Chapter 17

"Mr. Harrow." A bitter taste coated the back of my throat as I pasted on a smile. "How are you?"

"I'm sure you know the answer to that. You've seen Samuel. He would have told you."

"Yes, sir." So much for observing the usual pleasantries. "I was sorry to hear you're unwell."

"You always were a good liar. Not that Samuel ever noticed. That boy thought the sun rose and set at your command." His laughter churned like gravel, like we were sharing a joke or a fond memory. "Are you closed today?"

"Oh." I recalled the urgent rush to lock down the building. "Yes."

"I thought you were only closed on Sundays and Mondays."

"Normally, yes." I had to remind myself our hours were posted on the sign, since everyone and their momma seemed to have memorized them. "We had a minor wiring issue this morning. We had to shut down and wait on the electrician to arrive. We'll be open tomorrow." As much as I didn't want to walk down the path he laid bare for me, I had already taken the first steps. "Need a mechanic?"

"An oil change." He patted the dash. "This car goes on the auction block to benefit Maynard Food Pantry this weekend. I'm sure you remember them well. I'm getting this beauty ready for its new owner." He scanned the building like he was memorizing it. "Samuel told me about your little shop the other day, and I thought I would drive out, toss some easy business your way. Hard to mess up an oil change."

The subtle dig that he expected me to still require charity to care for my family made me wish I had been given a cane, so I could thump him on the head with it. "That's so thoughtful of you."

"Since you're closed, I suppose I'll hit one of those chains in town." He sat forward, scrunching his eyes in the direction from which I had come. "I hope that's not part of your electrical problem." He turned to me. "Be a pity if all this went up in smoke."

A chill swept down my spine at his words, but he had always thought himself to be clever.

"Josie was burning downed limbs. That's all." I stepped back, eager to clear the way so he could leave. "I'll tell Harrow I saw you."

A twitch set up camp under his eye, but he just smiled. "You do that, little miss."

Little shop. Little miss. Little man still had a big problem when it came to me.

Hip sparking jolts of pain like a live wire, I waved him off, waiting until he was good and gone to exhale.

Busting out the exit door, Josie ran to support me before I toppled over. "What did that old coot want?"

Through gritted teeth, I got out the important question. "Matty?"

"Griping about the concrete being cold and hard. Like, duh. It's concrete. I wanted to check on you before I helped him upstairs."

"Call Armie. We don't all need to end up in the hospital." I leaned on her, teeth grinding now that I was distraction-free. "Kierce took Pedro home, so that's done. Would you mind locking up early?"

Good thing we had savings. Otherwise, we would be in a world of hurt from cutting back on our hours.

"That's probably for the best," she agreed. "On both counts."

Last year, I woke to a scream and a thump, thud, bump to find Josie and Matty drunk as skunks and sprawled at the bottom of the stairs. Had they climbed higher than one flight before overbalancing, they could have broken their necks. The next day I ordered a sleeping bag I kept rolled up in a filing cabinet in my office. Anyone too soused to make the ascent got to spend the night on the unforgiving office floor.

Had I been able to get up and down without assistance, I would have chosen that option to avoid the hotel bill.

"What about you?" She helped me limp to the bench. "I notice you didn't mention your plans."

"I'll call a Swyft, get a ride back to the hotel." I preferred the para rideshare app to mundane offerings. "I need to update Harrow, and I need drugs."

As much as I hated how they sent me skipping down memory lane, I couldn't deny they did good too.

"Are you sure you should go alone?" She cast her gaze down the road like the car that ran me down might be lurking to try to finish what it started. "If you can wait for Armie, he can stay with Matty."

A black smudge on the edge of my vision clarified into Badb swooping down to land on the bench.

"Crap."Josie stumbled back, realized she had ditched me, then swatted at the crow. "Go on, bird. Get."

Feathers ruffling, Badb appeared supremely unimpressed with Josie, but she didn't nip her.

"Wait." I gripped her wrist. "That's Kierce's crow."

"He has a crow?" She recoiled from Badb. "That's so…" She thought about it. "Actually, that's on brand."

"What do you think?" I turned to Badb. "Will I be safe on my way to the hotel?"

Without hesitation, Badb cawed what sounded an awful lot like an affirmative.

"Nice try, but no." Josie put her foot down. "You can't take the word of a crow."

The crow in question hopped onto my thigh, glowering at Josie. "I think you offended her."

"I left my cell in your office. Let me grab it so I can text Armie." She pointed at me. "Don't move."

Unable to rise, even if I wanted to, I rolled a shoulder. "We'll wait right here."

As soon as Josie pushed into the office, Badb nibbled my knuckle until I lifted my hand. I kept still, afraid of spooking her, but she pushed her head into my palm. A tiny thrill shot through me when I stroked her head. She clicked her beak, angling to get scratches where she wanted them.

"You're a smart girl," I cooed as she arched her neck. "A pretty girl too."

Within minutes, Josie was back, having checked on Matty and texted Armie. "Do crows carry rabies?"

Launching herself off my lap, Badb buzzed Josie before returning to her watch on the powerline.

"Way to go." I kicked my good leg at her. "You hurt her feelings."

"Damn bird." She raked a hand through her hair. "Please tell me that menace won't be a regular."

With my hands free, I was able to finally text Harrow. "Kierce left her behind to keep an eye on me."

"He can communicate with her?" She dusted her shoulders. "Does that mean she speaks English?"

"Speaks English? Unlikely. Unless crows are like parrots? Understands English? Possibly."

"You know what I mean." She sank down beside me. "Smartass." She stared up at Badb. "How did Kierce get here so fast anyway? Was he at the cemetery?" She wrinkled her nose. "He doesn't live there, does he?"

Though he hadn't told me where he resided, I still defended him. "He doesn't live there."

"I didn't see him come in." Grooves cut into the corners of her mouth. "How did he get past me to you?"

"Maybe he came in through the office when he saw I wasn't there?"

"Maybe. Wait. No. I would have seen the light. The garage was already dark."

Since I had no idea how Kierce had popped in, I wasn't lying when I said, "I don't know."

Unhappy with my answer, we sat shoulder to shoulder, each of us in our own heads, waiting for Armie.