Page 6 of Dead Serious Halloween Special

“I’m so happy for you.” I smile. “You seem so much more, I don’t know… at peace?” I muse. “So you’re really not caught in a death cycle, either of you. Which means you don’t have any unfinished business.” I watch as they both shake their heads. “Why are you still here? Why didn’t you move on? Even if you didn’t see the light or missed it, Bruce can still help you to cross over.”

Ian and Dave look at each other as if having a private conversation, thenturn their attention back to me.

“After everything that went on last year, with that chaos business and then the demon, we were worried about you. We decided to stick around and make sure you were okay.”

“You did?” I smile at them, and a warmth spreads through my ribs. “Thank you.”

Dave shrugs. “It’s nothin’.” He shoots a grin at Ian. “Besides, we kinda like it around here. It’s never dull. Who needs heaven anyway? Just a load of stairways and chunky angels playing harps, I bet.”

“I’m sure that’s not entirely accurate.” I chuckle.

“They’re not far off.” Dusty huffs. “It’s really boring, trust me. Here’s where it’s all at. Never a dull moment with you, Tris, honey.”

“Thanks,” I reply dryly. “That’s not exactly by choice, you know.”

“That’s what makes it so exciting.” Dusty winks. “Never know what insanity is coming next.”

I look across the room as the door bangs open and Ted, our orderly, strides in. “Morning, Tristan.” He inclines his head in greeting. “The undertaker’s here from Stovell’s. He’s collecting Mrs Finchley.”

“Okay.”

“You done?” He points to the body on the table in front of me. “Want me to put that one back in cold storage?”

“Yes, please, if you wouldn’t mind.” I peel my gloves off and toss them in the bin before washing my hands thoroughly. “Mr Brent, number four, please.”

“No problem. You done for the day?” Ted asks conversationally as he sets about moving the body back to the bank of refrigerators.

“Yes, just covering for Hen for a few hours.” I hang my white coat on the peg and pick up my notes. “Anyway, see you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow. Have a good Halloween!”

“You too.” I smile as I head out of the room.

Dropping the notes in my office to type up tomorrow, I grab my coat and start to head out, but I pause at the sound of a loud crash, which came from the staff room. Back tracking a few paces I grasp the handle and open the door, then poke my head around the edge.

“Is everything okay in here?” My question is met with silence and an empty room.

Huh. Maybe I imagined it. I’m about to withdraw and close the door when something sparkly catches my eye. Curious, I push the door open wider and step into the room.

“What the?—”

There are small, child-sized footprints leading across the staff room. But these aren’t shoe imprints—I can see the impressions of an instep and one, two, three… four toes? That’s weird, and that’s not the only thing. The footprints are made up of glitter.

“The fuck?” I mutter under my breath.

My gaze follows the trail to the small staff refrigerator. The door is wide open and a milk carton is on its side on the floor, spilling out the last of its contents in a little pool.

Crossing the room, I reach down and pick up the carton, which is now empty, but what catches my eye is the bite marks in the top of it, as if someone tore into it with their teeth rather than just open the top neatly.

“Tris, are you ready to go? The ghost squad is waiting,” Dusty’s voice blares out next to me. I jolt in shock.

“Jesus, Dusty.” I suck in a sharp breath and press my emptyhand to my chest. “What have I told you about sneaking up on me?”

“What? Do you want a ten-piece band playing the opening verses to Adele’sHello?”

Ignoring my question, she looks down at the puddle of milk on the floor, then to the mauled carton in my hand. Her gaze stops on the teeth marks.

“Thirsty?” She quirks a brow. “Jesus, Tris, you’re an animal. You could’ve just got a glass.”