Grim Reaper 01 - Embrace the Grim Reaper

you. I’m…fine. I’ll go in a minute.”
    Relief washed over his features, quickly replaced by a professional mask of helpfulness. “Okay. Well, let me know if I can do anything for you.”
    “I will.”
    She watched from the corner of her eye as he made his way back to his desk, and avoided his gaze as he glanced back at her.
    “You get me in more trouble…” She talked without moving her lips.
    But Death was gone.
    Casey found the “forward this article” button and e-mailed it to Ricky. He needed to know Pegasus had fresh worries. And had possibly violated the agreement they’d hashed out in those boardrooms so long ago.

Chapter Nineteen
    “They were supposed to fix those cars, Don,” Casey said. “Every one.”
    “I know.” Her lawyer’s voice was even and quiet. “It was my understanding they did.”
    “Well, apparently they missed one. And the guy’s dead.”
    “Okay. Tell me where to find the information.”
    Casey did. “It shouldn’t have happened, Don.”
    “No. No, it shouldn’t have.” Casey could hear him ruffling some papers. “I’ll make some inquiries.”
    “Have they been there?”
    “Who?”
    “The Pegasus people. Have they been bothering you?”
    “No.” He sounded surprised. “Why would they?”
    “Because they’re trying to find me. They won’t leave Ricky alone. And I’m afraid they’ll go after my mother.”
    “What are they doing?” Don’s voice wasn’t so quiet now. “It was part of the agreement. No contact. You would both keep up your end of the settlement, and that was supposed to be that.”
    “Yeah, but the agreement just talked about me. No contact with me . It didn’t say anything about Ricky or my mom.”
    The silence on the phone was ominous. “Leave it to me, Casey. I’ll take care of it. And besides, if they’re trying to find you—which they shouldn’t be doing in the first place—what exactly are they going to do if not contact you?”
    Casey wasn’t sure she wanted to think about that. “Ricky said he was going to send you some more papers for me to sign. You should get them in a day or two.”
    “What are they?”
    “Don’t know. But I’ll give you an address soon, where you can send them.”
    “Where are you now?”
    She smiled. “You and Ricky. You just won’t stop, will you?”
    “Hey, a guy’s got to keep trying, doesn’t he? One of these days…”
    “Yeah. One of these days it won’t matter anymore.” She looked across the picnic table toward the playground, where this time two fathers played with the children. She swallowed the large lump in her throat. “And don’t bother trying to call me back at this phone number. Ricky already called it from home, so I’ll have to ditch it.”
    “Casey—”
    “They’re not going to stop, Don. They’ll keep looking till they succeed, and I really don’t want to find out what they want.”
    “It can’t be—”
    “Thanks for everything. I appreciate it.”
    “You’re welcome. But Casey…take care of yourself, okay? Do you need money?”
    Casey laughed. “Don, you’re the one who signed that agreement with Pegasus. You know I don’t need money.”
    He sighed. “I know. But it’s the sort of thing one is supposed to ask.”
    “Well, you don’t have to ask me. Good-bye, Don.”
    “Good-bye. And Casey?”
    “Yeah?”
    “Call again soon.”
    She pushed the off button and considered the phone. How such a small piece of equipment could betray her… She got back on her bike, taking a last look at the fathers and their kids. Reuben had never gotten to play with Omar at a playground. Never taken him to a ball game. Never got to hear that universal first word. Da-da.
    She pointed the bike toward the highway, and began pedaling.

Chapter Twenty
    Several trucks sat in the over-sized parking lot of The Burger Palace. Casey looked around to make sure none of the truckers were in their cabs, and picked the trailer with the most remote license plate. Oregon. After carefully wiping the phone of all personal information, phone numbers, and fingerprints, Casey threw it on the cement several times, until the screen was cracked and it would no longer turn on.
    She picked up a few stray broken pieces, then ducked under the truck, searching until she found a crevice where the phone would be neither discovered nor dislodged any time in the near future. She stood back up, glancing around again to make sure she hadn’t been spotted, and rode quickly away, not looking