Three Tequilas (Althea Rose 3)

by Tricia O'Malley

  “Thank you.”

  Once alone, Luna and I looked at each other.

  “I don’t like this.”

  “You’re coming to stay with me,” Luna decided.

  “Maybe. Let’s see what type of protections Miss Elva can set up. In the meantime – feel like painting?”

  Luna sighed and looked down at her dress.

  “Got an old t-shirt?”

  Chapter Nine

  Later that day, I snuggled up with Hank on one of my favorite couches – a bright red number tucked into the corner under a suit of armor. I was tired to the bone, yet too antsy and anxious to actually drift off into a nap.

  It certainly didn’t stop Hank from snoring gently beside me – his tummy facing up and his paws sprawled out.

  True to their word, the door guys had arrived within the hour and I’d had a new door in just as much time. Not that I necessarily felt any safer – at least not until Miss Elva reassured me that she’d set a protection spell on the property.

  Which basically meant that anyone who crossed the invisible barrier with intent to harm me was going to get a really big zap. It wouldn’t necessarily stop anyone – but her wards would sound and I’d be notified before they ever made it to a door or window.

  It was something, at least.

  I’d then spent almost two hours at the station with Chief Thomas and Trace, going over details while Hank kept the station secretary company.

  I jumped as my phone rang and Hank rolled to open one eye in a glare.

  “Cash,” I said into the phone, reading his name from the caller ID. I immediately felt guilty for not telling him about my day.

  “Hey sweets, I just wanted to touch base with you. How did your dives go on your big expedition today?”

  His voice – like whiskey-soaked honey – warmed me and I wished he were near enough to curl up into.

  “Well, about that,” I said, my voice cracking before I paused.

  “Why do I feel like I’m not going to like what comes next?” Cash asked on a sigh.

  “Oh, you’re not,” I said and launched into the story, the words flooding out of me and crowding each other as I tried to get through all the details.

  “Wait just a minute – the house got broken into and you didn’t call me?” Cash asked, a note of disbelief in his voice.

  “I… it all happened so fast, and then I had to go to the station and give a statement. Then I was on the phone with my insurance. And I’m just sitting down. I swear I was going to call you,” I said, running my hand over Hank’s belly.

  “You know, most girls would call their boyfriend right away,” Cash said, annoyance lacing his voice.

  “It was a crazy day, Cash. Plus I knew you were in meetings all day,” I said, hating the plaintive note creeping into my voice. I was the victim here, wasn’t I? The male ego, I tell ya.

  “Well, I suppose you didn’t need me since Trace was there,” Cash said, working himself into a good head of mad.

  “Hey, now. It wasn’t like that. Luna, Beau, Trace, and Miss Elva were all here. It wasn’t like it was just Trace and me,” I defended myself.

  “Oh, so you did have time to call the whole crew – just not me.”

  I stopped, caught.

  “I called them because they were here. And because Miss Elva was letting Hank out today.”

  “I see. So as long as I’m in town, I’m okay to call for help? But if I’m not in town then you forget all about me.”

  Okay, so maybe Cash was seriously pissed.

  “Please understand where I’m coming from. It’s been a long and scary day. I saw a murdered body. Blood was everywhere,” I hiccupped as tears welled up. “My house was broken into. It has been a very bad day.”

  Silence greeted me and I clutched the phone against my head, wiping a tear away with a knuckle.

  “I get it. It’s just… frustrating. I hate being the last person to know when you’re hurting. I’m supposed to be the one who makes things better, okay?”

  Well, then. How was I supposed to argue with that?

  “I promise to call you in the future,” I said.

  “Well, let’s hope something like this doesn’t happen in the future. Though things do seem to happen to you with surprisingly regularity,” Cash said.

  That burned. Prior to the last six months or so, I’d led a fairly calm life. Not a normal one, by any means, but certainly a non-life-threatening one.

  “It’s not like this is the status quo for me. I’m not a freakin’ detective or something, who’s always in the line of fire. These things are an anomaly.”

  “Well, I don’t like it,” Cash said.

  There it was. What was I supposed to say to that? It wasn’t as if I liked being in danger either.

  “Well, I guess it’s all about you, then,” I said, my temper rising.

  Cash sighed.

  “I’m not coming down until tomorrow. I was calling to tell you I’m bringing my sister. She wants to meet you and Beau.”

  Well, shit.

  “I’m not sure if this is a very good time,” I said, and not least because I wasn’t sure I was ready to meet another member of Cash’s family, who were all wildly successful and practically perfect. At least from what I’d heard.

  “Too late. I’m at the airport picking her up. Unless you’d prefer we stay in Miami for the rest of her time off?”

  “I – uh, no. Of course not. Will she be staying at my house?”

  “I booked her a room so we can have some space. I know you like your space,” Cash said, and I breathed a sigh of relief. “Plus she needs some room to spread out and do a little work. Even though she’s on vacation, she’s not really on vacation, you know?”

  Cash’s sister was a copyeditor for Vogue, if you can believe that. Not only did she rarely take vacation days, but pictures of her showed that she had certainly inherited her share of the good looks that ran in Cash’s family. I was already intimidated.

  “I’m sure Farah will find she can relax here in Tequila Key. It’s hard not to.”

  “You can take the New Yorker out of New York…” Cash laughed and I released a breath, some of the tension that had knotted my shoulders easing.

  “When will you guys get down here?”

  “Probably mid-afternoon. Want to eat dinner at Lucky’s? That way she can meet Beau too.”

  “Sure, I’ll warn him. Sure you don’t want to try his new restaurant? He’d probably open it early just to impress Farah.”

  “Nah, I know he’s in the final throes of construction and finishing touches. I like Lucky’s. Farah will too.”

  I wasn’t so sure about that, but I let it slide.

  “See you tomorrow,” I said.

  “Stay safe. And call me if anything happens,” Cash ordered.

  “Will do.”

  We hung up without saying “I love you.” We hadn’t quite progressed to that stage of our relationship yet. It was hard to really know my feelings for Cash. In fact, I’m not sure I’d ever really been in love. I was naturally suspicious of love, though I had no reason to be. My parents had the type of relationship every couple wished for. They doted on each other, celebrated the weird in each other, and traveled the world together.

  So why was I keeping my feelings for Cash hidden behind a wall?

  The little voice in my head told me why.

  I was convinced I wasn’t good enough for Cash and his fancy family. And sooner or later, he was going to realize that being with a tattooed psychic like me did not fall in line with his family’s plan for a house in upstate Connecticut and grandkids running on the lawn.

  I sighed and pinched my nose. That wasn’t fair of me. Cash had never once made me feel like I wasn’t good enough for him. In fact, he treated me better than I’d ever been taken care of before. It was my own insecurities that were sabotaging my feelings for him.

  What would my mother say?

  As if on cue, my phone rang and I glanced down to see my mother�
��s name on the display. I wondered what part of the world she was in now.

  “Darling…can you hear me? It’s dreadfully windy here,” Abigail called through the phone. I winced at her loud voice.

  “Loud and clear, Mom. How are you?” I asked brightly, curling into a pillow on the couch and missing her and my father.

  “Positively delightful. The diving has been to die for. You must come here sometime. With the photos you take? Darling, you’ll be a sensation!”

  I smiled into the phone. I loved my mother – she was my constant champion.

  “How’s Dad doing?”

  “He’s ecstatic. He’s been jamming with one of the musicians on the boat. A Jack Johnson – John Johnson? I’m not quite sure. Oh, and I’ve given some marvelous readings.”

  “Jack Johnson, Mom. He’s quite famous.”

  “Well, I would hope so, if he can afford the yacht we’re on.” She chuckled, then paused before continuing, “Now, I had a vision today, which is why I’m calling.”

  Abigail’s visions were not to be dismissed.

  “Is something going on there? I feel like you’re in danger and I’m quite worried.”

  I filled her in quickly, sketching out the details. Her sharp intake of breath said it all.

  “El Serpiente. That was my vision. A snake with glowing emerald green eyes. It was arched back, ready to bite your neck. Please, oh please be careful on this mission of yours.”

  “I don’t think there is a mission anymore. The professor is dead. So the expedition is probably over.” I shrugged, though her words chilled me.

  “Althea, you’ve discovered your magick, haven’t you?”

  “Luna is teaching me, yes. Though she wants to have a few choice words with you,” I said, biting back my annoyance at my mom’s glossing over of the little tidbit that I had magick on top of my psychic abilities.

  “Yes, well, it wasn’t time. Now it’s time. I’d like you to ask Luna to teach you the locator spell. It can be used inversely as well. In fact, I insist upon it.”

  “Used inversely? I’m not sure what that means.”

  “Althea… I can’t hear you. I think the connection is bad. I love you. Promise to email me daily!”

  Then the connection was lost and I sat there staring down at the phone.

  Sliding through the screens, I pulled up Luna’s name and texted her what my mother had told me.

  “Meet me at the shop in the morning. I’ll call Miss Elva.”

  It looked like I was going to have another magick lesson whether I liked it or not.

  “Come on, Hank. Let’s go snuggle in bed and forget about this day.”

  But I left every light in the house burning. Just in case.

  Chapter Ten

  “You’d better have coffee back there. Damn near up before the birds,” Miss Elva complained as she swept into the shop, Rafe floating along behind her. Today’s caftan was a brilliant pearl white with an intricate turquoise design stitched across it. Her hair was wrapped in a matching turquoise scarf and earrings the size of doorknockers dangled to her shoulders.

  “It certainly didn’t compromise your style. Unless you sleep in that?” I asked, nodding at her caftan as I handed her a cup of coffee.

  Now me? I wouldn’t drink coffee if I were wearing a white dress. But to each her own.

  “Child, you couldn’t handle seeing what I sleep in,” Miss Elva chuckled, sending her generous curves rolling. I raised an eyebrow at her.

  “It’s glorious,” Rafe breathed, fluttering around her head. “My lovemountain sure can fill out some lace.”

  “Mmmhmm, and don’t you forget that, sweetcakes,” Miss Elva laughed and sipped her coffee.

  “I’m all ready back here,” Luna called from her back room.

  We were on her side of the shop. We didn’t typically open the doors until ten or eleven during the week as foot traffic was fairly slow in the morning hours. I would come in earlier if I had a scheduled appointment, but otherwise those hours worked for us – I got to dive in the mornings and Luna worked on more charms and spells for her products.

  A well-sized and well-stocked backroom was tucked off Luna’s side of the store. She’d transformed it into one of the prettiest ritual rooms I’d ever had the pleasure of seeing. I mean, did I expect any differently? Anything Luna had her hand in was pure elegance.

  “Now, child, did I hear you correctly? Your mama wants you to learn a locator spell?” Miss Elva asked, placing her coffee on a low table as she went to examine the items Luna had placed on the ritual table set outside the circle drawn on the floor.

  “That’s what she said. And that it can be used inversely,” I said, shrugging.

  “To find and be found,” Miss Elva said.

  “That’s advanced magick. I can’t even get her to properly cast a circle,” Luna complained. “Now Abigail wants me to teach her a locator spell? She needs to get her psychic butt back here and bestow some of her own wisdom on her daughter.”

  “Amen,” Miss Elva and I said at the same time.

  Luna huffed out a laugh and then shrugged.

  “I love her, but damn it, she’s dropped a load on us.”

  “Is this, like, super hard to learn?”

  “It’s not even necessarily hard to learn – it’s just that when you need to use it, you’ll most likely be stressed or under duress. So that means you’ll need to clearly remember the spell. If you mix it up, who knows?”

  “Who knows? What the hell, Luna?”

  “Well? What do you want me to say? Who knows means just that… who knows? If you do the spell wrong, you might be led in a wrong direction. Magick is a picky thing. Which is why I’m annoyed at Abigail.”

  “Fine, remember the spell precisely. Got it. Let’s get started. The more we go over it, the easier it will be for me to remember it.”

  Miss Elva and Luna looked at each other across the circle.

  “How do you want to start it?”

  “Did you hide something?”

  “I did.”

  “What did you hide?” I looked back and forth between the both of them.

  “Herman.”

  “My skeleton?” I shrieked. I loved my skeleton. He hung out in the corner of my shop, sporting a Ramones shirt. Herman had been with me since I started my business. I’d found him at a thrift shop the same week we opened. Aside from a brief stint where I’d redecorated my shop to look like a lawyer’s office – and had subsequently lost business – Herman had maintained his seat on my leopard print chair in the corner.

  “You’d better not have hurt him,” I complained.

  “It’s impossible to hurt him. He’s made of plastic,” Luna pointed out.

  “I don’t care. He has feelings. I talk to him,” I grumbled.

  “Focus, Thea. We’re going to start with the most basic of locator spells, for finding something you have a connection to. You can use this if you lose your keys, or – goddess forbid – Hank. That kind of thing. A personal or emotional connection.”

  I nodded for her to continue.

  “So, to start out you’ll want to clear your mind as best you can. Focus on the object that you’re trying to find and – if you can – invoke an emotional connection with it.”

  I closed my eyes and brought Herman to my mind. And then ruined it by snorting with laughter.

  “Sorry,” I said, holding my hand up in apology. “I just never much thought about my emotional connection to Herman.”

  “Just focus, Althea. This shouldn’t be so difficult,” Luna complained.

  “Fine, fine, I’m focusing.”

  I did, too – closed my eyes and brought Herman in his Ramones t-shirt to my mind.

  “Got it? Good, now let’s work on a few key components of the spell. The first is intent. As with all spells, your intent must be true – and must be spoken. ‘I intend for such and such to happen. I intend to do the following things.’ You don’t want to leave a lot of grey area when casting a spell or y
ou can find yourself in a world of pain.”

  “You’re entering a world of pain,” I joked, quoting Walter from The Big Lebowski.

  Luna rolled her eyes, but she laughed anyway.

  “So, number one – intent. Got it?”

  I nodded.

  “Yes, I intend to find Herman. Got it.”

  “Next up is casting your circle and calling on the elements. Last time we did this, you brought Rafe through – so you know the dangers of doing this wrong,” Luna said.

  “Don’t act like you didn’t want me to come through. You ladies were dancing naked on a beach – dying for a real man to appear in your lives,” Rafe shouted from the front room.

  “Rafe, I know you didn’t just imply that you are the ‘real man’ for these two,” Miss Elva called over her shoulder.

  “No, no – of course not, my lovemountain. It’s always you for me. You know that,” Rafe crooned.

  I shook my head. “Moving on.”

  “So you’ll want to call on the elements.”

  “What if she’s not in a position to cast a circle?” Miss Elva asked.

  “Well, that’s what I’m saying – then she can just invoke the elements without the circle,” Luna pointed out.

  “Yeah, let’s just teach her that. If we’re going to be totally honest here, you know she’s only going to use magick when she’s in a total bind – and that means there’s gonna be no time for circle casting.”

  “Fine, we’ll do modified,” Luna said, then turned to me with a bright smile on her face, like a teacher who had the painful job of teaching the slowest student in the class. “Okay, Thea, repeat after me.”

  “Repeat after me,” I parroted back, and she scrunched her nose at me.

  “Focus.”

  “Focus,” I repeated.

  Miss Elva snorted. “Someone’s got her sassy pants on today.”

  “Fine, fine, go ahead,” I sighed.

  “By the moon, sun, earth, air, fire, and sea,

  What once was lost, now returns to me.”

  I repeated the phrase back to her while keeping Herman in my mind. Soon, a soft glow appeared in my mind.

  “I swear I see a little light,” I said, closing my eyes as I focused on it.