Page 61 of Deja New
Jason pointed to himself. “Homicide detective. I know all about complicated.”
“That’s true,” Archer cheerfully acknowledged. “You’ve seen shit that would horrify even us. Probably. Well, maybe not Leah. But the rest of us?”
“Maybe,” Jason replied, deadpan.
“Possibly,” Angela added, and then giggled, because why not? It was turning into that kind of day. Week.
So that was that.
•••
“THIS WILL SOUNDstrange,” Jason Chambers began stiffly, “but I find cemeteries relaxing.”
“I feel the same way about KitKats.”
That startled a laugh out of him. “I knew I should have brought something to bribe you.”
“You don’t have to bribe me,” she said quickly. “I was glad to hear from you.”
“That may change,” he said quietly, shutting off the ignition.
It was late afternoon and she would have loved a nap. But her fatigue had taken flight when Jason called. They were in his
(boat, carriage, train, car, who cares?)
car at a
(grocery store, gym, library, AA meeting, who cares?)
cemetery she was more than familiar with: Graceland.
“Okay, this I didn’t expect.”
“I wasn’t even here for your case,” Jason said as they got out of his car. “Like I said, I like cemeteries. They’re beautiful and quiet. Sometimes the precinct... it’s all noise, and most of it doesn’t make much sense. I like my work, but some days...”
“Jason, you’re talking to the woman who studied for finals in a prison visiting area. You don’t have to explain one thing about yourself to me. It’s fine.”
“Thank you.”
“For what? Not judging the hell out of you and then running away screaming?”
“Yes.”
So out of curiosity, how many people have done that to you? Two? Five? Enough to make you feel bad about enjoying gorgeous landscaping, that’s for sure. Morons.
“Did you know,” he began, “they used to bury bodies on top of each other? It never occurred to them to spread out, so they packed them like sardines.”
“Annnnnd now you’ve ruined sardines for me.”
He smiled at her. “Sorry. But as I was saying, back in the day, Graceland was designed the new way, with more space and better maintained tombstones. They even set aside space for families to have picnics. So the grounds weren’t just beautiful, they were practical. I think that’s lovely. You know the saying: ‘In the midst of life, we are—’”
“‘—having picnics.’ Yep, got it.” But it was interesting. Visits here had always been more of a duty than a pleasure, but she had to admit it was peaceful.
“Do you have family here?”
“No.”
“I mean—areyouburied here? One of your past lives?”
