“Um,” I began, “would you still be willing to give a private reading even though you’re not open yet?”
“For you? Of course,” she said.
“Actually, it’s for my friend Farrah. She . . . has some issues with her love life.” I cringed. Why was it I couldn’t be honest with anyone anymore?
Ugh.
After arranging to meet Mila at Moonstone the next day after work, I hung up and rested my face in my hands. Three days. That’s when the killer would strike again if Mila didn’t do as she was told. Why wasn’t Mila more freaked out? She must believe the killer would be caught by Saturday. Maybe she planned to hex the person or something. Well, spells and rituals could be very effective for many purposes, but I wouldn’t rely on energy work alone. Not in a matter of life or death.
I gazed around my kitchen. I didn’t have much of an appetite, but I supposed I ought to scrounge up some dinner.
A bit later, I took my plate of improvised mashed chickpeas with veggies and olives to the table and opened my laptop to check e-mail while I ate.
I saw I had a message from my mom. I stopped chewing and dropped my fork when I read the subject line: “About Your Aunt Josephine.”
Holy cow.
My mom rarely talked about her older sister. From the little she did share over the years, I knew she was heartbroken when Josie left home. She was hurt that Josie hadn’t confided in her—and she was angry about the turmoil Josie had caused for their parents. It was a painful topic.
I quickly read my mom’s e-mail:
Hi Keli,
I’ve been doing genealogy research, and I found something in Grandma O’s papers. It has to do with Aunt Josephine, and it’s somewhat odd. I know you’re busy, but you may want to follow up on this. I’ll send it to you by registered mail as soon as I can get to the post office. Call me when you get it.
Talk to you soon.
Love,
Mom
I stared at the computer screen feeling utterly perplexed. I had always been curious about my aunt Josephine. I couldn’t imagine what my mom could have found, or why she would send it to me.
As I finished my dinner, I let my mind wander down a rabbit hole of possibilities. I was about to draft a reply to my mom’s e-mail when my phone rang. Seeing that it was Wes, I answered right away.
“Hi there,” I said.
“How ya doin’, Perry Mason?” he said by way of greeting.
I smiled. “Just dandy. What are you up to this evening?”
“I just got off work. And, unfortunately, I have to cancel our Friday date. A new assignment just came up.”
“That’s a bummer,” I said. “I know how much you wanted to see that band.”
“I’ll catch ’em next time,” he said. “Sheana is doing a feature on the new bed-and-breakfast, and a room just became available Friday night.”
My heart dropped like an anchor as I realized what he was saying.
“You’re going to spend the night there? With Sheana?”
“Yeah. Get the full effect. You know.”
All I knew was that I had better have my palms read along with Farrah. Because I had no idea what my love line would show.
Chapter 18
I tossed and turned Wednesday night, troubled by dreams of whispering stalkers, grim exorcists, and my lost aunt Josephine, who had been wandering for years in a dark, tangled forest. Walking to work, I tried to shake off the residual unease. I needed to focus on the child custody negotiation I had scheduled to take place in the firm’s conference room first thing that morning. I had no time for phantom mysteries.
Three hours later, I shook hands with my client and watched as she left the office suite with her ex-husband and his attorney. Their mood was positive and relieved—we had managed to iron out all remaining issues. Still, there was an undercurrent of sadness. In spite of an amicable divorce, it was always hard to break up a family with small children.
Well, at least I did my part in smoothing the process, I thought, as I put away the case file. Now if I could only work out my own issues.
After freshening my makeup and slipping on my coat, I told Julie I was leaving for a lunch meeting. Then I headed to the Cozy Café, where I had arranged to meet with Yvette Prime. I found her sitting in a window booth, reading something on her smartphone. She shoved the phone in her purse when she saw me approaching the table.
“Good afternoon,” she said, as I slipped into the seat across from her. “I’m glad you suggested we meet here. It’s been a while since I’ve had one of their BLTs, and I remember it being very tasty. Love those home fries that come with it, too.”
I smiled. “The food here is always really fresh. And the service is fast, which is another plus.”
A waitress arrived to take our orders. I chose the same sandwich as Yvette, except I requested avocado slices in place of the bacon and Dijon mustard instead of mayonnaise.
“You got it,” said the waitress, who was used to my substitution requests.
While we waited for our food, Yvette brought out a small stack of printouts showing various property listings.
“So, you said you’re interested in moving from your town house into a single-family home with more yard space, right?”
“Yeah. At least I’d like to see what’s available. I mean, I have a nice little backyard now, with a small garden. But it would be nice to have side yards as well.”
Yvette nodded, and fingered through the stack of papers.
“I do get a lot of sunlight in my town house,” I continued, “through the front and back windows and the skylights upstairs. Sunlight is important to me, as I have a lot of plants.”
Yvette nodded again and handed me some listings. “Here are a few you should take a look at. They’re really nice properties with an abundance of green space.”
I glanced at the first one and saw that it was on the edge of town, not far from Mila’s subdivision. “Oh, I should also mention that proximity to downtown is important, too. I like to walk to work as often as possible.”
Yvette frowned and took back the papers she had given me. Our food arrived then, and we were quiet for a moment as we savored our first bites.
“So, how are your renovations coming along?” I asked, breaking the continued silence.
“Slowly but surely,” she said. “I’m having my kitchen updated and the whole house painted. Luckily, the B&B is such a lovely place to stay. If only I could have Danielle cook for me all the time.” She smiled pleasantly and took a bite of her sandwich.
“The B&B isn’t too noisy?” I asked. “I heard the rooms are all booked up now.”
“Weeknights have been quiet. It will probably be louder on Friday evening. There’s another mystery dinner show, as well as a private party in the speakeasy.”
“Oh?” I said, surprised. “I didn’t think the speakeasy was quite finished yet.”
“Finished enough, I guess. Tish rented the space for a small gathering she’s hosting. She didn’t want to wait.”
So Tish is going back to the B&B. For some reason, I found this very interesting.
Yvette took a sip of her soda, then picked up the stack of listings again. “Did you say you wanted two bedrooms and one bathroom, or did you want something bigger?”
“Well, right now I have two bedrooms plus a den, which is about right for me. I have a full bathroom attached to my bedroom and a half bath downstairs. Since I live alone, this works pretty well.”
“Okay,” she said. “So we’ll look for a small bungalow or cottage that’s—”
“Of course,” I cut in, “I won’t always live alone. I imagine I’ll get married and have kids someday.”
Yvette looked at me with slightly raised eyebrows. How flaky must I sound to her? “I suppose,” I went on, “that, when the time comes, that’ll require a whole new search, right?”
I laughed self-consciously. I really needed to change the subject before Yvette could ask me any more questions about a hous
e hunt I clearly wasn’t really into.
“Oh, by the way!” I said, as if a thought had just popped into my head. “My friend Mila Douglas may be interested in selling her downtown store space. She owns Moonstone Treasures.”
That got Yvette’s attention. She sat up straighter and leaned forward. “Really?” she said.
I nodded, crossing my fingers under the table. “I told her she should give you a call, since you specialize in downtown real estate. Do you know anyone who might be interested?”
“Yes,” she said, a little too eagerly. “Please give Ms. Douglas my number.” She pulled a business card from her purse and slid it across the table toward me.
I looked at the card and pressed my lips together. As much as I hated to, I was going to have to be blunt. I looked up at Yvette. “So, who do you know that might want to buy it?” I asked, putting on my most innocent face.
“I don’t divulge information like that,” Yvette said plainly. She dipped a fry in ketchup and popped it into her mouth.
“Oh. Well, I was just wondering what kind of business might move into the space. Another gift shop? Or a clothing store? Probably not a coffee shop, right?”
“Time will tell,” Yvette said. The waitress came to clear our plates, and Yvette asked for the check. “Lunch is on me,” she said.
I thanked her and took the stack of property listings. She asked me to call her if I wanted to go see any of them.
I think we both knew I wouldn’t be calling anytime soon.
* * *
After work, I waited for Farrah in the downstairs lobby of my office building. She arrived on time and we walked over to Moonstone Treasures together.
“I’m kinda excited about this palm reading,” she said. “This could be fun.”
“I thought you were a skeptic,” I said, giving Farrah a sidelong glance. “Do you think you might actually learn something about yourself tonight?”
“Who knows?” said Farrah. “But let’s not forget our real mission. We want to find out why that old man was killed . . . or sacrificed.”
I winced. Earlier in the day, I had called Mila to remind her that Farrah didn’t know I was Wiccan. She promised not to reveal my secret. I only hoped Farrah wouldn’t do anything to offend Mila.
The door to Moonstone Treasures was unlocked, so we let ourselves in and looked around. Catrina was in the front of the store dusting off merchandise. She held a feather duster in one hand and a cloth rag in the other. Farrah regarded her with interest.
“Hi there,” Farrah said brightly. “Your earlobe plugs are wild. How big are you going to let them stretch? Will they grow closed if you change your mind someday?”
Catrina narrowed her eyes and curled her lips as she sized up Farrah, who was still smiling innocently. With her golden-blond ponytail, blue eyeshadow, and snug-fitting skirt-suit, Farrah looked like a prototypical sorority sister. Pointedly ignoring Farrah’s questions, Catrina turned her back and returned to her dusting.
Farrah turned to me with an amused expression, and I shrugged. Then Mila came out of the back room.
“Hello,” she said, shaking Farrah’s hand. “I’m Mila Douglas.” She touched my arm and smiled. “Come on back.”
Mila led us to the round cloth-covered table in her divination parlor. The Japanese folding screens hid the area where we had found Charlie’s body.
Next to the table was a painted bureau, decorated with an assortment of exotic statuettes and lit candles. The candles gave off a cozy glow and scented the air with jasmine and vanilla. In the center of the table was a brass desk lamp with an extendable arm. Mila sat down with her back to the bureau, and Farrah and I sat across from her. She turned to Farrah and spoke in a soothing and confident voice.
“Before we begin, I always like to set an intention for the reading and help my clients enter a relaxed, receptive state of mind. So, let’s all take a deep breath.”
Farrah grinned and winked at me. “Okay,” she said.
“Now,” Mila continued, “gently close your eyes and take another full, deep breath.”
We did as she asked, and I noticed the room seemed quieter. I wondered if Catrina had left.
Mila spoke softly about what was going to happen, and she asked us each to call to mind an issue that felt central to our lives at the moment. I immediately thought of the witch-hating killer I was trying to track down.
But then I thought of Wes. By the end of our phone conversation the night before, I had figured out that he and Sheana would be staying in separate rooms at the B&B. Still, I wasn’t particularly happy about it. I wondered if my palms would reveal anything about the future of our relationship.
As I continued to breathe quietly, I started to feel a peacefulness settle in. Then Farrah jumped in her seat, jarring the whole table. “Did everyone feel that?” she hissed.
I opened my eyes and looked at Farrah. She had a frightened expression in her eyes. “Feel what?” I asked.
“I felt something on my legs, like a cold breeze.” She looked around the room as if expecting to see something.
Mila frowned slightly but remained serene. “Perhaps it was my cat, Drishti. I’m sorry she disturbed you.”
Farrah shook her head. “No, it was more like a . . . breath of air. It felt ghost-like.”
I snickered, trying to dispel Farrah’s fear. “This isn’t a séance, Farrah. You probably just felt a draft.”
She dropped her shoulders and giggled nervously. “Right. Sorry. But a person did die here, after all.”
I raised an eyebrow. Was this Farrah’s way of getting Mila to talk about the murder? Somehow I didn’t think so. Farrah’s alarm had seemed genuine.
Mila folded her hands on the table in front of her. “Yes,” she said, addressing Farrah. “But the room has been fully cleansed. I believe the gentleman’s spirit has moved on. Are you sensing an ethereal presence?”
Farrah hesitated, then shook her head. “I guess not.”
“Okay,” said Mila. “Let’s take one more deep breath. Now then, who wants to go first?”
I smiled. Without me saying anything, Mila had picked up on the fact that I would like my palms read, too. I nodded toward Farrah. “It was her idea. Let her go first.”
Farrah held out her hands and Mila took them in each of hers. Running her thumbs over the grooves and curves, Mila studied Farrah’s palms and fingers under the light.
“You’re a passionate woman,” Mila began. “Adventurous, outgoing, strong, and independent.”
Farrah glanced at me and shrugged. “That’s all true enough.”
“While you’re independent and self-sufficient, you have strong ties with your family and friends.” Mila looked up for a moment. “Do you have a sister?”
“Uh-uh,” said Farrah. “I’m an only child.”
“Then perhaps it’s another family member or a close friend.” Mila looked back down at Farrah’s hands. “I see a strong female bond.”
I looked over at Farrah, and she looked at me. “Oh!” she said. “Duh. Keli’s like a sister to me.”
Mila nodded. “You’re fiercely protective of your close friends. From the time you were a small child, you were always a leader among your peers.”
Farrah fell silent as she listened to Mila continue to describe her. It was as if Mila had known Farrah her whole life. I smiled to myself as I observed Farrah become totally absorbed in the reading.
“Your marriage lines show that you’ve had several romantic relationships,” Mila said.
“Marriage?” Farrah echoed.
“That’s an old label for these lines,” Mila explained, rubbing her thumb over the fine lines along the edge of Farrah’s hand. “These generally represent your more serious romantic relationships.”
Farrah leaned forward and tried to see the lines herself.
“One of these lines is more prominent than the others,” Mila said. “It’s a little fractured in places, but it’s longer and deeper. The others are fading in importan
ce. I see a lot of potential with this line.” Mila met Farrah’s eyes. “You’ll be very happy with this one,” she said.
“Jake,” Farrah whispered.
Mila concluded Farrah’s reading, and then turned to me with a questioning look.
I cleared my throat. “I wouldn’t mind having a reading myself,” I said.
“Go for it!” said Farrah. “I’d like to hear yours.”
Mila took my hands into her cool, strong fingers and examined them as she had with Farrah’s. I took a deep breath and waited to hear my fate.
“You’re very intelligent, Keli,” Mila said. “You’re careful, cautious. You tend to weigh your options before making any decision. You also have a big heart. You’re intuitive and emotional.”
She nodded, as if my life line made perfect sense. “I see your Gemini personality. Your two sides, the serious and the playful. One of these sides has been neglected lately.”
“Mm-hmm,” said Farrah knowingly.
“I’ve been swamped at work,” I murmured.
She moved her thumb to the space between my fingers. “As a child, you were surrounded by a close, loving family. Lots of siblings and cousins and friends. Close grandparents. You respected your parents, though you didn’t always agree with them.”
I found myself nodding. So far, Mila was spot on with everything she had said.
“You have a strong love interest,” she continued. “New within the past year. There is a deep attraction, a real connection. We’re talking soul mate serious here.”
“Aww,” said Farrah beside me. “Is Keli in love?”
Mila smiled softly but didn’t look up from my hands. “I see a lot of energy around your feelings for this man. You’re worried. You’re feeling possessive and defensive. You want to remove the uncertainty. This comes from your practical nature. You want to define the relationship and make it clear that his heart belongs to you, and yours to him.”
Hearing this truth made me nervous. My heart started beating faster.
“I also see that your heart line is conflicted,” Mila said. “I see the stress you feel from the effort of hiding an important part of yourself.”
Bell, Book & Candlemas Page 13
