Page 55 of Hot Ghoul Summer

“But I scared him.”

“You told him to get out of the car. He did the opposite. He drove his car into the lake!” Wesley pours coffee.

If I weren’t so terrified and sort of in shock, I’d totally grill Gloria and Wesley about their supernatural-human marriage. Apparently, it can be done.

“He shot at you. Don’t you have a self-defense clause?” I whisper.

“I—”

“Ahem.”

The kitchen is suddenly blindingly bright.

“Raphael!” Sera and Toby cry.

I can’t see for shit. “The Ninja Turtle?” I demand, shielding my eyes.

“No! Our Shop Steward. Sir, I’m so, so sorry to bother you. I—”

“Save it, Reaper. I’ve had to look at so many interagency files for you this week. You’re on vacation. More than I’ve had to look at in the last century—while you’re supposed to be on break?” He clucks his tongue.

I finally clear the blazing white from my vision and I gasp.

Raphael looks like a Renaissance painting come to life, with curling dark hair, coppery-cocoa skin, and eyes that drill into your heart.

“Do I bow?” I ask.

No one laughs, but Raphael smiles. “That’s not necessary. Molly. You’re worried sick. I am here to bring you tidings of comfort and joy. Your husband and the father of your children will be spared.”

“My... Wait, are we talking about Toby?”

Raphael nods, pulls a scroll out of his sleeve, and nods again. “Yep. Fresh ink. Confirmed at 8:09 PM. You live. He lives. Be fruitful and multiply.”

“We should go,” Wesley says suddenly.

“They’re my ride.” Sera jumps up as well.

Toby’s looking at me, not at his departing guests. His eyes are shining. “She’s really mine?”

“Yes—but you are on a very hefty suspension, young man. Two weeks suspension from duty without pay, and you’ll be required to complete your Interactions with Non-Client Mortals certification over again. Furthermore, I will be requiring you to submit PRRRs after your next thirty reapings.”

“What’s a PRRR?” I whisper.

“Post-Reaping Reflection Report,” Raphael says sternly, but his eyes are twinkling.

“Th-that’s it?” Toby asks in a wavering voice.

“Well, you did not reap any souls other than that of Nicky Cross. You filed an ECNUR, and it’s been approved. Gary Garmin killed Theo Cross, whom you asked for assistance with.”

“But Gary Garmin... I scared him to death,” Toby admits.

I want to shout at him to shut up, but Toby is honorable and honest—unlike most of the men in my life. That’s why I love him.

“Please, Mr. Angel, sir, he did it for me. If you can... If you can, like, play back the tapes or something? You’ll see that Gary tried to give me to these bad guys to use as target practice and God knows what else. I mean. Uh. I mean, who knows what else.”

“Thank you. I have indeed ‘played back the tapes.’ Toby, you knowingly and willingly exposed your supernatural form to multiple humans in a non-reaping situation. You told Mr. Garmin to exit the vehicle. He did not comply and drove himself into the lake, where he perished.”

“But that might have been because of the brake line, and that was my fault.”

---