“You do not know that, Rowan.”
“Yes I do, Helen,” I replied. “This connection between her and Miranda…or her and Annalise…or both…I don’t know…whatever it is, it’s getting stronger.”
“But, this is the first episode she has experienced in several days.”
“Maybe so, but just look at what triggered it.”
“The chase?”
“Not exactly. The fear.”
“A strong emotion.”
“Exactly. I think that is what’s driving all of this. I just don’t know what’s making the connection, other than the fact that Annalise and Felicity are related.”
“Do you think that could be it?”
“I’m positive it has something to do with it, but if it was the only factor then I think Felicity would have started experiencing this before now. If the evidence in all of the unsolved murders adds up, Annalise has been at this for at least two years, maybe more.”
“Perhaps what triggered the connection was her visit to Saint Louis,” she suggested.
“Proximity? Maybe so, but then why hasn’t the connection faded now that she’s no longer there?”
“Maybe once the connection was made that was all it took.”
“I’m not willing to entertain that option.”
“Why not?”
“Because if it’s true then there’s nothing I can do to save my wife.”
“You cannot be certain of that, Rowan.”
“Helen, I’ve read everything about Voodoo and hoodoo I can get my hands on. I’ve even had lengthy conversations with a published expert on the subject. But, I still don’t know enough about how it works to be sure of anything.”
“What did Doctor Rieth have to say about this?”
“Pretty much the same thing she said before I ever came down here. She agrees with me for the most part. While the familial tie is almost certainly fueling this, something from the outside has to be working on Felicity as well. It isn’t completely unheard of for a Lwa to jump from one horse to another, but it isn’t typical or even common. The faithful invite them in, which is what allows the possession to take place. Popping into someone uninvited isn’t their preferred method of corporeal manifestation. And, that’s not even taking into account that a devout practitioner of Vodoun can go an entire lifetime without ever being a horse. So, for this to be happening to a non-practitioner, something external almost has to be involved.”
“However, you have stated yourself that Miranda is not a typical Lwa.”
“That’s true, but she’s still a spirit. She’s going to take the path of least resistance. If they didn’t, everyone would hear them…” My voiced trailed off at the end of the sentence, then I added, “Just like me.”
“And, Felicity,” Helen reminded me. “She is a Witch as well, and she has demonstrated her own propensity for communicating with the dead.”
“Yeah, I know,” I breathed. “But we both know that isn’t the normal way of things. Besides, I’m pretty sure it’s my fault that she’s been cursed with that affliction.”
“You cannot constantly take blame on yourself for the things over which you have no control, Rowan,” she admonished. “We have had this discussion before.”
“We’ll have to save my therapy session for later, Helen. Right now I have to figure out why my wife is being randomly possessed by a sadistic dead woman.”
“Were you able to find anything at the cemetery?”
“Besides Annalise? Actually, I didn’t even get a chance to look at the tomb. I had it in my head to go back and check it out, but that’s pretty much not happening at this point.”
“Can someone check for you?”
“I’m sure I can get Velvet-Doctor Rieth-to do it,” I said. “But, I really hate asking her to do that even though she’s offered. I’ve imposed upon her enough as it is.”
“She might be your only option.”
“True. But, to be honest, I’m probably grabbing at straws anyway. Felicity didn’t know about Annalise until recently, and by all indications, Annalise has only recently become aware of Felicity-although I’m fairly certain it is only cursory. I don’t get the impression she knows any specifics. So, the odds of her being responsible for any intentional gris-gris directed toward her are pretty low.”
“Who would be responsible then?”
“That’s the big question, Helen. People don’t work magick on someone without a reason. I’m not saying that the reasons are always pure, by any means, but just picking someone at random and working magick on them isn’t terribly effective.”
“So, what other options are there?”
“Just what Velvet mentioned originally. Felicity has something that belonged to Miranda, or possibly Annalise. Something like a piece of jewelry maybe, or it could even be the other way around. Of course, we can obviously rule out Miranda being in possession of any corporeal items falling into that category, so if that were the case, it would have to be Annalise who has something of Felicity’s.”
“And, you have had no luck in that area of investigation?”
“Not really. One would think it would have to be something obtained recently, but Felicity can’t remember purchasing or selling anything over the past few months. Of course, that doesn’t mean that Annalise didn’t somehow come by a piece of jewelry that Felicity sold on an auction website or something in the past. These things do change hands.”
“Could it have been a gift Felicity received, perhaps?”
“Thought of that too. No luck there either.”
“Well, Rowan, if your theory is correct, there has to be something that has bound the two of them together.”
A fresh stab of pain struck deep inside my head, as an all too obvious word echoed in my ears. But, it wasn’t an agony borne of the chronic ache to which I had grown accustomed. It was an emotional pain brought about by a truly horrific realization.
“Rowan? Are you there?” Helen asked.
“I have to go,” I said quickly.
“Rowan? Is something wrong?”
“I’ll explain later,” I replied, rushing to get the words out. “Take care of Felicity. I’ll be there soon.”
She was still talking to me when I hung up the phone.
Twisting left then right, I located the control pendant on the bed and stabbed the call button with my thumb. I was already up out of the bed when Adrienne came through the door.
“What can I do for ya’ Mistuh Gant?” she asked.
“I need to speak with Doctor Miller.”
“She’s not on duty this evenin’. I can get the physician on call. Are you feelin’ okay?”
“Get her on the phone then,” I instructed, ignoring her question. “And, tell her she needs to get Detective Fairbanks over here right away too.”
“Is something wrong?”
“Yes, there is,” I replied, my voice rushed. “Very wrong. But it’s something I can’t fix here. I have to get back to Saint Louis right now.”
CHAPTER 17:
I was escorted directly to my gate at New Orleans Louis Armstrong International Airport. The only problem I had with that fact was that it happened ten hours later than I wanted. The delay, however, wasn’t for a lack of me trying to get out of town; that much was certain.
As I suspected would be the case, Detective Fairbanks turned out to be the least of my problems. He was in
