The Whispering Dead (Gravekeeper #1) - Darcy Coates Page 0,30
a bank heist. “Who are you staying with?”
“Um, with Mr. Adage.”
Polly nodded as though that wasn’t at all surprising. “He’s a good fellow, the pastor. Well, I won’t keep you. I just wanted to say hello and welcome you to our town. Why don’t you take these? They match your pretty eyes.”
To Keira’s shock, the bunch of flowers were dropped into her shopping bag before she could reply. “Uh, thank y—”
“Of course, dear. And if you get lonely while you’re here, I’d be glad to introduce you to Harry, my son.” Her sharp eyes scanned Keira in a flash. “He’s about your age, and he’s really quite a charming gentleman.”
Aha. She has a motive. Keira kept her tone light. “That’s really kind of you.”
Polly’s eyes scrunched up as she smiled. “Anytime, dear, just pop in anytime.”
Keira waited until she was out of earshot, then exhaled. So that was Zoe’s fearsome ex-outlaw. She seems sweet. Even if she’s trying to set me up with her son. Keira peeked at the flowers in her shopping bag. They were fresh and bright, but she couldn’t imagine how Polly thought they matched her eyes. The daisies were pure white, save for their dark centers. Maybe she meant they match my pupils? Keira had to squeeze her lips together to contain the laughter.
She wasn’t sure she wanted the flowers in the cottage. It felt too permanent, like she was transforming the temporary shelter into a home. She had another idea for them, though, and quickened her pace as she turned into the driveway that led to the church.
Despite the chilly wind and subdued bird chatter ringing from the trees, Keira spent most of the walk buried in thought. Be careful around Mason. The warning hung in her mind, but she found it hard to feel any conviction in it—partly because Zoe’s theories tended toward the bizarre, if not downright ridiculous, but mostly because Mason’s easy, open smile had felt too warm to be fake.
There’s no reason to think he has anything to hide. Surely it’s not that unusual to drop out of school, even late in the year? He was probably burned-out or realized it was the wrong career for him. And as for Zoe’s theory…
Keira huffed and readjusted her grip on the bags. They were heavy; Zoe must have collected more cat food than Keira had thought. That would be okay. She’d just return the surplus once she found the cat’s owner.
As she entered the graveyard, she caught sight of a figure leaned against the stone wall. She recognized the long legs and dark-chocolate hair from a distance, and quickened into a jog. Mason had his hands in his pockets and had left his medical kit beside his crossed ankles. He grinned and pushed away from the wall as she neared him.
“I’m sorry for making you wait!”
“Not at all. I was admiring the view.” He motioned toward the gravestones. “It’s quite…morbid.”
She laughed, opened the cottage door, then stepped back so Mason could follow her in.
He shed his coat and hung it over the chair’s back before turning his smile onto her. “How’s your arm?”
“I kind of forgot it was a thing, actually.” Keira flexed her shoulder and felt a twinge of pain but nothing distracting. “You can have the painkillers back.”
“Huh. You’re a tough cookie, aren’t you?” He set the kit on the wooden chair’s seat. “Mind if I have a look at it?”
“Sure, but give me a second first. I’ve been shopping for a cat that came in last night, and he’s probably hungry.”
As if on cue, a muted mewl came from the room’s corner. Keira peered into the shadows above the wardrobe and smiled as two liquid-amber eyes blinked back, watching the humans with great interest.
Mason chuckled as he stretched to retrieve the cat. “It’s cute. Looks young too.”
“That’s what I thought.” Keira put her shopping on the kitchen counter and fetched a plate from the cupboard. “You don’t know who he belongs to, do you?”
“I’m afraid not. But I’ll keep an ear out for news of a missing cat.”
“Thanks.” Keira was sorely tempted to laugh as Mason cradled the cat like a baby, with one hand scratching behind its ears. The cat clawed at his shirt buttons as its tail twitched eagerly.
“My parents owned a cat when I was growing up,” he said. “He passed away while I was in med school, and honestly, he’s one of the things I miss most since coming back.”