Page 65 of Death Wish

Apparently everyone knew about Cole’s suicidal mission to save himself from full corruption. And they all thought he was crazy for it.

I pulled out my tablet. Again, no notifications from Styx or new assignments listed in my queue. I tapped on the Look Up a Spirit feature, like I had with Victor in Kay’s shop.

Holding up the device to take Marla’s picture, I said, “You need to cross over. Here, let me—”

“And what if I don’t want to go?”

“Then you’ll have to spend your afterlife wandering the living plane, unable to interact with anyone or anything. It’s a miserable existence.”

“You sound like you know about it quite well.”

I only nodded. Really, she had no idea, but I wasn’t going to give her a speech.

Maybe it was time to try a different tactic. Marla was all about trading and getting the best deal, right? I had the ability to do what she wanted, and she had the information I needed about the herb. This way, in the end, we could both win.

“I’ll get you to the afterlife,” I began, “if you tell me where the herb is. No games. Just an even trade.”

She stared at me for a long moment. At first, she seemed impressed I had come up with a deal she couldn’t really refuse, but then, that admiration quickly switched into skepticism. Maybe she thought I had the upper hand in this ultimatum, and maybe I did. But her distrust in me showed clear on her face. I didn’t blame her. I wouldn’t trust me either.

“Tell me where it is, and I’ll help you. I swear it.”

“You know how many people have sworn to me and never pulled through? Pinky promises never pan out in my line of work, sweetheart.”

“It will here,” I said. Quickly, I held up the tablet and snapped a picture of her. In an instant, her profile popped onto the screen.

Marla Victoria Jones. Age 42. Level three witch. Dead on arrival. Cause of death: Unknown.

Unknown? Definitely not true.

And how could an all-seeing, all-knowing cosmic force not know how a person died? I’d never seen that cause of death before.

“Everything okay?”

When I lowered the tablet, Marla was staring at me with great concern.

“Yeah, you’re here in the system.” I forced myself to smile, but I could feel it wavering at the edges. “Whenever you’re ready.”

She didn’t move, her body rigid.

“I know you’re nervous. It’s the unknown. But let me tell you, I live in the supernatural afterlife, and it’s not too bad to be honest. Slightly boring for my taste.” I shrugged. “It takes some getting used to.”

“Paradise, boring? Figures.” She let out an annoyed breath. “All right, then. Let’s get it over with.”

I admired her bravery. Not many people accepted what had happened to them so quickly. Like Tristen.

Marla pointed to the stone wall on her right. “It’s there. Between the third and fourth shelf. One of the bricks is loose.”

After crossing the room, I followed her directions, searching the bricks until I found the one slightly protruding, uneven with the rest of the wall. When I reached for it, my hand passed right through, and I cursed. I was going to have to find another way to get to it.

Hopefully, Marla was telling me the truth.

“Thank you.” I pulled out my handy-dandy chalk piece. “As promised…”

Working quickly, I drew the symbols for the spirit door on the floor near her body. The moment the circle was enclosed, the orange glow appeared and the door opened.

She came to my side and stared at it nervously.

“You’re going to be fine,” I told her, and I meant it. Our time together had been brief, but in that short time, I knew Marla to be a force to be reckoned with. “You did quite well for yourself in life. I’m sure you’ll kick ass in the afterlife. And who knows? Maybe I’ll see you on the other side.”

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