Американские боги

           LizputShadow’spossessionsinabaginthebackroom.Chadsaidhe’dleaveShadowinOfficerBute’scapablehands.Lizlookedtiredandunimpressed.Chadleft.Thetelephonerang,andLiz—OfficerBute—answeredit."Okay,"shesaid."Okay.Noproblem.Okay.Noproblem.Okay."Sheputdownthephoneandmadeaface.

           "Problem?"askedShadow.

           "Yes.Notreally.Kinda.They’resendingsomeoneupfromMilwaukeetocollectyou.Okay,doyouhaveanyhistoryofmedicalproblems,diabetes,anythinglikethat?"

           "No,"saidShadow."Nothinglikethat.Whyisthataproblem?"

           "BecauseIgottokeepyouinherewithmeforthreehours,"shesaid."Andthecelloverthere"—shepointedtothecellbythedoor,withthesleepingmaninit—"that’soccupied.He’sonsuicidewatch.Ishouldn’tputyouinwithhim.Butit’snotworththetroubletosignyouintothecountyandthensignyououtagain."Sheshookherhead."Andyoudon’twanttogointhere"—shepointedtotheemptycellinwhichhe’dchangedhisclothes—"becausethecanisshot.Itstinksinthere,doesn’tit?""Yes.Itwasgross."

           "It’scommonhumanity,that’swhatitis.Thesoonerwegetintothenewfacilities,itcan’tbetoosoonforme.Oneofthewomenwehadinyesterdaymust’veflushedatamponaway.Itell’emnotto.Wegotbinsforthat.Theyclogthepipes.