Excerpt from Hungry Ghosts by Kevin Jared Hosein, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

The smell was getting to Marlee now. It was worse this time. 'I'm sorry ... That smell ...'

'The Missus should get outta here,' Hans said. 'This aint no sight to see.'

Robinson kept up his tone. 'If something living with you suddenly departs from this earth, that's a piece of you that's gone. That's how I think bout it. So, I think is only right to give it the time and say something. Even for a creature as dumb as this.'

She held her breath. 'You're right. I'll give it the time, Robinson. Just not now.'

* * *

At the end of the week, there was still no word from Dalton. His absence caused concern among the workers as Friday was the day they received their week's wages. Usually, Dalton kept a tasksheet and based the stipend on the quantity and type of work done. Marlee had done no such thing. She felt embarrassed, almost betrayed, when Baig brought it up. Why didn't they inform her? Because it wasn't their job to inform her, she reminded herself. That would've been her husband's job. For a second, she contemplated telling the truth, that he had gone missing, disappeared with only a cryptic note. But the lie came to her at the same time.

Dalton had left for Georgetown, she said. He was seeking out investors in Guyana – investors for what? She wasn't sure. Those were his words – she was always careful to reiterate that. His words. He'd meant to return in the morning but was delayed. She couldn't come up with a reason why and so left it at that. She had no idea what the usual stipend was for each worker, and though she was ashamed to ask, she had no choice. She believed Robinson and Hans told the truth. However, the number that Baig claimed was greater than Robinson's and Hans's combined. Nevertheless, she paid him. His astonished smirk gave away the sham.

As he pocketed his pay, he asked her, 'The boss went by boat or by plane?'

'To Guyana?' A pause. 'Flight. Mr Changoor has his way of chartering flights.'

'He leave on the Tuesday, you say?'

'Tuesday night, yes,' she quickly replied, before steering the conversation elsewhere. 'I wanted to wire him about Brahma but changed my mind at the last minute. I thought it would be best for him to find out when he comes back. He doesn't need to have something like that on his mind while he's over there. He already has so much on his plate.'

'When you think he gonna be back?'

'In a week. Maybe ... two?' She answered as if it were a question.

'Just be careful, ma'am.' Baig nodded, before meeting the others at the gate.

Overhead, a flock of birds flew past, followed by a cold updraught. 'Swifts,' Robinson said aloud, his eyes upturned to the clouds. 'When you see swifts flyin like that, you know the big rain comin.' Turned to Hans. 'Your place holdin down good in this season?'

Hans nodded. 'I doin some fixes. Goin to that new store to get some things.'

'Salloum's?' Robinson asked.

'Hans, while you down there,' said Baig, 'tell the damn bank to approve my loan. They treatin me like I livin in a barrack.'

'Ignore this fool, Hans,' Robinson said, getting into his pickup. 'Hop in. I could get you to Salloum's.'

Baig scoffed. 'Robbie, you know you gonna smash up your vehicle goin down that buss-up road that Hans livin down.'

Hans shook his head, looked at the sky. 'Me and my boy was gonna walk down there.'

'You sure?' Robinson turned the key and the engine rumbled.

'Don't worry bout we. Is a twenty-minute walk.'

'And a two-hour swim,' Baig quipped.

Hans laughed. 'The boy have to learn to swim sometime.'

Baig glanced at the house. 'You think the Missus could swim?'

'Get the Missus outta your mind,' Robinson said over the purr of the engine.

Baig laughed. 'Hans, you givin her swimmin lessons?'

Hans didn't pretend to smile. 'What you talkin bout?'

Excerpted from Hungry Ghosts by Kevin Jared Hosein. Copyright © 2023 by Kevin Jared Hosein. Excerpted by permission of Ecco. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.