Death Takes a Holiday Read Free

didn’t start this. Kiss me ?
    “Yes?” he asks, still staring out the window.
    “I think we should talk,” I say quietly.
    “We have nothing to talk about.”
    “Come on,” I scoff.
    His head whips toward me. “Fine. I have nothing to say to you.”
    I smile sweetly. “Oh, I’m sure you can come up with a few choice words, mostly four letter ones, right?”
    He doesn’t take the bait. “If you don’t require something, then please return to your seat. We’ll be landing soon.” He looks away.
    Another pang of sadness hits me so hard this time I stop breathing. I don’t know if it’s coming from me or him. Clairempathy, feeling strong emotions from others, is almost as bad as psychokinesis. I close my eyes and force the air in and out. “This has to stop, Will,” I whisper. “It’s affecting our work. This isn’t just about us, it’s about all the people we’re supposed to help. We’ve been lucky before, but if this feud doesn’t end we’ll start hating each other. Not trusting each other. I know you don’t want to, but we have to talk. We have to end this. Us. You and me. Please.”
    “Will?” Nancy asks. I open my eyes as she steps in front of us, putting her hand on her hip. “Can I ask you about something? In private?”
    Will glances at me, then begrudgingly nods at her. Gathering all my pride from the floor I stand up, internally shaking my head. Nancy smiles to herself as I take a step.
    “Alexander?” Will says behind me. Everyone’s attention, including the two men supposedly sleeping, diverts to Will. “Tonight. Six o’clock in the billiard room. We will not be interrupted,” he says, voice set in granite.
    I nod, and then with my head held high, I return to my seat.
    Peace. I think we can all use some of that.

TWO
    IN ANOTHER BEDROOM
    T HE ENEMY’S WAITING FOR me when I arrive at five minutes to six. We’ve both changed our clothes since arriving home. I’m in my skinny black jeans and tight V-neck powder pink sweater, and he’s in khakis with a loose green T-shirt. Dressy casual, perfect for a peace accord. I just wanted to look nice.
    The Jaws pinball machine lights up in the corner as does the Dance Dance Revolution video game we all pitched in to get Nancy for her birthday in June. She and Irie spent hours getting the steps right. As far as I know Nancy hasn’t set foot on it since Irie’s death. I offered to be her partner before total war broke out, but she refused. Then, when she caught Oliver and me on it, items started vanishing from my room.
    Will stands by the pool table with two cues in one hand and beer in another. Another bottle rests on the side closest to me. Mine, I guess. He’s expressionless as I step in. I smile nervously as I shut the door behind myself. I pick up the cool bottle of beer, taking a sudsy sip.
    “Thanks,” I say.
    “I thought we’d play while we talk,” he says as he extends the cue across the table to me. “You play, right?”
    I take it. “Yeah. Oliver’s teaching me.” As the words leave my lips, I want to gobble them back up. If this is going to work, the O word must be used sparingly.
    Will remains stony as he chugs his beer then sets it down. “Mind if I break?” He takes position and breaks. The balls clatter against each other and one goes in the far side pocket. “Guess I’m solids.” I take another drink of the beer as he shoots another one in. “So, Agent Alexander, you called this meeting. Say your piece.”
    “Okay. I want the tension to cease. It’s not healthy for any of us.” He shoots another ball into the pocket. “We’re supposed to be one team, us against them, not us against us. You and I need to set the example. We need to work through our issues, and everyone else will follow suit.” There, I said it. Not so hard when you’ve spent the last fifteen minutes practicing those words in front of the mirror.
    He misses the next shot. “Your turn.”
    I line up my shot and take it. Ball in the side