Claude spoke up, “Lilly, I promised you I would help you find your aunt. You said she was your dad’s sister and she was a magickal being. It seems to me, she may be the person who could lead us to the rest of your family in the bayou.”
Lilly’s face lit up for a moment but her smile quickly faded. “She might be dead by now. I haven’t heard from her in years. If she is not, I have no idea where to find her.”
Sabine spoke with a gentle voice, “Jolene spoke to you about having James hypnotize you. Accessing your deep subconscious mind could reveal a hidden clue, something you have forgotten or missed.”
“Yes, I’m going to take James up on the offer for a hypnosis session. I hope it reveals a clue to where she has gone. I don’t want to get my hopes up and be disappointed.”
“Hypnotic recall or not,” Claude said, taking her hand, “I promised I would help you find her and I meant it. Hiring a private investigator, would be the quickest way.”
Lucky nodded his head, “I’m in, I can help with the payment for a private eye.”
Sabine spoke up, “I’m in too. I’ll be glad to help with the finances and anything else you need.”
Lilly looked at their serious faces and had to smile, “I can’t believe we’re sitting around talking about hiring a private investigator, it’s so film noir.”
Madeline giggled, Claude ignored her and said decisively, “Film noir or not, we are going to search for Pearl.” The friends all nodded in agreement.
~
The moon had risen above the rooftops when the phone rang in Lilly’s apartment. “Hello, Lilly, it’s James. Are you up to exploring some things through hypnotic trance this evening?” She agreed, threw a sweater over her shoulders, and made her way down the stairs and across the courtyard.
The temple was dimly lit with one candle burning on a low table. James instructed her to lie comfortably on the velvet cushions. He put a light blanket over her and casually suggested she relax.
He sat on a cushion beside her and his gentle, melodic voice guided her attention to the top of her head, “Lilly, you become aware of a wave of relaxation at the top of your head. As the wave of relaxation moves over your head, you feel the muscles in your scalp release and relax. The relaxing wave moves over your forehead and all the muscles relax, all furrows and lines of concern melt away in the wave of relaxation. As the wave moves over your eyes, allow all the tiny muscles in your eyes to relax, feel your eyes sinking into the eye sockets as you relax. Your eyelids are feeling so heavy you cannot keep your eyes open...you may try to open your eyes, you will find they are so relaxed, so heavy you cannot manage to open them.
Allowing the wave of relaxation to do its work, Lilly’s body lay limp and relaxed within minutes. Her mind was focused on James’s voice as he led her awareness back through the years.
“Lilly, you are with your Aunt Pearl. It is the last time you see her. Tell me how old you are and where you are.”
“It is summer, I’m fourteen. I’m with my Aunt Pearl for my summer visit at her house in Abita Springs.”
“Is your Aunt Pearl in good health?”
“Yes.”
“At any time during your summer visit does Aunt Pearl mention leaving her home permanently?”
James waited patiently as Lilly lay still and quiet for several minutes.
“No, we are making plans for my visit during Christmas vacation.”
“When did you leave Aunt Pearl’s house for the last time?
There was another long pause and James saw tears running from the corner of Lilly’s eyes.
“My Mama and Rex come to pick me up in the middle of August. I don’t want to leave.”
“Why Lilly, why don’t you want to leave?”
“Being with Aunt Pearl is my true home.”
“What happens when your Mama and Rex arrive?”
“I am begging Rex and Mama to let me stay, live with Aunt Pearl and go to school in Abita Springs. They are angry. Mama gives me her mean look. Rex grabs my arm and drags me to the car.”
“What happens when you left Aunt Pearl’s house? Are you on the trip back to your parent’s house?”
“Yes, I am sitting in the back seat of the car crying. I am angry with Mama and Rex. I hate them. I...I...am afraid. I have felt the sting of Rex’s leather strap and I don’t want any more of it. I am sad. I lay back and watched the stars through the back window of the car.”
“Do Rex or your mother say anything to you or each other?”
“Yes, they think I’m asleep. I’m not and I hear them talking.”
“What are they saying?”
“Rex is angry and he says, ‘This has got to end, I don’t want her around Pearl again.’ Mama shushes him and whispers, ‘She loves Pearl. She would never agree to not seeing her again. We will have one hell of a rebellious teenager on our hands if you try such tactics.’ Rex makes a nasty snorting sound. His voice is cruel, ‘Not if Pearl were dead.’ Mama gasps. I can hear the fear in her voice as she tells Rex, “That is not going to happen!” Rex nods his head, ‘No, but Lilly will think it did.’“
“When you get to your home in LaPoint, do your mother or Rex mention Aunt Pearl again?”
Lilly was quiet for several minutes as her mind traveled through time.
“Where are you now, Lilly?”
“I’m in my bedroom. Mama comes in and tells me Aunt Pearl has died suddenly of a heart attack. I start to cry. Mama says, ‘She didn’t suffer and she died in her garden.’ ‘I don’t believe you!’ I scream. I couldn’t stop screaming. Rex came into my room, removing his belt. He was hitting me and bellowing about respecting my mama.” Lilly was shaking and crying. James gently lead
