If I Die
Page 25
I dont suppose youre any closer to proving hes done anything else?
Not yet. Ill get him, though, Kaylee, Tod said, and that look was back. His irises were too still, like there was something he didnt want me to see. And when I realized how badly I wanted to see it, I glanced down and noticed I was playing with the bat again.
My weak laugh sounded nervous, even to my own ears. I guess I should tell Nash he was right about the bat. It did come in handy.
Tod leaned forward to catch my gaze, and a blue twist of fear churned in his. Kaylee, you cant tell him about Thane. Anyone Thane sees as a threat is in danger. The irony there is that if he killed Nash, or your dad, or whoever, wed be able to catch him with an unauthorized soul. But itd be too late for whoever he took.
A chill ran the entire length of my body. Id known that, of course, but I hadnt actually thought it through that far. No one else could know about Thane. No matter what.
You want me to stay the night, in case he comes back? Tod asked. I glanced at him in surprise, but he was serious.
Dont you have to work? He was less than two hours into his shift.
I could ask someone to cover for me.
I stroked Styxs fur, but she refused to sleep as long as he was there. I thought you were out of favors.
Yeah, now Im taking on debt, he admitted. But I can handle it.
Would Thane be able to see you, if he comes back?
Tod nodded. Reapers cant hide from one another. I cant, anyway. Maybe if I had more experience
But if he sees you here, hell know you know about him, and your investigation will be hosed, I said. Tod started to argue, but I cut him off. You have to stay away from him and find proof. Ill be finetill Thursday, anyway.
He nodded again, reluctantly, this time. Ill let you know when I find something. Until thenkeep sleeping with the bat.
When Tod left, Styx went back to sleep, like her night had never been interrupted.
I lay awake for another hour and a half, listening to her breathe.
Sabine was waiting by my locker on Monday morningnot the beginning Id hoped for on the third-from-final day of my life. But honestly, considering my luck, it fit.
So, howd it go? she asked, leaning against the locker next to mine while I entered my combination, and for several seconds, I thought she was talking about the unscheduled appearance of my own personal reaper. Then I remembered she didnt know about that
Sabine was talking about me and Nash. He obviously hadnt told her that our plans had been interrupted. Again.
I thought we werent that kind of friends. My locker clicked open and I shoved my French text inside, thenpulled out my algebra book.
Were not. I just
When she hesitated, I glanced up to find her avoiding my gaze. Sabine wouldnt lie to methat would violate whatever kind of screwed-up moral standard she subscribed tobut that didnt mean she necessarily liked the truth.
I sighed and slammed my locker. We didnt do it. Happy now?
The hallway seemed to get a little brighter, and her black eyes actually shined. More like satisfied. For the moment, anyway. But honestly, Ill be a lot closer to happy on Friday. Not because youll be dead, but because Nash wont be tied to you anymore.
I rolled my eyes and resisted the urge to smack her. Id done it once, and that fact seemed to make subsequent urges harder to resist. But giving in would break our truce and probably affect her willingness to help me with Mr. Beck. Also, shed hit back, and I was less than confident in the local undertakers ability to hide a broken nose with pancake makeup.
Why did you even give me advice, if you dont want me to sleep with him?
Sabine frowned, like I made no sense. Its like we were born on different planets. Is your world really that black-and-white?
What does that even mean? And I dont have time for one of your speeches right now.
It means that even though Im willing to go through you to get Nash back, I like you, too. Thats a little bit of a conflict for me.
I slammed my locker shut and faced her directly. Why do you like me, Sabine? I couldnt figure that one out. I would have been perfectly fine with her hating me, so long as that didnt put me in the direct line of fire from the creepy-vibes she leaked whenever she got mad. Or from her killer right hook.
Im not sure. Sabine tossed long, dark hair over her shoulder and the cartilage piercing in her left ear shined in the overhead lights. You dont have any outstanding qualities, other than a gritty determination I cant help but relate to.
Meaning?
Meaning, you tend to grow on people. Like some kind of persistent fungus.
It was very clear, however, why I didnt like her.
So, you give me vaguely girlfriendly advice about sex, then cross your fingers and hope I dont have it with Nash. Is that how this plays out in that warped, shriveled little cerebrum of yours?
She shrugged. More or less.
I couldnt shake the feeling that it was actually less, and I knew that if I pressed for details shed give them to mealong with significant TMI about her former relationship with Nash. But lifeespecially minewas too short to waste time picturing her making out with my boyfriend. So I changed the subject.
Not yet. Ill get him, though, Kaylee, Tod said, and that look was back. His irises were too still, like there was something he didnt want me to see. And when I realized how badly I wanted to see it, I glanced down and noticed I was playing with the bat again.
My weak laugh sounded nervous, even to my own ears. I guess I should tell Nash he was right about the bat. It did come in handy.
Tod leaned forward to catch my gaze, and a blue twist of fear churned in his. Kaylee, you cant tell him about Thane. Anyone Thane sees as a threat is in danger. The irony there is that if he killed Nash, or your dad, or whoever, wed be able to catch him with an unauthorized soul. But itd be too late for whoever he took.
A chill ran the entire length of my body. Id known that, of course, but I hadnt actually thought it through that far. No one else could know about Thane. No matter what.
You want me to stay the night, in case he comes back? Tod asked. I glanced at him in surprise, but he was serious.
Dont you have to work? He was less than two hours into his shift.
I could ask someone to cover for me.
I stroked Styxs fur, but she refused to sleep as long as he was there. I thought you were out of favors.
Yeah, now Im taking on debt, he admitted. But I can handle it.
Would Thane be able to see you, if he comes back?
Tod nodded. Reapers cant hide from one another. I cant, anyway. Maybe if I had more experience
But if he sees you here, hell know you know about him, and your investigation will be hosed, I said. Tod started to argue, but I cut him off. You have to stay away from him and find proof. Ill be finetill Thursday, anyway.
He nodded again, reluctantly, this time. Ill let you know when I find something. Until thenkeep sleeping with the bat.
When Tod left, Styx went back to sleep, like her night had never been interrupted.
I lay awake for another hour and a half, listening to her breathe.
Sabine was waiting by my locker on Monday morningnot the beginning Id hoped for on the third-from-final day of my life. But honestly, considering my luck, it fit.
So, howd it go? she asked, leaning against the locker next to mine while I entered my combination, and for several seconds, I thought she was talking about the unscheduled appearance of my own personal reaper. Then I remembered she didnt know about that
Sabine was talking about me and Nash. He obviously hadnt told her that our plans had been interrupted. Again.
I thought we werent that kind of friends. My locker clicked open and I shoved my French text inside, thenpulled out my algebra book.
Were not. I just
When she hesitated, I glanced up to find her avoiding my gaze. Sabine wouldnt lie to methat would violate whatever kind of screwed-up moral standard she subscribed tobut that didnt mean she necessarily liked the truth.
I sighed and slammed my locker. We didnt do it. Happy now?
The hallway seemed to get a little brighter, and her black eyes actually shined. More like satisfied. For the moment, anyway. But honestly, Ill be a lot closer to happy on Friday. Not because youll be dead, but because Nash wont be tied to you anymore.
I rolled my eyes and resisted the urge to smack her. Id done it once, and that fact seemed to make subsequent urges harder to resist. But giving in would break our truce and probably affect her willingness to help me with Mr. Beck. Also, shed hit back, and I was less than confident in the local undertakers ability to hide a broken nose with pancake makeup.
Why did you even give me advice, if you dont want me to sleep with him?
Sabine frowned, like I made no sense. Its like we were born on different planets. Is your world really that black-and-white?
What does that even mean? And I dont have time for one of your speeches right now.
It means that even though Im willing to go through you to get Nash back, I like you, too. Thats a little bit of a conflict for me.
I slammed my locker shut and faced her directly. Why do you like me, Sabine? I couldnt figure that one out. I would have been perfectly fine with her hating me, so long as that didnt put me in the direct line of fire from the creepy-vibes she leaked whenever she got mad. Or from her killer right hook.
Im not sure. Sabine tossed long, dark hair over her shoulder and the cartilage piercing in her left ear shined in the overhead lights. You dont have any outstanding qualities, other than a gritty determination I cant help but relate to.
Meaning?
Meaning, you tend to grow on people. Like some kind of persistent fungus.
It was very clear, however, why I didnt like her.
So, you give me vaguely girlfriendly advice about sex, then cross your fingers and hope I dont have it with Nash. Is that how this plays out in that warped, shriveled little cerebrum of yours?
She shrugged. More or less.
I couldnt shake the feeling that it was actually less, and I knew that if I pressed for details shed give them to mealong with significant TMI about her former relationship with Nash. But lifeespecially minewas too short to waste time picturing her making out with my boyfriend. So I changed the subject.
