Page 30 of Death and Do-Overs

“The glove could belong to anyone,” I said.

It belonged to Nie. I’d bought the pair for her as a gift before she’d set off for what was supposed to be an adventure of a lifetime. The thought lingered sour in my throat.

Levi assessed me like he could read my face, which was ridiculous, as my expression was blank. It was always blank or mildly annoyed. There was nothing to read, and yet….

“Die. Die. Die. Die.”

Levi knelt, snapped a picture with his phone, and plucked a hair from inside the glove. Based on the three-inch length, the hair likely belonged to a long-haired animal, a cat or dog from the shelter probably.

Levi pulled a plastic snack bag out of his pocket and tucked the hair inside.

“You think a cat hair has something to do with your missing friend?” I asked.

“Perhaps.”

“And you just happen to have a lab on call ready to analyze evidence for you. Who are you really,Levi Rivers?Law enforcement? Librarian?”

“Interesting questions, Marshmallow. I’m exactly who I said I am. Who are you? And why assume it’s a cat hair?”

Great questions.

“Die. Die. Die. Die.Here.”

This wasn’t just any crime scene. This was where Nie had died. My head started spinning. I needed to leave. I needed space and quiet to think. I needed to get away from Levi Rivers.

“Who am I?” I repeated. “I’m done with this conversation.”

“Give me your phone.” Levi held out his hand.

Why would I agree to give himmoreaccess to my personal information?

I recoiled.“No.”

“All right, give me your arm,” he said, seemingly unperturbed.

My arm? “What?”

He pulled a marker out of his pocket and continued holding out his hand, calmly waiting for me to comply.

I wanted to punch him in the nose. It was unsettling, the way he responded to me, like there was nothing I could do to make him change his mind. Not about the glove, not about this.

“Why?” I asked.

“We’re both looking for answers. We’ll find out more together than separate.”

I hadn’t told him what I wanted, or what I was looking for. I could tell him he was wrong, but he wasn’t, so I begrudgingly pulled up my sleeve and stuck out my arm.

I expected him to grab my wrist or to put his palm under my forearm. I braced for the unwanted contact. Instead of touching me, he simply scrawled a set of numbers over my skin.

The wet ink left a cold trail in its wake, and I shivered.

“Call any time,” he said. Then he flashed those gorgeous green eyes at me one last time before popping a caramel in his mouth and walking away.

My heart flip-flopped in my chest on repeat, long after Levi was gone.

“Die here. Die here. Die here,” Nie said.

I opened the top of my bag and gave her a small wave. “You died here.”

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