Death and Relaxation (Ordinary Magic #1)(60)

I sighed and rubbed at my eyes again. I was not looking forward to crunching these numbers and wading through this paperwork. But I’d do it.

No matter how long it took. As long as it didn’t take longer than four days.





Chapter 18


“TOOK YOU long enough.” Jean sat in my chair at my desk, eyes closed, arms crossed over her Venture Bros. T-shirt. The uncomfortable position meant she was trying to get a little shuteye without sinking into a deep sleep. I’d seen her do that ever since she took over the graveyard shift.

“I bring a peace offering.” I dropped the white bag with the maple bar on her lap.

Her mouth curved, but she hadn’t opened her eyes. “You brought me donuts as an apology?”

“One, I don’t owe you an apology. Two, that donut’s not from me.”

She cracked one eye open. “I’ll get to one in a second. Talk to me about two.”

“Your boyfriend gave it to me, on the house, with a wink and a smile.”

“My boyfriend?” She frowned, and finally put it together. “Hogan?” she exclaimed delightedly.

“You have some other guy working in some other bakery who likes you? Where else would I be going for pastries? Get out of my chair.”

“I’m not slow, I’m tired.” She dug out the maple bar and stared at it like it was a diamond ring. “Oh.” Her voice wavered. “He remembers.”

“So how long has this been going on between you two?”

“What?”

“Maple bar love-o-grams with hunky Hogan.” I pushed at her until she got out of the chair, and perched on the edge of my desk instead.

“Today.” She stared at the donut with a sort of dreamy sparkle in her eye. “Just. Now.”

I smiled and shook my head. The first, early moments of falling in love were always so sweet. Honest, true. And I knew my sister. When she liked someone she fell fast and all the way, regardless of the consequences.

I just hoped he didn’t break her heart, because he’d have a hard time doing his job after I’d broken both his arms.

“He’s still there now.” I booted up my computer.

“I’ll go by later. When he gets off.”

I pulled up email, clicking on the rally itinerary from Bertie.

I groaned. I would be needed for judging tonight at nine. My stomach, which I’d just gotten settled, roiled at the thought of having to eat rhubarb. Maybe she’d grant me mercy and let me judge non-edible entries.

I committed the list to memory, then moved on to the next email.

Nine o’clock meant I’d have to cancel the dessert with Ryder.

Hell.

“And now we go back to number one,” Jean said. She still hadn’t bitten into the pastry, but was eyeing it fondly, like she wanted to frame it or something.

“Take a picture. Number one who?”

“Number one what,” she corrected. “You do owe me an apology. I’ve been waiting for you all morning.”

She dug out her phone and held it for a selfie, angling the maple bar against her slightly parted lips. She smiled, opened her eyes with feigned innocence, and somehow made the whole thing look dirty.

I wondered if Hogan knew what he was in for.

“I didn’t sleep well. Wanted some strong coffee.”

“You look exhausted. Did you sleep at all?”

“No. I was sort of…distracted.”

“By the murder or by Ryder?”

“Both, I guess. And the power.” Truth all the way, especially with my sister. “I don’t suppose you might get any…hints or feelings about who might be the right person to give the power over to?”

She shook her head. “It doesn’t work like that. I think…I think I felt that Heim was going to be killed. That was the bad feeling I’d had. But since then, nothing.”

“Do you think if you got close to someone who might be a candidate for power you might pick up on something?”

“I’m a disaster warning system. How is gaining god power a disaster?”

“Poseidon.”

She tipped her head side to side. “Okay, yes. That’s always a disaster. But I can’t narrow down why I get those bad feelings until after the bad thing has happened. I know bad is on the way, but only recognize it after it hits. It’s a useless gift.” She laughed, but it didn’t cover just how uncomfortable and disappointed she was.

“It’s not useless,” I said. “You just need more practice to figure it out. I still don’t have a handle on how I’m supposed to deal with the power transfer.”

“Yeah, but you’ve only had that job for the last year and this is your first time. I’ve lived with this all my life. Plenty of time to practice.” She finally bit into the maple bar, chewing slowly, her eyes unfocussed, though from the pleasure of the donut or displeasure at her abilities, I wasn’t sure.

“Don’t get some idea in your head that you can ignore it,” I said. “I’m relying on you to let me know when you get those gut feelings.”

“All the help it will do. But yes. I’ll let you know if I get the doom twinges.”

I chuckled. “Is that what you’re calling it?”