“Good. Here’s my number.” I handed him a card. “Save it in your phone, then burn the card. We don’t need anyone finding it on you.”
“Oh, nice. This is very Mission Impossible–like.” Shorty was easily amused.
“I would love for this to be simple.” I reached for my wallet. Shorty looked malnourished.
“Whatever you say, boss.” He was already busy programming his phone.
“Shorty, when was the last time you ate? Besides the orange.”
“I eat all the time.”
I was sure it wasn’t anything healthy, or even enough. “Here, Shorty, go get some food, and maybe take some of your peeps with you. I normally work at Abuelita’s on the weekend. Come and see sometime.” I handed him a stack of twenties. I didn’t care how he spent the money. I didn’t want to disrespect him, but I knew what it was like to be hungry.
“You don’t have to pay me.”
Now that I had a job that paid over the top, giving away $200 didn’t hurt. I was glad I had made an ATM run on Wednesday. I needed to do another one today.
“I’m not. Just buying you lunch.”
“Where? At Tao?”
I had to smile. I had never been a blessing to others. I hated receiving charity, but I always welcomed a meal. Shorty was the same way.
“If that’s what you like, why not? My boss pays me well. I’m sure she would appreciate me buying lunch for our friends. We are friends, right?” I didn’t want to insult him.
“Yes, ma’am, we are.” He pocketed the cash and smiled brightly.
“Good. Now get off the car. Don’t you ever dare tell a soul you were sitting on Bumblebee, or the owner will kill you.”
Shorty’s eyes got really wide, and he hopped off the car. “This is not your car? Why didn’t you say something?” He was actually polishing poor Bumblebee.
“I wish it was. Those witches blew up my minivan.” My poor Whale.
“They did you a favor with that one.” Shortly was shaking his head at me.
“Thanks, Shorty.” I was glaring at him. The nerve of the man, and he was walking. “Don’t you have to get to work now? Be careful, and try not to get kidnapped.”
“Leaving, boss.” With that, he turned around and headed down Hazel Street toward the train tracks. He looked like a man without a care in the world.
Maybe my day wasn’t a total loss. I watched Shorty for a minute and then got in Bumblebee. Now that I knew the world was watching, there was no point in hiding. I was hungry and had music to make. I decided to make a few more stops before heading back to Reapers.
Chapter 27
Sacred Heart Catholic Church was not far from downtown, less than ten minutes away. I decided to make a quick trip to the church before heading back. Hopefully, my stomach would not growl. Lunchtime was a horrible time to be driving around State Line, but it was the most direct path—drive north on State Line to Texas Boulevard, and then a quick right on Elizabeth Street. I didn’t know the church schedule, but I was sure I could find somebody in the church’s office. If I was lucky, maybe a priest.
I made really good time and got there in less than seven minutes. I had to force myself to drive past the smoothie shop, which was a test of dedication today. When I pulled into the parking lot, only a few cars were there. I parked to the farthest left, overlooking the cemetery. I had learned living in Texarkana that both Catholic churches had cemeteries. The one at Saint Edward’s was not attached to the church, like this one. Graves and cemeteries always creeped me out. The irony was not lost on me. Of all the places to work, I worked for Death. I got out, with a quick prayer that this would be a short trip.
“Isis.”
I looked around for the person calling me. It was almost a whisper, but I swore I had heard my name. I had a really unusual name; nobody was going to say it by accident—unless they were talking about the terrorist group, but somehow I doubted it.
“Isis.”
There it was again. This time it sounded like multiple people saying my name. Almost as if the words were carried by the wind. “Isis.” The voices were coming from the cemetery.
“Damn the devil to hell. Why me?” I couldn’t help it. Was I really going to go in there?
“Isis.”
My job sucked. Obviously, the voices were not going to give up. I took a steadying breath and marched forward. Ever since I had taken this job, all I had done was take deep breaths.
It didn’t take long for that cold feeling cemeteries gave me to kick in. I barely managed to cross the threshold, and it was there. The way this day was going, all I needed was a fog to come in, and the sinister effect would be complete.
“Isis.” Those stupid voices were still calling my name. I was surprised at the number of people wandering around the cemetery. There were at least a dozen or so around the place. There were not that many cars in the parking lot for all these people. Had they all carpooled?
I was told people at cemeteries wanted solitude and privacy. I made it a point not to look anyone in the eye and to move quietly around the tombs. It took me a minute to realize I was literally walking around on the tombs, not on the little trail. Before I could change course, I saw a priest kneeling by one of the graves. I had a choice: wander around till I found the boogeyman calling my name or talk to the priest. I hated interrupting his prayers, but I really needed to get out of there. Trying not to step on any
