Page 31 of Grave Danger

“I’m sure the authorities will contact her,” Otis said. “Once they do some investigating and find out what happened.”

Amelia let out a breath and patted her chest. She smiled, and Cody noticed it didn’t look quite natural, yet, but was glad she was giving it a try.

“Well, how about you boys come inside and visit a bit,” she said. “I’m sure we can find something to talk about other than JoAnn’s accident.”

The group of seniors disbanded, loudly debating funeral costs and the value of the Widow’s estate. Cody and Demmy followed Otis and Amelia to the front door of their condo. Once inside, Amelia asked if they wanted anything to drink, offering iced tea, lemonade, or something stronger.

“If you’ve got a beer, I wouldn’t say no,” Cody said.

“Same with me,” Demmy added.

“I’ve got a six pack of an IPA I’ve been waiting to break into,” Otis said. “It’s in the garage fridge. Be right back.”

“How are you, Aunt Amelia,” Demmy asked once Otis had left the room. “Things going okay?”

“With us?” Amelia nodded and smiled. “Oh, yes. We’re doing well. Better, actually, than we were before all that werewolf business.” She sat next to Demmy on the couch and patted his knee. “And since you caught that pesky mole, my flowerbeds are looking bright and cheery. Don’t you worry about us. How about the two of you?” She looked across the coffee table to Cody where he sat in one of the recliners. “You two doing all right?”

Cody nodded as he looked to Demmy, glad to see his confident and natural smile. “We’re doing great.”

Amelia looked between them and lowered her voice. “Any more sightings of the mayor?”

“Um, no,” Cody said. He hesitated and looked at Demmy who gave a quick shrug. It was going to be all over town at some point, and Cody wanted to make sure Amelia and Otis were taking extra precautions. “No sign of the mayor. But Ollie and I had a run in with a woman we think was… well, was like the mayor.”

Amelia’s eyes widened. “Dead?”

“Or supposed to be,” Cody said.

“Who’s dead?” Otis said as he came in with several bottles of beer. “Someone other than the Widow?”

“Well, I’m sure I don’t know.” Amelia blew out a breath. “Some woman Cody and Oliver had a run in with.”

“Who was it?” Otis handed Cody and Demmy each a bottle, then held one out toward Amelia. She tipped her head back and forth, debating, then accepted it. They all twisted off the caps and Otis collected them before sitting in the other recliner and taking a swallow from his bottle.

“We didn’t know her,” Cody said. He took a long, grateful drink from the bottle. The beer was a bit too hoppy for his preference, but, damn, it still tasted good. “Ollie and I checked out the cemetery afterwards, and we think her name was Belinda something.”

“Belinda Hirsch?” Amelia said, sitting back. “Oh, weeping willows, that is just awful. I played pinochle with her every week. She passed a few weeks ago.” She shook her head and, removing her glasses, grabbed a tissue to dab at her eyes. “This is just awful. She would hate having this happen to her.”

“We’re not certain it was her,” Cody said, trying to find a way to comfort Amelia, but not really sure how. What was the right thing to say to someone when a person they cared about may or may not have turned into a zombie? “I mean, she gave Ollie and I a scare out in the woods. And when we saw her grave, it looked…” He noticed Amelia going a little pale, so he changed things up. “Well, anyway, there’s no way to be absolutely certain it was her.”

They stayed a little longer, but once they’d finished their beers, Cody was getting anxious to escape. He caught Demmy’s eye, and they came to an agreement using that magical telepathy that develops between close friends and lovers.

“We should go,” Demmy said, standing up. “We have a few things to take care of at the office, and you both need some time on your own.”

Amelia gave them each a hug, and Otis shook their hands. The two of them stood in the door watching them walk to Cody’s truck, Otis with his arm around Amelia’s shoulders. Amelia looked troubled and sad, and Cody hated the fact that he’d been the one to make her look that way.

“Me and my big mouth,” he said when they got in the truck. “I feel bad I upset Amelia.”

“I know,” Demmy said, patting his thigh. “But you didn’t know. And at least now she’ll be on the alert for any weird stuff.”

“Yeah, I hope so.” He started the engine. “Did you really want to go to the office?”

“I do. There are some things I’d like to get done since we have an open afternoon.”

“Anything I can do?” Cody offered.

“Oh, there are plenty of things you can do.”

“Great.” Cody pulled away from the curb. “So glad I asked.”