Page 18 of Half Dead

She held up a small package. “The UPS man left this with me because he couldn’t get in either.”

“The ghosts must’ve dialed it up to full power while I was gone.” I opened the gate and held it for her. “They lean toward paranoia and despair.” Not that I blamed them. They knew where I was going and that there was a chance I wouldn’t return.

Birdie laughed as she rolled forward. “Normally, I’d agree with you, but they might be on to something. The crows brought me a gift this morning.” She stopped and held out a shiny object.

I glanced at the silver cufflink in her hand. “Should I recognize it?”

“No, but I do. It belongs to Lucifer.”

My chest tightened. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, it’s his mark on the cufflink.” She held it up for closer inspection.

I squinted. “Is that a star?”

She closed her fingers around the cufflink. “Not just any star. The morning star.”

I pushed her wheelchair across the bridge. “What do you think it means?”

“Hell is empty, and all the devils are here.”

I smiled. “Only one, but he’s more of a demon prince.”

Birdie shook her head. “Don’t you know your Shakespeare?”

“Pretty sure the Bard was speaking metaphorically. Where did the crow find it?”

“Somewhere in the woods of Fairhaven, that’s all I know.”

“If Lucifer came through the crossroads, the werewolves would’ve reported it.” And he certainly hadn’t come through today, while Kane was standing guard.

“He’s the supreme ruler of hell. If he wants to remain hidden, he can and will.”

I parked her in front of the porch steps. “Why come to me? Why not tell Kane?”

“Because Kane is currently preoccupied with protecting you. I need to tell somebody who will protecthim.”

I couldn’t bring myself to look at her. “And you think I will?”

“Iknowyou will.”

“Why not Josie?” Josie would walk into a shower of bullets for Kane.

“Because nobody fights harder for a lover than someone who’s loved and lost before.”

“We don’t use the L-word.”

Birdie peered at me. “Love?”

“Lover. Kane is my inamorato and I’m his inamorata.”

She grunted. “Italian. I should’ve guessed. Demon or not, he’s a romantic at heart, bless him.”

I wasn’t. Like Birdie said, I’d lost too many loved ones to allow myself the luxury. “What would you like me to do?”

“Look out for Kane. If I’m right about the origin of this cufflink, then he’s in grave danger.”

I thought of Canto, the lesser demon that had found his way to the Devil’s Playground not too long ago. Josie had been angry that Kane had spared his life. She’d been worried that the demon would reveal Kane’s location to Lucifer’s minions, either willingly or under duress. The vampire had blamed me for Kane’s softness.

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