Wild Wild Death (32 page)

I

t was a great two hours, and sometime during that time, we decided it would be easier—on both of us

—if we just said our good-byes there in that room at the Taos Inn. So it was no wonder I was surprised when I was putting my suitcases in my car back at the motel in Antonito the next morning and Jesse pul ed up in the Taopi Police vehicle.

I slammed my trunk closed. “I already spent the night being miserable,” I said as soon as he was out of the SUV. “So if you haven’t come to tel me you’re hopping in the Mustang and heading east with me—”

He stopped me with a kiss. “Wish I could. I’ve got”—he poked a thumb over his shoulder back toward New Mexico and the pueblo—“meetings coming out the yin-yang today,” he said. “Everybody from the elders to the FBI. But I couldn’t let you leave without giving you this.”

He opened his hand and the morning sunlight winked against a silver chain with a smal silver charm on it, a bird. “It’s a raven,” Jesse said, careful y looping it around the stil -red skin of my neck and fastening it. “And every time you look at it, I want you to remember that he is your spirit guide.

He’s strong. Like you. And brave. Like you. He welcomes new experiences, but remembers the past.”

“Like I’l always remember my time here.” I closed my palm around the charm, and I know it sounds crazy, but I could swear I felt the warmth of the raven’s body and a sort of hum from deep inside it, the twin of what I’d felt from the sacred silver bowl.

This was no ordinary bird, and it was no ordinary guy who’d given it to me.

“Strong Eagle blessed it for you,” Jesse said, reading my mind. “He tel s you to be safe, and to always remember that your Gift is special.”

“Thanks.” It was my turn to kiss him, and when we were done, I knew I had to move, and fast. I got into the Mustang and wheeled out of the parking lot and I was almost strong enough to just keep going.

Even though I knew it was going to make my heart crack in two, I couldn’t help myself. As I headed north out of the parking lot, I looked over my shoulder.

Jesse was smiling.

W

ithout Goodshot, the ride back to Cleveland wasn’t nearly as interesting as the ride out West. I made it in four days and could have done it faster except for that outlet mal in Nebraska. Shopping always helps, right? Wel , it always had before. I tried my best, but by the time I got back to Cleveland, I was already missing Jesse and feeling blue. I was just headed past Garden View Cemetery and toward my apartment when my cel rang. El a needed to see me ASAP.

About a thousand reasons floated through my head—one of El a’s teenaged daughters was in trouble, there had been a murder and nobody could seem to get a handle on it, El a needed fashion advice.

In fact, I thought of everything in the book except

—

“It’s good news and bad news, Pepper.” Since there were tears streaming down El a’s face, it was hard to decide which was which. Her cheeks were a cherry red that matched the suit she was wearing.

“We’ve had quite a bit of commotion around here today, Pepper. Jim… our administrator… wel , of course you know Jim. He was the one who instituted al

those

austerity

measures.

Staff

doing

landscaping work, and going through the trash for recyclables and—”

“Picking staples out of old memos so we could reuse the paper.” I’d never forgive Jim for the damage he’d done to my nails. “Of course I remember al that, El a. Jim’s budget cuts, that’s why I lost my job.”

“Jim’s budget cuts… Wel , it turns out…” We were the only ones in El a’s office, but she lowered her voice, anyway. “We were operating in the red because Jim was cooking the books. He had an off-shore account somewhere and was planning on disappearing with al the cemetery’s money.”

Not something I was expecting and I dropped into El a’s guest chair, my mouth open.

My question was only natural. “You’re sure?”

“There’s been a big investigation and the news came down this afternoon. Jim’s outta here.” To demonstrate, El a zipped a finger across her neck.

“The police took him away an hour ago.”

“That’s terrible,” I said.

“It is.” Nobody is as sympathetic as El a. Except that she was smiling. “But the good news is…” She drew in a deep breath. “The board of directors has asked me to take Jim’s job. Pepper, I hate to take advantage of another’s misfortune, but…” Her grin was as bright as the New Mexico sun. “After al these years of hard work, I’ve been promoted. I’m the new administrator of Garden View Cemetery!”

It was wel deserved and I jumped to my feet and gave her a hug. “But who—”

“Community relations manager, yes.” Stil smiling, El a circled around her desk and sat down.

“It’s a big job. Not only is that person responsible for our tours, but for our newsletter, for being a liaison with the media, for our speakers bureau and public relations. I know you can do it.”

“Me?” Yeah, I was sitting again, but that was because my knees had turned to rubber.

The phone on El a’s desk rang. “Jennine was supposed to ring me when the board was reconvening so I’ve got to go. They’l want an answer. What do you say, Pepper?”

I looked around her office—my new office—and I didn’t have to say a thing. Humming, El a scurried out.

And I got up, walked around to the other side of the desk, and sat down.

Just like that, I was back at Garden View.

Working with the dead.

Right where I belonged.