Silence Is Golden (A Pet Psychic Mystery No. 3)

by Esposito, Shannon

  He held up a notebook. The one I saw on his table with stuff about CD's written on it. "I'm working on an article, Josie. It's a tight deadline. Can't you stay at your dad's place?"

  "She's got some bad people looking for her, Eugene," I offered. "She needs a safe place tonight."

  "Just for tonight," Josie pleaded. "I promise. Please?"

  He sighed and held the door open wider.

  "Thanks," I said as Josie stumbled into the house. I wanted to say more. To ask him if Victoria knew about Tara's affair. Or if she ever felt threatened by her. But I bit my tongue. Will was going to talk to him, so I needed to mind my own beeswax. I did lean in and give him an awkward hug, though. I couldn't help myself. He looked like a lost puppy. The scent of Victoria's perfume was still strong on the robe. Or maybe he sprayed in on there again to hold on to something from her. So heartbreaking. My eyes watered and I sniffed out a goodbye. "Make sure you set your alarm."

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  There was a barking match going on in Darwin's Pet Boutique. Pinky the peekapoo vs. Hershey the doberman puppy. Pinky was winning. She kept up the steady beat of yips and yaps like a seasoned pro. Will came through the door as I tried to bribe them with treats to settle their differences in a more civilized manner. The owners pulling and shushing wasn't working.

  A loud, shrill whistle suddenly stopped everyone dead in their tracks. Hershey tilted his head, his mouth snapping shut as Sylvia came down the aisle clapping her hands.

  "What is all this racket, my babies? No, no, no." She kneeled down between the two contenders in her gypsy skirt and waterproof apron, scratching each one under the chin as they sat and beamed at her like she was the best thing since sliced beef. The owners beamed at her as well. She took the peekapoo's leash from the owner. "You see. Much better. Come on, Pinky. Time for your spa day."

  Will smiled as he stepped around the group but the smile didn't reach his eyes. I hurried to him and felt the wall of grief around him.

  "What's wrong? What's happened?" I said, taking his hand.

  "It's my dad." His blue eyes were bloodshot and glistened with unshed tears. "He... passed away last night."

  My chest squeezed with the shock. I shook my head, which suddenly felt as heavy as a bowling ball. "No..." I grabbed him hard and pressed myself into him as if I could share the pain if I just got close enough. "I'm so sorry," I whispered through my own tears. I pulled back and looked up at him. "I'll get Willow to help out for an hour, let's go take a walk."

  He shook his head. "I can't. I only have a few minutes. We got a hit on a black rental car that was turned in three days late and a local body shop that did work on that model. Hood and windshield work. The person paid cash. So, I have some interviews to do, and then I'm going to head back to Tampa to make funeral arrangements."

  "I could probably take a few days off—"

  "I appreciate it, Darwin, I do. But I'd rather do this alone."

  Ouch. Why did that hurt so much? "Oh. Okay."

  "We'll have that dinner as soon as I get back, I promise." He kissed my forehead. "I miss you."

  I let a small smile I wasn't feeling cross my lips. "Sure."

  * * *

  The next three days moved like molasses. I tried to be the understanding girlfriend and not be upset that Will didn't want me by his side during such a devastating time in his life. He didn't need my support in this. Well, why did he need me at all then? Every time the hurt and confusion surfaced, I stuffed it down with a cinnamon roll. Sylvia was rubbing off on me. I also threw myself into work at the boutique, cleaning and organizing. Then at home, Willow and I baked treats and talked.

  "So, your magick's gotten a lot stronger since I left." I pulled sweet potato bones out of the oven and stepped over Goldie—sprawled out in her favorite position on the kitchen floor—to place them on the counter. "How much do you practice?"

  Willow thought for a long moment. "It's not really the time, but the intensity now. I finally got it. That place Grandma Winters kept telling us about. That seemingly infinite source of power. When I can tap into this, it doesn't drain me at all."

  "Oh." I paused. "What Grandma Winters calls tapping into the Original Consciousness?"

  "Yes. And it's amazing. There's this feeling of oneness with the creative power of the universe, of completeness. I can't even put it into words. And it doesn't totally leave you." Willow pushed the next batch she'd been stirring toward me. "Ready."

  I was envious she had reached that point already. Not her fault I had shunned my gift and stopped practicing though. I stuck my finger in the batter and licked it. Just right.

  "You remember you're making dog treats, right?" she asked with a grimace.

  I shrugged. "Not really any difference, except the shape." I put my hand on my hip. "I've been thinking about what you said. About using magick to help ease Will's grief. You don't think it's unethical?"

  Willow stared at me thoughtfully before she answered. "Remember what Grandma Winters says: We are just in tune with the elemental powers of nature which we are all a part of. There's nothing immoral or unnatural about our magick. Our brains are just wired differently."

  I sighed. "Everyone has their own definition of natural, though and Will's definition most definitely does not include magick. He still isn't even comfortable with me getting information from animals."

  Her shoulder moved slightly under strands of silky brown hair. "So, don't tell him. Just do it."

  I stared at her. Is she serious? "Just use magick on him without his knowledge or consent? No, that wouldn't cause any trust issues." I flattened out the dough with more vigor than it called for. "Besides, I want to eventually be totally honest with him. That would be a big secret to carry."

  "Bigger than being able to wield water magick to begin with?"

  I frowned. She had a point. I thought about how sad he was. I glanced at the French doors. I could feel the Bay waters humming beyond them, giving me comfort. Water was medicine.

  "He would take an aspirin if he had a headache, right?" I said softly. "So, for heartache... I could give him the medicine he needs."

  Willow nodded. "And with no side effects."

  I made my decision. "Yeah. Okay."

  I still hadn't decided if I would tell him. I couldn't tell him beforehand, he'd never agree to it. But, when he felt better, when he realized I did it for his own happiness, then maybe he would accept it. "He's coming over for dinner when he gets back tomorrow night."

  Willow nodded. "I'll make myself scarce. Maybe drive over and commune with the Mound."

  "Not alone. Not with everything that's been going on there lately."

  Willow shot me a look. "Now you sound like mom. I can take care of myself."

  "Fine. Whatever," I said, offering Goldie a cooled treat. She dropped Gator and eagerly accepted it. "Don't come running to me if the ghost dog shows up or some wacko wielding a shovel."

  * * *

  I had everything cleaned up and dinner in the oven. It was time. Grabbing the rainwater I had collected, I went upstairs and entered the spare bedroom where I kept my chalice and book. The chalice had been keyed to my particular vibration and so it was important to keep it separated from other people's energy patterns.

  "Stay, girl," I said to Goldie, who had followed me to the door. "I won't be long." I gave her a pet as she sat down to wait with Gator tucked in her jaws, and then closed the door behind me. Besides my tools, the room had a couch that converted into a bed, a glass coffee table and a flat screen TV mounted on the wall. I lowered myself onto my zafu cushion in front of the coffee table and poured the rainwater into the chalice. I then lit the two candles and put some rock salt into the rain water. It helped clean up any negative energy the water absorbed. I pushed the leather book to the corner of the table. I wouldn't need it for this.

  First thing's first... clearing my mind. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath in and filled my lungs, then followed the air back out. I repeated this ritual until I felt
my shoulders relax and saw the empty blue sky, my symbolic image of a clear mind. Clouds of thought drifted in.

  Should I really do this? Am I doing no harm? Do I really feel like this is the best thing for Will?

  Yes. Let go. Yes. Let go. Yes. Let go.

  I felt myself fall deeper into my own consciousness. Everything slipped away except a translucent violet light. I moved my attention there and settled into the seat of my consciousness. From here, I reached out with my energy to the water in the chalice. Immediately, I felt an expansion of power, a pulsing. I held an image of Will in my mind. When it was solid, I brought forth feelings of love and happiness for him. White hot feelings with streaks of blue and violet. I opened my eyes. The light fused with the water molecules, making them glisten like tiny prisms of glass beads.

  I pulled myself back. It was done. And so much easier done with my chalice. I'd have to thank Mallory for bringing it to me, even though I had left it behind on purpose.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Will arrived looking exhausted, with dark half-moons under his eyes and a sallow complexion. I wrapped my arms around his neck and let him bury his face in my shoulder. We just stood like that until Goldie's panting and circling made us laugh and separate so Will could give her a proper hello.

  He scratched her under her ears with both hands as her tongue lolled to the side. "I think she's actually smiling."

  "Yeah, she's starting to act a little happier lately." I slipped my hand in his and led him to the table. "Come sit down. I know you haven't eaten all day."

  "You know me too well." Will squeezed my hand. "Something does smell good."

  "Five cheese eggplant lasagna." I called over my shoulder on the way to the kitchen. "It's my mom's recipe. Family comfort food."

  "Could use some of that." Will pulled out a chair. "Speaking of family... is your sister here? Do I finally get to meet her?"

  "Oh, no, sorry. She wanted to spend some time at the Pinellas Point Mound tonight," I said, as I retrieved the salad and checked the timer on the oven. "You'll meet her soon. Fifteen minutes. We'll start with this." I placed the bowl on the table as Will poured the white wine into our glasses. I glanced at his water glass. He hadn't touched it yet.

  I held up my wine glass. "To the memory of your dad, who will always live in your heart."

  Will's eyes deepened with sadness and a wave of grief almost made me cry out. I concentrated on steady breathing and blinking back the tears until it passed.

  "Cheers." He clinked my glass and squeezed my hand.

  After a sip of the citrusy wine, I spooned the salad into our bowls. "So, how was it? The funeral?"

  "As good as funerals get, I suppose. He had a lot of friends. That was nice to see." I let the silence fall between us as he chewed a bite of salad in case he needed to talk more. He did, but he seemed to be talking to the salad. "The burial was hard. Brought up memories of burying my brother. And mom. They're all together now." He choked on a lump in his throat and reached for the water.

  As his lips touched it, I felt a twinge of panic. What if he reacted like Goldie did? What if I was doing something wrong? No going back now. I grabbed my wine as his adam's apple bobbed up and down with the swallows of water.

  "So," my voice squeaked. "Dinner should be about ready. Let me go check on that." I hit the table with my knee as I was getting up and winced.

  "You okay?" Will asked, his eyes moving from my knee to my face.

  "Yep," my voice squeaked. "Hunky dory." I limped away from the table and immediately tripped over Goldie who had taken up her position lying between me and Will. "Oh, sorry!" I felt on the verge of hysterics as she looked up at me with knowing eyes. Don't judge me. It's for his own good. I pursed my lips and practically ran into the kitchen and hid behind the refrigerator.

  "Just be a sec," I called out. My heart was racing and the back of my neck felt damp under my hairline. Calm down, Darwin. I took a deep breath. This was ridiculous. All I wanted to do was help the man I loved feel better, for heaven's sake. I didn't think all this guilt would come with a good deed. I talked myself down from the ledge and removed the pan of eggplant lasagna from the oven. Plastering a smile on my face, I carried our plates to the table, being extra mindful of anything I could trip over.

  "Here we go." I couldn't look at Will as I gave him his food.

  "Smells really good, Darwin." I could tell he was staring at me. "You all right? You seem a little flustered."

  I waved his concern off, "I'm fine," and quickly changed the subject, trying not to stare at his half-empty water glass or him for any signs of magick working. "So, how did the interviews go before you left?"

  He nodded and wiped his mouth with a napkin. "The girl at the car rental company remembered the person they rented the black car to. Only because the person, a woman with dark hair and ball cap, was acting nervous and didn't remove her sunglasses."

  I stopped chewing. "Do you think it was Josie?"

  Will nodded. "She's definitely a person of interest. Now that it seems it wasn't just a random drunk driving incident. Especially since you'll never guess whose credit card was used to rent the car."

  I made a hurry up motion with my hand. "Don't keep me in suspense."

  Will chuckled. "One Miss Victoria Desoto-Roth."

  My mouth dropped open. "Huh?" I shook my head. "She rented the car that ran her over?"

  "Or someone stole her credit card. I had someone look into Josie and she's got an arrest record. For theft."

  "I guess she does have motive, if she really wanted her dad's house." I mulled that over with a bite of food. "And the repair shop?"

  "Same. Woman with dark hair, sunglasses. Paid cash there, though."

  "Well, it could've also been Tara Scarpetta. She could have just as easily stolen Victoria's card at a show and she has motive... and no alibi for that night."

  "True, but," Will put his fork down, turned in his seat and grabbed my hand. "Enough shop talk. I missed you." His eyes were sparkling, his face flushed as he lifted my hand to his lips and pressed a warm kiss on my knuckles. I would have enjoyed it immensely if I wasn't noticing his abrupt mood shift... upwards. Ladies and gentlemen, we have lift-off.

  I placed my other hand on top of his. "How are you feeling?"

  Will's face broke out into a grin. "I'm not hungry anymore." He pulled me up from the table. "At least, not for food," he growled as he swept me off my feet and carried me to the sofa.

  Oh heavens. I couldn't reap rewards from my own deception. He held me tight in his arms, one hand palming my face as he kissed me... or rather melted me. He pressed his forehead against mine and moaned. "I feel like all the troubles in the world go away when I'm with you. How do you do that?"

  I pulled back. A nervous giggle escaped my lips. That's it. I couldn't lie to him. Life would have been much easier if I could have. If I could've just enjoyed his happiness. But I couldn't live with the secret between us. "Funny you should ask that." I could hear the nervousness in my voice and I hated it. "Will, I need to tell you something."

  He wrapped his fingers in mine and smiled. "Yes, you do. You need to tell me that you love me." He leaned down and kissed my forehead, my cheek, my neck. "And that I make you feel good, too."

  It took every ounce of will power, and probably some borrowed from the universe, for me to not say exactly that. "Will, you know how I have that special gift?"

  "With animals, yeah," he mumbled, his lips on my collarbone.

  "Mmmm..." I squeezed my eyes closed. Be strong. Do the right thing. "There's more to it than that."

  "Yeah?" He pulled back a bit, but brought my wrist with him, planting a kiss there as his eyes met mine. My heart did a funny little somersault.

  "I... I also have this special gift with water. I can add properties to it to make it... medicinal. And the water you drank tonight, well, it was this medicinal water. That's why you're feeling so much better. Emotionally." I didn't dare blink as I watched his flushed face for a reacti
on.

  His lips contorted to the side. "I don't understand. You put something in my water?"

  "Yes and no." Now I wasn't sure how to explain it. "Nothing physical. It's just water. But I infused feelings of love and happiness into it. So you wouldn't feel such heavy grief. It was just hard to watch you suffer when I could do something about it."

  "Oh, feelings of love," Will's mouth turned up in a seductive grin. "Okay, whatever you say, darling Darwin."

  Crap on a cracker. He doesn't believe me.

  "Will..." I took his face in my hands and made him look into my eyes. "I'm not joking. It's Elemental magick. It's part of... who I am."

  Will's face fell, and he sat up straighter on the sofa. I let my hands fall into my lap and waited, feeling the anxiety coiling in my belly. He turned to stare out the French doors. There was only darkness beyond them, so I knew he was thinking.

  Finally, he turned back to me. "If you believe you did this, I'm not sure how to feel. Because I should be angry with you for manipulating me. It's like someone giving their date ecstasy, right?"

  I didn't answer. He was kind of right but it was for a different reason. That makes a difference, right? I was afraid to move so I just sat there and watched the confusion distort his handsome face, hoping he would come to a conclusion with a happy ending. After all, that's all I wanted in the first place.

  "But, if it was possible for you to do this, would I even be able to feel angry at you?" He looked at me then. Right in my eyes, searching for an answer.

  "I don't know," I whispered. "Will, I just wanted you to be happy."

  "I was happy. With you." He dropped his head. "Grief couldn't touch that." He looked at me. "But this... this could, I think."

  I started to shake my head no. He got up slowly from the couch and went to the door and turned. "Did you ever stop to think maybe I want to be sad? That this grief is the only connection to my dad I have left, and I'm not ready to let that go?"

  I could only stare at him, a painful lump forming in my throat. He was right.