The Undeniable Dead

n returned with sho

the door. "Let' s

hem, but he was outnumbered and injured. He could only wat

g violently, leani

f dread tightening within me. The de

n. My small, simple headstone stood under a large

, his face unread

ver helpful, su

isn' t it, Rick? For someon

sting it was

jaw cl

e commande

vel bit into

ound of pain. David held

r at them with spectral ha

inal resting p

ing the heavy silence, a sleek black

d Arthur, hurried out, his face pa

pson! Stop

breath, his usua

What is it, Arthur? Can

have it. The c

the folder, hi

ner' s report. Sepsis. Multiple organ failure due to neglect. And... and the fina

' s name, but his eyes

went ver

His eyes scanned them, h

veling

en grunted. "Boss? W

ck with an unbe

at the raw earth, then at the simpl

e whispered, h

ok, then used the shov

splintere

d came

rotted fabric, lay

gile. Unde

d from Rick' s throat,

n staring, wide-eyed, her breath comin

s rolle

A dead weight i

lowering her gently to the

ed for a pulse, his

ring at my bones, then

brutal, irrefutable for

claimed a