Chapter 12
Chapter
Twelve
When Bubba arrived home, I filled him in on my discussion with Boone while he ate a bowl of soup and two squares of cornbread for a late-night snack, I guess. Lilac raised her eyebrows at me as she served him and then put away the leftovers after he finished. Her I-told-you-so was front and center.
Sitting at the table as he washed his dishes and put them into the dishwasher, I thought about the little family we’d built.
Me, Bubba, Lilac, along with Dexter and Fluffy were settling into a home life that felt comfortable and solid.
Since we were just dating, Bubba had his own room where he usually slept.
Especially on nights when Lilac was home.
It may seem old-fashioned to some, but we both agreed on the decision.
“Mom said she got a call from Paige this morning, wanting to come over and talk tonight. It took me so long to get back because every time I got to a place, she’d just left to go to another client’s house.
And someone had turned off her ringer. She had so many missed calls when she finally looked.
Days. It had to be Paige limiting her contact with us.
I believe that if Franklin Day hadn’t warned us about Paige, Mom might be the one missing tonight.
” He twirled his phone on the table, absently.
“I hated to have to tell her that we thought Paige was involved in these murders. Of course, I didn’t say she did any of them, since I’m hoping that’s not the case, but it’s clear, she was the woman who let Alicia Moore’s killer into her reading room. I take it you’ve updated Boone?”
“He came by earlier. And yes, he’s got an alert out for Paige.
At least this is a real clue. Hopefully we’ll be able to find her and figure out who this Bobby guy is.
I’m certain it’s the guy who was watching us when we took Rory to the cemetery.
I never could figure out how he got to the airport that fast to kidnap Catherine, but now we know the killer wasn’t who kidnapped her.
” I took out my notebook that I’d been writing snippets of thoughts down in.
I added the Catherine stuff, then went back and crossed off anything that dealt with her.
Except as I looked at the notes from the tarot card reader in the square, I wondered if the reading wasn’t about finding Catherine.
I needed to review this again. That was the problem with reaching out to the other side, most of the time, the interpretation could be totally off.
“So, we’re at a dead end.” Bubba leaned back and closed his eyes. “I hate that we don’t know who’s after you. Or if you’re even in the guy’s spotlight.”
“You like your bad guys to be front and center,” I reached for his hand. “Sometimes, it doesn’t work that way.”
“Don’t I know it. I think your brother’s security training program should have a section on dealing with threats from the dark side. At least then we’d know that there would be times we’d feel totally ineffective in our security job.” He rubbed his face with his hands. “Maybe I’m just tired.”
“Or maybe you’re worried about your mom and me and Lilac and don’t know how to keep us all safe. Besides locking us up in that building’s basement where we found Catherine.” I watched his reaction.
He opened his eyes and chuckled. “Maybe Franklin Day had the right idea.”
“According to him, it was an overreaction from this Jason guy, but I’m pretty sure, no one does anything in that company without his seal of approval. At least Catherine’s alive and heading home to Miami with a trust fund and a security team.”
A knock sounded at the front door.
“I’ll get it,” Lilac called out from where she was reading in the living room.
Bubba stood and headed that way. “Trust but verify.”
I stayed put. The visitor didn’t feel threatening, but maybe I was just calmed by the house’s wards. Besides, if Bubba couldn’t handle it, I wasn’t going to be much help.
Lilac came back with a basket filled with packages of candied pecans. The basket had a cookbook with recipes using the candied pecans and a note. Lilac handed me the envelope, then started taking the items out of the basket. “This is really cool. Who do you know that runs a nut shop?”
“Franklin Day. The family of Marvin Day from Annamae’s past.” I opened the note.
“Wow,” Lilac paused. “Do you think they’re poisoned?”
I snorted and shook my head. “Let me read the note, but the basket feels okay.”
I opened the note and read it aloud.
“Dear Ms. Cayce. It was a pleasure getting to spend some time with you today. I hope you come back soon. Until then, I hope you will enjoy this small token of an apology for what my family pushed yours into doing. I know Rebecca and Annamae’s lives were uprooted by our inability to see the truth.
I hope the path it led you and your family too has made up for our ignorance and bad behavior.
There is no spell or potions or modern technology like a bug in the gift.
Just some sweet nuts and a cookbook for your young friend in hopes that we can build if not a friendship, at least an understanding. Yours Always, Franklin Day.”
“Don’t eat those. I’ll take a bag to be tested.” Bubba warned.
I shook my head. “If there was something wrong, I’d know it. Besides, what are you going to do, test all the bags? It was a nice gesture.” I picked up the card and re-read it, silently this time.
“Something bothering you?” Bubba asked.
I leaned back on his chest, and he put his arms around me. “I need to talk to Annamae and let her know we talked to Franklin. It’s her and Mom’s life that was changed because of what happened, not mine.”
“We can go over tomorrow,” Bubba kissed me on the head. “Did someone tell Nic we weren’t coming tonight?”
“Yes, it’s handled. But first thing tomorrow, we need to see if we can find where the books went.
Forrest thinks that either the book from Egypt was taken after he died or is in a box in the attic.
But we both know that time and events can be messed up when you’re talking with a ghost.” I was bone tired and the energy from the food was wearing off.
“I’m heading to bed. I’ll see you in the morning. ”
“I’m working with Mel tomorrow,” Lilac said as I walked past her. “A few more sales and I should be able to afford books this semester.”
“Books are included in your ‘family’ grant. Don’t waste your money there. You should just save it in case you want to do a semester abroad or want to buy a car.” I took in a big breath. “Sorry, can we talk later? I’m heading upstairs.”
As I worked my way to the stairs, and then started upward to my bedroom, I heard Lilac ask Bubba, “Do you think it’s just the stress from the day?”
“I’m pretty sure, pumpkin. Let’s go play Risk so I can dominate your countries.”
I heard Lilac laugh. “Dude, that sounds so bad coming from an old guy to someone young like me. Maybe just never say that again. Especially around my friends. You could be misinterpreted, and then Eddie or Nic would have to bail you out of jail.”
“Wait, you have friends?”
I didn’t hear anything more besides the laughter. I sent a blessing their way to keep them safe during this crazy time.
The next morning, I was up and on my laptop looking up Ancient Egyptian works.
I wasn’t quite sure what I was looking for, but if this guy was an antiques trafficker, he might have wanted the book for a collector.
I wrote down a lot of names and information as I found it, but most of the postings were old and the few collectors I looked up had all passed away long before Forrest’s book went missing.
I found a local expert though that may be able to give me more information about what I was even looking at. And they worked at Tulane’s history department. I could go over with Lilac next week and do some research in the library while she was doing her orientation.
When I mentioned it to her, she paused at the back door with her smoothie. “I guess other kids will have their folks with them for a while. It would be cool for you to be there, even though you’re not an actual parent.”
I looked at her in horror. “I’m not old enough to be your mother.”
Lilac just shrugged and went out with both Fluffy and Dexter to the deck where she already had her yoga mat rolled out.
I got some coffee. “Can you believe that? Lilac wants me to go with her to orientation. I guess she doesn’t want to be alone. No one’s going to believe I’m her actual mother.”
“Well, they could believe it. If you were a younger mom,” Bubba said, “Maybe if you’d had her at 15, maybe a little younger.”
“So I was a teenage mom? Somehow, that’s worse.
I couldn’t even deal with gym class and showering with a group of girls.
Sexually active would be a huge stress especially since I didn’t even have boobs until freshman year.
Besides, I’d still have to be over thirty now, and I’m not there yet.
” I glanced at my reflection in the mirror sitting my coffee on the table. “I don’t look over thirty, do I?”
“It’s an attitude, not an actual age. No one is going to question you. Besides, you could say you were her aunt. Her mom’s much younger sister.” Bubba focused on his phone as he ate his cereal. “And no, you don’t look over thirty.”
“I think you’re just trying to get out of the hole you just dug,” I grabbed a bowl and made my breakfast. Lilac was out on the porch drinking a smoothie as she worked on her yoga practice. I opened the door. “We’re leaving in thirty minutes, so get a move on.”
“Yes, auntie,” she turned and grinned at me. “And yes, I can hear through the open window over the table. Thanks for agreeing to pretend to be my family.”
“I don’t have to pretend that. I just can’t have birthed you.
I’m way too young.” I shot her a smile and closed the door going back to the table and my cereal.
“First the shop. Rory and Esmeralda are leaving today. They might stop by to say hello. Then we’ll see if we can talk to the woman selling the house about where the books went.
I don’t think this book is there. I think Forrest saw the guy stealing it.
Now, we just need to find out who it was.
He said there might be a letter about it in his stuff.
If Johnny Mayes’ daughter didn’t trash all the paperwork. ”
“There’s a lot of ifs in that statement.”
I nodded and focused on my breakfast. I knew it was a long shot, but at least it gave me something positive to do. And finding this killer wasn’t working out.
When we got to the shop, Nic, Esmeralda and Rory had just arrived. They’d brought beignets for the going away party. Now I regretted eating the cereal earlier. But I was still getting my energy back. I sipped from my Holly Hobby potion cup and met everyone in the conference room.
Esmeralda found me first. “You didn’t think I’d head out without a hug. I’ll miss you, little sister.”
“Your place is always open here. If Nic doesn’t have room, I’ve got another bedroom at my place.” I squeezed her as I teased. “Seriously, when are you coming home?”
She looked off into the distance. “It feels like it will be soon. Not sure exactly the date, but when my people don’t need me, I’ll come home. Just keep Crystal away from him, okay? She’s a little scary. I worry for his safety.”
I snorted but saw the look in her eyes. She was being serious. “He fired her.”
“That doesn’t mean she’s not around.” Esmeralda rubbed my shoulder. “I’m glad you’re here for him. And now we have Bubba in our family. He’s a nice addition as is Lilac. You’re a collector, just like your mother.”
I was about to tell her that was the nicest thing she could say when Rory came up and hugged me.
“I’ll send you a copy of Deek’s book as soon as it releases. You’re going to love it.” She glanced at her watch. “Esme, we need to go if we’re going to get through the security lines in time.”
“I didn’t realize how hard it would be to leave this time.” She squeezed my hand and went to gather her coat and purse. Nic put his arm around her and she leaned in. I thought she was crying.
Before I could respond, my phone rang. It was Boone.
“We have Paige Howard at the station waiting for an interview. She tried to board a flight to Miami this morning. She’s sitting in my jail cell right now.”
“What about Bobby, her boyfriend?” I met Bubba’s gaze and made a thumbs up symbol.
“She was traveling alone. But we got a picture of the vehicle she got out of when he dropped her off. A tag from his van and a photo. I’m sending it over to you now.
” Boone lowered his voice. “Unless I get some evidence here soon, I’m going to have to release her.
We can hold her for seventy-two hours, but we need to find this guy.
She hasn’t asked for a lawyer, and she used her one call to Bubba’s mom who told her she wasn’t bailing her out. ”
Just then Bubba’s phone rang. He whispered, “It’s Mom,” then went out of the room to take the call.
“I’ll talk to the gang and see if there’s anything new we can give you. Thanks for letting me know.” I set my phone down and looked around the room.
Nic had Esmeralda and Rory gathered by the door, ready to leave but they were waiting to hear the news. I told them what Boone had said, then asked, “Is there anything about Paige or the guy who was following us that you can remember?”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t really pay attention to the whole Paige drama. I figured it was just a family issue,” Esmeralda said, with Rory nodding her agreement. “I was too distracted about this Crystal being chummy with Nic. Jealousy is not a good look for me.”
We said our goodbyes and they left in a SUV, headed to the airport.
At least this guy might be too distracted with Paige being taken in to worry about two women heading to California.
The shops and their mediums were protected now not just with physical security at each location, but also the ghost network that had been alerted to watch out for this guy.
A guy who had already killed four people that we knew of and maybe more.
But at least now, we were watching. We knew his mode of killing.
In all the ones we knew about so far, he scheduled a reading, then killed the fortune teller during the reading.
Alexander said that the society had warned anyone with power.
So why did it feel like we were still vulnerable?