Nelson sighed. “Poor soul. Figured he was still lurking out there.”
“What’s wrong with him?”
“He’s dead,” Nelson said. “A couple of years, or thereabouts. Time … slips a little in here. Sometimes it crawls to a halt, and then it skips and jumps. It’s part of living with a ferryman. Look, Mr. Price, you need to—”
“Wallace.”
Nelson blinked owlishly. Then, “Wallace, you need to keep your focus on yourself. Cameron doesn’t concern you. There’s nothing you can do for him. How far did you get before it happened to you?”
Wallace considered pretending he had no idea what Nelson was talking about. Instead, he said, “The gas station.”
Nelson whistled lowly. “Farther than I expected, I’ll give you that.” He hesitated. “That world is for the living. It no longer belongs to those of us who’ve passed. And those who try to make it, lose themselves. Call it insanity, call it another form of death. Regardless, the moment you walk out these doors, it begins to pull at you. And the longer you stay out there, the worse it gets.”
Horrified, Wallace said, “I was out there. For days. Mei didn’t show up until my funeral.”
“The process sped up the moment you stepped foot into Charon’s Crossing. And if you try to leave, the same thing will happen to you that happened to Cameron.”
Wallace reared back. “I’m trapped here.”
Nelson sighed. “That’s not—”
“It is. You’re telling me that I can’t leave. Mei kidnapped me and brought me here, and I’m a damn prisoner!”
“Bull,” Nelson said. “There’s a staircase at the back of the house. It’ll take you to the fourth floor. On the fourth floor is a door. You can go through that door, and all of this, everything will fade away. You’ll leave this place behind, and you’ll know only peace.”
It struck Wallace then, something he hadn’t even considered. He didn’t know why he hadn’t seen it before. It was as clear as day. “You’re still here.”
Nelson eyed him warily. “I am.”
“And you’re dead.”
“Nothing gets by you, does it?”
“You haven’t crossed.” Wallace’s voice began to rise. “Which means everything you’re saying is bullshit.”
Nelson placed his hand on Wallace’s arm, squeezing tighter than Wallace expected. “It’s not. I wouldn’t lie to you, not about this. If you leave this place, you’ll end up like Cameron.”
“But you’re not.”
“No,” Nelson said slowly. “Because I’ve never left.”
“How long have you been—”
Nelson sniffed. “It’s rude to ask about another person’s death.”
Wallace blanched, uncharacteristically flustered. “I didn’t mean to—”
Nelson laughed. “I’m giving you crap, boy. Need to have my fun where I can get it. Been dead for a few years.”
Wallace reeled. Years. “But you’re still here,” he said faintly.
“I am. And I have my reasons, but never you mind what those are. I stay here because I choose to. I know the risks. I know what it means. They tried to make me move on, but I gave ’em the ol’ what for.” He shook his head. “But you can’t let that affect what Hugo needs to do for you. Take the time you need, Wallace. There’s no rush, so long as you realize this is the last place you’ll ever be before you cross, if you know what’s good for you. If you can accept that, then we’ll be right as rain. Look. Here he comes.”
Wallace turned back toward the window. Hugo was walking down the road, hands in the pockets of his apron, head bowed.
“Such a good boy,” Nelson said fondly. “Empathetic almost to a fault, ever since he was a tyke. Causes him to take the weight of the world on his shoulders. You would do well to listen to him and learn from him. I don’t know if you could find yourself in better hands. Remember that before you start hurling accusations.”
Mei waited for Hugo on the porch. Hugo looked up at her, smiling tiredly. When they spoke, their voices were muffled but clear. “It’s all right,” he said. “Cameron’s … well. He’s Cameron. Wallace?”
“Inside,” Mei said. Then, “Do you think it’ll bring the Manager?”
Hugo shook his head. “Probably not. But weirder things have happened. We’ll explain if he does come.”
“The Manager?” Wallace whispered.
“Ooh, you don’t want to know,” Nelson muttered, picking up his cane as he shuffled back toward his chair. “Trust me on that. Mei and Hugo’s boss. Nasty fellow. Pray you don’t ever have to meet him. If you do, then I suggest you do whatever he says.” He brushed a hand over Apollo’s back as the dog rose. Apollo barked happily as he paced back and forth in front of the door. He backed up as it opened, Mei talking a mile a minute as Hugo trailed in after her. Apollo circled around the both of them. Hugo held out his hand. Apollo sniffed his fingers and tried to lick them, but his tongue went right through Hugo’s hand.
“All right?” Hugo asked even as Mei glared at Wallace.
No, Wallace wasn’t all right. Nothing about this was all right. “Why didn’t you tell me I’m a prisoner?”
Hugo sighed. “Grandad.”
“What?” Nelson said. “Had to scare him straight.” He paused, considering. “Something you probably don’t know a thing about, isn’t that right? Because of the whole gay—”
“Grandad.”
“I’m old. I’m allowed to say whatever I want. You know this.”
“Pain in my ass,” Hugo mumbled, but Wallace could see the quiet smile on his face. The hook tugged gently in his chest, warm and soft. Hugo’s smile faded as he glanced at Wallace. “Come with me.”
“I don’t want to go through the door,” Wallace blurted. “I’m not ready.”
“The door,” Hugo repeated.
“At the top of the stairs.”
“Grandad.”
“Eh?” Nelson said, cupping his ear. “Can’t hear you. Must be going deaf. Woe is me. As if my life wasn’t hard enough already. No one should talk to me for the rest of the night so I can collect myself again.”
Hugo shook his head. “You’ll get yours, old man.”
Nelson snorted. “Shows what you know.”
Hugo glanced at Wallace. “I’m not going to take you to the door. Not until you’re ready. I promise.”
Wallace didn’t know why, but he believed him. “Where are we going?”
“I want to show you something. It won’t take long.”
Mei was glaring at him. “You try to run again, I’ll drag you back by your hair.”
Wallace had been threatened before—many times, in fact; such was the life of a lawyer—but this was one of the first times he actually believed it. For someone so small, she was positively terrifying.
Before he could speak, Hugo said, “Mei, could you finish up the prep work for tomorrow? Shouldn’t be much left. I got through most of it before you got back.”