“But now we have demon-girl’s friends!” said Sam. “The Shining Demon will bestow upon us everything we’ve ever wanted! We’ve got this, man!”

“We ain’t got spit,” said Bowsher. “Before you start making plans for what happens after, how about we figure out if she’d even be willing to exchange herself for the well-being of these good folk? What does everyone think of that little plan?”

The others glanced at each other, chastised.

“I guess that’d be okay,” said Demer.

“You guess?” Bowsher said, marching up to him. “Is that what you said, you little pissant? You guess?”

Demer wilted. “I mean, you know, it’s, it’s a … It’s what …”

Bowsher cupped his hand to his ear. “What’s what? What’s that? Speak up, asshole!”

“It’s a good plan,” Demer said quietly. “It’s what we should do.”

“You’re damn right,” Bowsher said abruptly, and turned to Kelly and the others. “I’m assuming one of you has her phone number?”

Kelly didn’t say anything. Her friends remained quiet.

Bowsher sighed. “We’re gonna start killing you. If you don’t cooperate, we’re gonna start killing you. We’ll start easy, though. We’ll kill the dog first.”

Two, tied up next to Warrick, growled.

“You stay the hell away from him,” Warrick said.

“And then we’ll kill you,” said Bowsher. “Then it’ll be the chick with the boobs. Then Handsome here. Red, you’re the last one we grabbed, so you’re the last one to go. Let’s see if you can hold out that long.”

“We don’t have her number,” Ronnie said. “We barely know her.”

“You’re lying,” said Sam. “What, you think we stumbled across you by accident? Ronnie? I been watching you. You’re tight with the demon girl.” His eyes flicked to Kelly. “This one, especially.”

Bowsher nodded. “I heard about that, yes, indeed I did. Sam here is something of a Peeping Tom, see, and he reported back to us some hot and steamy lesbian action as seen through a window, oh hell, yeah. I am all for that, by the way. Live and let die, that’s my motto. Sam, you okay with gay people?”

“Course,” said Sam. “I’m from New York.”

“I have no idea what that’s got to do with anything, but fair enough. What about you, Demer? Demer? Oh, for Christ’s sake, stop sulking and answer the goddamn question. Do you have a problem with the homosexual person?”

“No,” Demer mumbled.

“Well, thanks for sharing. See that, Red? We are three progressive individuals. Goulder, however, is not nearly so culturally advanced as the rest of us. Goulder, what is your stance on homosexuality?”

“It’s disgusting,” said Goulder. “But lesbians aren’t so bad.”