Sin watched as Aria LaBarbara’s eyes dilated. “Are you crazy!”
“I’m a lot of things, Senora, but crazy isn’t one of them. I’m telling you as much as I know to be true. If Savio stays here, he will die.”
Just as Aria was about to start to yell, the machines hooked up to Savio sounded an alarm. Within seconds, Dr. O’Rourke and others rushed in and went into action.
Twenty minutes later, Deb walked into the hall. “That was close. If we don’t figure out what is in Savio’s system, he might not make it the next time.”
Sin looked over at Dominic and Aria. “What’s it going to be?”
Aria eyed Dominic and nodded. “Very well,” she mouthed.
Deb spoke to her support staff as she moved. “Follow me.” Addressing Dominic and Aria, she said, “You can accompany Savio in the ambulance.”
32
Sin followed the ambulance back to the Johnson place. When they arrived, she spotted a Mercedes SL parked in the drive. That was fast, she thought.
As she climbed the steps, Sin glanced at the paramedics as they worked under Dr. O’Rourke’s supervision to transport Savio from the ambulance to the house. Entering the house, she spotted Carmelita in the kitchen along with Becca, Sawyer, and Maria. They were playing a game of Clue. Becca and Maria were laughing and getting along like sisters. Sawyer looked up at Sin and smiled. Carmelita excused herself and motioned Sin into the foyer. “Your guest is waiting for you in the library.”
“Do the others know she’s here?”
“Yes. I told them she was an old friend who came to help with the case.”
Sin nodded. “Does Becca know her father is here in the Keys?”
“I told her he was on his way down. That’s why she and Jason are in such a good mood.”
Sin hugged Carmelita and led her back into the kitchen.
“In a minute,” she said to the group, “some paramedics are going to bring Savio into the house. I need you to stay in here while they get him comfortable.”
“Savio? Paramedics?” Becca exclaimed. “Is he okay?”
“No, he’s not,” Sin answered. “He’s in bad shape. Very bad shape.”
“Can I see him?”
“Once Dr. O’Rourke says it’s okay, you can see him.”
Just then, the front door opened. Deb came around the corner and eyed Sin. “Where should we bring him?”
“End of the hall, there is an elevator. Take him to the second floor. Third room on the left.” Spotting Troy, who had entered behind Deb, she added, “Help them get Savio settled.” Troy nodded. “When you’re finished, Stubbs, meet me in the library.”
Deb turned and escorted the medics to the elevator.
As the stretcher was brought in, Aria and Dominic were right behind. Sin couldn’t help but notice the look of familiarity in Becca’s eyes as they followed the paramedics down the hall.
Interesting, Sin thought. According to Russo, Aria hasn’t had any contact with her daughter for a few years. If that’s the case, why does Becca appear to know who she is?
Sin shook the thought from her mind and focused on the here and now. “If you’ll excuse me,” she said, “I need to speak to someone who may be able to help us.”
Sin entered the library and saw Aimee Clarke sitting in a chair staring at the monitors on the wall. With her long dreads in an up do and her posture straight, Aimee looked regal. The expression on her face was in stark contrast to that image. She stared at the large monitor on the wall, her lower lip quivering as pictures of Savio and Pia stared back at her.
“Priestess, thank you for coming so quick.”
A brief grin flashed past Aimee’s lips, but Sin could tell by her expression that there was no joy in her smile. “I live part-time in Miami. Thankfully, I was there when you contacted me.”
Sin hugged her friend and looked at the screens. “You look concerned. Tell me what you see.”
“Dark magic.”
Sin cocked her head. “Come again.”
Aimee pointed to the screen. “How much do you know about Obeah?”
“Jamaican voodoo?”
Aimee wrinkled her nose. “Voodoo is such a vulgar term, but yes. Tell me how you knew to contact me when you saw these photos?”
“A few years back, my team and I were working a case in the Caribbean. We came across a dead body, an informant. We were told that his death was no accident and that he was killed by an Obeahan spell for a lack of a better term.”
“The time you speak of? That was the same time you came to me for help?”
“Yes.”
Aimee looked back at the wall. “Obeah is a healing art. One which brings joy, life, and love to people’s lives, but just like anything that brings life, it can also bring death.”
Sin opened her mouth to speak when there was a knock on the door. “Come in,” she said.
“Aimee, I’d like to introduce you to Troy Stubbs, Troy this is Aimee Clarke, an Obeah high-priestess.”
“A what?” Troy said.
Aimee explained to Troy about the art of Obeah before continuing her conversation with Sin. “Like I was saying, there are always two sides to everything. Obeah is a mostly what you would call ‘white magic,’ but where there is light, there is also darkness.”
“So, you think someone put a spell on Savio and Pia?” Troy said.
“Mr. Troy, I don’t think, I know.”
“Who is capable of such a thing?” Sin asked.
Aimee stood, hands on her hips, and stared at the screen. “There is only one man capable of such power, an evil man known as—”
“Onyx,” Sin interjected.
Aimee’s posture stiffened. “You’ve met him?”
Sin thought back to the game of dominoes she had in the kava bar and sidestepped the question. “I’m not sure, but his reputation as the leader of the Black 6 is well known.”
“Onyx is better known in Obeah circles as the high priest of darkness. His real name is John Clarke.”
“Your related?” Sin’s voice gave away her surprise.
“My brother. Unfortunately. If he’s involved in this, you
