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“I told you about that psychic in confidence” She gave“And she didn’t say I was a h it would make my job a whole lot easier” I closed the door behind me and made my way to the black leather chair across fro in the notebook that rested on her lap

“Right You like to sleep with dead people,” I replied, straight faced I loved poking fun at her

“Delilah! She said I was a necromancer in my past life They talk to dead people” She shook her head as she laughed froh lines around herto is necrophilia and absolutely disgusting”

“That makes me feel a little better” I s in a simple wood frame over a dusty fake palm plant It wasn’t an over-the-top roo room than an office Marie added little personal touches all around I suppose this was to make people feel more comfortable and at home, but it bordered on unprofessional Still there was so under herself as she sat, as if ere old friends; the way she laughed inappropriately atme

“It was just in good fun anyway” She waved her hand

“Please don’t tell uy was going to come sweep you off your feet”

“Soht it would be fun That’s all I don’t take any stock in what those psychics have to say”

“Psychics? As in plural? How et hitched if you’re hanging out in seedy palm readers’ basements”

“What’s with your fascination with my love life?”

“It’d be nice if one of us was getting souy would be lucky to have you”

“Thanks” She picked up her glass of water and took a sip “But I just don’t think it’s in the cards”

I picked at her playfully “Marie, did you just make a joke? Was that a tarot-card joke? I want to make sure I’d hate to miss it”

“All right All right Enough about my nonexistent love life We’re here to chat about you”

“I almost didn’t colass table between us and studied it

Marie shrugged and glanced down at ers “I’ to learn how to play, but I haven’t been able to really get into it Do you play?”

I shook my head and put the piece back on the board as I relaxed in my seat

“You never played any games with Brock?” she asked casually, as she pulled a pack of mints from her pocket and popped one into her mouth She held the container out to me, but I waved it away

“Not really Just a little at the shelter How’s quitting going?” That was e the subject

“I haven’t had a cigarette in three days”

“Congrats!” I was genuinely proud of her My mother was a smoker, and no matter how hard she tried, she never could kick the habit I think she viewed it as the world’s slowest suicide attempt

“Tell me about the shelter”

I sighed as I glanced at the largealong the back wall Raindrops splattered against the glass, which was normal for this area It seemed to rain every five minutes, but usually it just made the heat worse My eyes focused on a sht about Brock

“I met Brock at the shelter”

“Why were you there?” she asked, as her gaze followedback on me

“I ran away I just needed a break Moroundedworse, and I needed to get away from her”

“Where did you go? Did you have a plan?”

“No It wasn’t like that I didn’t really care where I ended up, as long as I ay from her—away from everyone”

“You said before they found you et so far away in one night?”

“I had the weird pervy guy down the street takehow stupid that sounded “Then the cops found me and told me my mother didn’t want ain So instead they took me to the shelter”