Page 22 of Toxic Apple Turnovers

Connie lifts her empty glass, and immediately a girl is there to replace it with a fresh glass of something dangerously fruity and most likely toxic.

“You know what they say”—Connie leans my way—“a good lawyer knows the law. A great lawyer knows the judge.”

The entire table breaks out into cackles as if everyone were in on the joke.

Yes, I get it. In fact, I’ve heard it before.

And she’s right. After all, Fiona has most certainly earned the right to call Everett by his proper moniker.

The next game gets underway before I have a chance to ask another question. It’s concentration central. Who knew keeping an eye on multiple cards at a time would prove challenging?

I glance over to Connie who seems to have colored in half her cards by now.

“It’s a shame about Amanda,” I say and she doesn’t lift a brow. I’m about to give it another go when I spot a glowing figure stepping in behind her, and that glowing figure looks exactly like someone I love.

“Judge Baxter!” I call out as I jump out of my seat. JudgeEdwardBaxter to be exact.

“It’sbingo, Lola. Get it straight.” Cormack doesn’t sound amused as she gets right back to work.

“I’ll watch your cards,” Keelie calls out.

Owlbert flies in low. “And I’ll watch Connie. She’s inexplicitly close to winning again. That would make three times in a row. You know what they say, third time’s a crime.”

“Sounds good,” I say before motioning to the handsome poltergeist before me. “Come here,” I practically mouth the words as I navigate him to a corner. “It’s so good to see you, Judge Baxter!” I stop myself from lunging my arms around him. Honestly, I don’t know him all that well, and there are enough eyes here to catch me trying to hug a ghost. It’s the exact reason I’m facing the wall as I carry out this spirited dalliance. Spirited in the literal sense, of course. “Swing by my place later, and I’ll invite Everett over.”

He frowns, and in the process looks so much like his son it’s eerie. Save for some gray peppered in around his ears, he’s all the same.

“I can’t.” He offers a simple shrug. “It’s not up to me when I appear and where. I can move within the vicinity once I arrive, but this time around it’s a bit more orchestrated where I end up.” He points skywards.

“I see.” I scowl over at Cormack as if this were somehow her fault. “Well, then I’ll have to invite Everett to join us. But believe me when I say he won’t be thrilled to be here. Technically, it’s me he doesn’t want to be here.” I pull the phone out of my pocket.

Guess who I ran into tonight in Leeds? Your father! Come join the fun!

I send Everett the address, give him directions, and ask him to text once he gets here.

He texts back.Be right there.

I flash the phone his father’s way. “Everett will be here in no time.” I glance back to Connie, and a knot tightens in the pit of my stomach. “On second thought, I’d better ask him to meet up with us in the parking lot.” And I do just that. “So, how is eternity treating you? Are you thrilled to be back on this spinning rock to help put away the bad guys?”

He takes a breath he clearly doesn’t need. “Eternity couldn’t be better. Believe me when I say, dead is where it’s at. It almost makes this planet and everything that happens on it feel as if you’re watching a film in black and white, in slow motion, and backwards all at once.”

“Wow. That says a lot. I bet my father is having a great time.”

A warm smile graces his familiar face, and it makes me automatically return the favor.

“I’ve met your father, Lottie. He is indeed having a great time. We golf.”

“You golf?” Every last bone in my body tingles at the thought. “That’s wonderful! Have you met Noah’s father, too?”

He glowers at the mention of him.

“Never mind. I’m going to get back to the table, and as soon as Everett gets—”

“Lemon,” a familiar deep voice rumbles from behind. If his voice hadn’t given him away, the heady scent of his cologne would have.

My body goes rigid.

I spin slowly on my heels, only to face the hottest judge this side of the living.