Carol shook her head. “We’re okay. We’ve actually gotten pretty good at taking care of each other.”
“I’ve noticed that,” he said with a smile.
He turned back, and he and the deputy got back in their car. The sheriff gave a wave out his window before he took off, and then we were left together in the quiet parking lot.
“So, it’s really over?” Beth asked.
I took her hand and squeezed it. “I think it is.”
Carol grinned and leaped to her feet. “No more creepy stalkers! No more death threats! No more weird notes! And, finally, a good night’s rest. Absolutely do not call me before noon tomorrow, because I plan to sleep like the dead.”
“Don’t say that,” Deva said with a wince.
We all laughed.
Then, they looked back at me. “You should bring Daniel the rat.”
I’d been a little surprised no one had called him. I’d been tempted to, but it sort of felt like this case was open and shut. There was no real need to wake the bear shifter late at night, except that I wanted to see him.
“Okay.” I tried not to seem too pleased about having to see Daniel. “I’ll take care of it.”
“There’s one thing though…” Beth began, then stopped.
“What is it?” I coaxed.
“I know we’re still learning about Karma, but I’m not sure if your ex and his girlfriend will remain toads forever.”
My heart raced. “Why?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. That doesn’t seem to be how karma works. Right?”
I thought about it. No, karma only really punished people the way they needed to be punished.
“If they learn their lessons,” Carol began slowly, as if she was thinking, “could they possibly turn back into humans?”
I felt sick. “I think it’s possible.”
“We may want to plan a trip back there,” Deva told me gently. “This seems like the kind of situation we should take care of before it becomes something worse.”
As much as I didn’t want to think about all this right now, they had a point. Besides, my ex being a toad didn’t feel like the end of my story with him. I wanted to fully close the chapter like Beth had, even though I didn’t need Rick to die or anything.
“Let’s plan for it.” Then, I looked at Deva, suddenly remembering a conversation we’d had before. “And have you fully closed the door with Harry?”
She suddenly looked very serious. “This whole thing has made me realize that life is far too short. First thing tomorrow, I’m telling him there is no chance we’ll ever get back together. And then, I might go visit a certain handsome doctor and see if he’ll ask me out.”
“Or you could ask him out?” Carol said, eyes twinkling.
Deva grinned. “Yeah, I might just do that.”
We all stood and headed for the car. Deva carried the rat in her purse, and I knew they’d have to drop me off to get my car and then go to Daniel’s house. As tired as I was, just the thought of visiting him put a little spring in my step.
“So, all the people who stirred up this trouble are gone now,” Carol sounded amused. “Karma really does seem to know how to execute justice on the corrupt. Maybe you should tell karma to help out your friends too.”
I wiggled my fingers at her, not really planning to use magic, but I still felt a strange tingle move down my spine. “As you wish!”
She laughed and shook her head; I was only joking.
We were about to climb into the car when a dark car moved past. It got caught at the light, and I think we all turned to see who was still up in our sleepy town at this hour. The dark windows on the car were all rolled down, and a man turned to look at us. He had dark hair and a chiseled jaw, but when his gaze fell on us, his eyes widened. The light turned green, and he sped off.
