‘[...] Didn’t you even look at the book?’

‘What book? You said something about a book on the phone.’

‘The Great Big Book of Death. I sent it to your shop. I told a woman at the counter that I was sending it, and I got delivery confirmation, so I know it got there.’

‘What woman — Lily? She’s not a woman, she’s a kid.’ [...]

‘Oh, shit. That explains why they’ve been showing up. You didn’t even know.’

‘Who? What? They?’

Mint Green Death sighed heavily. ‘I guess we’re going to be here awhile. I’m going to make some coffee. Do you want some?’

‘Sure, try to lull me into a false sense of security, then spring.’

‘You’re tied the fuck up, motherfucker, I don’t need to lull you into shit. You’ve been fucking with the fabric of human existence and someone needed to shut your ass down.’

‘Oh, sure, go black on me. Play the ethnic card.’

Mint Green climbed to his feet and headed toward the door to the shop. ‘You want cream?’

‘And two sugars, please,’ Charlie said.