Granddad must have done some serious damage before leaving him alone on a hill with nothing but dead playmates.
“Have you heard about the little girl?”
He finally lights the damn cigarette and takes a puff.
“Everyone’s heard about her. If you’re implying that she’s one of mine, she’s not. Like most ghosts, mine are completely nonaggressive.”
“You’ve never had any trouble with any ghosts?”
He shrugs. Turns the wheel and runs alongside a long stone burial mound.
“They have their moods just like anyone but they don’t go around stabbing people.”
I keep thinking about Amanda’s story about the Imp of Madrid. She’d be right at home here.
“Pull over.”
Teddy stops the cart under a towering stone angel.
“I don’t buy any of what you’re selling, Teddy. This funfair for ghosts and they’re all tame little bunnies? I don’t believe it. You’re connected to the girl. I don’t know how but you are. And, you see, she went after Saint James.”
“Who?”
“Shut up. Coming after him means she came after me.”
I take out the .45 and push it into his ribs.
“Do you know what happens to people who try to kill me or mine?”
Teddy has gone as white as his Rolls. He tries to swallow but chokes on his spit.
“Please. I don’t know what you want. The girl isn’t one of mine.”
I say, “Liar,” to double-check, but the moment has passed. I can read it in his heartbeat and his breath. The microtremors in his voice. The fucker is telling the truth. I keep the gun out anyway.
“Who could do that? Summon and control a spirit that powerful?”
“I don’t know. Maybe someone from the temple. For all I know, it could be Amanda.”
“Please. She can’t even keep her kid in line. What’s she going to do with a little Lizzie Borden?”
“Please don’t shoot me.”
“Are you sure? You can stay here forever with your drinking buddies.”
“What can I say to make you believe me?”
I lower the gun, resting it in my lap.
“Nothing. You already have.”
There’s no way the girl is one of his. At least if she is, he doesn’t know.
If she isn’t connected to Osterberg, then I’m back to nothing and this whole trip has been pointless. Traven ought to appreciate that. At least one of us will be happy. I should shoot Teddy just for getting in the way of me getting King Cairo.
“Let’s head back to the homestead, Teddy. All this fresh air is giving me hives.”
On the way back, we pass what looks like a pretty ordinary cemetery. There’s only one thing wrong.
“What’s the story with that patch of graves?”
“What do you mean?”
