by Libba Bray
“What was happening in the cellar?” Evie said to herself.
Jericho stuck his head through the library’s doors. He was breathless. “Evie, some help here? We’ve got a crowd.”
“Coming,” she said and put the diary aside.
PRELUDE
Memphis stepped out into a morning that had come up in a bad mood, gray and cold and wet. The night’s rain had sent a shower of autumn leaves onto the walk, where they made a matted golden carpet. Octavia had asked Memphis to sweep them up before they left for church, and he did so, brushing them into a dustpan and dumping them into the garbage bin. A police sedan wailed up Broadway, followed by a second and a third. Memphis leaned over the gate, trying to see what was happening. He stopped a neighbor who was rushing past.
“What’s going on?”
“Heard they found a body in Trinity Cemetery,” the man said.
“There’s lots of bodies in Trinity Cemetery. It’s a graveyard,” Memphis said dryly.
“They think it’s the Pentacle Killer,” the man said and hurried down the street to join the others. Memphis abandoned his broom and followed.
Outside the tall wrought-iron gates of Trinity Cemetery, a crowd had gathered, some folks still in robes, slippers, and head scarves. Mothers shooed their children back to the sidewalks and told them to stay there unless they wanted a good swat on the bottom. The police swarmed the gentle hills of the old cemetery, which had been the site of a great battle during the Revolutionary War and still sported a marker commemorating that fact. Memphis backed up and climbed a lamppost, trying to see better.
On the street, a cry went up. It was followed by gasps and more cries as word was passed from lips to ears, rippling over the people like a drowning wave. Memphis spied Floyd the barber and hopped down and ran to him.
“What is it, Floyd? What’s going on?”
Floyd looked at him with doleful eyes and shook his head. “It’s not good, Memphis.”
Memphis felt as if he’d swallowed a piece of ice that was melting slowly through him. “Who is it?” he asked, but already his blood pounded in his ears, a prelude.
“It’s Gabriel Johnson. They say the killer took his mouth and strung him up like a crucified angel.”
DEATH NO LONGER HAS DOMINION
Memphis sat in a crowded pew of the Mother AME Zion Church between Aunt Octavia and Isaiah. Up front, Gabe’s coffin gleamed under a blanket of lilies, donated by Mamie Smith herself. Every seat was filled, and a crowd of men stood three deep along the back wall. It was close in the room, and women kept themselves cool with wooden fans provided by the funeral home.
Pastor Brown took the pulpit and hung his head sorrowfully. “A young man, struck down in the prime of his life by an unspeakable violence. It’s almost too much to bear….”
People cried and sniffled as Pastor Brown spoke about Memphis’s dead friend, about his promising life ended too soon. Memphis swallowed hard thinking about how they’d fought the night he was killed. He wished he could go back, talk it over. He wished he could stop Gabe from leaving the party alone. If they’d left together, would he still be alive? He took out Gabe’s lucky rabbit’s foot. Mrs. Johnson had given it to him earlier, saying, “He’d want you to have it. You were like a brother to him.” Memphis squeezed it tightly in his hand.
“Death no longer has dominion over Brother Johnson,” Pastor Brown thundered.
“Amen,” a woman called.
“For the Bible assures us, ‘as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.’ Thus sayeth the Lord.”
“Hallelujah,” several people shouted. And then, “The word of the Lord.”
“Pray now for our brother, Gabriel Rolly Johnson, that he may be sheltered in the bosom of Jesus Christ and find everlasting peace. Amen.”
“Amen,” the congregants answered. The choir began to sing. “Wade in the water, wade in the water, wade in the water, the Lord’s gonna trouble the water….”
The sorrowful notes of the familiar spiritual washed over Memphis, dragging him down into terrible depths like stones in his pockets. Aunt Octavia cried into a handkerchief, softly praying “Lord, Lord” under her tears. Every now and then she’d reach a gloved hand over and squeeze Memphis’s hand to comfort him, but Memphis remained dry-eyed and numb. He looked down at Isaiah, who hadn’t stopped staring at his shoes. He thought about what Isaiah had said to Gabe down at Mr. Reggie’s: You’ll die. Had Isaiah really seen something happening to Gabe? What if somebody had overheard them talking? What if somebody said something to the police? He had to protect Isaiah, no matter what.
After the service, the funeral procession made its slow, mournful passage down Broadway. The Elks Club had paid for the burial, and they’d insisted on a proper good-bye. They walked in front wearing their sashes, Papa Charles leading the way, his hat held to his chest. Behind him, several of Harlem’s best musicians played a mournful dirge on their horns and a choir of women in black dresses sang. A flatbed truck carried Gabe’s coffin through the streets to its temporary resting place at the Merrick Funeral Home. Later, his family would bury him. Reporters ranged along the sidewalks taking notes and pictures, reaching up in the nick of time to remove their hats as the casket passed by. Memphis walked behind the casket with slow, dutiful steps all the way to the funeral home. He hadn’t been inside since his mother’s death, and he couldn’t face going in now.
“I’m just going to get some air,” he explained to Octavia, who patted his cheek, called him poor child, and waved him on. Memphis slipped unnoticed into the throngs of people trying to get a glimpse of the Pentacle Killer’s latest victim. Some were just curious onlookers. Some were angry and shouted at the line of police for answers. Hadn’t they caught the killer? Wasn’t he behind bars? What now? What were they doing to protect the citizens of New York? When would they feel safe again? The police remained silent.
At the corner, Memphis spied the girl from the museum. Weren’t they supposed to be helping to catch this killer? Why hadn’t they caught him yet? Memphis was overcome with anger, and he marched up to Evie O’Neill and tapped her on the shoulder. It took her a second to recognize him.
“It’s you. Mr. Campbell.”
“You know who the killer is yet?”
“Not yet.”
Memphis nodded, his jaw tight.
“Did you… did you know the deceased?” she asked.
“He was my best friend.”
“I’m so very sorry,” she said, and Memphis thought she sounded sorry, too. Not like these reporters, who would say “sorry for your loss” and then follow with a question about whether your best friend was a dope fiend or ask whether you thought jazz music was to blame.
“Memphis!”
At the sound of Theta’s voice, both Evie’s and Memphis’s heads turned. She was running down the street, her stage makeup still on, a coat thrown over her costume. Evie could see the sequins peeking out. Theta gave Evie a quick hug, then turned to Memphis.
“I came as soon as I heard,” she said.
“You… you two know each other?” Evie asked.
“He’s gone,” Memphis said, his voice cracking on the last word. “Gabe’s gone.”
Theta spoke soft, soothing words to Memphis, and Evie felt odd standing by without saying anything at all.
“I’m so sorry about your friend,” she offered, though it seemed hollow.
Memphis turned to her, his face gone hard. “I want to help you find Gabe’s killer.”
“There is something you can do,” Evie began uncertainly. “It would help our investigation if we could have something of the deceased’s… um, of Gabriel’s. Preferably something he had with him the night of his death.”
“How’s that going to help?” Memphis challenged.
“Please,” Evie pleaded. “Please
trust me. We want to catch him as much as you do.”
Memphis reached into his pocket and pulled out the rabbit’s foot. “It was his good-luck charm. He was never without it.”
“Thank you. I promise I’ll take very good care of it,” Evie said, but Memphis wasn’t listening. Theta had slipped her hand in his, and they were looking at only each other. Evie walked away, leaving them to their private, silent conversation.
The press jammed against the barricades, calling for comments, trying to tease out quotes, while the cops stood firm, mouths shut. T. S. Woodhouse was front and center. Evie tried to sneak past.
“Well, if it isn’t the Sheba,” he said, blocking her escape. “We’ve got to stop meeting like this.”
“So why don’t you leave?”
“You aren’t sore about that story, are ya?”
“And how! I asked for a favor and you repaid me by stealing my tip and printing it in the papers.”
T. S. Woodhouse spread his arms in a conciliatory gesture. “I’m a reporter, Miss O’Neill. Let me make it up to you. Tell me what you’ve got on this and I’ll do a whole feature on you. Maybe even give you some column inches to write up whatever you want. You’ll be the most famous flapper in Manhattan.”
“I’m sorry—I no longer talk to reporters.”
She walked away and Woodhouse scurried to keep pace with her. “C’mon, Sheba. The bulls aren’t giving us anything but the same wad of chewing gum. We know Jacob Call can’t be the Pentacle Killer, unless he can off somebody from behind bars or he’s got an accomplice. Say… accomplice. That’s good.”
“Good-bye, Mr. Woodhouse.”
T. S. Woodhouse gripped Evie’s arm, and she glared at him until he was forced to remove his hand. He jerked his head at the other reporters. “These fellas get the jump, I got no story for today. I’ve been showering daisies on your Uncle Will’s museum. I’m trying to make a name for myself here, too. You understand?”
She did understand. She also understood that T. S. Woodhouse would do anything, say anything, step on anyone to get that story. It had been a mistake to get involved with him. And it was time for T. S. Woodhouse to get his comeuppance.
“Very well, Mr. Woodhouse,” Evie said. “We believe the killer is working from an ancient mystical text, the Ars Mysterium.”
“Yeah?” Woodhouse said, practically salivating at the tip. “That’s good.”
“Now, don’t breathe a word of this to anyone, not even your publisher”—Evie bit her lip and made a show of craning her neck to be sure they weren’t overheard—“but we believe the next killing will take place tonight, on Hell Gate Bridge. You’ll want to be there with your cameraman.”
“You on the level?”
“Would I lie to such an upstanding member of the press?”
T. S. Woodhouse was weighing his ambition against her story. She could tell by the twist of his mouth.
“Thanks, Sheba,” he said at last.
“Don’t mention it—and I do mean that, Mr. Woodhouse.”
It had been a perfectly hideous day, but as she walked away from T. S. Woodhouse, Evie couldn’t help but feel a stab of satisfaction at thinking of him later, freezing in the bitter wind on Hell Gate bridge, waiting for a story that would never happen, while all the other reporters got the jump on him.
THE SAME SONG
“Dammit!” Will stubbed his cigarette hard into the ashtray. The four of them—Evie, Jericho, Sam, and Will—sat at one of the library’s long tables. Will had closed the museum early despite the crowds clamoring for tours of the supernatural led by Manhattan’s foremost expert on the occult. “He’s just going to keep killing, and we’ll always be one step behind him.”
“We don’t have to be,” Evie said. She held Will’s gaze. “I can find out what we need to know.”
“How would you do that?” Jericho asked.
“With this.” Evie placed Gabe’s rabbit’s foot on the table.
Sam’s eyebrows shot up. “You intend to catch a killer with a hunk of dead fur?”
“It belonged to Gabriel Johnson. It was on him the night he died.” Evie looked at Will. “Unc, I can read it. I know I can. Just give me a chance.”
“Read what?” Jericho asked.
Will glowered. “Where did you get that?”
“From a friend of his.”
Will shook his head. “It’s too dangerous, Evangeline.”
Evie leaped up from her seat and pounded a fist on the table. She’d had it with Will’s reluctance. They’d tried it his way, and all they had to show for it was another dead body. “It’s too dangerous not to at least try!”
Jericho looked to Sam, who shrugged. “Don’t look at me. I don’t know from nothing,” Sam said.
“There’s a killer out there and we have to stop him, any way we can,” Evie pleaded. “Please.”
“This is madness,” Will whispered. He raked a hand through his hair.
“Will somebody tell me what’s going on?” Jericho said.
“I’m a Diviner,” Evie said.
“Evangeline!”
“They might as well know, Unc! I’m tired of keeping it a secret.” She turned back to Jericho and Sam. “I can read objects. A ring, a letter opener, a glove—they’re more than just things to me. Give me your watch and I might be able to tell you what you had for dinner… or I could tell you your deepest secrets. It just depends.” She looked to Will again. “What do you say, Unc?”
His hands behind his back, Will walked a full lap of the library. He stopped beside Evie, looking at her for an uncomfortably long time. “We will do this in a controlled manner. Do you understand?”
“Anything you say, Unc.”
“I will guide you. Do not go too far under, Evangeline. You are to remain detached. A spectator.”
“I’ll see what I can find and let go.”
“If you feel the least bit threatened, you are to drop it immediately.”
“I’m on the trolley, Unc.”
“I’m glad somebody is,” Sam said, shaking his head.
“It will become evident in just a moment,” Will answered. “Evie, come have a seat.”
Evie settled into a leather club chair.
“Comfortable?” Will asked.
“Yes.” Her heart beat quickly and her mouth was dry. She hoped she was ready for this.
“Remember, if you feel at all frightened…”
“I understand, Will,” Evie assured him.
“Will, is this safe?” Jericho asked.
“I’ll keep her safe,” Will assured him. “You may begin whenever you’re ready, Evie.”
Will placed the rabbit’s foot in her waiting hands. Evie closed her eyes and felt along the seams of it, waiting. Come on, she thought. Please… It took a few seconds for the connection, but once it was made, pictures of Gabe’s day came at her in a dizzying jumble. It was like Evie had plunged into a cold lake and was splashing her way up to the surface. “I can’t… I can’t make them out….”
“Slow down. Take your time. Breathe and concentrate,” Will instructed.
Evie’s breathing slowed. She could hear that and the gentle coursing of her blood. The earlier, inconsequential scenes of Gabriel’s day were gone. She was with him on the night-gloomy streets of Harlem. The scene had a haze to it, like a photograph not fully developed, but she could make out Gabriel walking under the El tracks, and she could feel what he felt.
“He’s angry about something….” Evie said haltingly.
“Not too close,” Will warned.
Evie took another deep breath. The street became a little less hazy as she concentrated. The flicker of distant neon, even the smell of smoke and garbage began to come alive in her mind. She heard the tread of footsteps, a strange hollow clicking.
“Someone’s following him.”
“Careful, Evie.”
“It’s gotten very foggy all of a sudden, but there’s someone there.” She saw the walking stick first, a silver thing wi
th the head of a wolf. The man carrying it was still shrouded in shadow and mist. Gabe called out, and, hearing nothing, kept walking under the great shadow of the elevated tracks. Evie could only see what he saw. But she could hear the slow, deliberate footsteps on the street. She felt Gabe’s first stab of apprehension. And then she heard the whistling.
Evie gasped. “It’s the same song!”
“Evie, time to stop,” Will instructed, but Evie wasn’t about to stop yet. She was close. So very close.
Footsteps. Close. One, two, click. One, two, click. The stick glinted in the mist. “It’s him. He’s coming….”
“Evie. Stop,” Will commanded.
Evie clutched the rabbit’s foot tightly. The man stepped from the shadows and Evie’s pulse accelerated. “I see him!”
“Evie, stop!” Will thundered. He clapped loudly several times and the trance was broken. Evie dropped the charm and blinked, her eyes watering.
“I know him! I’ve seen him before!” Evie said.
She ran to their vast collection of notes and files, pushing aside papers until she found what she was after. Her stomach was fluttery with excitement and incomprehension. “It’s him,” she said, slapping the newspaper photograph of John Hobbes onto the table. “The man under the bridge was John Hobbes. Gabriel Johnson was murdered by a dead man.”
JUST STORIES
Will stared into the fire. His jaw was clenched.
“How is that possible, Uncle Will? How is it possible that a man who’s been dead for fifty years killed these people?”
