In A Beer World, It Was A Bourbon Kind of Day - Chapter 2

To say I dislike Vinnie is to do a disservice to the word dislike. Hate implies something about the weasel I once liked. Let's call Vinnie the itch you can't scratch fast enough to go away, a Terminal Itch.

I've worked cold cases before, usually handcrafted imperial stouts. A little PI humor, but I do enjoy a double imperial stout at the end of a long day that doesn't require bourbon to unwind.

This was the opposite of a cold case. This is a hot case like the center of the sun kind of hot. Vinnie's dame was missing. Normally we would applaud such an event given the weasel that is Vinnie, but when he mentioned a sulfur odor and Betty had aced a succubus in our quiet little bar that clinched it.

Big Mike had to go do whatever Big Mike does at his 9-5 with the Feds. Dwa, well you try to convince a dwarf to do anything they will argue with you even when they want to do it, stayed at the pub "sipping" the golden ale he found so delicious.

All this is how I was walking into Vinnie's penthouse looking at the scorched circle in the living room with Betty. After seeing the speed and the skill with which she handled her Brockton, I was more than happy she decided to come along.

My happiness was not related to the spark at the pub or that she was very easy to look at, this was purely business. At least that's what I continued to try to convince myself.

The living room had a view of the city that puts life in a different perspective looking down over the city via 270 degree floor to ceiling windows. The windows would slide open at the touch of a lever opening out on to the sprawling patio that was larger than my office.

A wisp of sulfur was still lingering which given a few days had passed it is hard to believe Vinnie thought she had gone out for something to clean up the circle, but then Vinnie's a weasel and critical thinking isn't in his DNA.

Definitely a demonic appearance.

Betty nodded.

I liked her, a classy lady, good with a piece and a person of few words. Was the Universe toying with me again? Shaking my head, I focused back on the circle.

The question is, did this demonic appearance mean Vinnie's dame is dead like the poor "mate" to the succubus back at the pub or was this a snatch and run?

"What do you think?"

Her eyes were smoldering as she wrinkled her brow before answering.

"Snatch and grab. If this was a hit there would be a bigger mess with blood and body parts all over the penthouse. Demons are not tidy when performing a hit."

"So why was she snatched? What interest does the demonic realm have with Vincento di Weasel? Demons only snatch if killing won't work."

We left Vinnie's penthouse to visit the Doc. Doc was the only person who could answer the questions about a Demonic Snatch and Grab. Doc is an unusual individual.

****

"Sam!" Doc was coming out of the back as we entered his shop.

"Who's the gorgeous lady with you Sam? She is not an escort is she?"

Once again I am not sure how Betty got her gun into her hand and pointed at Doc's forehead without me having time to grunt a reply to Doc's unfortunate remark.

"I'll explain this once, and say it slowly so you can follow. I am not anyone's escort and if you make that mistake again you will end up like the succubus who crashed my pub last night!"

Doc laughed. A full hearted belly laugh. His eyes took a new look at Betty and recalculated he would not survive the next mistake.

"My apologies to you my lady. I meant no disrespect to you, but you are hanging out with Sam who does not have the most sterling reputation when it comes to the company he keeps."

"Noted. But the promise still stands so walk and talk with care in the future.... Doc."

"Doc, this is Betty. Betty this is Doc. He is a self-titled Doc, but he is the most knowledgeable person on the subject of Demonic life."

"What can I help you with Sam?"

"When was the last time a succubus showed up where she allowed herself to be seen?"

"It's gotta be years. Maybe back to the last demonic wars which spilled over into our realm. Why?"

"What about a demonic snatch and grab?"

"You had a snatch and grab? The demons do not like to snatch and grab, preferring to snatch and eat. Sam what's going on?"

"I was hoping you would help Doc. The other night at the pub, we had succubus start to feed in our midst. Then later Vinnie comes in asking for help to find his Dame who went missing. He thought she ran away. Then he mentioned the scorched circle and the odor of sulfur."

"Vinnie ain't that stupid. I think he isn't telling you everything. He knows she didn't runaway."

"I figured as much. But what do these two events have in common or do they?"

"Are you sure it was snatch and grab Sam?"

Betty's hand was only a whisper yet the Brockton was out pointing at Doc.

"Yes I am sure Mr Doc. Sam why are we here?"

"Easy Missy. Just trying to focus on the facts, so I can help."

Betty gives Doc a hard stare while sliding her piece back into the holster.

"Doc, we're sure. Public succubus and a demonic snatch and grab are not good signs. Who would authorize this?

"The only demon with the power to authorize both of these is Skrog."

"Skrog?"

Betty was faster in saying this. It seems there is nothing I can do that she cannot do faster.

"Skrog is not your low level demon, he has a plan or rather an end game in mind. If Skrog is involved, this is huge. Skrog would never sacrifice a succubus, even if the succubus needed to be punished, without a plan."

Making a mental note to myself, this was going to be another bourbon day.

"So Skrog is up to something. Vinnie isn't telling the truth. And we have a Demonic Retribution on tap. What else could happen?"

"Wait a minute Sammy, you have a Demonic Retribution after you? How did you get involved in this?"

"The succubus was dining on her date at the pub and Betty ended the succubus existence on this plane"

"So Betty and you are marked by the Demonic Hit Squad?"

"Yes, as well as Big Mike and Dwa. Dwa is a dwarf that was in the pub at the time".

"Sam I think you are taking the definition of living in interesting times a little too far. There is a larger play at work here and it appears to be directed at you."

Skrog is interested in me. Vinnie is pleading with me to find his lady. Demonic Hit Squad is on the way.

Bourbon isn't the answer, but bourbon helps.

TA Shaw

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