Page 111 of Grave Danger

Cody sighed. “If Demmy and I wind up dead under mysterious circumstances, I hope you question the Woleks first.”

“Yeah, right after I finish asking the zombies, the werewolves, and the sasquatch.”

Cody snorted. “Good point. At least GRUNT paid for Phil’s funeral.”

Jugs announced that food was ready, and everybody moved toward the grill. Cody caught up with Demmy in line and accepted a compostable but sturdy paper plate that had most likely been Agatha’s selection. Cody had seen how Jugs packed a lunch, and he wasn’t focused on the environment when he wrapped food in plastic.

A couple of burgers later, Cody was full and feeling good after a third beer. It was about eight thirty, and the sun was starting to go down. The light would soon be shifting to that amazing time when the very air seemed to be tinted with orange. Firecrackers had been popping off and on throughout the day from the yards around them, and now someone a couple of yards over who couldn’t wait the extra thirty minutes for true dark lit off a Roman candle.

“Harriettville fireworks starting already?” Cody called to Jugs who was dancing with Agatha to some Mariah Carey song while the dogs barked and chased each other around them.

“You’re not funny, Bonker,” Jugs called back.

“Asshole,” Cody grumbled.

“Bonker?” Amelia said, looking at him with a lopsided grin.

“Never mind,” Cody said.

“Hey, did you want to stay for the fireworks or head out?”

Demmy had leaned in and lowered his voice. In the slowly shifting light of the sunset, his face practically glowed. Cody thought he’d never looked more handsome. Actually, he looked pretty fucking beautiful.

“I’m all up for heading out,” Cody said. “You okay to drive?”

“I only had the one beer then switched to iced tea.”

Cody put a hand on the side of his face. “My responsible husband. I love you.”

“Hey, you’re responsible, too. And I love you right back. Come on, Bonker, let’s say our goodbyes.”

There were protests about them leaving before the fireworks, of course, but Cody said he was tired from the treatments he’d endured that week, and the beers had made him even sleepier. Hugs all around, even from Lucia, and Agatha held the collars of the dogs as Cody and Demmy slipped out through the gate.

They held hands on the walk to the truck. The scent of some kind of flower trailed on the gentle breeze, and Cody drew in a deep breath.

“Smells a bit like the Widow’s car,” Demmy said.

Cody laughed and pulled him in close. “I knew it smelled familiar.”

“Do you think Eileen goes out to her garage now and then and sits in the Cadillac and talks to the Widow’s ghost?”

“I didn’t until now. Thanks for putting that in my head.”

“My pleasure.”

“I still wonder how the hell the Widow managed to drive that car through the fence.”

“I don’t think we’ll ever know,” Demmy said. “I mean, we know Dottie doubled back once she stole the car. A lot of people saw that. My theory is she parked out on that dirt road before climbing in the backseat and passing out.”

“Not even a little surprised she had a flask on her.”

“Nope, not one bit.” Demmy was quiet a moment, then said, “My guess is the Widow came upon the car as she walked with the rest of the zombies from the cemetery, and muscle memory took over or something.”

“Muscle memory in an embalmed zombie.” Cody shook his head as they approached the truck. “I guess it’s not the weirdest thing we’ve seen.”

They got in, and Demmy drove through the neighborhood. Small houses lined both sides of the streets, most well maintained. The styles seemed to run in packs: a group of bungalows, followed by a number of colonials, with some Craftsman thrown in as well.

The main road out of town was jammed with cars heading in the opposite direction, filled with families making the trek to Portnoy’s Drive-In Theater on the other side of town. They still showed movies on three big screens in the spring, summer, and fall. On the Fourth of July, however, they put off the start times by an hour so people could watch the town fireworks which were set off in the field behind the center screen. Jugs and Agatha had guaranteed their guests they’d all be able to see the fireworks from the yard, but Cody wasn’t so sure. He was definitely going to ask Jugs about it tomorrow at the office.