by D E Dennis
“Heeelllloooooo!” a bright voice called out. A woman had appeared behind the counter. I schooled my face to remain neutral. When I was playing the part of Madame Moon it was important to be unaffected and at that moment I was thankful my mask held. The woman before us was dressed in a very stylish black leather dress that flared at the waist. But that wasn’t the issue. It was the bright, bubblegum pink hair and matching lipstick that made me want to do a double take.
“Welcome to Sandy Pleasures. I’m Sandy Lake, the owner of this fine establishment. How may I help you lovely ladies?” Sandy said all this in a rush.
“Ma’am,” Monique began, “we are here about the fire that burnt down the neighboring building. We would like to ask you some questions about what you saw the morning of the fire.”
Sandy’s pink mouth formed a little “O” of surprise. She lifted a section of the counter up and beckoned us forward. “Come right through to my office.”
We did as she asked. She opened the door to the back and we found ourselves in a short hallway with four doors. The one directly across from us, I figured led to the back alley. She opened the door on the right and we stepped into a pink nightmare.
The carpet was pink, the walls were pink, the desk was pink, even her laptop was pink. I may have been off, but I think pink was her favorite color. Sandy gestured to the two chairs placed in front of her desk and we sat.
“So what would you like to know?” she said eagerly. She clearly enjoying this whole witness thing.
“We would―” I held up a hand and Monique halted.
“Before we begin,” I said, taking charge. “You should know that I’m a psychic.” Sandy gasped. “I was hoping you would allow me to give you a psychic reading so that we would get closer to finding out who did this.”
Sandy looked from me to Monique. “I didn’t know law enforcement worked with psychics?”
Monique leaned forward. “We do with legitimate ones. I can vouch for Madame Moon and her abilities. I ask that you cooperate with her on behalf of the department.”
Sandy clapped. “Ooooh, this is terribly exciting. Please, Madame Moon, do whatever you need to.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice. “You know, my cousin’s brother-in-law’s sister has the gift as well.” She winked at me.
I winked back conspiratorially and she giggled. “Monique, would you mind giving us some privacy? I wouldn’t want your aura to interfere and prevent a clear reading.”
Monique was already ducking out, before I finished my sentence.
I straightened and took a few deep breaths. “Please clear your desk, so we may grasp hands,” I intoned.
Sandy hurried to do as I asked. When her task was complete, I laid my hands across her desk and she grabbed them immediately.
“Close your eyes,” I said softly, and they fluttered shut. “Now think back to Saturday and tell me everything that happened that day leading up to the fire. Begin from when you woke up.”
“Okay,” she said. Her voice was laced with excitement and happiness was coming through loud and clear. I had been affected by it since she got in range. It was actually making me a bit giddy. I started her out by having her recount her morning as I hoped getting her to speak about the mundane activities of daily life would calm her, and therefore me, down.
“Well, I woke up when my alarm went off at six. I took a shower, got dressed in my...do you need to know what I wore?” she questioned.
“Everything, Sandy,” I replied in my soft, wispy Madame Moon voice. “No detail is too insignificant.”
“Right, of course.” She kept going. “I got dressed in my favorite blue pencil skirt and yellow blouse with the blue roses. Then I called my girlfriend. We spoke about her sister’s upcoming wedding and the hideous bridesmaid dresses she wanted us to wear. Bleck!” It was working. Her happiness was fading enough for that tiny sliver of disgust to come through. “We spoke for about twenty minutes then I hung up and made some breakfast. Nothing fancy, I just popped a couple muffins in the oven and nuked them for fifteen seconds.”
I relaxed. Her feelings had now returned to what I called “the baseline” and I was no longer in danger of bursting into song. The baseline was something all humans knew although they called it different things: feeling neutral, chill, unbothered, etc. It was the point where you weren’t feeling any particular emotion or emotions strongly.
Sandy was at her baseline.
“After I ate, I grabbed my purse and put on my blue pumps,” she said calmly. “I took my usual route to work along Citrus Lane and parked in my designated spot. I opened up the shop and let Wei Ling inside to begin her shift and prep for the day. I went straight back to my office to get some work done, but I came out a few times to greet customers. At eleven, Wei Ling came to tell me our new shipment had arrived. I went out back to sign for it and that’s when I saw her.”
“Her?” I questioned.
“Yes, it was a woman,” Sandy said. “She was wearing a black sheath dress. Quite cute actually. Her head and neck were wrapped in a scarf and she had on a big pair of black shades. Oh, and she had a large tote bag. I was only checking out her dress, but thought her suspicious because the moment she caught me looking at her, she turned her back to me.”
I waited, but Sandy was finished.
“Did you recognize this woman?” I probed.
“Nope. Never seen her before.”
“Did you see her go inside Best Foot Forward?”
Once again, she said no. “I was preoccupied with checking the shipment. I didn’t pay much mind after she turned away from me.”
I chewed my lip. “Was she on the phone? Talking to anyone? Waiting for someone?”
“No,” she replied and I deflated. “Really, she was just pacing back and forth, pulling on her dress and adjusting her bra. She went after a wedgie at one point, but every woman does when they think no one is watching.” Sandy laughed.
I let go of her hands. “Thank you, Sandy. I have all I need.”
Sandy’s eyes flew open, and she clapped her hand excitedly. “Oh wonderful, what did you discover?”
“You are honest and true,” I said gravely. “I sensed no deception in you.”
She covered her heart with her hands and nodded her head vigorously. “I am no liar, Madame Moon. Everything I told you was the truth.”
I inclined my head. “It was. And because of that I now know that the woman you saw is the key to everything. When we find her...we will find the person responsible for the fire and the murders of five innocent people.”
She gasped.
“I also know”—I leaned forward and Sandy automatically did the same— “that those bridesmaid dresses truly are hideous.”
She threw her head back, laughing away. I stood.
“I must go, but thank you for your help.”
Sandy wiped the tears out of her eyes and stood as well. “Let me walk you out.” She came around the desk and linked her arm through mine. “Also...do you have a business card?”
I SAID MY GOODBYES to Sandy and Monique. My watch was telling me it was almost noon, which meant I had a little over an hour to grab some lunch before meeting my first client of the day. I had rescheduled all my morning appointments and offered them the next session free of charge to make up for the last-minute cancellation, but I hadn’t bothered to do that for my afternoon clients.
Now I wish I had. I could have used the time to mull over what I discovered today. The woman loitering behind Veronica’s charity...the tie clip. The clip proved Tad Breyfogle was there, or at least it did to me. But I could hear Kindler’s scornful laughter and a “circumstantial evidence, Miss Moon. He’s the victim’s husband. He’ll have been in her office many times and he could have dropped it there at any one of those times.”
I clutched my bag to my chest. It wasn’t enough, but there was no way I was giving up. Neither his money, influence, nor his position scared me. I had a lot more money than my tiny apartment and modest office would sugg
est. I had clients all over Zinnia Springs who would fling themselves on a mud puddle rather than let me walk in it. I had faced serial killers, stranglers, and stabbers and had the scars to prove it. Tad Breyfogle has never faced the likes of me. I would even go so far to say he had met his match.
I looked for Kayla, but didn’t see her anywhere so I got in my car and took off. I would stop by Chubby Charlie’s on the way to work. I earned free sandwiches for life at that establishment, when I helped Charlie get to the root of his anger management issues. I had his employees’ favor as well now that they no longer had to tiptoe around the boss, so they always spotted me free fries. The mayor may think he has control of this town, but I have many people on my side.
Entry Four
THINGS PASSED QUICKLY after that. I saw to my afternoon clients, balanced the books, and then did a little straightening up. When I was done, I locked up and then stood outside to wait for Daisy. I didn’t know for sure if she was coming by for dinner, she tended to come and go as she pleased, but she joined us most Monday nights.
After fifteen minutes I gave up and went home. My family was gathered in the living room, and from the heavenly scent wafting from the kitchen, I could tell Mrs. Porter was on top of dinner.
The Moons looked up when I came into the room.
“Hello, Mari,” they said in unison.
I smiled. “Hey, guys. Have a good day?”
I got a variety of responses in reply.
“Kali showed me around Florida University’s campus today,” Kellan said. “It’s pretty cool. I might apply.”
I sat down next to my father and he kissed my forehead in greeting. “I thought you South Koruna kids preferred online education?” I asked.
“They do,” Grandma said. “We don’t have our own universities, but it won’t do for our children to fall behind. As such they take classes online and any classes that require physical attendance are taken at the local community college where, at the very least, a majority of the professors are a part of the Veraquas.”
The Veraquas was the name of people who lived in the all empath community in South Koruna. It’s where my siblings, my father, and my grandmother were raised. Imani, my stepmother, harkened from a tiny empath community in Canada, but when her parents died, she and her friend Mona moved to South Koruna. Mona was also known as Paxon’s mother.
“We’ve never had any of our youth leave to attend a stunted university until Kali.” Grandma went on. “But now after three years in that place and all her tales of frat parties and late-night study sessions, more of our teens have been considering applying to stunted schools.” Grandma was clearly scandalized at the very thought which only served to amuse me.
“It won’t be so bad if they all come here,” Kali protested.
Wait? All come here?!
“I’ve learned so much about non-empaths,” she went on, unaware of my growing panic. “I’ve made lots of friends and, most importantly, Mari and I are closer than ever. When Kellan moves in with us, he’ll have the both of us to watch out for him.”
Grandma harrumphed, but didn’t disagree with her, so that was left to me.
“Excuse me?” I said. “Did you just say when Kellan moves in with us?”
Kellan cocked his head at me. “Of course. Where else would I live?”
I sputtered. “Have either of you heard of dorm rooms?” I cried, but Kellan laughed.
He flapped his hands. “I’m just kidding, sis. I’ll be a very frequent visitor to get at that washing machine and fridge, but I’m not trying to be cooped up in an apartment with my big sisters.”
I breathed an audible sigh of relief. “Don’t scare me like that, Kellan. You know I count on you to be the normal one.”
We laughed which only earned us multiple looks of confusion.
“I don’t understand, baby.” Imani looked from Kellan to me and back to Kellan. “Why don’t you want to live with your sisters? You can’t be on your own,” she protested. “It’s not safe. You might get...lonely,” she said with a shudder.
Her reaction may seem extreme to you, but then you’re not an empath. To an empath, loneliness means death. Literally. Those who go too long feeling isolated and without the companionship of other empaths kill themselves. I could beat around the bush about it, but I’ve been around empaths too long and they have rubbed off on me. To put it simply, we need connection to live, it’s just how we’re built.
It’s why even though I moaned and complained about Kali moving in here without warning, I never once thought of telling her to leave. I needed her. I needed my entire family. They kept me sane even while they drove me crazy.
“Mom,” Kellan groaned. “I’ll be twenty minutes away. I’ll see Kali and Mari all the time. I won’t get lonely.” He patted her hand; she looked far from reassured.
“But hold on,” she cried, “when did we decide you were coming here in the first place? You said you just wanted to take a tour?” She looked desperately at Dad. “Taj, do you hear this? Speak to your son,” she demanded. “Kellan, you listen to your father.”
Dad sighed. “Well if he really wants to attend Florida University then we shouldn’t get in the way. It would hardly be fair since we let Kali move out here.”
Imani’s glare would have sent a lesser man running. “Kellan,” she said through gritted teeth. “Do not listen to your father!”
Kellan and Imani started arguing.
I looked at Dad. “I thought you’d be against this, Dad. You’ve been far from chill about Kali and me living so far away from you. You sent us Tasers for crying out loud. I’m expecting the next gift to be a shotgun.”
Dad chuckled. “No, precious girl, there won’t be any shotguns.” He laughed again. “But it’s true, I haven’t been chill, but it is only because I want to know my girls are safe. If I had my way the pair of you would be living in Moon Manor and you’d never leave, even to get the mail. But like it or not, you’re both adults and you can make your own choices.” He sighed. “It may surprise you to know that I understand you both a little more than you might think.”
He lowered his voice. “It might seem like the Veraquas are mindless bees happily dancing to the tune of the queen”—we glanced at Grandma who was innocently sipping a cup of tea— “but even we get restless. We want to explore, see the world, and meet new people.”
He sighed. “When I took my place in the company and began the task of expanding our reach, I saw it as my opportunity to do just that. I got to know the people outside of my community and learned that the world was so much bigger than South Koruna. I even met a woman, got married, and was blessed with a beautiful baby girl who every day brings light and joy into my life.”
I ducked my head. “Dad,” I mumbled.
He kissed my forehead. “If I hadn’t left South Koruna, I wouldn’t have had you. So no, I’m not against our youth leaving the community to have a few adventures. As long as they come back,” he said with a pointed look at Kali and continued loudly, “And as long as you two take those Tasers everywhere you go.” Kali and I laughed, even though we both knew he was serious.
“I’ll have to come back, Dad,” Kellan cut in. He had wrapped up his fight with his mother, but she still looked less than pleased. “Since Mari’s doing this fake psychic thing and Kali’s studying to be a psychiatrist that leaves me to take over the company.”
Dad hummed. “That’s very true, son. And I know it will be in good hands because, according to your sister, you’re the only normal one in the family.”
They all turned on me and I held up my hands in surrender. “Wait, what I meant by that was...it was...that I love you?” I finished lamely and they all laughed.
“Good save, sis,” Kali said, and I laughed too.
THAT NIGHT, I LAY AWAKE on the pull-out bed. I was sandwiched between my siblings since Grandma had taken residence in my bedroom and my dad and Imani were in Kali’s room. Mrs. Porter was staying in a hotel nearby. None of my subtle hints had been
effective in convincing my family to stay there as well.
“Kellan,” I said softly. “You awake?”
“Yeah,” he replied immediately. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m awake too,” Kali said, startling me.
“Kellan,” I said, hesitating a moment. “Are you sure you want to move here? Go to Florida U? There are so many other schools out there. Safer ones.”
“I know what happened when you went there, sis.” His voice came back in the dark. “I know about the serial killer and what that trash did to you. But the killer is dead. The danger is gone now. You don’t have to worry anymore.”
“You don’t have to worry about me anymore,” Kali added.
I swallowed thickly. “You’re saying I should get over it. Move on.”
“No.” The bed moved as Kellan shook his head. “I’m just saying I’m going to be okay. I wouldn’t tell you to move on, because I think we both know you don’t really want to.”
I stiffened.
“Stop it, Kellan,” scolded Kali.
Kellan sighed. “Amari, I know what you love most about me is that I’m the one Moon capable of keeping my thoughts to myself, but I still hate seeing you like this. Eventually, you’ll have to move forward and let go of Makayla.”
“Kellan!” Kali snapped and he closed his mouth.
Furious tears were running down my face. I wanted to scream, rage, cry, run away, all at the same time. My anguish quickly influenced my empathic siblings. They felt my pain. It made them feel sad, which in turn made me sad, which then made them sadder. It was a vicious cycle which resulted in me bawling my eyes out, Kali tearing up with Kellan sniffling.
It took a while for us to get ourselves under control. When we did, I said, “This isn’t about me. You love South Koruna. You have great friends and parents willing to pay your way for the rest of your life. You just said you wanted to take over the company.” I sniffed. “I’m worried that both of you are choosing Zinnia Springs, not because you really want to be here, but because of me.”
