Page 16 of Death and Do-Overs

Her clear disgust very nearly made me smile.

Thunder boomed like a surprise party—unexpected, unwelcome, and far too loud. The house trembled in its wake.

Everyone waited, as if the floor could crack in two at any moment. But nothing notable happened.

“If we could get back to—” I stopped my sentence as Imogen and Wendy’s phones dinged in unison. Since the coven was all here, that could only mean one thing.

“Jayden needs help at the shelter,” Wendy said as she looked over her screen.

Because I’d left early, “sick.”

Now whatever had happened in my absence was going to fall to Wendy to deal with. Under any other circumstances I would feel guilty. But I had to be here.

Wendy, on the other hand, had done all she could for me.

“It’s all right,” I said. “Don’t feel bad for doing your job.”

She frowned, clearly conflicted.

It’s not like she knew how to use her necromancy magic, or if this idea was going to work anyway. I’d thought for a moment it had, but clearly I’d been mistaken.

“I can go,” Imogen offered. “Jayden and I can probably figure out how to deal with a flood by ourselves.”

A flood? That was serious, and required serious reinforcement to keep all of the animals safe while the situation was handled.

“You can both go,” I said. “I told Jayden I was sick, so I should stay.”

Rose took Andrew’s hand. “We can stay, too.”

“I’d rather Andrew get the lab work started than stand around,” I said.

There was nothing further for anyone to do here. The sooner Andrew started his tests, the sooner I’d have answers. Plus, socializing was draining.

More dings came through Imogen and Wendy’s phones.

“Pictures,” Imogen said, with wide eyes. “Oh no.”

I glanced at Imogen’s phone screen. It was full of photos of water spraying all over the dog room floor. There must have been a busted pipe.

I hated for this to happen to the shelter, ever, let alone while I had my own emergency. I wished I could help, but dealing with Nie’s murder had to come first for me.

I told them again,“Go.”

“Take as long as you need off work,” Wendy told me.

I nodded my agreement.

“Would it be okay to reach out to Brock about the grumpy people you denied pets? He could see if anyone has a history of murderous intent, totes on the down-low,” Imogen said. “That wouldn’t be too authority-involved, right? And it could maybe help.”

“Sure,” I said.

“I’ll work on gathering a list of potential jerkholes,” Wendy said. “As soon as we get the flooding under control.”

I needed to thank them. I needed to let them know that I appreciated their willingness to drop whatever they’d been doing to come to my aid. I struggled to form the words.

Wendy and Imogen smashed me in a terrible group hug before reluctantly heading out the door.

This entire ordeal had left me twitchy and exhausted. My tolerating-people-meter had long ago reached uncomfortable levels, and I was ready to be alone. Yet, after Wendy and Imogen were gone, Rose and Andrew lingered.

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