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"Then, besides being very shiriht I don’t see it" She studied a hand, turning it over and over "Neither do the living, thankfully But I prettyout and help the departed with their unfinished business, for lack of a better phrase, those who didn’t cross initially and are wandering the Earth And when they’re ready, they can cross through h you?" I asked, a little stunned "Literally?"

"Yeah Didn’t I mention that?" When I shook my head, she said, "I hope that doesn’t scare you

You look like you’ve seen a ghost" She burst out laughing, and I was slowly drifting back to m After a moment, she sobered and said, "Okay, too soon Newbies don’t have the best sense of huht now"

She s on"

I smiled, too, but I turned away so she wouldn’t see I didn’t want to get too comfortable here, in this place of void, of loneliness

We pulled into the parking lot of a Presbyterian hospital and made our way up to the , checking to see if anyone died in labor or so like that Shame consumed me I’d made the decision to die I felt it I would never haveto drink both of those?" I asked her

"Oh, no This stuff is currency ’round these parts"

As we got closer to the ward, she turned to er fro ht no one could hear"

"Because you’ll ruin the mood"

I frowned as she flew to a sidewall and flattened herself against it After checking up and down the hall, she eased to her right, closing the distance fro, absolutely nothing--caught herself with a soft gasp then plastered herself to the wall again, a long sigh of relief escaping her

Oh yeah She was nuts

A fe from a speaker by the locked entry door

"Davidson, what are you doing?"

Charley gave up the pretense and pushed the button "Nothing Over"

"This isn’t a walkie-talkie, Charley"

"Got it Over"

After a soft chuckle, the voice asked, "Would you like to come in?"

"Would you like a mocha latte?"