Valerie's mouth thinned. She glanced at the highway, at the skid marks.
“Jessica Torres,” she said.
Greg went still.
“I found her.” Valerie's voice lost its edge. “Yesterday. After you left. She was confused and frightened and she kept asking if someone could call her mom.”
Greg's chest caved in. That was his fault. He should have been there.
“I guided her through,” Valerie said. “She won't be earthbound.”
The relief hit Greg so hard that his vision blurred. He pressed his hand over his eyes, under his glasses, and breathed.
Jessica wasn't stuck. She wasn't wandering the highway, confused and alone. Valerie had found her and done what Greg was supposed to do. What Greg had forgotten to do because the only thing that had existed for him in that moment was Dustin bleeding on the asphalt.
“Thank you,” he managed.
“Don't thank me. Do better.” Valerie'sexpression now landed somewhere between exasperation and reluctant fondness.
Was she fond of him?
When had that happened?
“So,” Valerie said before Greg could speak. “Let's talk about your fieldwork.”
“Um.”
“Specifically the fieldwork you were conducting at that motel.”
Greg closed his eyes. “How do you know about the motel?”
“I'm a very bored reaper with centuries of experience,” Valerie said by way of explanation. “And you stayed in a room that only had one bed.”
“I can explain.”
“You don't have to explain, I already understand. Just give me the details.”
“There are no details!”
“You smell like a human, Grigoreth.”
Greg wanted the highway to open up and swallow him. “Um,” he said again, intelligently.
“You smell like cologne and sweat and something that I'm going to generously describe asexertion.” Valerie's lips drew into a gleeful smile. “Did you sleep with your assignment?”
“That's not relevant.”
Valerie clapped her hands together. “I can't believe you actually did it!”
“It was— there were extenuating circumstances?—”
“What kind of extenuating circumstances lead to sleeping with the mortal you were sent to reap?”
“He kissed me first!”
Valerie stared at him.
Greg stared back, mortified.
