Page 115 of Dead Serious: Case 3 Mr Bruce Reyes

“Well, aren’t we just the power couple.” Dusty grins as she hooks her hand over Bruce’s shoulder, and he slips his arm around her waist. “A spirit guide and the guardian of the magic gateway. We’re practically a queer fantasy novel.”

I give an exhausted chuckle. “That’s great for you two and everything, but I’m knackered. I really need to sit down and have a cup of tea.”

“Me too,” Danny agrees, shifting all his weight on one leg in a manner that looks exceedingly uncomfortable. “Is it all over then? Apocalypse averted?”

“Yep.” Bruce grins. “Chaos is back where he belongs, trapped on the other side where he can’t do any more damage. Now that I’m fully in charge of the gateway, it no longer needs the alignments to work. I can open the gateway by myself, and I’m pretty sure I can stop anything too bad from coming through, but if I can’t, I know who to call.” He winks at us.

“Please don’t,” I reply.

“Sounds like victory to me,” Sam says as he tries to peel off some of the slime from the side of his face. “Now, I don’t know about you guys, but I could use a drink and a shower.”

Dusty and Bruce accompany us back into the stock room, which is now flooded with light. Opening the door and stepping back out into the bookstore, I pause and blink. It’s once again a hive of activity. Spirits bustle throughout the room, picking up books and slotting them back on shelves.

Once again, Danny stares wide-eyed. If Bruce was right, he can no longer see ghosts, which means the books are just floating through the air and reorganising themselves to him. Sam pats him on the shoulder, giving him a sympathetic look.

“Tristan!” a familiar voice calls out. Turning, I see Evangeline cross the floor toward me. “Sweet boy, thank you for figuring it all out.”

I smile wide. “You’re welcome, Evangeline.”

“And thank you for taking care of Vivienne,” she says softly.

I can’t help shrugging, but my smile stays in place. “I’d say it was my pleasure, but she ate all my Pringles and made me watch reruns of Who Wants to be a Millionaire.”

Evangeline chuckles. “I don’t know what that is, but I’m sure she appreciated the company.” She turns her attention to Bruce. “Hello, cousin.”

“I suppose we are, aren’t we?” Bruce grins.

My phone rings in my pocket and pulling it free, I see Chan is calling me.

“Hey, Chan,” I answer.

“Tris, I’m guessing you saved the world since I looked out of the window and found bright sunshine rather than torrential rain. And, rather fittingly, a rainbow.”

“Yeah.” I grin. “It’s all good now. Danny and I will fill you in later.”

“Sorry, honey, but later you’re going to be busy.”

“What? Why?”

“You’re throwing a party at your place,” she explains.

“And why are we doing that?”

“We-e-e-elll… for those of us in the Buffy gang, it’s a high-five we prevented the apocalypse party, but to everyone else, it’s a flat warming.”

“But…”

“Oops, sorry, gotta go, loads to organise for the party, ciao!”

She hangs up before I can get another word in edgeways.

“What’d Chan say?” Danny hobbles up beside me.

“Um… how do you feel about a party at our place?” I turn to face him.

“Tonight?” he asks. I nod. “With Chan in charge of the guest list?” I shrug but nod again. “Sounds like the perfect way to finish a really weird day.”

EPILOGUE