Page 7 of Death Trap

When the three dots started blinking again, I said, “Lisa Gail Benton.” Just in case the mention of her maiden name helped at all.

I waited, but when the same words appeared saying she wasn’t found in the system, suspicion jabbed me in the side. The only people I didn’t have access to were souls in Hell dimensions, but there was no way Wyatt’s wife was there. From what I had gathered from him and Sean, she had been a kind, selfless person in life. An explorer and a college professor. Definitely not someone who belonged down below.

My watch must have been busted or something.

“What’s wrong?” Wyatt asked.

I tapped the screen again. “I’m not sure. It’s not finding her.”

“Try my sister. See if it says anything about her,” Marla said. “Elizabeth was her middle name if that helps.”

I spoke her sister’s name as the little dots blinked. After a moment, it flashed not found again.

Marla leaned over and peered at the small square screen. “Not finding her either?”

I shook my head. “No, but I don’t have access to any of the souls in Hell. So, if she’s really there, the database won’t be able to find her profile.”

I glanced at Wyatt’s worried face and quickly changed my tone. “But there’s no way Wyatt’s wife is there, too.”

“If she’s there, then I definitely don’t belong here. She wouldn’t even kill a spider if it was in our house. I created more of a ruckus in my life than her by far,” the old man replied.

Exactly what I was thinking.

Still, concern wrinkled Wyatt’s brow.

Because I didn’t want him too concerned, I said, “Don’t worry. I’ll ask my boss about it. My watch may just need an upgrade or something.”

He reached under the bar, pulled out his personal bottle of the day—some kind of vodka—and took a swig. After he swallowed, he shook his head like a wet dog.

“Woo-ee! Can’t get wasted here, but at least the burn’s still there,” he said.

“I always get the perfect buzz.” Marla took another dainty sip of her pink cosmo. “Paradise rocks.”

I chuckled. “I’m glad you’re liking it.”

She toasted to me with a nod.

My watch vibrated on my wrist, and the Styx Corporation logo appeared on screen. My heartbeat galloped out of habit. Usually, the symbol would be followed by the face of my old boss, Azrael, and an angry order to meet him at his office. And then, after finding out he’d been behind some plot to get me out of the way, seeing it again only brought up another wave of trepidation.

But of course, it wasn’t Azrael’s green eyes and handsome face that flashed across my screen—he’d been missing for a while now, poofed. It was Simon’s bald head and cool, almost serene expression.

Relief flooded me at the sight of him, and I smiled. Simon was the complete opposite of Azrael in almost every way.

“Howdy, Mr. Bossman.” Even though Simon loved his new position at Styx, he hated it when I called him that. Which meant I’d keep doing it for eternity. “What can I do for you?”

Simon leaned closer to the screen. “Jade? Where are you right now?”

I glanced around. I don’t know what it was, but Simon had that way of making me feel like I was doing something I wasn’t supposed to be. Even though I was a grown adult—oh, and dead—and really, going out and being social shouldn’t be anything to sniff over. But for some reason, here I was, covering the watch with my other hand so he couldn’t see the bar behind me and leaping off my stool to rush outside. Just to make sure Simon didn’t know I was there. I had no clue why I cared so much about what he thought, but I did.

So out I went, gesturing to Marla and Wyatt I’d be right back.

When outside, I lifted my hand and stared back at his knowing face. “I-I’m just going for a stroll…” I stammered, my lie almost refusing to come out of my mouth.

His brows rose, telling me he didn’t believe a word of what I had said either. But like he usually did, he let it go.

“I need you to come here. I need to speak with you.”

“To Styx?” I asked, a tingle of apprehension shooting through me. “Uh, no problem. I’ll just hop on a portal and—”

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