“Wesley has been in my employ for over thirty years,” said Jesper. “I offered him refuge when nobody else would. I forgave him his sins and provided him with a home, a job … a purpose.”

“Yeah?” said Milo, turning his gun on the burned man. “How about a casket?”

The burned man stopped.

“Wesley has been a loyal associate ever since,” Jesper continued. “But, every so often, he is afforded the chance to return to his old ways, and he takes these opportunities with some relish, let me tell you. Perhaps you’ve heard of him? Wesley Sterling?”

“My memory ain’t what it used to be,” said Milo.

“No matter,” Jesper said. “You’ve probably heard of his other name, the name he’s known by in certain – darker – circles. Wesley Sterling, the Nightmare Man.”

Chapter 36

RONNIE DROVE, AND LINDA sat up beside him. Austin was seated behind them and he was telling them about the town and what a messed-up town it was. Kelly sat on the cushions and scratched Two’s belly. She raised her eyes, saw Warrick looking at her.

He crawled over to sit beside her. “You okay, Kel?” he asked in a quiet voice.

She smiled. “I’m fine.”

“Amber’s a nice chick.”

Kelly nodded. “I guess she is.”

“She’s really hot when she’s a demon.”

Kelly gave a non-committal shrug.

“Of course, it could be argued that she’s hot, anyway, you know, because of who she is as a person.” Warrick nodded. “It’s what’s inside that counts, really. That’s what I’ve always said.”

“When have you ever said that?”

“I say it all the time, but you’re never around when I do,” said Warrick.

“No? Where am I?”

“I think you’re on the toilet.”

“Every time?”

“Every single time I’ve said it.”

“Well, ain’t that something?”

“You know,” said Warrick, “you can talk to me about all this stuff if you want. And it doesn’t just have to be the fun stuff. Like the lesbian stuff. It can be about feelings, as well.”

“The feelings are lesbian, too, Warrick.”

“My point is, if you like someone and she doesn’t like you … well, first of all, she’s an idiot, because you’re awesome. But, second of all, maybe she needs to figure out some stuff of her own first before she can let herself realise how amazing you are.”

Kelly let her head rest on Warrick’s shoulder. “You’re a good guy, you know that?”

“I’m just super-sensitive about lesbian issues,” he said, and she laughed.

“We’re here,” said Ronnie as they pulled over. Kelly knelt and peered out at a row of houses surrounded by trees. She zeroed in on the house with the purple truck out front, where a middle-aged man was boarding up the windows.

“Austin, you stay here with Warrick and Two,” said Ronnie. “We’re not going to be long.”