Page 19 of Half Dead

“Here, take it.” Birdie handed over the trinket. “You might be able to use it to track Lucifer or one of his demon buddies. Get one step ahead.”

I slipped the cufflink into my pocket. “Don’t you think we should tell Kane?” Now that my secret was out, I didn’t want to keep any more from him, especially not while we were trying to build a solid foundation to our relationship.

“You can tell him, but he’ll try to dismiss it like it’s no big deal.” She wagged a finger at me. “Promise me you’ll take this seriously no matter what he says.”

“I promise.” I trusted Birdie’s instincts. If she anticipated Hurricane Lucifer on the horizon, then I’d be sure to batten down the hatches.

I glanced at the two steps required to reach the frontdoor. “I’m sorry my house isn’t wheelchair accessible. Ray and I can lift you up.”

“That’s okay. I wasn’t intending to stay. I only wanted to deliver this in person. I don’t trust phones during a time like this.”

“Do you need a ride home?”

“Nope.” She hooked a thumb over her shoulder. “I’ve got an adapted vehicle parked on the street. Don’t even need to transfer out of my wheelchair to drive.” She swiveled toward the bridge. “You should come by for dinner soon. I’ll make a nice pot roast with rosemary potatoes.”

“I’d like that.”

Ray and Nana Pratt swarmed me the moment I stepped onto the porch.

“What was it like?” Nana Pratt asked.

“Did they admit to killing your parents?” Ray’s question overlapped with hers.

“Slow down,” I said. “It’s been a long day. I need peace and quiet.”

Ray glanced at the road beyond the gate. “Doesn’t look like you’re gonna get it.”

I spotted Chief Elena Garcia’s official police vehicle parked alongside the curb. As she exited the SUV, my heart sank. Her grim expression told me I wouldn’t like what I was about to hear. I held my breath as she ambled toward us.

“‘Evening, Lorelei.”

“Good evening, Chief. End of a shift?”

“If only.” She peered up at me. “Before you know it, it’ll be time to blow up your inflatable swan.”

“The pump is ready.” Although it would be at least another six weeks before the weather would be warm enough to dip my feet in the moat. There was also the minor issue of my aunt Hestia’s summer solstice deadline to takeover the underworld. A problem for Future Lorelei. Present Lorelei was mentally and physically exhausted.

“Mind if I come in? We need to talk.”

“Of course.”

“I don’t like the sound of that,” Nana Pratt said. “You haven’t done anything wrong, have you?”

I silenced her with a look, not that the chief could hear the ghost anyway. We entered the house where Ray had been busy staining slabs of wood for the new library.

The chief sniffed the air. “You might want to open a couple windows before the fumes get to you.”

“The downside of having ghosts do your handiwork,” I acknowledged. “No sense of smell.”

Without a word, Ray slid open a window.

The chief and I ventured into the kitchen, shadowed closely by Nana Pratt.

“Tea?” I offered.

“I’d like something stronger, but I’ve got a couple more hours before that’s an option.”

“Tea, it is,” I said.

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