Page 58 of Half Dead

CHAPTER EIGHT

Nana Pratt clutchedher imaginary pearls. “Lucifer is coming here? To Bluebeard’s Castle?”

“Lucifer is coming to dinner,” I confirmed. “If you’d rather stay out of sight, I understand.”

“We’re naturally out of sight,” Ray said.

Nana Pratt shuddered. “I don’t think I could bear to be in the same room with the devil himself.”

“Well, the devil is scheduled to arrive promptly at seven, so make yourself scarce if the idea freaks you out.”

“What if he’s coming here to torture and kill you?” Nana Pratt asked. “What if I’m the one to find you?”

“Okay, let’s dial down the anxiety from a ten to a moderate five.” If the elderly ghost could breathe, she’d be hyperventilating by now. “I don’t think that’s his plan.”

“You don’t think he intends to kill you?” Ray asked. “That seems out of character for him.”

“I don’t think he intends to kill me tonight. No promises about tomorrow.”

“Then why allow him on the property at all?” Nana Prattasked. “You have wards and booby traps. You can protect yourself from him.”

“It’s an opportunity to dig deeper and unearth his real plan. Inviting him to dinner in my home will hopefully put him at ease and make him think I’m naive enough to believe his spiel.”

Nana Pratt folded her arms in a huff. “Well, I won’t be cooking for him. That’s a boundary I refuse to cross.”

“I would never ask you to do that. I’ll cook.”

Nana Pratt shuddered. “One bite and he’ll think you’re trying to kill him, then he’ll retaliate.”

“You think I should order out?”

Ray nodded. “Cheesesteak hoagies. I bet he hasn’t tasted one of those where he lives.”

“Not a bad idea, Ray. Lull him into a false sense of security with regional delicacies.”

Nana Pratt gasped. “You can’t be serious. You can’t serve cheesesteak hoagies to the ruler of hell.”

I pivoted to face her. “Why not? They’re sinfully delicious.”

Ray laughed. “Good one.”

Nana Pratt wasn’t amused. Huffing and puffing, she fled from the room.

“What does Kane think of all this?” Ray asked.

“I’ll let you know in about five minutes when I tell him.”

Ray’s eyes bugged out of his head.

“Relax, Ray. I’m kidding. Kane and I made this decision together.”

Together. The word had a nice ring to it.

Kane arrived at six-thirty, looking especially dapper in a suit I hadn’t seen before.

“You dressed for the occasion,” I said, greeting him with a kiss.

“Lucifer’s suits are always nice. I want mine to be nicer.”

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