You're Dead: Chapter Five (special preview)

Freddie:

There were lights on at Stevie’s place, but her truck wasn’t parked outside. Hopefully the girl called her and got to her, although she ran off sooner than I had expected. The left side of my body ached as I got out of my car. The pain was dull but irritating. Fighting Grace wasn’t something I wanted to do. We had been friends once a long time ago, and I guess I allow that to hold me back even now.

I walked into Stevie’s house, finding Booker laid across the sofa with Iggy upon his chest. I looked at him and he sat up while Iggy clung to the front of his hoodie.

Booker looked me up and down. “What’re you doing here?”

I placed my hand around my left shoulder and looked around. “I could ask you the same thing. I thought Stevie told you to stop coming in here.”

“Only when she notices.” Booker stood up from the sofa. “What about you?”

I lifted up the keyring before tucking it back into my pocket. “She gave me a key. Now where is she at?”

“At work,” Booker said with a shrug. “Why?”

“I met with Grace while I was showing Daisy around the gray area,” I huffed. “I told her to run and call Stevie should there be any trouble.”

Booker’s eyes widened and he leaned closer towards me. “Was there trouble?” Iggy was still hanging off the front of his hoodie.

I frowned and shook my head. “I had to guard against Grace for a moment, but the cats handled a good deal of it. Daisy ran on instinct.”

“Taking her to the gray area on day two was a choice,” Booker huffed. “She seems sensitive, what made you think that was a good idea?”

Booker was good at what he did, even if he was arrogant and showboaty at times. He got his job done, and he was one of the few psychopomps I had seen go up against Grace without the use of his alter. If anyone should be taking Daisy under their wing, I’d prefer it to be him, even if I don't know his age. But he has a lazy streak I don’t like whatsoever.

“It’s better she is at least acclimated and understands rather than be spoon fed everything.” I took my phone from my pocket and dialed Daisy’s phone.

“I don’t know how Mara raised you, but I can assume she didn’t shove you completely out of your nest,” Booker huffed.

“Don’t cop your attitude with me when you’re the one squatting in Stevie’s house.” The phone went directly to the message box. “Dammit.” I tried Stevie right away.

Booker’s eyes narrowed on me. I rarely saw him get serious, but when he did there was a mean streak in him. “Daisy seems like a sweet kid, don’t get upset with her just because she replaced your safety net.”

That struck a raw nerve. Mara was gone, and she had been my family for all the time I had been dead. I hadn’t taken the proper steps to mourn her, so his words struck like a cold blade. “I’ll tell Stevie you’re here!” I hissed at him.

“What is it?” Stevie snapped on the phone. “I’m busy, this better be good.”

“Is Daisy with you?” I asked.

I could hear the voices of people just beyond Stevie. She was quiet enough I could actually hear someone complaining about the wait. “No,” Stevie replied after some pause. “I thought she was with you. What did you do?”

I flinched. “Me? I didn’t do anything? Has she called you?”

Stevie scoffed. “My phone hasn’t rang except for you and my security doorbell telling me Booker was in the house. By the way make him fucking leave.”

“She hasn’t called you? It’s been at least half an hour-” I grumbled under my breath. “Look, keep an eye out for her! She could be running. I’ll keep trying to get in touch with her, but we may have to do a search.”

“How could you lose her?” Stevie snapped. “I thought you were the responsible one of the group!”

“It was Grace!” I barked back. “I couldn’t help it! I told her to call you!” I shook my head and rubbed the bridge of my nose as I felt a pain coming in. “Look, when you get a chance, try moving your truck to the gray area-”

“I literally get no business there.”

“Just do it! She could still be there!” I turned off the phone so she couldn’t argue anymore. “She knows you’re in the house, she wants you out.”

Booker rolled his eyes. “Don’t try changing the subject. You lost the new girl, she’s your responsibility.”

I glared at him. “I didn’t ask for this! Why do you all think I want to be the person to fill this role?”