Page 25 of Dead Serious: Case 3 Mr Bruce Reyes

“An in-between place,” she murmurs.

“That’s it,” I nod. “It’s an in-between place, a doorway between the world of the living and the world of the dead. It allows lost souls to cross over to the afterlife.”

“Okaay…” Danny winces as he shifts his broken leg uncomfortably. “He guards a doorway. Why does it need a guard?”

I shrug. “To stop souls coming back through, I imagine,” I reply, looking to Death for confirmation.

“Or something worse,” Death adds.

“What do you mean?” Danny tilts his head as he studies Death carefully.

“There are things out there far more dangerous than me,” Death says quietly as the rain hammers against the window and another loud rumble of thunder crashes overhead.

“Such as?” Chan asks, glancing up as the lights flicker.

“Things that dwell in the darkness, things that should never see the light of day… things that would use an unguarded doorway as a conduit into your world, and chaos will follow in their wake.”

“So, if I understand this correctly.” Danny shifts in his seat. “If Bruce’s bones are the ones we uncovered and his unfinished business is resolved, he’ll cross into the light or whatever it is spirits do?”

“Usually,” I reply. Then I turn back to Death and add, “But didn’t you say Bruce would have a choice? That he could stay?”

“In Bruce’s case, yes.” Death inclines his head. “He can choose to remain earthbound, but he will still be tied to the portal.”

“And if he chooses to cross over?” Danny asks. “What happens to the doorway then?”

“You’d better pray that he doesn’t,” Death replies ominously.

“Why?” Dusty suddenly interrupts. “Why does it have to be Bruce? Surely someone else must’ve guarded the doorway before he died.”

“It’s complicated,” Death admits.

“So un-complicate it.” Dusty stamps her foot and fists her hands on her hips. “Because from where I’m standing, all this is pretty fucking unfair to Bruce.”

Death stares at her coolly, making no attempt to explain further.

“Death,” I say, rubbing at the pounding pain in my temples. “Dusty does have a point. Why does it have to be Bruce?”

He sighs. “We’ve been over this before.”

“Yeah, but at the time I thought it was some freaky dream.”

“All I can say is that the portal and its location are different from other doorways.”

“I don’t get it.” I shake my head in frustration and then wish I hadn’t when pain clangs through my skull. “What’s so special about an old run-down bookshop in Whitechapel?”

“Bloodlines.” Death looks directly at Harrison, who refuses to meet his gaze.

I’m even more confused now. “What? Bruce’s bloodline?”

It’s at that moment that Jacob Marley, who until now has been content to nap on Danny’s lap, cranks one sleepy eye open and catches sight of Death. He stretches lazily and drops to the floor. Waddling his chunky body towards Death, he sniffs at one trouser leg before giving a little wiggle in preparation and launching himself up into Death’s lap.

Death looks down in distaste at the cat purring in his lap. “Urgh, get it off me.” He wrinkles his nose.

“I would’ve thought you’d like cats.” Chan’s mouth curves in amusement. “Didn’t the ancient Egyptians believe they were the guardians of the dead?”

“That was many centuries ago, and this one is fat and lazy.” Death looks back down at Jacob Marley to address him directly. “You are a disgrace to your ancestors.”

Jacob Marley’s response is to purr loudly and reach up, placing his paws on Death’s chest and bumping his nose to Death’s chin before licking him. The look on Death’s face is enough to have me reaching out and lifting Jacob Marley from his lap. He gives a loud mewl of indignation, turning around in my lap to slap me in the face with his tail before he leaps over to Danny’s lap and settles down once again.