Page 57 of Living with Death

“His father died. He has to deal with legal matters and such. His mom told him where I was living, and on his way over, he found me on the side of the road.”

“What?” she says. “Jack’s the one who took you to the hospital?”

It’s so weird hearing her call him Jack. I have to physically stop myself from saying Azrael.

“Yep. Crazy, right?”

“I’d say.”

Robbie walks down from the office. “Got time to lean. You got time to clean,” he says. “Have either of you checked aisle five? I thought I heard some vanilla icing fall.”

I laugh. “Been hearing stuff fall for so long we know the item and name.”

Sam smirks. “Checking it now, Robbie.” Rolling her eyes, she pushes off my counter. I grab the Windex and some paper towels, walking over to the door. My thoughts are on Azrael, my lips still tingle, and I can still taste him. But I’m worried about his reaction. Something tells me I’m not going to like what he says.

Robbie walks from the back with a few boxes of cigarettes.

“How’s your wife?” I ask.

“She’s okay today. Didn’t feel well yesterday, so I let her sleep and took the kids to the park.”

“How was the zoo trip?”

“Good. I snapped some pictures of the kids and her together.”

“Was the animal crap as bad as you thought it would be?”

He makes a face. “Worse. My youngest tried his best to play in it.”

“Ew.” I laugh.

“I know. Kids,” he says, rolling his eyes.

“Hey,” I lower my voice, “do you know anything about Cassie? Does her family have anything to do with her?”

“I think she has a mom. I don’t know of anyone else.”

“Got any way to get in touch with her?” I ask super nicely.

“You know I can’t give away employees' private information. Use social media.”

I roll my eyes. “I hate social media. Except for Pinterest. I have many boards saved when I get off my ass and redo my house.”

“Thought you were already doing that.”

“It’s a lie I tell Sam so I can seem busy when she asks me to go out.”

He laughs. “You can’t just say no?”

“Have you met Sam?”

“Right. What do you want Cassie’s mom's info for, anyway?”

I don’t want to tell Robbie Cassie is on drugs because it’ll get her fired, so I change the truth slightly. “She seems down a lot. I was just curious if she had anybody.”

“So you were going to what, call her mom?”

“I promised myself that I would start doing kinder things. I’m trying to find out more about her so I can do something for her anonymously.”

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