Page 114 of Death and Do-Overs

“You can turn into a person,” I guessed. “It was you in the cloak on the security footage at the station following Nie.”

“Yes, because I’m good,” Noodles said. “Tell me I did good.”

Imogen wrinkled her nose.

I remembered the other time I’d seen a cloaked figure—in the basement of the Mournmore.

“Did you kill the gorilla guy?”

“You’re supposed to praise me,” Noodles said, in a sharper voice than before. “No accusations.”

“Okay.” I had to be careful how I phrased my questions or she’d run off before telling us anything else. “But it was you over the body, right? The person Levi and I chased?”

“Maybe.”

“Why were you there?”

She said nothing.

“Why did you stop running now?” Imogen asked. “Why’d you lead us over here? Why do you want to talk to us?”

Noodles didn’t answer.

“We’ve heard you force people to do things against their will,” I said. “Secondhand, of course. Why do you care so much about being good?”

It seemed to be a new desire for her. Though I couldn’t say for sure since I hadn’t been involved with Rose and her mother back when their issues with Noodles started.

“Reasons,” Noodles said with a sniffle.

Gently, I asked, “What reasons?”

The cat flicked its tail and said nothing.

“What else can you tell us about the competition?” Imogen asked.

“Nothing. It’ll be over soon.” Noodles jumped to her feet.

“You know more. It would begoodto tell us everything,” I said.

“I don’t think so. Not this time.”

I could swear there was a hint of fear in her voice. What would a kitsune fear? The reaper? Death came for all of us.

Before I could ask anything else, she scaled the side of a building like it was nothing. She disappeared on the rooftop.

“I think that ‘being a good cat’ story is bogus,” Imogen said.

There were certainly holes in Noodles’s story, but what did she have to gain from talking to us now? What reason did she have to lie?

“I’m not so sure,” I said.

If Noodles didn’t kill the gorilla guy in the basement, why was she there, and who really killed him? Otis?

And if Noodles really warned Nie on the train about the danger of coming to Nevermore, why did Nie stay? Had Noodles simply made a vague comment likeit’s a bad placerather than an explicit warning that Nie could end up murdered?

Imogen shrugged. “I have to pee. You want to come?”

“I’m good.”

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