Science Fiction and Fantasy
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Fleming: Yeah, Bloodlist, the one where I solved my own murder. He was there all right. We got off to a rocky start when he stole my home earth, but what the hell, it all worked out in the end.
Elrod: What does he think of working with a vampire?
Fleming: You'll have to ask him. Why don't you ask me what it's like working with a human? Is there some kind of vampire bias going on here? I have a condition. Would you ask him what it was like to work with a diabetic if I had diabetes?
Elrod: Yes. I would.
Fleming: Oh. Uh. Okay.
Elrod: So what is it like working with Charles Escott? I understand he's a bit quirky.
Fleming: Quirky is an understatement, lady. He drives me nuts. It's bad enough he uses fifty words when ten will do, but he has absolutely no fear—especially when he should. I'm always having to haul him out of trouble.
Elrod: Always?
Fleming: I know, I should talk. I'll put it this way, we look out for each other, but neither of us makes it easy for the other guy. Then there's his pal, Shoe—
Elrod: That would be Shoe Coldfield who runs the largest African-American gang in what was then called Chicago's "Bronze Belt?"
Fleming: Big guy. Hates surprises. Has a right cross you don't ever wanna meet. He and Escott go way back. They used to be in a Canadian acting troupe—
Elrod: You're kidding!
Fleming: I've seen the posters. Escott's still got some of the company's theatrical gear, but don't talk to him about it. He's got bad memories from that time. I don't like to pry.
Elrod: The heck you don't! What about all that stuff in Dark Sleep?
Fleming: Okay, you got me on that, but go easy on the guy.
Elrod: I will. He's pretty hot. Lots of my friends think he's hotter than you.
Fleming: It's that English accent of his, isn't it? Isn't it?
Elrod: Yeah, it's the accent. I could listen to him read the phone book.
Fleming: Be careful what you wish for, lady. I've heard him, and it don't do a thing for me. Probably just as well.
Elrod: Um...okay. Now as for the other member of your gang—
Fleming: Gang?
Elrod: Gordy Weems, known as "Northside Gordy." He's got a bit of a reputation as a member of Chicago's underworld.
Fleming: Which is like saying Capone ran a little distribution business for hooch.
Elrod: You've an odd sort of friendship with Gordy, though.
Fleming: Don't make it sound like that! People will get the wrong idea! But, yeah, Gordy and I have teamed up on a case. He knows everything that goes on in Chicago, and sometimes I help him convince a mug to play nice in the sandbox. Well, I used to, anyway. Not so much these days—uh—nights.
Elrod: Oh, yeah? What do you mean?
Fleming: Nah, I'm not going into that. You'd call it a spoiler. Has to do with what you'd call my "powers."
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