Page 32 of Midnight Auto Parts

“A large concentration of bones,” he mused, “could indicate a burial ground.”

A chill swept through me at the thought of disturbing a mass grave. “Which would rule out animals.”

“Unless it’s a cache,” Carter countered, a certainty in her expression that worried me.

“An animal with a pantry that large is either a voracious predator,” I mumbled, “or an old one.”

A hiss whistled through Kierce’s teeth, and the mark on my forearm throbbed in time with my heart.

And then it all.

Just.

Stopped.

“How far isit from Manchester to Portsmouth?”

Buzzing in my ears made hearing difficult, but that line breached the haze.

“You have one job. It’s obeying me. You’re not doing your job.”

Weightlessness nestled me in a bubble that drifted above the scene shrouded in mists below me.

“I’m sorry,” an inhuman voice replied in a chipper tone. “I didn’t quite get that.”

“How fucking far is it from fucking Manchester to fucking Portsmouth?”

A sudden crash beneath me dumped enough adrenaline into my system to bring my brain back online. I fell to the floor beside a round speaker that must have been a virtual assistant of some flavor who’d just received their pink slip.

“Ouch.”I rubbed my tailbone. “That hurt.”

“You expected it to hurt, so it hurts.” A fit man in his midsixties sat in a chair behind an expansive desk. “Next time, don’t expect pain from your incorporeal body, and you won’t experience any.”

“Dis Pater.” I recognized the distracted, self-important voice. “Why am I here?”

“Good question.” He propped his feet on top of his desk. “I summoned Kierce, but I got you.”

“Kierce?” I scrambled to stand, but the floor squished like a bouncy house beneath me. “Where is he?”

“The same place he always is, I imagine.” He leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling. “This book is slowly killing me.” He lifted a hand. “I know, I know. I always say that at this point.” He dragged that same hand down his face. “But this time, I mean it.”

“Where is Kierce?”

“There’s so much research involved,” he lamented. “Why did I think cozies were a good idea?”

A growl rumbled up the back of my throat as I stomped over to him.“Where. Is. Kierce?”

“Look out the window.” He flipped a manicured hand at me. “Then either help me or fuck off.”

Through the glass, I spotted Kierce stalking toward the cottage. “Why is he out there?”

“I know you’re new, but I didn’t realize you were stupid.”

A twitch set up camp beneath my left eye, and it took every ounce of my self-control not to punch him.

“Do you think I let just anyone in here?” He dropped his legs. “This is my home. No one can just waltz in. I have gods’-bone wards, mouthy girl.” Bones were a hot topic today. “The best money can buy.” He kicked off his shoes and flashed an awful lot of pale toes missing their tips. “You shouldn’t have been able to pop in.”

A door slammed open somewhere to the right of us, and Kierce burst into the office seconds later.

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