should want to meet the woman that I want to spend eternity with—”
“Relax,” I cut in. “They’re coming, but they’re not exactly happy about it.”
Relief swept his features. “They don’t have to be happy. They just need to show up.”
“What about me? Can I come, too?” If I wasn’t dead or playing bitch to a cell mate named Big Mama.
I forced aside the last thought and clung to my newfound hope. Money. Safe place. After life was good.
“Why would you want to come? You hate tea,” Jack told me.
“True, but I love seeing Mom freaked when it isn’t my fault.”
He grinned and eyed the stainless-steel tray. “Are you going to get on or not?”
“Not.” Even as the word slipped from my lips, I knew I had no other choice. The sun was just coming up. I couldn’t risk walking out of the building right now. I had to crash here. I could look for an empty room, or maybe a broom closet, but both would be too accessible while I was at my weakest.
They didn’t call it the sleep of the dead for nothing. Once I zonked out, I would be completely vulnerable, and if I did manage to wake up at the first sign of danger, I would be too weak to defend myself.
I needed someplace that was dark and quiet and, most of all, secure until sunset. And I needed it right now.
“Can I at least get a blanket or something?”
“Mandy?” He called Mandy over. “Lil wants a blanket.”
“We don’t keep blankets on hand, but I’ve got these.” She held up the sheets. When I nodded, she added, “I could get a few more and we could double them up to make it a little softer.” When I nodded, she smiled and turned toward the utility shelf. “Give me just a sec.”
“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” I told Jack as I spread out the half dozen sheets Mandy handed me before climbing onto the stainless steel table.
“It’s really not that bad. And I’ll be right next to you.”
“No, you won’t,” Mandy told him as she came up behind him. “They put a suicide in your usual spot.” She slid her hand up his arm. “But I cleared out a new spot for you right near the autopsy room. And”—she smiled—“I even brought you your favorite pillow from home.” She handed him the white wedge of fluff.
“Aw, thanks, babe. That’s so sweet.”
Like I know the whole exchange sounds sort of creepy what with the whole morgue setting and all, but I felt a warmth in my chest anyway.
Not that I was in any way condoning my brother’s relationship with a human. He should have fallen for a born vampire who could give him baby vamps and, more important, give my parents some grandchildren to take the heat off of moi.
But, hey, I’m a matchmaker. Love is what I do.
“Here are a few more sheets to cover with,” Mandy said. “Don’t worry. You’ll be safe here. The only time the drawers are opened is when a body’s being transferred or taken to autopsy, and it’s part of my job to sign everyone in and out.”
“So you’re the drawer opener?”
She smiled. “Among other things. I dictate who gets put where and when. I also assist in the autopsy room as part of my residency. That’s how I met your brother. He was a car crash DOA. We bagged and tagged him and put him in that top drawer right over there. That was early in the morning when I’d just arrived. Later that day, I was doing my evening check when I heard the drawer open. I looked up and there he was. It was love at first sight.”
“That’s after she passed out from shock,” Jack said.
“Jack revived me and explained the situation.”
“And you were cool with it?”
“Of course. I’ve always suspected that vampires exist. I’ve even fantasized about them. Jack’s my fantasy come true.”
“That’s so sweet, babe.”
“You’re sweet.” She snuggled his arm and inhaled. “Literally. He’s so yummy. I could smell him forever and never get tired of it.”
“You can smell him?”
“I couldn’t at first, but after we…” Her
“Relax,” I cut in. “They’re coming, but they’re not exactly happy about it.”
Relief swept his features. “They don’t have to be happy. They just need to show up.”
“What about me? Can I come, too?” If I wasn’t dead or playing bitch to a cell mate named Big Mama.
I forced aside the last thought and clung to my newfound hope. Money. Safe place. After life was good.
“Why would you want to come? You hate tea,” Jack told me.
“True, but I love seeing Mom freaked when it isn’t my fault.”
He grinned and eyed the stainless-steel tray. “Are you going to get on or not?”
“Not.” Even as the word slipped from my lips, I knew I had no other choice. The sun was just coming up. I couldn’t risk walking out of the building right now. I had to crash here. I could look for an empty room, or maybe a broom closet, but both would be too accessible while I was at my weakest.
They didn’t call it the sleep of the dead for nothing. Once I zonked out, I would be completely vulnerable, and if I did manage to wake up at the first sign of danger, I would be too weak to defend myself.
I needed someplace that was dark and quiet and, most of all, secure until sunset. And I needed it right now.
“Can I at least get a blanket or something?”
“Mandy?” He called Mandy over. “Lil wants a blanket.”
“We don’t keep blankets on hand, but I’ve got these.” She held up the sheets. When I nodded, she added, “I could get a few more and we could double them up to make it a little softer.” When I nodded, she smiled and turned toward the utility shelf. “Give me just a sec.”
“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” I told Jack as I spread out the half dozen sheets Mandy handed me before climbing onto the stainless steel table.
“It’s really not that bad. And I’ll be right next to you.”
“No, you won’t,” Mandy told him as she came up behind him. “They put a suicide in your usual spot.” She slid her hand up his arm. “But I cleared out a new spot for you right near the autopsy room. And”—she smiled—“I even brought you your favorite pillow from home.” She handed him the white wedge of fluff.
“Aw, thanks, babe. That’s so sweet.”
Like I know the whole exchange sounds sort of creepy what with the whole morgue setting and all, but I felt a warmth in my chest anyway.
Not that I was in any way condoning my brother’s relationship with a human. He should have fallen for a born vampire who could give him baby vamps and, more important, give my parents some grandchildren to take the heat off of moi.
But, hey, I’m a matchmaker. Love is what I do.
“Here are a few more sheets to cover with,” Mandy said. “Don’t worry. You’ll be safe here. The only time the drawers are opened is when a body’s being transferred or taken to autopsy, and it’s part of my job to sign everyone in and out.”
“So you’re the drawer opener?”
She smiled. “Among other things. I dictate who gets put where and when. I also assist in the autopsy room as part of my residency. That’s how I met your brother. He was a car crash DOA. We bagged and tagged him and put him in that top drawer right over there. That was early in the morning when I’d just arrived. Later that day, I was doing my evening check when I heard the drawer open. I looked up and there he was. It was love at first sight.”
“That’s after she passed out from shock,” Jack said.
“Jack revived me and explained the situation.”
“And you were cool with it?”
“Of course. I’ve always suspected that vampires exist. I’ve even fantasized about them. Jack’s my fantasy come true.”
“That’s so sweet, babe.”
“You’re sweet.” She snuggled his arm and inhaled. “Literally. He’s so yummy. I could smell him forever and never get tired of it.”
“You can smell him?”
“I couldn’t at first, but after we…” Her
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