Page 56 of Death Wish

“Like I said. Things didn’t go as planned in there.” I proceeded to tell him about my introduction to Marla and what I had witnessed in her store. The magical booby-trapped back room and her noon appointment showing up early. He was quiet until I finished, even driving slower than usual down the downtown streets.

“I don’t know a Mr. Johnson,” he said finally. “It has to be an alias.”

“That was my thought.”

“Well, at least we accomplished something. We know where our herb is and what we’re going into now. A magically protected room we can plan for.”

“I hope this plan is better than your first,” I said.

He grinned. “It will be. But nothing will happen until night. We’ll go back then, when Marla is gone and the shop is closed.”

“We’re breaking and entering now?”

“Do you want to save your friend?”

“That’s a stupid question,” I shot back.

He shrugged. “This is what we need to do to get the herb. The herb is for the cure, and the cure will save her.”

“I know. I get it. I know what has to be done, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to complain about it the entire way.”

He laughed. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

---