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A Date With Death is the prequel novel to the Conjuring A Coroner series. If you enjoyed the magic and mythology in the Urban Arcanology series, chances are you will love this series set in the same universe. As an added bonus, Seth and Kasey cross paths several times in Conjuring A Coroner.
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The force of the explosion flipped the Bentley onto its side as it careened off the driveway. The blast slammed into Kasey, knocking her off her feet.
She lay on the asphalt, her heart racing. Her eyes searched the ruined vehicle. Flames billowed from the vehicle as it ground to a halt, a plume of oily black smoke rising into the air.
No one could have survived that blast. Even a wizard would have needed time to raise a ward. They would have needed to know it was coming, and even Kasey with her gifts had not considered it a possibility.
She was rooted to the spot as a gurgling scream carried across the yard. She willed her body to get up, but her system was still in shock as Vincent raced past her prone form toward the car. He crossed the driveway in seconds, sweeping his hands before him, extinguishing the blaze with magic, but the scream had already died down.
Kasey knew why. It was too late. Tanner Harrington was dead. The only person who hadn’t been staying in the Villa the night Lester had died. The only child whose innocence was unquestionable was gone. It was so sudden.
The violence of the explosion had clearly shocked James also. He pulled himself to his feet but stood staring at the smoldering wreck still billowing smoke. Still lying on the ground, she tore her eyes from the burning Bentley and looked beneath the town car. Her town car.
Strapped beneath the vehicle was a small package with a blinking red light on it.
A bomb. It had to be a bomb. She couldn’t see a timer, which meant only one thing: someone had the detonator.
She scrabbled to her feet, shouting, “James, get away from the car.”
James looked at Kasey, registering her warning but not moving a muscle. His eyes bulged as he realized the threat.
Kasey raced towards James, grabbed him by his suit, and yanked him past the car. After all, he was just a normal, another pawn in the Harrington machine. A willing one perhaps, but one these psychotic brats wouldn’t lose a minute over killing.
“What’s going on?” James shouted as they continued to run.
“World War Three!” Kasey yelled.
They hadn’t even made it to the edge of the parking area when the town car exploded. The blast catapulted them both forward onto the ground.
A sharp pain shot through her arm as she broke her fall, rolling across the driveway. She felt the tender kiss of the asphalt as it tore at her jacket and slacks. Coming to a halt, she tried to stand but her world was still spinning. Resting her head against the ground for a moment, she sucked in a deep breath. Sweat ran down her brow, as she gasped for air. Pain shot down her right side, and a dozen other minor cuts and bruises clamored for her attention.
“James?” she moaned, fearing the worst.
“I’m not dead, but I’ve been better,” he replied. “Been worse too though so I guess I can’t complain. I haven’t had someone try to blow me up in years.”
“Lester’s will,” Kasey panted. “The old man’s death wasn’t an accident. The wily old bastard expected it. He left his estate to his last surviving heir, which means—“
“They’ll have to kill each other to get it,” James finished the thought.
“It seems that way.” Kasey muttered, “How do you work for these people? They’re crazy.”
“The kids might be. Lester wasn’t. He was a wily old devil though. With him gone, I don’t think much of my job security,” James replied, climbing to his feet. His suit coat was shredded and half its lining was hanging out through a gaping tear in the back.
Kasey clambered to her feet. “Job security? Right now, I’d be more worried about the health insurance. We’ll be lucky to make it out of here alive.”
James shook his head. “But why us? It’s each other they need to kill, not us.”
Kasey pushed her sweaty hair back out of her face. “Yeah, but do you think that whoever drags them self to the top of that dog pile is going to want any witnesses left breathing?”
“You have a good point, but what now?” James asked. “That car isn’t going anywhere.”
Kasey glanced at the burnt-out shell. Behind it, the front windows of the Villa Maria had been blown out by the force of the blast. As she gathered her thoughts, a tiny figure shot out the front door.
“Thea,” Kasey whispered.
In the chaos, she had forgotten Lester’s children were not far behind her, including Thea, Lester’s timid younger daughter. The poor thing had fared poorly during the meeting; she certainly wasn’t cut out for the Harringtons’ insane Hunger Games re-enactment.
Thea raced down the stairs. Part of Kasey wanted to run straight for the fence line, put as much distance between herself and the unfolding insanity as she could. That would make sense.
“This isn’t my mess,” Kasey told herself. “I just need to get home. Leave Lester, his will, and his insane children behind.”
She looked at the fence and then at Thea and knew she just couldn’t do it.
With a growl, she ran back toward the Villa, Thea, and certain death.
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