by Anne Canadeo
“I love your store,” Suzanne said. “I don’t go in enough. I could buy everything in there. But my husband won’t let me.”
Nora’s smile grew wider. “Stop by anytime. I’ll give you the friends-and-family discount.”
Edie slung her arm around Nora’s shoulder. “She’d give the store away if Richard didn’t watch her. Doesn’t take after me that way,” she insisted, though Lucy did see Edie pluck the table check from Nora’s hand and stick it in her apron pocket.
“This is my friend Cassandra.” Nora stepped aside so that Cassandra could come closer. So far the psychic had stood by quietly, her slim white hands clasped loosely in front of her, almost in a pose of meditation.
She looked a bit different from her photograph, Lucy thought, but no less attractive. Just less glamorous. Her long dark hair was parted in the middle, framing her thin face and large blue eyes. She wore a pale blue tunic with long bell sleeves and gauzy skirt, printed with a blue and white batik design.
Lucy noticed the same pendant she’d seen in the photograph, a hunk of raw crystal on a chain, hanging from her neck, and a big ring on the middle finger of one hand, a large pink stone set in silver.
Except for the exotic jewelry, Cassandra Waters’s appearance didn’t give much hint at her profession and she didn’t seem nearly as pushy or enterprising as Edie had portrayed her. At least, not yet, Lucy thought.
As Lucy and her friends greeted Cassandra, Lucy tried to act as natural as possible and suppress the impulse to treat the woman as if she were visiting from another solar system. Which was difficult, considering all that she’d heard.
Dana was doing a fine acting job, smiling and extending her hand. Suzanne, however, looked quite curious, even suspicious.
“I think I’ve heard of you, Cassandra. Aren’t you a . . . psychic or something?” Suzanne asked boldly.
“Yes, she is and a totally amazing one,” Nora said before Cassandra could answer. “She’s been a great blessing in my life.”
Cassandra seemed flustered by the compliment, her gaze dipping down a moment. “Thank you, Nora. But I’ve been blessed to be able to help you.”
Edie stood behind them; she met Lucy’s gaze and rolled her eyes. Can you believe this load of baloney? Lucy could almost hear her say.
“I find it fascinating, questions of clairvoyance and intuition,” Dana said. “I’m a psychologist and I’ve observed these phenomena firsthand. How does the information come to you?” she asked. “Do you see things? Or hear things? Do you use cards?”
Dana’s tone was curious and even respectful. Though Lucy knew how she really felt.
If Cassandra Waters felt put on the spot, she didn’t show it. She was used to being interviewed this way, Lucy realized.
“I’m mostly clairvoyant. Meaning, I see visions,” she replied with a small smile. “Though I will say I receive messages in many forms—through spirit voices and dreams, reading tarot cards, even animal messengers.”
Lucy found the last interesting. She wondered if her dogs had any messages from the “other side” for her. Aside from “I need to go out. ASAP!” and “How about a biscuit?” her fur friends didn’t appear to possess any extrasensory canine perception.
“I wish I could hear voices, to help me sort out the buying clients from the lookie-looks just wasting my time,” Suzanne confessed.
Cassandra smiled gently. “We all have these powers, if we choose to acknowledge and develop them.” She reached into her shoulder bag, a tapestry fabric sack, and pulled out a handful of her cards. “Here’s some information about my services. Contact me anytime. I’d love to help you with your questions. This is my path, what I’ve been sent here to do. To use my gift to help others.” Her warm voice and gaze were as sincere as any minister who had taken vows. She clearly thought of herself as one. Or wants us to, Lucy thought.
As they each took a card, Cassandra’s gaze came to rest on Lucy. She smiled down kindly and Lucy felt a bit mesmerized by her startling eyes. “I’d love to do a reading for you, Lucy. There are spirits all around you, eager to communicate.”
“Me?” Lucy’s reply came out in a squeak. She laughed nervously. “What about?”
As soon as she answered, Lucy realized how silly she sounded. Walked right into that one.
“Your life’s path, your future . . . your relationships.” Cassandra nodded, the last category said in a definite tone.
The psychic’s soft smile melted to a more serious look. She gently shook her head. “I’m sorry . . . that’s all I can tell you right now. The energy in here isn’t right. Too much tension and negativity flying around.”
“Oh, sure.” Lucy nodded, as if she knew all about the type of energy that made spirits kick back and get all chatty. Thinking about it, she doubted the menu at Edie’s diner would encourage clear communications with the spirit world. It was enough to cause indigestion on any plane of reality.
“I often do group readings. Some people prefer that. Especially a group of good friends,” Cassandra added, smiling again, as if she had easily sensed their close bond.
“Thanks. We’ll think about it.” Dana also held a card and glanced at Lucy across the table. Lucy wondered if she was serious after all. Maybe just curious? Or deciding to unmask a faker, since Dana did seem to know a great deal about how psychics operated.
Cassandra continued to smile with warm confidence. Their doubts and suspicions seemed to roll off her back, Lucy noticed. Or, perhaps more accurately, off her aura?
Cassandra stepped back from the table as Nora began to say goodbye. “Nice to see you all. Tell Maggie I said hello. I really have to get back to knitting again,” she added.
“We meet on Thursday nights,” Lucy added, “if you’d ever like to join us.”
Lucy knew that all her friends liked Nora and none would mind her extending the invitation.
“Thanks. I might take you up on that sometime.” Nora smiled. “I’ll let you know.”
A busboy came over to the table and offered the group more water. Nora reached out and ruffled his hair. “Hey, Dale, too busy to say hello to your mom?”
The boy acknowledged Nora with an embarrassed smile. “Sorry, Mom . . . I wasn’t covering your table and I didn’t have time to talk. Aunt Edie doesn’t like that,” he added, glancing at his great-aunt.
“That’s right,” Edie agreed. “You two can catch up at home. He’s got tables to clear—nine and three. The dirty dishes are just sitting there, honey.”
“Got it covered, Auntie.”
As Dale dutifully ran off, Lucy couldn’t help noticing how Nora’s gaze followed him. She could only imagine what Nora was thinking each time she set eyes on her only boy. Of course, she had to be thinking of Kyle, the child she’d lost.
At least the two didn’t bear much resemblance. Dale was on the fair side, with light brown hair and a broad-shouldered, athletic build. He looked about seventeen, a junior in high school, Lucy guessed. One who played a lot of sports: football or basketball? Maybe even lacrosse?
She remembered Kyle with his dark hair and slim build. More intellectual looking. He’d been a senior in high school when he passed away, and was headed for a prestigious college. His unexpected death had been a real tragedy. It was surprising that, even now, two years later, Nora was able to emerge somewhat from her mourning—which she credited to her sessions with Cassandra Waters.
Nora did seem back to normal, if you didn’t look too deeply. But Lucy also sensed a lingering sorrow and a certain fragile quality. She suspected that just beyond the surface, Nora’s healing had a long way to go. Certainly this was the kind of loss that one never truly recovers from, and which made people like Nora even easier prey for people like Cassandra Waters?
As Nora and Cassandra left, Suzanne checked her phone and began tapping out text messages.
“Good—my first appointment is held up in traffic. They’re coming out from Boston to look at a waterfront listing. Just came on the market, sort of a faux
French chateau with solar panels? Mine is not to judge. Just to sell. Sell, sell, sell.”
The house sounded sort of hideous to Lucy. But Suzanne had definitely sold worse-sounding properties.
“Did you really mean what you told Cassandra, or were you just baiting her?” Lucy asked.
“Of course I meant it. What salesperson wouldn’t want to read their customer’s mind?” Suzanne laughed. “Do I think she can really read minds? That’s another question.”
“How about you, Lucy?” Dana asked. “Do you think spirits with special messages for you are hanging out in Edie’s diner, hovering over our table?”
Dana was partly teasing, Lucy was sure. But partly serious, too.
Lucy laughed. “No. I don’t know,” she said honestly.
“No offense, Lucy. But I think Cassandra just sniffed out the weakest link. Dana and I give off alpha energy,” Suzanne added, “and you’re so sweet and nice.”
“I’m an easy mark, is that what you’re trying to say?” Lucy was laughing but also a bit insulted.
Suzanne shrugged. “If the crystal pendant fits . . .” she said in a tiny voice.
“I don’t know about you guys, but I’m definitely curious. I think we should book a reading with her. All of us, together. That will make it easier to observe her techniques. While she’s focusing on Lucy, for instance, we can figure out her scam.”
“I don’t know. She seems pretty smooth to me. But a reading would be fun. I wouldn’t mind doing it.” Suzanne picked up the card and her phone and stashed both in her purse. “And let’s not forget Maggie and Phoebe.”
“Of course not. I’m sure they’ll want to try it, too,” Lucy said.
Edie appeared beside the table again. “So, what did you think of that swivel-hipped Svengali?”
“We’re going to book a group reading, Edie. We want to see what really goes on. Want to join us?” Dana offered.
“I had the same idea. I’m seeing her tonight,” Edie replied.
“She kept saying that spirits want to talk to me.”
“Just what she said to me,” Lucy cut in. “That must be her standard bait.”
“Well, she also tossed a few tidbits, you might say. Nothing specific. But did set me back on my heels. How does she know this stuff?” Edie looked perplexed a moment, then she resolved again. “But it’s no big trick to toss a lot of stuff at the wall and see what sticks, right? Let’s see if she can keep that up for half an hour, or more. I bet I see through this gal’s game pretty quickly.”
“If you do, let us know. We won’t call her until tomorrow. No use wasting our money, ladies, right?” Suzanne asked the others.
“I can tell you right now not to waste your money,” Edie replied emphatically. “Though I will say it’s the only thing that’s helped Nora. God knows, she and Richard made the rounds of a hundred therapists, and must have dropped thousands on that trail. Is this really that much different? . . . No offense, Dana,” she quickly added.
“No offense taken. Though I will say that sessions with a qualified therapist or grief counselor are a lot different than seeing a psychic. It can hardly be compared in the same breath.”
“Yes, yes. Of course. I’m just talking off the top of my head.” Edie waved her hand in apology, her bracelets jingling. “The bottom line is I know this woman is up to no good and she’s got my niece wrapped around her little finger. My sister is gone. I’m all the mother Nora has left. I can’t sit by and watch her conned by some charlatan.”
“It’s sweet that you’re concerned, Edie,” Lucy said. “Nora is lucky to have you. You tell us how it goes. Maybe we’ll visit with Cassandra anyway, and see if we can help you debunk her.”
“I like that word, Lucy. De-bunk,” Suzanne echoed. “It sounds like just what it means.”
“We could help derail her, Edie. We’d be happy to try.” Dana put a second to the offer. “What will you do then? Tell Nora?”
Edie’s wrinkled face puckered; it appeared she hadn’t worked out this part of her plan yet.
“I’m not sure. Maybe I can just persuade the woman to leave Nora alone and my niece may never have to know she’d been bamboozled.” She looked back at Lucy. “Let me have my session. I’ll figure it out from there.”
“Fair enough,” Lucy replied. “In the meantime, if spirits want to get in touch with me that badly, they’ll find a way, right?”
“Very true,” Dana said. “As Emerson said, ‘Heed the still, small voice inside of you. It rarely leads you astray.’ ”
Edie considered the words with a thoughtful expression.
“That’s a good one. I like it. See you, ladies . . . and don’t worry about the check, it’s on me.”
Before anyone could protest, Edie slipped the check off the table and stuffed it in her pocket. Certainly the first time that had ever happened to Lucy while dining at the Schooner. Edie obviously appreciated their offer to help her unmask Cassandra Waters, a strange but interesting assignment.
Chapter Three
After hobbling painfully into the shower and then downstairs for a breakfast of coffee and ibuprofen, Lucy realized she’d done enough bike riding over the weekend—more than enough, probably. She downed more coffee and decided to walk her dogs into town. To get the kinks out.
The trio soon arrived at the knitting shop. Maggie was outside, watering the abundant flower beds that bordered the picket fence and both sides of the path—petunias, snapdragons, swaying blue statice, pink echinacea, black-eyed Susan, and other colorful blossoms. Rosebushes and heavy-headed hydrangeas. She definitely had a green thumb, along with her other, crafty fingers.
“Hey, how are you doing? Hard at work already, I see.”
Maggie turned and smiled, gently patting the dogs and pushing aside their licks of greeting until Lucy pulled them back.
“Just wanted to poke around out here before it got too hot. I should have weeded a bit this weekend,” Maggie said.
“The price we pay for having too much fun. Rarely your problem. I think sailing agrees with you.”
Maggie’s cheeks were touched with color; her short curly hair looked beachy and windblown. She looked happy, too, Lucy thought.
“We did have a nice time. I’ve forgotten how relaxing being out on the water can be. My father had a boat and he taught us all to sail, but Bill never really liked it. He was more of a tennis or golf type,” she explained, talking about her late husband. “Charles has a beautiful cruiser, thirty-one feet,” she added. “We sailed up to Newburyport and back. It was a lovely day.”
“Sounds great. You did miss breakfast at the Schooner yesterday. Dana and I met up with Suzanne . . . and Edie picked up our check.”
“That is a notable event.” Maggie laughed as she stood up and pulled off her gloves. “I guess Dana gave a full report about the investigation of Jimmy’s death?”
“Jack hasn’t heard that much. Only that there were no signs of a break-in or struggle, so the police think Jimmy knew the person who attacked him. The big news is that Jimmy had a criminal record and served a long prison sentence. I don’t know about you, but I was really surprised to hear that,” Lucy said honestly.
“Me, too. You never know, I guess. What did he go to jail for?” Maggie asked curiously.
“Dana didn’t know. But she did say the police think his death might be related to something in his past, some connection with criminal associates.”
“Yes, that makes sense. Charles didn’t mention a word about it. He didn’t catch that case. Which was why he had off the entire weekend, for once. Just as well that I wasn’t around for that get-together,” Maggie added. “You know what Oscar Wilde said, ‘I can resist everything but temptation.’ ”
Lucy laughed. “Never heard that one, but I’ll have to remember it. You did miss another interesting moment—one that has nothing to do with police work,” she added. “Edie’s niece, Nora, was there with Cassandra Waters and Edie introduced us to the psychic. Edie wanted to see what we
thought of her.”
Maggie gave her a curious look. “What’s she like?”
“From what Edie said about her, I was expecting some loud, brassy woman in a gypsy costume, pushing a crystal ball in my face. But she was very smooth.”
“Really? That’s interesting. I got the same impression from Edie’s description, too.” Maggie headed up to the porch and Lucy followed, tugging the dogs, who were more interested to sniff the freshly watered lawn and shrubs.
“She was just the opposite—calm and quiet. Sort of New Agey? Very . . . sympathetic. Though she did press her hand a bit, pushing us a little to call her for a session.” Lucy tied the dogs to the porch rails and set up their portable water bowl. “She also said there were a lot of spirits who wanted to talk to me, to give me advice about my life.”
Maggie looked surprised, her smile growing wider. “Hard to resist a teaser like that.”
“Yes, it is,” Lucy admitted.
The comment had struck a nerve, with so many big questions looming now—her major birthday coming up, and wondering where her relationship with Matt was really going. Or not going.
She’d been thinking about it more than she wanted to admit. Lucy looked back at Maggie. “Edie already told us that was the way Cassandra got Nora hooked. She’s sure that Cassandra Waters is exploiting Nora. She’s very concerned about it. She went to a session with the psychic last night, just to see what it was like.”
Maggie nodded, heading for the storeroom at the back of the shop, which doubled as a kitchen. Lucy smelled fresh coffee and followed.
“Eddie mentioned she might do that the other day,” Maggie replied. “I’m glad she followed through. She seems convinced that Cassandra is exploiting Nora.”
“Suzanne, Dana, and I thought we should set up a session, too. In fact, we more or less promised Edie that we’d help her debunk Cassandra. We thought we should all go. What do you think? Want to try it?”
Maggie had poured them each a mug of coffee and handed Lucy one, no milk or sugar, just the way Lucy liked it. Maggie poured a spot of milk in her own mug and took a quick sip.
