Page 131 of Grim Tidings

I nod. Centuries, at least. “I suppose it’s odd for you to be back.”

He adjusts his watch, then straightens his cuff links. Every piece of his mask, carefully put back into place. “Odd is one word for it,” he murmurs.

The room quickly plunges into an awkward silence. I’ve never been in here without Maverick before, and never for more than a handful of minutes. I shift my scythe from hand to hand, Frank’s handkerchief between my palm at the wood.

“What happens now?” I finally ask as Gideon lingers, his face still angled toward Maverick’s desk.

“Now,” he answers slowly, distracted until he shakes his head and forces his attention back on me. “Now you are formally placed on administrative leave.” He snaps his fingers and a lanyard appears around my neck. I pluck the badge off my chest and study the picture. It’s from my first day in the department, my eyes comically round and my cheeks drawn. I’m still wearing the hospital gown from when I died.

Across the picture in bold red lettering is the word SUSPENDED.

I frown. “What am I being suspended from?”

“Your duties. Until I figure out what to do with you.”

“Oh.” That doesn’t sound so bad. I was expecting fire and brimstone. Maybe something with one of those medieval torture devices I found in a storage closet on the second floor. “I guess that’s fine.”

“So glad you’re in agreement. That was important to me.” Behind his glasses, I get the distinct impression that Gideon is rolling his eyes. “You’ll be assisting customer service while you await my decision.”

He strolls past me for the door on the other end of the office.

“Wait. What?” I rush to catch up. I have to take three hopping steps for each of his long strides. “For how long?”

“Until I say so.”

“What about Gabriel?” Even saying his name is a fist around my heart. “What happens to him now?”

Gideon shrugs, shaking me off like a fly. “I don’t presume to know the inner workings of the Guardians’ office.”

“I don’t want this to count as his third strike. What happened wasn’t his fault. He wasn’t involved, all he did was—”

“Fall in love with the wrong woman, as some of us are wont to do.” Gideon stops quickly, and I stumble straight into his back. He grips my arm and hauls me upright, holding me in place. The expression on his face is quiet, all-encompassing fury. “Let’s get one thing straight, Darcy. You do not make demands of me. For once, you will do as you are told. You will report to customer service. You will sit behind that desk with a smile on your face. You will wait for me to decide your fate, and you will not cause any more trouble.”

I pause.

“But what if—”

Gideon releases me with a groan, turning and storming toward the door. “Leave me alone,” he snaps. “I have things to do.” He shakes his head and drags a frustrated hand over his face. “I promised her I wouldn’t be here,” he mutters to himself. “I need to not be here.”

My brow pinches. “Who did you promise?”

He pauses in front of the stretch of white wall, an outline of a door appearing in front of him. He doesn’t reach for the handle. He doesn’t so much as twitch.

“It doesn’t matter,” he finally says. But I feel like it does.

“Why have you been away from the department, Gideon?” I ask. “Who did you promise?”

Shadows creep up from the collar of his shirt. He rolls his neck to the side, his hands curled into fists. It’s the first time I’ve seen him lose even the slightest bit of control, and I wonder what type of person has such an effect on the head of all Reapers.

“Report to customer service,” he tosses over his shoulder. “I’ll find you when I have an update on your status.”

He snaps his fingers, and the scythe in my hand dissipates. Then the door slams shut, and I am alone.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Gabriel

I fold another sweater and toss it on top of a stack of books, glancing around the small living room for more of her things. Darcy didn’t leave much behind. A black turtleneck. A pair of socks. A collection of smooth stones she must have gathered from the water’s edge and a sweatshirt I’ve been missing for the past two weeks.