Page 44 of Half Dead

“What’s going on?” I asked.

They turned toward me with matching guilty postures. “We decided to take on a project,” the ghost said. “I expected you to sleep longer. You were out late last night.”

I stretched my sore neck. “I would’ve liked to sleep even longer, but my body had other plans.” Kane and I had searched Birdie’s fire-ravaged house but turned up nothing useful. The computers had been smashed and then melted into a mangled mess. “Can I at least make coffee or is this a no-go zone?”

Claude skittered across the counter and over a pile of plates to reach the coffeepot.

“We anticipated your caffeine requirements and took the liberty of doing that already,” Nana Pratt said, as Claude poured the steaming black liquid into a mug.

“Thank you,” I said, plucking the mug from Claude’s gnarled fingers. When I turned around, Nana Pratt thrust the carton of creamer into my hand.

“Off you go,” she said. “The grownups are working.”

“What about food?” If I didn’t eat first thing in the morning, I felt nauseated.

Claude leaped over the plates with a croissant pinched between two of his fingers.

I accepted the offering and took a bite. “Where did you get this?” I hadn’t bought any pastries. As much as I loathed to admit it, nothing could compete with The Corporation’s donut.

“Claude says he found it outside the coffee shop. Someone must’ve dropped it.”

Cringing, I released the croissant from between my teeth and studied it. “How long was it on the ground?”

Claude signed,Five second rule.

“I don’t believe you,” I said, but I took another bite anyway. It was delicious.

“I’d warm it in the microwave for you, but we can’t get to it at the moment,” Nana Pratt said, shooing me out of the kitchen. “Now go make yourself useful somewhere else. Claude and I will take care of the kitchen.”

“Don’t make too many changes or I won’t be able to find anything.” It was challenging enough when the grocery store rearranged the shelves, and I found myself staring at boxes of diapers where the bags of ground coffee used to be.

“We would’ve discussed it with you first, but you were nowhere to be found. If you’re planning to stay out half the night, you should at least leave a note, so we don’t worry.”

I had a feeling Nana Pratt’s banging and clanging weren’t entirely to do with the reorganization. “I’m sorry. There was an unexpected issue last night.”

She let go of her resentment long enough to express concern. “Did you and Kane quarrel?”

I drew a steadying breath. “No, Birdie was killed last night. I was the one who found her.”

Claude arched his fingers in a sympathetic gesture. Nana Pratt’s mouth made a small ‘o’ shape. “I’m so sorry, dear. I didn’t realize.”

“Why would you? Anyway, it was a rough night. Kane’s upset, obviously.”

“Yes, of course.”

Ray materialized in the kitchen and observed the mess. “I told you to wait on this until Lorelei gave the green light.”

“What does it matter to you?” Nana Pratt shot back. “You’re in charge of the library. The kitchen is my domain.” Claude poked her in the side. “And Claude’s.”

Ray muttered something under his breath. “I didn’t comein here to argue. Lorelei, would you mind coming outside for a minute? There’s something you need to see.”

My skin prickled. “Do I need a weapon?”

“Not unless one of them has a pair of binoculars embedded in it.”

I understood the moment I stepped foot on the porch. “I don’t think I need binoculars for this.”

The crows were impossible to miss. They lined the finials of the iron fence that ran along the front of the property. Their silky black feathers shimmered in the sunlight, revealing deep blue and purple hues that weren’t typically apparent.

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