Sabers, Sails, and Murder

by Nola Robertson

  Joyce held the phone away from her head again. “Deeann has family visiting for the festival, but she can do it tonight if you’re available.”

  Even though I had no idea what ‘it’ was, I’d made a promise to Martin and planned to keep it. “I guess that will work.”

  “Tonight is fine.” Joyce nodded a few times. “Uh-huh…yes…we’ll see you there.” She disconnected the call and shoved her phone in her skirt pocket.

  Embarrassed to ask, I cleared my throat. “I know it might sound silly, but is what we’re doing going to be painful or involve blood?”

  “No, but you will need to meet us at the cemetery at nine this evening,” Joyce said.

  Why was it every time I tried to do a good deed for someone I ended up in the graveyard? “Do you think Deeann will mind if I bring Shawna and Jade with me?” If Deeann, Joyce, and Edith really were witches and going to be performing spells, there was no way I was going without my friends.

  Joyce flicked her wrist. “Of course not.”

  “Oh, and you’ll need to bring Martin with you as well,” Edith said.

  I wasn’t sure why everyone assumed I had a speed dial to the ghostly realm and could summon spirits at will. Even if I did talk to him before tonight, I couldn’t guarantee he’d show up. “I’ll see what I can do.”

  Edith turned to Joyce. “We’ll also need to clear our visit and make sure someone tells Clyde.”

  Clyde was getting on in age and had a tendency to sleep through most of his shift. Letting him know we’d be tromping around the cemetery was a good thing, and relieved my concern about us startling him unnecessarily, or having him call the police to report us.

  “Deeann is taking care of it. All we need to do is show up.”

  The door opened, the bell tinkled, and three teenage girls entered the shop giggling. They must have been here before because after giving Edith and Joyce a quick greeting, they headed for the display case Martin had been perusing earlier.

  “Okay, then. I guess I’ll see you later.” I started to leave but didn’t make it far before Edith rushed around me to hold the door open.

  “Rylee, just remember things are not always as they appear. Sometimes what you see can be deceiving.”

  She’d done the same thing at the end of my previous visit, and her words of advice were no less cryptic than they were the last time. “What does that mean?”

  “You’ll figure it out.” With a shrug and a smile, she closed the door behind me.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The main gate leading into the By the Bay cemetery was unlocked, so I drove my car through the entrance and parked next to the only other two vehicles in the lot. Unlike my friends, who were excited about our meeting with Deeann, Joyce, and Edith, I wasn’t thrilled about returning to the cemetery. Even if we did have permission to be there.

  Judging by the permanent scowl Martin made for the entire drive, I didn’t think he was happy about going either. He’d gone back to wearing his pirate outfit, which made his annoyance appear even more intimidating.

  My concern about finding him after the visit with Edith and Joyce hadn’t lasted long. He’d been waiting for me outside the Classic Broom. It had taken me the entire walk back to my family’s shop to convince him that no one planned to send him to the other side and that his presence was required to find Pete. He’d finally agreed when I’d pointed out that Pete might be upset to be greeted by a group of strangers and vanish again.

  I was out of my realm when it came to summoning a cursed spirit. What if something went wrong or their plan backfired? Even though Joyce and Edith seemed confident in Deeann’s abilities, I was still worried.

  As soon as I told Shawna and Jade where we were going, I’d invoked our non-sharing rule to ensure they didn’t tell anyone else about what we were doing. Even though I was grateful for Bryce’s help, I didn’t think Joyce’s invitation to bring friends included the spoofers.

  If Grams hadn’t already been scheduled to meet with Nadine to discuss last-minute plans for the festival tomorrow, I would have asked her to come with us. Bringing her along would have been better than her showing up with Mattie, and possibly Josh, in the middle of whatever magical thing Deeann was doing.

  So far, my attempts to avoid Josh and his misguided notion that we were meant to be together, had been fairly successful. And until he left to go back home in two days, I planned to keep it that way.

  “Rylee, was there a dress code you forgot to mention?” Jade asked when she got out of the vehicle and got a look at what the Haverston sisters were wearing.

  I’d never seen Joyce and Edith dressed in any kind of outfit that didn’t include a long skirt. It was strange to see them in dark jeans and matching black jackets as if they were part of a covert mission. They’d secured their long hair in a single braid down the center of their backs. Dark smudges on their pale cheeks were the only thing they lacked to blend into their surroundings.

  “Not that I’m aware of.” It was too late to go home and change out of the jeans and long-sleeved shirts we were all wearing.

  “Good evening, ladies,” Edith pulled her hands out of her jacket pockets as she approached us. “I’m so glad you could make it.”

  Telling her I was happy to be here would be fabricating the truth. I was struggling with the urge to race back to the safety of my car and offered her a forced smile before asking, “Where’s Deeann?” I was curious to meet the woman who was supposedly going to solve my finding Pete dilemma.

  “She’s already inside waiting for us.” Joyce motioned toward the entrance on the other side of the lot.

  “Is Martin here?” Edith glanced around as if trying to sense his presence.

  “He’s…” I caught a glimpse of him frowning from his seat in the back of my car. With a shake of my head, I walked over and knocked on the window. “Martin, aren’t you coming?” I was tempted to tell him I’d send him to the other side myself if he didn’t get out of the car.

  “Aye,” he grunted, then slid through the closed door to stand next to me.

  The chill radiating from him, no doubt a result of his mood, was a lot colder than normal.

  “Is there a problem?” Joyce asked when I rubbed my arms and scooted a step to the right.

  Nothing a smack across the back of his head wouldn’t cure, provided I could actually touch the infuriating ghost. “Nope, we’re good.”

  “Wonderful, then let’s get going.” Joyce reached inside the back of her car, pulled out a flashlight, and a bag with her shop’s logo embossed in the plastic, then headed for a side gate leading into the graveyard.

  Shawna leaned in close to me and asked, “What do you think is in the bag?”

  My imagination went crazy, filling with images of daggers, magical wands, and small containers used for body parts. “Not sure I want to know,” I whispered back.

  “And neither do you.” Jade grabbed the sleeve of Shawna’s jacket when it looked like she might hurry to catch up with Joyce and ask her.

  Once we were all inside the cemetery, Joyce latched the gate behind us and flicked on her light. Finding my way around the place at night was a struggle, so I happily let Joyce and Edith lead the way.

  “We’re meeting Deeann near Martin’s crypt.” Edith glanced over her shoulder.

  After hearing her mention his faux resting place, I’d expected to receive another blast of chilled air from Martin. Instead, he silently paced behind the sisters, staying a couple of feet in front of me. Miniature lights spaced evenly on the ground provided additional lighting for the graveled walkways. The sisters used the one that wound its way between several rows of gravestones before turning onto a bricked path leading toward the area filled with mausoleums.

  It didn’t take us long to reach the crypt the town had built in his honor. The concrete building had two overhead spotlights mounted on each corner near the roof. The two in front were aimed at Martin’s name chiseled above the entrance. The door was chained and had a heavy padl
ock securing the links.

  “There you are.” A short woman, maybe an inch over five feet, peeked around the side of the building.

  Her dark hair was cut short and brushed against her neck below her ears, the straight strands curled on the ends to accentuate her rounded cheeks. She was dressed similarly to Joyce and Edith.

  Shawna and Jade took one look at the woman’s outfit and rolled their eyes at me. “I swear I didn’t know.”

  “Didn’t know what?” Edith asked.

  “Nothing,” Shawna, Jade, and I said at the same time, our voices sounding as if we’d practiced saying the word together for hours.

  “I’m Rylee, and you must be Deeann.” I held out my hand, hoping introductions would distract Edith from asking any more questions. “And these are my friends, Shawna and Jade.” I pointed to each of them in turn.

  “It’s nice to meet you.” She flashed us a cheery smile.

  “You’re not at all what I’d expected,” Shawna said. “You know, for someone who summons the dead.”

  “Oh, geez,” Jade groaned, covering her face with her hands as she shook her head.

  Deanna didn’t seem to take offense. “What were you expecting?”

  “I don’t know, maybe more Goth, a tattoo or two.”

  Deeann giggled. “What, no pointy black hat?”

  Shawna laughed. “Now that you mention it.”

  “To be honest, I only speak to spirits, I don’t actually see them, not like Rylee can.” It’s the magic that summons them. How I dress is optional,” Deeann said.

  “That totally makes sense.” Shawna tapped her chin. “So, if you wanted to dance around naked…”

  “I could.” She patted her wide hips. “But I wouldn’t want to risk giving poor Clyde a heart attack if he caught me.”

  “That be too bad,” Martin said. “I rather liked yer friend’s idea.”

  As much as I enjoyed the playful banter, Martin’s grins usually led to mischief and the cemetery was the last place I wanted him to cause trouble. “So, how does this work? What do we have to do to find Pete?”

  “Oh, before we get started…” Joyce held out the bag she’d been carrying to Deeann.

  As soon as Deeann gripped it around the middle, Shawna eased forward. I was curious to see the contents myself, but not anxious enough to get any closer.

  Deeann peeled back the plastic edges, revealing the end of a rectangular box with the word “OUIJA” printed in caps and black letters along the cream-colored edge. “This is perfect, thank you.”

  The familiar box reminded me of a late-night horror show I’d once seen, one that didn’t end well for the game participants. “Please tell me you’re not planning to use that game to help us find Pete.”

  “Oh, heavens no.” Deeann’s snort sounded like an admonishing giggle. “These things don’t really work.” She slipped the box back into the bag before setting it on the ground near the front of the crypt. “I got this for my daughter and her friends. They’re having a slumber party for her birthday after the festival tomorrow.”

  I gave the box another skeptical glance remembering my last birthday present and how well that had turned out for me. I secretly envied Deeann’s daughter for having a parent who gave her safe gifts, not the kind that caused life-changing paranormal experiences.

  “Let’s get started.” Deeann waved us toward the back of the building. Shiny stones glowing an iridescent blue had been placed on the ground a foot apart and formed a three-quarter circle large enough for four people to stand next to each other. The remainder of the beautiful rocks sat off to the side in an open plastic container.

  Joyce and Edith acted as if they knew what to expect and moved to the opposite side of the semi-circle.

  While Martin kept his distance, Jade huddled on one side of me, Shawna on the other.

  “Do you really think this is going to work?” I asked Deeann.

  “What I do doesn’t usually involve curses. Breaking another witch’s spell can be difficult, and I can’t guarantee the results.” She walked over and picked up the container. “From what Joyce told me, I think we’re dealing with simple binding magic.”

  Martin harrumphed and crossed his arms. “T’was nothing simple about bein' trapped wit' me saber all them years.”

  “Maybe you should have thought of that before you tried to steal from a witch,” I snapped. Talking about magic, combined with being stuck in the cemetery in the middle of the night, was wearing on my patience. It was also bringing out my persnickety side.

  Deeann’s dark eyes sparkled with amusement. “I guess I don’t need to ask if Martin is here.”

  “He is,” I said.

  “Good, then let’s get started.” She pointed at the rocks on the ground. “I need you and Martin to stand in the middle of the circle. Once you’re inside, I’ll close it off with the rest of the stones.”

  “I nah be goin' anywhere nigh whatever that be.” Martin stomped his foot, his anger turning the air around me frigid.

  Shawna and Jade must have felt it too because they moved closer to Joyce and Edith.

  I pulled my jacket tighter across my chest. “Martin, you need to calm down.”

  “Rylee, is there a problem?” Deeann asked.

  “Martin refuses to go in the circle because he thinks you’ll send him to the other side.” I didn’t want to go in either. Not because I thought I’d end up in another world inhabited by spirits. I was more afraid to find out what other magic the seeker had stuck me with. What if the spell backfired and I ended up with a dozen or so ghosts following me around?

  “My skills are limited to summoning, but if he’d rather not try to find Pete, I’ll understand.” Deeann walked over to the circle, then took her time reaching for the nearest stone.

  She definitely had the motherly persuasive skills honed to perfection. It only took Martin a few seconds of pondering what she’d said to realize this was his last chance to find his friend.

  “Tell her I changed me mind,” he growled.

  “Martin says he’ll do it.” The chill subsided, and I loosened the grip on my coat.

  “Before I step inside, can you tell me why you need both of us?” I could understand why she might need Martin. He had close ties to Pete.

  “Since we don’t have anything that belonged to Pete, I believe your spirit seeking ability and your connection to Martin will help us find him,” Deeann said.

  Jade squeezed my arm. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

  Not really, but Spencer’s kept their promises no matter what. I also had Max to think about. What if whoever killed Jake was determined to make sure my uncle got blamed for it? What else would they be willing to do? They’d already killed once. Would they do it again?

  If finding Pete worked and Martin kept his part of our deal, then his ghostly abilities would come in handy. “I have to try.” I turned to Martin. “Come on, let’s get this over with.”

  After a curt nod, he reluctantly followed me into the circle.

  “I guess we’re ready. Is there anything else we need to do?” I hoped the sisters had been telling the truth about no pain or blood being required for the ceremony.

  “No, but it is important that you don’t leave the circle until I’m finished,” Deeann said.

  That sounded a little more ominous than I’d have liked, and was glad it hadn’t caused Martin to vanish.

  “How long will it take?” I asked Deeann as she placed the remaining stones on the ground.

  “If the spell works the way I hope it will, then it shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.”

  “Wow, that’s pretty fast,” Shawna said.

  “It usually takes longer if I have to kill a chicken.” Deeann winked, then quickly added, “Just kidding.” She set the now empty container off to the side again. “No animals are ever harmed during the process.”

  I joined my friends in a round of laughter. Even Martin couldn’t hold back a smirk. “It ain't often ye meet a witch
wit' a sense of humor.”

  Before I could ask him how many witches he’d actually met, Deeann held up her hands and started chanting. The air around me crackled with electricity and enveloped me in a blanket of warmth. It wasn’t painful, but it lifted the ends of my hair as if I’d been caught in an upward breeze. I thought about Martin’s comment, the one where he referred to me as a beacon, and worried that I’d made the wrong decision.

  The natural glow of the rocks when I’d first seen them was nothing compared to the way they were shimmering now. Even Martin was covered in a thick haze of blue. The pressure in my chest tightened, and it was hard not to compare what had happened during my previous spirit seeker experience with the current situation. All it would take was a single tendril to emerge from one of the stones and spiral in my direction for me to break my promise about staying in the circle.

  The sound of barking in the distance refocused my fear. Had Deeann’s chanting missed its mark entirely and attracted a hound, or possibly more, from a realm filled with fire and brimstone?

  I glanced outside the circle. Deeann’s eyes were closed, and she continued to chant as if she were in a trance. Jade and Shawna stared at the wall of blue with awestruck expressions on their faces. Joyce and Edith stood next to them, apparently just as impressed with the magical display.

  I turned back toward Martin, expecting him to be as panicked as I was. Instead, his scowl had vanished, replaced by a beaming smile. “Did you hear that?”

  “I did indeed, Lass.”

  “Aren’t you afraid?” I gave him my back and stared at the fading wall of blue, nervously waiting for the beast I’d heard to pounce on me any second.

  “No, why would I be?” he asked, then tilted his head in the direction from which the barking continued to get louder.

  Deeann stopped chanting and opened her eyes. “Rylee, did it work? I don’t hear any voices. Can you see Pete?”

  “No Pete, but a whole lot of…” A flash of dark tan sailed past me right into Martin’s chest. I took a step back and almost tripped over a rock.