

“Remember when I said I got shot? That should have been a clue that they didn’t give this stuff up peacefully. There was a firefight, both bullets and hoodoo.”

She and Sinclair go to the desk and look things over.

“These are useless,” Sandoval says.