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his stuff. And because Reuben was just that kind of guy.
    Reuben had given her that smile. The one that said he was just biding his time before they’d stayed long enough and he could take her home to their bed. She’d worn the red dress, the one he especially liked. She’d raised her glass to her lips, holding his gaze, and had blushed at the thought of what would happen later.
    “Thanks,” she said now, to Eric. “But I really don’t…drink. And I’m not hungry.”
    “Oh. Okay. Well, then, can I take you to your hotel? Or wherever you’re staying?”
    She looked at Death. “I don’t actually have a place to stay.”
    Eric sat up, blocking Death from her view. “Really? You want to stay at my place? I’ve got an extra room, with a futon. But if you don’t like futons you can have my bed and I can sleep on the futon.”
    Casey looked at Eric’s face, alive again with helpfulness. “Thanks, Eric, but I think… Is there a hotel or something close by? Something not too expensive?”
    His face fell, but he covered it up quickly. “Sure. The Sleep Inn is right out by the highway. Nothing great, but they have beds.”
    “That’s all I need. And a shower.”
    He grinned. “I’m pretty sure they have bathrooms, too.” He swung himself up, off the bench. “I walked today, so we’ll have to go by my place for my car.”
    Casey stood, thinking about Eric’s car. “You know, I can just walk to the hotel. It’s out by The Burger Palace, right?”
    A shadow passed across his face, probably at the thought of Ellen’s last job. “It’s at least a mile. I can run and get my car, if you want. Bring it here.”
    “No. No, that’s okay.” She looked Death in the face. “I really prefer walking. It’s more interesting.”
    Eric looked confused at that, but held up his hands. “Whatever you want. I can walk with you.”
    “But then you’d have to walk back. You go on home. Really. I’m used to it. I can take care of myself.”
    He looked uncertain. “Yeah. I’ve been curious about that.”
    She’d been wondering how soon he’d ask, how long he could contain his questions about where she’d come from, and why. “Practice tomorrow evening at seven?”
    He gave a little smile, apparently seeing through her change of subjects. “And dinner at five, if you want to come by.”
    “To help.”
    “To help.”
    “Okay. I’ll be there.”
    “Good.” He looked down the dark street. “You’re sure I can’t—”
    “I’m sure. Goodnight, Eric.”
    “Well…goodnight.”
    Casey hefted her bag onto her back and watched Eric walk away. He stopped once, about half a block away, to look back. She raised a hand, and he resumed his walk.
    Casey took a deep breath and walked in the opposite direction, stopping in front of Death, who still sat on the bench. “I suppose you want to come along? There will probably be two beds.”
    Death looked after Eric, who was just disappearing around a corner. “But it won’t be nearly as fascinating as if you’d gone home with him.”
    Casey shook her head. “You’re impossible.”
    “No. Not impossible. Just picky. Have fun at your cheap hotel.”
    And Casey found herself standing in front of an empty park bench, the breeze blowing an empty popcorn bag to the ground.

Chapter Seven
    Death was right. The hotel certainly wasn’t interesting. Gross, maybe, but not interesting. Casey lay in her own sleeping bag on top of the covers, far removed from the sheets, which apparently hadn’t been washed after someone with lots of dark curly hair had slept there. The cable TV wasn’t working, and the air conditioner made such an awful racket Casey wouldn’t have heard the Second Coming if it happened right outside in the parking lot. The temperature in the room really didn’t need lowering, either, so Casey turned off the malfunctioning equipment.
    By the time dawn broke and light began seeping through the too-small curtains into the room, Casey had gotten only a few hours