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‘Shut up’ Despite his harsh command, Green’s voice still quavered It didn’t help that Brutus was throwing hi feline misery at a level of decibels that would normally require ear protection

‘Brutus,’ I said, hoping for once he’d listen to me ‘Just be quiet for now Please?’

He paused for aat me from behind the metal bars ‘Bitches’

When he realised who had spoken, the burly police officer nearest h-pitched shriek that was even louder than Brutus had s got couys, we’re all on the same side here Let’s—’

‘Don’t say another word’

‘But—’

‘I mean it,’ the policeret it’

‘Sir—’

‘I told you!’ he screamed in my face

Alrighty: perhaps he was being serious about the no-talking thing Winter nudged me with his elbohich was pretty unnecessary I had the e, loud and very clear

Chapter Seventeen

There was no waterboarding or strip searches No le question Winter, Brutus and I were siether and left to cool our heels

Unfortunately, ere not alone I’d been enjoying the spiritual peace and quiet, so it was alaruess word had got out that they had a captive audience

‘I heard,’ a plump woman shouted, ‘that you don’t care about Grenville’s list That you’re helping less worthy spirits to pass’ She put her hands on her hips ‘Well, I died before my time Anaphylactic shock I’m not even supposed to be dead, let alone cursed My son was barely seven when he said he wished I’d never find any peace in death and that was only because I asked him to clean his room’

‘That was your own fault, Martha!’ bellowed another wo out of her back My eyes were draillingly towards it ‘You deserved it’

‘Don’t listen to either of them,’ advised an elderly man ‘I’ve been stuck here for over three hundred years Grenville’s list makes perfect sense I’m near the top Just help me and…’

‘You bastard!’ The two fehosts rounded on hi’

I put , ‘Lalalalalalalala’ Then I opened one eye Da in favour of staring at me as if I were hosts pasted on their faces ‘Look,’ I said ‘I will help you out when I can But can’t you see that I can’t do anything right now? I have bigger problems to worry about’

‘Bigger probleer than death?’

‘You’re already dead,’ I said through gritted teeth ‘I’e that There are others who are still alive who ht soon be dead like you if we don’t stop a killer in his tracks I will help you pass over but not today Come back at a later date’

‘You have to promise You have to promise to help us’

I sighed ‘I promise’

She pouted ‘But…’

‘Let’s go, Martha,’ said the other woman ‘Another time’

‘Yes’

‘You won’t help us today’

‘No’

‘But you will another time’

‘Yes’

There were several grumbles but they all vanished I breathed out and turned to Winter ‘This sucks,’ I told him flatly