Page 87 of Shadows of the Soul

It’s a testament to how severely messed up my life is that people would find it odd for me to call the police when someone dies.

“Because,” I explained as I brought Robert’s number up, “human death means human law enforcement.”

“What’s wrong?” he asked on the second ring.

“Colin’s dead.”

“The mailman?”

“The one and only.”

“Your place?”

“Yes, come through the front.”

He sighed. “Give me ten minutes.”

The line cut out. “Stay here,” I said to Maggie as I pushed open the door. “Guard the body.”

She cast an anxious glare at Colin. “Why? What’s he going to do?”

“Nothing. I don’t want our guests to find him.”

“Ah, good thinking.”

I clicked the door closed, then thought better of it and reopened it. “Why don’t you wait out here?”

Maggie rushed out and shut the door behind her. “Good idea.”

***

Seven minutes. That’s how long it took until the sheriff’s car was rolling up my drive. Of course, my life wasn’t complete without the Terror of Tennessee exiting his house and casting a dark look at the sheriff as he got out of his car and popped his hat on, keeping the worst of the sun’s glare off his shaved head. Nothing to see here, Principal. Move it along and go flex your muscles at some poor unsuspecting little shifter woman. Leave the death and destruction to me… because that’s all you’ve left behind. Asshole. Yikes, I didn’t realize I was this bitter.

Robert jogged up the steps and swept his gaze around the house. “Do I want to know about the black roses?”

“No.”

“I didn’t think so. Where’s the body?”

I swung the door open as Hudson jumped the porch railing and landed next to us. I rolled my eyes. “What do you want?”

“There’s a body?”

“Human,” I snapped low. Not wanting to air my dirty laundry to the entire house. “And therefore, not your concern.”

Hudson’s eyes tightened.Your fault douchebag, if you wanted to be part of my life, you actually have to be part of my life.Of course, he ignored me. He waltzed in like he owned the place. Whatever, I’m over his bullshit already. Probably. Maybe. Well, no, but I will be soon. There are things women do when they’ve been rejected, right? Girls’ night? Rebound guy? I sighed and closed the door before leading the way to the bathroom. Maggie’s eyes widened at my entourage.

I waved at the door. She opened it and tried to blend into the wall as poor Colin was revealed.

“Damn, you got an Elvis,” Hudson muttered.

I swung my glare to him. “Is this a weird ass shifter thing? Wait, was Elvis a shifter?”

Hudson’s eyes sparkled with amusement, and his lips twitched.

“Natural causes?” Robert asked me as he stepped into the bathroom.

I shrugged. “How would I know?”

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