Page 59 of Deathtoll

So not in the mood for this.Kate’s fingers tightened on the doorknob as she struggled to keep her temper in check. “Are you trying to make me run screaming into the night?”

“Can I go with you?”

“No! Do not make light of this.”

“I was going to tell you the same.” Murph held her gaze. “I was supposed to go into Philly tomorrow to check out equipment for that zipline course, but I think I’m going to stick around instead.”

“The accidents have nothing to do with me. I’m safe.”

“Which is why you’re kicking out your sister?”

“I’m not kicking her out. I’m…” Kate groaned. She hated when people turned things around on her, dammit. “Go to Philly, please. We can’t stop doing our jobs. Neither of us.”

“I’d feel more comfortable—”

She fixed him with a gaze so steely, they could have made medieval battle swords from it to fight dragons. “Do you ever wonder what would make me feel more comfortable?”

“I saidtemporarily.” He emphasized the word as if it were a magic spell to unlock her common sense.

She held out a hand between them, palm up. “This is a slice ofnopebread.” She whooshed her other hand over it. “Topped with somenopespread.” She pretended to drop something on top. “And here is somenopebologna andnopecheese.” She placed her other hand over all that. “And another slice ofnopebread.” She lifted her imaginary creation closer to Murph. “You know what it is? Anopesandwich.”

He kept a straight face as he raised an eyebrow. “What? No pickles?”

Damn him for making her laugh when she meant to be good and mad at him.Just like a man.

Chapter Twenty

Kate

“Today could be the day I finally murder someone,” Kate told Maria Tuesday morning as they walked into work together.

“Want to talk about it?”

“I want to scream about it. Had a big fight with my sister this morning. She left, and I hate that her visit ended on a bad note. She decided to keep her rental and drive cross-country instead of taking a flight. Determined to have an adventure.” She groaned. “Sweet cocoa bean heaven. Like right now? She has to do this now?”

“She’s young. She needs fun in her life. We all do.”

“But she’s not picking up my calls, and that makes me worry. And my car iscoughingagain. I barely got it back from the shop.” She read Maria’s unspoken words on her face. “I’mnotgoing to ask Murph to look at it. I have to be able to live without him, dammit.”

Maria, wise woman that she was, offered nothing but supportive smiles in response to that.

“Was I unreasonable with Emma?”

“Some worry is natural. As long as it’s not all the time. Have you scheduled that lab work yet?”

“Haven’t had a free minute. But I’ll do it. I promise.”

Maria stopped in front of her office door. “Everything will feel better after your second cup of coffee.”

“The truest words in the universe. Somebody should merchandise that.”

“We could start a girlfriend side gig. Nothing but coffee wisdom on tea towels and pillowcases.”

“Deal. All right. You have a fun day.”

“You too, Kate.”

Kate walked to her own door, went straight to brewing that second cup. While the black gold slowly dripped from the machine, she called the hospital.