Ordell sprawled across the table from me, taking up as much space as possible. He took a donut, but unlike Ossy, he grabbed a napkin and chose a pastry without filling, a good call given hewas wearing a suit. “I heard a desirable sector opened up and they want to fill it internally, which means it’s probably Sector Two.” Ordell met my gaze with raised eyebrows. “Am I right?”
“It’s only a rumor.” That was true, and the person who told me was the biggest gossip on the planet. Phineas was Morgana’s assistant, so he would know such information. Gossip or not, I figured there was a sixty percent chance it was true. Sixty percent was enough to make me excited. I’d been preparing by making sure I followed every rule and did my job with perfection in mind.
Morgana walked in. “The rumor is true. Bob is retiring.”
She was a bit of a whirlwind, leaving debris wherever she went. Of course, she was the head of the reapers, so maybe that had something to do with it. She had many questions after that statement, but she simply held up a hand. “It is Sector Two, as you’ve suspected. I’m not prepared to fill the position today. However, HR would like to fill it internally. I expect anyone interested to apply at the end of the week.” She pointed at me. “No sooner, Grymley. And no fighting. You all count yourselves as brothers, which implies some level of love.”
Cael coughed into his hand as he said, “Fuck you all.”
Morgana shook her head. “Whatever. Just no fighting. I mean it. And for the gods’ sake, where is Ossy?”
Ossy barreled into the room wearing my shirt, which he’d somehow wrinkled beyond repair. He wiped his mouth as if he’d been drinking something. The button on his borrowed jeans was unbuttoned. His hair also looked messier than when he’d left, which was quite something.
Phineas walked in, wrinkle-free and cool as ever. He winked at Ossy as he passed. “Sorry, I’m late, ma’am.”
Morgana sighed, then repeated what she’d just said.
Ossy’s eyebrows lifted. “No shit.”
Cael elbowed Grym, then leaned in to whisper in his ear. “Ten bucks says they’re fucking.”
I shrugged. “Maybe.” Ossy had come to their department last. He was the youngest. He should still know the rules. The Bureau prohibited fraternization among its members. Doing so would warrant an early retirement if HR found out. Not that they would hear it from me. I was a lot of things, but I was not a snitch. “I’ll take the bet.”
“Sucker.”
Tan leaned in. “I want in.”
Cael smirked. “Two suckers, then.”
Cael used to pull double duty, working for a crime boss somewhere in the west. I’d ferried a few like him into the afterlife. They, like him, were rough around the edges and mean when they needed to be. He wasn’t always the badass his gun and tattooed bald head suggested. He was really a softy with a squishy heart. I should know. He was my best friend.
“I’ll decide by the end of the month. The move will take place at the end of summer.”
I had to wait until the end of the month to find out. That was far too long. But it was a big decision for Morgana to make. I just hoped I had done enough to stand out among the other applicants.
Chapter Two
Elliot Coyne
It was unseasonably warm, especially for January, when snow blanketed Hollowbrook, blowing around and making visibility nonexistent. The cold usually froze any exposed skin. But we hadn’t even had lake-effect snow yet. We needed winter gear, but my coat was open, and I’d stuffed my gloves into my pockets when we started smoking.
Asking Joel what was on his mind wouldn’t be a good idea—mostly because he’d tell me. I already knew nothing important was going on up there, but Joel thought everything he said was profound. I just couldn’t keep up with him.
“I have great ideas when I’m high.” I don’t know why I said that, except that it was too quiet.
“The best, man.” Joel’s laugh started as a snort, then turned into a gentle giggle that grew in intensity.
His laughter was infectious, and before I knew it, I’d joined in. We leaned against each other to keep from falling off the crate.
The laughter petered out. “No, I don’t.”
Joel and I fed each other’s fire in the sense that our hangout sessions often led to weird shit happening. Of the two of us, Joelwas the more sensible. It was a scary thought, considering he had once almost gotten the shit kicked out of him by Jake Adams for selling his pot in Jack’s territory. Jack was no one you would want to mess with.
We were still leaning against each other when the next bout hit.
I wasn’t even sure what we were laughing about, but it didn’t matter. That was why I loved hanging out with Joel. Unwinding at the end of a hard day’s work was exactly what I needed.
It occurred to me that I couldn’t drive home. I was way too high—way, way too high. And driving high wasn’t something I did, but I had an early day tomorrow. I was supposed to be at my second job at seven in the morning, and I couldn’t afford to call off.
