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

“I’m not.” Ricardo paled a bit and took a step back. “But I want to know one thing—what did Horner do to set you off?”

Maddox’s mouth twisted into a smirk. “He figured out I offed Chet. He was going to tell Melinda. And she would’ve called the police for sure.”

“I’m surprised they haven’t connected the dots.”

His face twisted in derision. “They won’t. All trails lead to Melinda Chino. She doesn’t have the spine for this kind of business. She wants the profit but doesn’t want to do what’s necessary. If I hadn’t gotten rid of Chet, he’d have kept finding ways to cheat the casino.”

“So, she doesn’t know what you did? To Chet or Horner?” Ricardo’s voice wasn’t as strong as before.

Maddox spat on the ground. “She doesn’t have a clue. She just knows the money is safe. I’m the brains and the brawn of our partnership.”

“And what am I? The fall guy?” Ricardo shook his head. “You can’t blackmail me anymore. If I get caught—if the cops catch me cheating, I’ll go to jail, and you won’t say a word to help me out.”

“That’s the risk you take.”

“Chet and I did it for the money, but it’s too hot now. It’s not worth it anymore. I’m out.” He started to walk away from Maddox. “I’m going to get a burger in the club. Then I’m going home. You won’t see me at the casino anymore. Get yourself a new blackjack plant.”

Maddox rushed toward the golf cart, pulling out a club. “Eating animal flesh is disgusting,” he said, raising the club over his head.

Tessa straightened to her full height and crossed her arms.

Seeing her appear seemingly out of nowhere, Maddox faltered. “What are you doing here?”

“Get out of here, Ricardo,” Tessa said, jerking her head toward the club building. “Go call the police.”

Ricardo didn’t move.

“Did you hear all that?” Maddox asked, staring hard at Tessa.

“I did.” Tessa kept her gaze on Maddox even as she saw movement over his shoulder. Something was coming from the top of the hill. “I heard everything. You’re a murderer. A vegan, Birkenstock-wearing, man-bun sporting murderer, which is weird, but still.”

Maddox raised the club again. He rushed toward Tessa. She waited as long as possible. Then, she leaped to the side, yanking Ricardo with her by the arm.

She didn’t know if someone had left the shiny red car in neutral or if they just didn’t set the emergency brake when they parked the car at an angle at the top of the hill. Either way, it gained speed as it careened down the hill and smashed into Maddox, carrying his body with it until it landed nose-first in the water hazard.

Ricardo shouted. He ran up the hill, arms pumping wildly. He only made it halfway before he collapsed, panting and wailing about how sorry he was. How he’d never do anything illegal again if the angry spirits would just let him live. His toupee lurched to the side, so it drooped low over his right ear.

Maddox’s spirit rose out of the creek and stared in disbelief at the tangled pile of metal. He jerked his head toward Tessa, a question on his face. “Did you just kill me?”

She shook her head. “Nope. I facilitated an exchange. A soul for a soul.” She shrugged. “Sometimes, the universe just gets it wrong.”

And sometimes a grim reaper has to take matters into her own hands.

Tessa flicked her wrist, watching as a beam of light shot down from the sky. “Time to go, Maddox.”

For the first time, he looked uneasy. He peered into the light. “Wh . . . where am I going?”

She shrugged. “I have no idea. That’s not my department.”

Chapter 19

SILAS HANDED HER THE keys to Linda with an adorable wink and a dimple-revealing grin. “She’s as good as new.”

Tessa raised one eyebrow in suspicion. “New? Really?”

He chuckled. “Okay, she’s as good as a thirty-year-old car can be.”

She nodded once. “Perfect. That’s just how I like her. Thanks for the tune-up. I know you don’t have a lot of extra time to be doing work for free.”

“It’s no sweat.” Silas brushed his brow with a forearm, proving it did cost a bit of sweat. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked at his feet. “And you’re right about the time. It’s crazy around this place. But I fit things in when it’s important to me.”

“Linda’s important to you?”

He smiled. “I just don’t want this bucket of rust leaving you on the side of the road.”

That brought up the memory of Frank leaving her on the side of the highway one night. She’d never shake the long, dusty walk home.

What a jerk.

“Thanks. I don’t want that either.” She opened Linda’s driver’s side door and gasped in surprise. “It doesn’t squeak anymore!”

“The magic of grease. I changed out a couple of rusty bolts for you too. And a headlight.”

“I must owe you more money.” She’d insisted that Silas let her at least buy the parts, even though the service was free.

“Nah.” He shook his head. “I didn’t use enough WD-40 to cost you anything.”

“I could really pay you with my next paycheck.” She got in the car and fired it up. It sounded great. Better than great. “She sounds like a new girl.”

The dimples popped from his cheek.

“Thanks again!” Tessa reached for the gear shifter to put Linda in reverse but a knock on the window stopped her. She rolled down the window and gave Silas a questioning look.

“One more thing,” Silas said.

“So, I do owe you money, don’t I!”

He shook his head, still smiling. “I occasionally take a few minutes out to eat dinner. Would you maybe want to go with me sometime?” He kicked at the asphalt. “You know, when you have time. Your new job seems to have odd hours.”

Tessa’s pulse raced. She took a breath in an attempt to get it to settle down. “I think I’d like that, but . . .”

“But?”

“I’m paying,” she said proudly.