Page 52 of Amber Gambler

“Harrow is helping you, so you might not require my assistance.”

Scoffing at his fishing expedition, I started ringing up his purchases. “Don’t tell me you’re jealous.”

“All right.” He started passing me items, observing how the scanner worked. “I won’t.”

“You’re not.” The pack of socks tumbled from my hands. “Are you?”

A faint smile ghosted his lips. “You told me not to tell you.”

“I did, didn’t I?” I couldn’t tell if I wanted to punch myself or pat myself on the back. “Do you want a turn with the scanner?” Smoothest segue ever. “It’s more fun than you might think.”

Interest sparked in his eyes, and he selected a pack of underwear. “I scan the runes?”

“The barcode, yes.” I placed my hand over his and guided him until the machine beeped. “See? Fun.”

“That is rather satisfying.” He selected a pair of jeans and smiled at the telltale beep. “It’s like a game.”

“You’re right.” I bit my knuckle to hold in my chuckle. “There are all kinds of toys these days for kids who like to play checkout. Little cash registers, scanners, card readers. Anytime a customer brings kids to the shop, we get a crash course on what’s popular. There was this one little girl who scanned each tire on the display rack like it was her job. Her brother asked to buy one for his ‘busted ass ride,’ and she told him she only sold tires to girls who drive Jeeps.” I chuckled at the memory. “Kids are hilarious.”

The ones who grow up with the safety and freedom to just be kids, anyway.

“I wonder if Badb would enjoy this,” he mused, halfway through his cart.

“The real deal or a toy version?”

“Either.” He made it sound so normal. “She enjoys a challenge.”

“It’s not a bad idea.” I considered dashing back to the toy aisle but decided against it. “We could train her on a playset and slowly convert her from a life of crime into an upstanding citizen.”

“Hmm.”

That was not the sound of a man convinced his crow could be redeemed, but it wouldn’t hurt to try.

After we checked out, another adventure for Kierce, who had never fed cash into a terminal, and loaded his new wardrobe into the back of the wagon, we set out for the morgue. And if my damp palms slipped, or my heart thumped harder, I could be forgiven my anxiety. To show Kierce this part of me, of my skills, threatened to intimidate me into asking him to wait in the office while I worked with the girl. But I owed the victims my best effort, and so they would get the demigod special, no matter my nerves.

Carter waited to exit her truck until I parked the wagon. Then she slid out, munching on cheddar puffs.

I knew the exact moment she spotted Kierce because I had to stuff my bowler bag full of supplies under my arm, rush over, and whack her on the back until she coughed a wad of orange goo onto the pavement. Even then, she wheezed as laughter left her with watering eyes and a runny nose.

“Are you all right?” Kierce approached her, hands in his pockets. “Do you require medical attention?”

“No,” she gasped out, reining herself in. “Have you ever seen the filmDeath Takes a Holiday?”

“Carter.” I whacked her a little too hard for the jab at his Hawaiian shirt. “Be nice.”

“I prefer books to movies. They age better.” He studied the building. “They’re easier to carry too.”

“Ouch.”She ducked away from me. “I see now why they warn CPR breaks ribs.”

“That wasn’t even the Heimlich.” I cut off her line of sight to Kierce. “Can we go inside now?”

“I’m fine,” she snarked at me, making a fist and pounding her chest. “Thanks for asking.”

“Good.” I climbed the steps. “Let’s get this over with.”

“Okay.” She came up behind me and clamped a hand on my shoulder. “You got this, Frankie.”

A swipe of her ID opened the lock, and she let me go first, carrying my regret at lashing out with me.

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