Page 40 of Grave Danger

“Whatever,” Jugs said in a put-upon voice. “I’ll learn not to live vicariously through my friends.”

“Let’s hope.”

Cody moved to his own desk and sat in the chair Lucia had messed with. He lowered it, then raised it, then lowered it again, trying to find that sweet spot he’d had it set to. Demmy stepped out of the bathroom and stood watching him a moment.

“We could go to Harriettville Days when it comes around in a month if you’re that desperate for a carnival ride.”

“Ha ha,” Cody said, still working on getting his chair just right. “Lucia sat in my chair and raised it all the way up before she left.”

“What a bitch,” Demmy said with absolutely no sympathy in his tone. “How was the job?”

“Jobs,” Jugs said over his shoulder. “When we were finishing up the squirrels, someone called in about a raccoon.” He held up an index finger. “And don’t go to Harriettville Days. Those rides are death traps.”

“Thanks for the warning,” Demmy said. “And for getting those jobs done.”

“How did things go for you?” Cody asked, then stopped adjusting the seat and held his arms out to the sides. “I think I found the sweet spot.”

“The world heaves a sigh of relief,” Jugs muttered, ignoring Cody’s glare.

“Things went well,” Demmy said. “Pretty much uneventful, though I met a really intense guy who climbed up out of a grave.”

“Grave?” Jugs spun the chair around to face Demmy. “Where the hell did you go?”

“Well, he mentioned a grave, so one guess,” Cody said.

Jugs flipped him off over his shoulder without looking around, and Cody felt a warm glow of satisfaction. Maybe the day was turning around after all.

“I went out to Buford Heights and poked around a little.”

“What the hell made you want to go out there?” He gasped and looked between them, eyes wide. “This is about the zombie.”

Demmy gave Cody a hard look over Jugs’s head. “Cody…”

“I didn’t say anything,” Cody said.

“He didn’t,” Jugs said. “I heard it from people in town.” He leaned on the desk and lowered his voice as he stared at Cody. “Did you see it?”

Feeling trapped, Cody looked up at Demmy who stood behind Jugs. Demmy shrugged and nodded. Cody sat forward as well and folded his hands together on his desk. The chair beneath him let out a hiss and sank, taking him down with it.

Jugs tried to fight it, but the laugh burst out of him. Cody saw Demmy laughing, too, and a wave of irritation rushed through him.

“Very funny. That damn Lucia broke my chair.”

“Oh for God’s sake, get up.” Demmy waved him up and out of the chair. “Explain things to Jugs, and I’ll adjust your chair.”

Cody frowned as he stood. “How do you know how I like my chair?”

Demmy stood on his toes and gave him a quick kiss on the lips, then smiled. “I’ve known you long enough to know so many things about you.”

“All right, all right,” Jugs muttered.

Cody watched Demmy sit in his chair, and damn if he didn’t wish he had remained sitting there. And was naked. Before his imagination took things too far, he looked at Jugs who made a definitive final click with the mouse and pushed back from the computer, arms crossed and eyebrows raised in expectation.

“A new monster case?”

“Most likely,” Cody said. “I, um, had a little accident the other night after you and I had dinner at the Hollow Leg.”

“Accident? You okay?”