The Remains of the Dead by Wendy Roberts

Author:Wendy Roberts
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: penquin
Published: 2011-04-07T21:00:00+00:00

11

Sadie figured that mopping up body parts and easing spirits into the next dimension was her calling. The reality of death, its effects and remnants, were so much a part of her everyday life that she was rarely rattled. However, as she slunk in the shadows at the back of the Toth house in the dead of night, she suddenly knew fear and all its cousins.

“Hurry up,” Maeva hissed.

“I am hurrying,” Sadie whispered back.

They’d parked more than a block away because Sadie didn’t want neighbors to see her parking at the house. They reached the backyard and jogged diagonally across, their shapes mostly hidden in the shadows of the tall cedars. The rain was coming down in torrents, and Sadie’s feet made sucking noises in the spongy moss-mixed grass.

“Ewww!” Maeva cried suddenly.

“What?” Sadie froze in place and furtively glanced around.

“I think I stepped on a slug.”

Sadie grumbled something about making Maeva eat a slug, then continued her quick-walk to the back door. She fumbled around in the dark to find the dead-bolt slot, and when she finally got the door open, she ushered Maeva inside, then quickly closed and locked the door behind them. Maeva reached to flick on the lights.

“No,” Sadie hissed. “I told you, no lights. Sylvia Toth already thinks I’m a thief. She may have told the neighbors to call the cops if they see me around the house.”

“And yet you still have her key,” Maeva pointed out.

“Actually, the police took my key at the station. This is a copy. I always make a duplicate because sometimes Zack and I work separately, or the restoration company needs to get into the property when I’m not available. It makes things easier.”

“Uh-huh,” Maeva said. “Admit it—you were coming back here with or without me.”

“No way. I am so done with this place,” Sadie whispered.

“Unless Mrs. Toth has the place bugged, you can probably speak up.” Maeva chuckled, her own voice just above a whisper.

“I don’t feel very good sneaking in here,” Sadie admitted, her tone growing only slightly louder.

“We’ll be quick. Show me where Grant died and we’ll get started.”

Sadie brought Maeva through the solid wood door that separated the kitchen from the living room. Thankfully, the heavy drapes were shut tight. Nobody looking toward the house would be able to see two women lurking inside.

Sadie watched Maeva pull a pack of matches and a thick black pillar candle from her oversized purse. She lit the candle, then placed it in the center of the large granite coffee table.

“I’ll attempt to summon him to this spot. Most spirits are more receptive at their point of departure,” Maeva said. “Your being here also should help.”

“I don’t see how,” Sadie said. “I told you that Grant never appeared to me. Trudy was the only one I saw.”

“And I told you that I think that’s because you don’t connect with them once they’ve moved on. You won’t need to communicate with him. That’s my job. The place of a person’s death is

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.