Page 71 of Obsession

“You and Vivian are two peas in a busybody pod.”

“So are you back with sexy Cambion or not?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Of course it is. Let me know when Memphis Vice is meeting again. It’s exciting being in two mystery-solving groups. This must be what a polyamorous relationship is like.”

“I doubt Chris would claim us as part of his mystery-solving group, but I am one hundred percent sure he would not agree to that group name. And I don’t know if I should ask, lest you bite my head off again, but any progress on finding Bettina? Although since she’s in another realm, she can’t mess with me. On second thought, take your time finding her.”

“No, I’ve got to get on it before Metratron finds out.”

“That angel is a real buzzkill.” I stop short. “Did he just write that down? Does he watch my every move?” Oh my Goddess, how terrifying to think I’ve been reality TV entertainment for an angel.

Azrael snickers. “He wishes he had that much power. No, Metratron relies on other angels for monthly status reports. He does have methods of spying if he thinks something’s afoot.”

“He does have a jar of creepy eyeballs on his desk, but if you tell me he’s also got a jar of feet… You know what, never mind.”

“So why did tasty morsel want to meet with us last night?”

Before I can remind Azrael he invited himself to last night’s dinner, a lightbulb goes off in my head. Why I haven’t thought of this sooner, Goddess only knows. “Who was the Angel of Death in Memphis twenty-four years ago?”

“Darlin’, I’m not even sure where I was twenty-four years ago, let alone who was stationed here.”

“But can you find out?”

“Why?”

“I want to know if my mama’s soul was escorted off this plane.”

“Give me a sec,” he says, disappearing.

All the hair on Elvis’s back is standing on end. “Don’t even try to pretend that didn’t scare you.”

He backs up slowly and walks out of the room. “Still not fooling anyone!” I call after him. “B.B., where are you?” My cat is taking some time adjusting to strangers coming and going from the shop. And speaking of strange, there’s nothing stranger than supernaturals vanishing into thin air.

Azrael appears holding a large leather-bound book. “You owe me one, missy. I swiped this from Metratron’s library without signing it out,” he says, plopping the book on the counter. “Your mother’s name?”

“Cora Rae Brooks,” I tell him, spelling her middle name.

He flips through the pages. “Brooks, Brooks, Brooks. Celine, Colette, Constance. Ah, here are the Coras. Date of birth?” he asks, and I tell him.

“Cora Rae Brooks. Here she is. Uh-oh.”

“What’s uh-oh?”

“She’s on the jump list.”

“What’s the jump list?”

“She jumped before the angel Muriel could open the portal. Ah, the tricky witch,” he says, reading the notation. I try to read it, but can’t, because it’s in a language I’ve never seen before. “Mommie dearest requested she have one last visit with baby daughter Aubry. The old softie Muriel agreed, and Cora gave him the slip.”

“Why would someone not want to cross over?”

“You tell me, miss world-class sprinter.” Okay, fair enough. “Denial they’re dead, that’s numero uno. Followed by wanting to stay so they can tie up loose ends, and a close but juicy third, wanting to exact revenge on an enemy.”

“Mama died suddenly, so it could have been denial, or wanting to tie up loose ends.” She died from something called spontaneous coronary artery dissection, meaning her innermost arteries carrying blood supply to the heart tore and caused a sudden blockage. I’ve done my research on the issue, being Mama was so young and it didn’t make sense she would have a heart attack. But I’ve learned it can happen during the third trimester of pregnancy or in the postpartum period, something to do with the hormones affecting the blood vessels in the heart. I’ve secretly harbored the guilt that I killed my mother by being born. And if her spirit is out there somewhere, why has she never contacted me? Does she blame me for her death? I shove these thoughts back down into the box of things I don’t want to deal with.

Based on all the dark magic spells in Mama’s book of shadows, I can’t rule out revenge on her enemies. If only I knew who these enemies were. Bettina? Lucy? My daddy? Someone I don’t even know? Or maybe even me, I think with a gulp.

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