sometimes.”
“Believe me, I feel the same way more often than you realize.”
“Yeah… So tell me somethin’… I know ya’ said ya’ need both parts of this thing to make it go away, but I thought you at least had part of the Voodoo crap covered with this jewelry in a jar thing. I mean, Miranda down there, Firehair up here, salty necklace in my pocket all adds up to no psycho redhead. Right?”
“Obviously I was wrong about that.”
He huffed and then muttered a sarcastic, “Well shit. Hold on a sec while I write that one down on the friggin’ calendar.”
I snapped at him, “This isn’t a joke, Ben.”
“I know, I know…” he said.
I pushed back my momentary annoyance and tried to offer an explanation. “Yes, the necklace is definitely the primary conduit. But Miranda knows I’ve figured that out. She’s searching for another way in, and unfortunately I think maybe I’m it.”
“How?”
“I’m connected to both of them.”
“So, unconnect.”
“I wish I could, but with that magick in place and Annalise acting as a host, I can’t.”
“Lucky you,” he grunted. “So’s that why ya’ tried to choke the fuck out of ‘er today?”
I let out a long sigh. “Constance told you about that too, huh?”
“Yeah,” he chided. “She filled me in on the whole deal since you wouldn’t.”
I ignored the baiting remark and answered the original question. “Well, I didn’t actually find out about what was happening to Felicity until after that whole mess was well over, so it wasn’t the direct cause. But yeah, during the interview she made a few comments that set me off and I lost control.”
“Wunnerful… And they’re actually lettin’ you back in a room with ‘er?”
Obviously, Constance hadn’t told him everything. “That’s a long story in itself.”
“With you it usually is,” he grunted. “Guess I’ll hafta wait for Constance to tell me about that too?”
Once again I ignored the bait and redirected. “Anyway, back to my original question?”
“Yeah… Okay… I get it… So you’re just wantin’ someone ta’ hang out with the little woman in case she goes all la-la land freaky, right?”
“Pretty much. But it needs to be someone who understands what’s going on and can actually do something about it, if you know what I mean. You’ve seen how quick it can happen and where it leads.”
“Oh yeah, been there…” he mumbled then huffed out a heavy sigh. “So what we really need is somebody with handcuffs and eyes in the back of their head.”
“That pretty much describes it, yes.”
“Well, with Constance outta town I don’t have any plans. I could go over and hang out.”
I objected immediately. “No. You can’t. You have the necklace.”
“Yeah, so? You pack it around all the time when you two are together.”
“I’m a Witch, you aren’t.”
“Great…” he moaned. “You mean ta’ tell me the hocus-pocus shit on this thing is that bad, and you pawned it off on me?”
“It’s focused on Felicity, Ben, not you. You’re fine.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
“Well, okay… But if the damn thing makes me go all fruitloopy, I’m kickin’ your ass.”
“Don’t worry, if it does, it will probably make killing me your first priority all by itself.”
He almost yelped, “Hey, I thought ya’ just said it wouldn’t…”
“Relax, Ben. Just leave it in the salt, keep it away from Felicity, and you’ll be fine,” I reassured him and then pressed further on my query. “So, anyone else in mind?”
He let out a quiet harrumph. Upon hearing it I could easily imagine that he was smoothing back his hair then allowing his hand to slide down to his neck and begin absently massaging. It was a physical mannerism he’d had at least as long as I’d known him, and it was a sure sign he was concentrating. The gesture was so much a part of his makeup that I didn’t have to physically see him to know he was doing it.
Finally, he said, “Yeah…maybe. Lemme call Charlee. She’s been around for some of the woo-woo shit, so she’s kinda up ta’ speed with that part. Plus she knows Firehair already, so that’d prob’ly help.”
The name more than rang a bell. Detective Charlene McLaughlin had been assigned to several investigations where I was involved, and Ben was correct-she had certainly seen some things that tended to defy logical explanation. Of course, that sort of thing wasn’t all that unusual whenever I came into the picture.
Just as important though, she had pulled a few shifts watching over Felicity and me a few years ago when a spree killer named Eldon Porter had set his sights on us. Therefore, as Ben had mentioned, she wasn’t a stranger, which would make things easier for all concerned.
“Good suggestion. I’d definitely trust Charlee,” I told him. “Thanks, Chief, I appreciate you making the call.”
“Yeah,” he grunted. “I’ll just keep addin’ to your tab, Kemosabe.”
“Right… So, do me a favor and call me back when you find out if she’s up for it. Then I can give Felicity a heads up so she expects her.”
“Firehair doesn’t know about this?”
“Not yet.”
“Jeezus, Row. Do ya’ actually believe she’s gonna go for it?”
“I’m not going to give her any choice.”
He snorted. “Yeah, right. Good luck with that.”
“I don’t think it’s going to be an issue, Ben,” I told him. “I’m pretty sure she’s as concerned about this as I am.”
“I hope you’re right. About it not bein’ a problem I mean.”
“I guess we’ll see.”
“Okay, well, lemme call Charlee and see what I can work out. Ten tomorrow you said?”
“Yeah, but I’ll probably be at the facility a bit earlier than that. She might want to figure for around nine.”
“Okay. Talk to ya’ in a bit.”
“Later.”
I closed the phone and then glanced at the LCD display before clipping it back on my belt. It read 6:13 PM. Later than I thought it was, but earlier than it felt like it should be. Everything was starting to catch up to me with a vengeance-the lack of sleep, the tension, the uncertainty about tomorrow, and even the pervasive headache.
I sat waiting for the return call but grew oddly uncomfortable with each passing minute. Eventually, I hauled myself up out of the straight-backed desk chair and padded slowly around the room in an aimless circle. As tired as I was, I just couldn’t seem to sit idle.
I pulled my cell from my belt and looked at the display. Less than ten minutes had passed, yet it seemed more like an hour. I had to admit, impatience was definitely one of my faults, but I wasn’t usually this bad. I sighed and then continued staring at the numbers on my phone. After what seemed an eternity the display incremented.
Then, as if on cue, the reason for my restlessness became painfully obvious.
I felt a familiar friction born of unearthly influence begin to rub me raw just beneath the skin. I purposely shuddered in an attempt to shake it off, but as usual it clung to me even tighter. Seconds later I felt simultaneously chilled to the core and flushed with fever.
I’d been here too many times before, unfortunately. It seemed that whenever the dead wanted to talk, this was how they made sure they had my undivided attention. But, this was also just the beginning; it would only get worse- much worse.
“Dammit…” I muttered to myself. “Not right now…”
I knew whoever it was wouldn’t be dissuaded. They never were, and that meant I didn’t have much time before I would find myself standing in the void between the living and the dead, having a one-sided conversation
