“You shut up!” he exclaimed, his brow furrowed. “Crazy chick!”

“Don’t call me that!” she said, starting to rise, but when the guardian angel set her wings to humming, Nakita sat back down with a huff. “You’re lucky, human,” she muttered. “Lucky.” Lucky wasn’t the word I’d like to apply to Ace, but he was. He’d tried to make a name for himself by killing people and blaming Shoe for it, and the only way he’d get in trouble for it now would be if Shoe got in bigger trouble, too. I was all for being honest and taking one’s licks, but sometimes…the better part of valor and all.

Sighing, I slid to the end of the bench and stood. It was time to go home, and I dropped my head as I looked at the lab coat. I kind of liked it, even with the ketchup. Maybe I could start a new trend at school. I hadn’t done anything really kooky yet to make myself stand out. Other than being dead, that is, and no one but Josh knew that. It would have been nice for him to have helped me tonight, and I missed him.

“We have to go,” I said softly, giving my fries a last longing look.

Barnabas gathered himself, standing when Nakita did. The two of them exchanged knowing looks as they slid out of the booth. Their eyes had both gone silver, and I jumped to get in front of Shoe. “Not Shoe,” I said, hand outstretched to keep them from wiping his memory.

Barnabas rolled his eyes. “Madison…” he started, but a subtle prickling in my temple shocked through me.

Barnabas felt it, too, and so did Nakita.

“There once was a keeper named Ron,” Grace said from the light fixtures, “whose karma was kind of a yawn.

He showed up too late; some say it was fate. I think he’s just really stupid, myself.” True, it didn’t rhyme, but I still kind of liked it. “Ron is coming?” I said, bothered. What does he want? It’s over!

“But I’m shielding us!” Nakita said, clearly bewildered.

“Apparently not well enough,” Barnabas said snidely, and I felt all the more tired. Swell. They were arguing again.

“I won’t let him mess with you,” Grace said, and I smiled up at her darting ball of light as she left the fixture. I knew my face still held my grateful expression when Shoe whistled and I followed his gaze to the front door, where Ron was standing just inside as if he’d been there all the time. Paul was standing beside him, and the little entry bells were not ringing.