Free Death at First Sight (Spero Heights Book 2) by Angela Roquet

That required dressing up, did it not?
    He found a pair of matching blue flats and also grabbed one of the care packages from the top shelf before leaving the closet. Daisy surprised him in the hallway.
    “Is that for the newcomer?” she asked, eying the lot tucked in his arms.
    “Yes,” he answered curtly, still somewhat vexed with her over their last conversation.
    “It’s beautiful,” Daisy said, taking in the white dress. “Too beautiful. Are you going to a party?”
    “No.” He stepped around her, only to have her reappear in his path again.
    “You fancy this one.” Daisy sounded alarmed. “What makes her different from the others?”
    Dr. Delph pressed his lips together and looked into her black eyes. “She’s a seer of sorts, so she would be a very useful asset to the town—”
    “Like you?” The ghostly wind in Daisy’s hair picked up, a sign that she was growing agitated. She lifted a few more inches into the air, her transparent nightgown whipping at her ankles.
    Dr. Delph took a step back. “Not quite, but—”
    “Just like you,” Daisy went on without hearing him. “She feels and breathes and eats and sees what’s to come. And I’m just a dead thing. Dead and gone and nearly forgotten.” Her voice echoed back from the opposite end of the hall, growing fiercer and rattling the walls.
    “Daisy,” Dr. Delph snapped loudly, finally drawing her attention. “It’s Monday. Shouldn’t you be in summer school?”
    She cocked her head to one side and blinked. “Oh. Yes.” Then she was gone.
    Enrolling the poltergeist at Spero Heights Private School had been a productive move. There were only a few dozen youths who attended, but they were just unique enough to accept Daisy as one of their own. And the professors were creative and willing to handle a broody ghost in their classrooms. Her mood swings were apparently on par with most teenagers—even the non-supernatural variety.
    Dr. Delph sighed and closed the door to the community closet before heading back to Lia’s room. He could hear the shower running when he entered, and quickly laid out the items he’d brought before retreating out into the hallway.
    He sat down on the floor while he waited, his eyes closed and back pressed up against the opposite wall. Too many of his waking hours had been spent meditating lately, a vain mental quest for answers or absolution. He wasn’t sure which he needed most at this point.
    His deflated mood was affecting his work even worse than the Fates’ absence, making him appreciate Orpheus House’s current low patient count. A half-demon suffering from panic attacks was staying in the room across from Lia’s, and a depressed nymph was further down the hall. There was also Mrs. Clyde, the cheese factory manager’s wife. She’d been there the longest—besides Daisy—and she had a special, more private room in the basement.
    “Dr. Delph?”
    He opened his eyes to find Nora standing over him. The cordless office phone in her hand was held far away from her pointed ear, and Selena’s voice blared from the speaker.
    “It seemed like it might be important,” Nora said regretfully.
    Dr. Delph grimaced as he took the phone from her. He held it just close enough to his ear to make out what Selena was saying in between her frequent strings of profanity.
    “We just fixed one damn problem with the stray mutts.” She paused to growl through her teeth. “Delph, I’m getting sick and fucking tired of your bullshit.”
    “She was dropped on our doorstep. What was I supposed to do with her?” He stood and walked further down the hall for fear Lia would overhear their conversation.
    “Why didn’t you call me?” Selena barked in his ear.
    “It was early. You probably weren’t even back from your run yet.”
    “It’s nine o’clock. I’m back now!”
    “Yes. I gathered that much,” he said dryly.
    “Well?” Selena asked. “What needs to be done?”
    Dr. Delph’s throat went dry. Usually, when