I pick a booth in the back away from nosey ears and gossipy tongues. Out of respect for my expected guest I hang my holster on the back of my seat. Lily brings over two glasses of whiskey. “Marshal,” she says, ”are you sure about this?”

“I need a failsafe,” I say.

“But, why… her?”

Sally arrives, cutting Lily short and sits with her holster on. To Lily I say, “Well, I certainly can’t ask this of you.” Lily frowns at this, then at Sally. Lily kisses me on my cheek and walks away.

Sally leers at me, ignoring her whiskey. “Ask what of her?”

I sip my whiskey. The ice clanks and settles. “I know we haven’t exactly gotten along. The whole me not being able to die thing rubs you the wrong way, I suppose…”

“No. You rub me the wrong way. You don’t take anything personal, do you? You may not be able to die but you still eat, drink, piss, and shit just like a man. You just happen to have power. And any man with power will eventually corrupt.”

The ice settles in my glass. I take another sip and set it down.

“All the better, I suppose, because I asked you here today to tell you how to kill me.”

Her lips twist into a sensual smile. I’ve received that smile from many women, usually right before they fuck me senseless. She raises her glass, ice clanks, then downs the whole of it.