Ever had been wiping the same spot on the table, eyes glazed over.

  *Are you there, Mentor?* He had been conspicuously absent since Ever had reaped Bozo.

  Stop bugging me, I’m trying to find some information. There he was. Ever could hear rhythmic tapping of finger bones on a table.

  Ever kept quiet, continuing his over-cleaning.

  “You’re going to rub right through the table at that rate.”

  Ever looked back over his shoulder. Logan was standing at the cash register as usual. The notes flashed through his fingers as he counted under his breath. Ever stacked a chair then moved onto the next table, spraying it down before beginning the wipe down.

  “Something’s on your mind,” Logan said. It wasn’t a question.

  “Yeah,” Ever replied. “Got to head to my second job soon.”

  “Taylor mentioned that you had a second job.” Ever stopped wiping and turned around. Logan finished counting, straightened the notes and put them away. “She said you deal with dead people.” He started counting the next set of notes.

  “Yep.” Ever’s hands started growing clammy.

  “She also said that you use a sharp tool.”

  “Yes.”

  Logan was quiet; Ever didn’t say anything. The boss was the first to pierce the silence.

  “Do you wash your hands?”

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  Ever blinked several times. “I…” he swallowed. “I don’t - but I always wash my hands before I start work here.” Was that what he was concerned about?

  “I know,” Logan said. “That’s the good thing about you. You stick to routines and have strong habits.” He closed the cash register with a grunt, lips pressed into a thin line. “You can leave a bit early. I’ll finish up here.”

  Ever didn’t need to be told twice.

  —--

  *Did Bozo make it down to the Underworld, Mentor?*

  Ever sat cross-legged on the invisible platform, letting Death direct him to tonight’s reaping.

  He did.

  Ever nodded slowly. So he could reap animal souls too. Bozo was the one who had been bothering Zoe the most. Maybe now that he was in the Underworld, she… wait.

  *Mentor?*

  Mm-hmm?

  *It seems like… it seems like Zoe can see animal souls. Is she a reaper too?*

  Impossible, Death said flatly. I picked you and only you.

  *Then why does it seem like the souls are affecting her?*

  I’m not going to tell you again. Ever floated up a few feet until he was face down horizontally to avoid a car full of people.

  *Again?* He said, returning back into a sitting position. *When did you tell me the first time?*

  You have a brain in that skull of yours, I do not. Think!

  Ever fell silent. Besides the slight movements away from Bozo when he jumped on her, Zoe didn’t seem to notice the other ghosts. Ever had to remember though that seeing ghosts for humans was not a normal thing. Was it possible that she was completely aware but pretending to not see them? If that was the case, having one less ghost in her clinic to distract her was probably a good thing. It was the least he owed her after she examined Mimi - and him.

  We’re almost there.

  *Who am I reaping tonight?*

  Ha! The sound from Death’s mouth was more bark than laugh. Just you wait…