The Tessa Randolph Collection, Books 1-3 by Paula Lester (best ereader for comics .txt) 📗

Ricardo was still eating nuts. “Do you know if the casino is having financial problems or something?”

The waiter dropped off Tessa’s burger while Ricardo looked longingly at his empty pint glass but didn’t order another one. He sighed and shoved the peanut bowl aside. “Not that I know of. I mean, it’s a casino. People are there spending money all day every day. How could they be low on money?”

Tessa nodded. He made a good point.

“I mean,” he continued, “Melinda Chino seems to be making a mint. She’s building a new house on fifty acres outside of town. The place looks like a mansion. You should see it—it’s only framed in right now, but it’s got two towers. One on each side. Regular Rapunzel towers. You know the type.” He chuckled and shook his head. “She must have more money than you or I would see in ten lifetimes.”

Lifetimes. Tessa pondered the word. She couldn’t help thinking about her dad and the half a lifetime he’d wasted on her. She knew that, from then on out, she’d have to stop squandering it.

Ricardo climbed unsteadily off the barstool. “I’ll be right back.”

She chewed and watched him retreat toward the men’s room, mulling over what he’d said. Melinda was building a big, fancy house off her casino earnings. Was that normal for a manager? Tessa supposed the woman could be independently wealthy.

But maybe there was a different explanation. Maybe she was siphoning money from the casino. Could she have killed Sanborn to steal back the blackjack money for herself?

Deciding she needed to make a point to talk to Melinda again, Tessa left some cash on the bar for the burger and hurried out of the restaurant before Ricardo could get back from the men’s room.

It bothered her a tiny bit that she didn’t even feel bad about it.

Chapter 14

THE NEXT DAY WAS WARMER, and Tessa wore denim shorts and a red cap sleeve shirt to the office. She figured her mother would get after her about her wardrobe or, at the very least, raise a perfect eyebrow. But Tessa didn’t care. She was fed up.

She’d spent the night sitting on the sofa, stroking a purring Pepper and thinking about reapers. The more she sat and thought, the angrier she got. What kind of job expected people to escort souls to the other side? It must be the absolute worst job in existence.

As dawn got closer and Tessa dove deeper into her emotions, she began to realize she was angry at someone she really didn’t want to ever be mad at. Her father. She’d buried her face in Pepper’s soft fur and groaned. “Why did you do it, Dad? You still had a long life ahead of you. It was supposed to be me.”

The cat looked at her with confusion plastered on her sleepy kitty face.

Tessa couldn’t help but laugh. “Not you, fur ball. You’re okay.”

Her phone had dinged, making both of them jump. It was an assignment.

Tessa narrowed her eyes as she studied the screen. She didn’t want to be a reaper anymore. She’d made the decision. Someone else would have to take the assignment—maybe Gloria needed the extra money.

Her phone had chimed again. This time it was a text from her mother.

“I know it’s hard right now. But I gave you another assignment. You should get the notification any minute if you haven’t already.”

Tessa rolled her eyes. Her mother acted as if she was doing her a favor. Cheryl could do it herself. Tessa was out.

And if no one found Chet Sanborn’s spirit and the world ended in a war between spirits and live people, Tessa would lock herself in the apartment with Pepper and live on noodles and peanut butter until it was over. So, basically, nothing would change.

She made sure to show up at the office with plenty of time before the assignment. That way, Cheryl would have one less thing to judge her about—aside from her attire. There was plenty of time for another reaper to get there in time.

Tessa crossed the marble floor, heading straight for her mother’s office. The blisters on her heels felt better, but she’d still put on Band-Aids inside her blue Chuck Taylors.

Cheryl’s office was empty. So was Gloria’s. In fact, the only person Tessa could find in the entire building was the janitor, who was finishing up and heading out.

“It’s Sunday,” he told her. “Y’all usually work from home on Sunday.”

Pursing her lips, Tessa thought about jotting down a quick resignation letter and leaving it on her mother’s desk. But she glanced at the clock above the reception desk.

“Ugh,” she groaned. “There’s no way someone else can get there in time.”

The assignment was at a nursing home on the other side of town. If she couldn’t make contact with another reaper right then, no one would be there when Ellen Walker passed.

Then there could be two souls wandering around Mist River.

With a groan, Tessa stomped out the door, resigned to the fact that she’d need to do one last assignment before she could retire her reaper powers.

Fine. One more.

At least then, she could pay a couple more bills or maybe get groceries. She was running out of peanut butter. And who knew how long it would be before she could find another job, get hired, and work long enough for another paycheck.

Yeah. Maybe this is a good thing.

Tessa tried not to wonder too much why Linda was cooperating so well lately. It felt like one of those situations when, if she gave it thought or attention, it would go sour on her. So, she just gave a silent cheer when the engine roared to life and then tried to act like it was an everyday occurrence.

When she got to the Mist River Senior Home, Tessa checked the time. On her phone, not Linda’s slow clock. She had five minutes to figure out where Ellen’s room was and get there. Should be plenty of time, in theory.

The nursing home