Scent to Her Grave

by Ink, India

  As he sprinted toward his cruiser, there was a loud crack and one of the trees across the street toppled, bringing down the power lines. Yeah, the old oak wasn’t going to be the only victim of this storm.

  The lights in the neighborhood flickered and died, and Kyle let out a blue streak of swearing as he climbed back out of his car and radioed for a city crew to come take care of the damage. He made no move to return to the porch, and so I slipped back inside to inform Barbara that she wasn’t going anywhere for awhile.

  Aunt Florence was in the process of lighting more candles. The fireplace already had a nice blaze going in it, and the room glowed with warmth. She peeked out the front window.

  “I hope nothing catches on fire out there because of those downed lines,” she said. “That wind is whipping up something fierce.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Rain’s coming down in buckets. Everything’s too drenched to burn. Do you want me to start the generator?”

  My aunt shook her head. “We’ve already had our dinner. The upper floors will be cold, but we have enough blankets to manage. If the power’s not on by morning, I’ll start it up then. The freezer will be fine for the night and there’s not much to lose in the refrigerator. Barbara, you’re not going to be able to get past those wires for awhile.”

  Barb pulled out her cell phone. “I’d better call Dorian. Hopefully, they’ll get the road cleared within a couple of hours.” She punched in her number while Auntie and I, armed with a couple of flashlights, headed into the kitchen in order to feed the Menagerie. After we set out all the bowls and refilled the water dishes, my aunt excused herself.

  “I’m tired and I’m going to go to bed. Persia, can you show Barbara to the guest room? Good night and sweet dreams, children.” She kissed me on the forehead.

  Barbara and I watched her slowly ascend the stairs. The events of the past week were weighing heavily on her shoulders.

  I turned back to Barb. “She looks so tired. Thank you for coming over tonight. I think having you here helped. My aunt thinks the world of you.” I took another look out the front window. Several city vehicles were present, all with flashing yellow lights, and it looked like a truck from the Port Samanish PUD was just pulling in. “They’re starting work on that mess. Once the roads are clear, you’ll be able to leave if you want.”

  Barb curled up in the overstuffed rocking chair. “So, you and Kyle seemed to have something going on. What was that look that passed between you two earlier? When he grabbed the tray from you?”

  I settled onto the sofa, folding my legs into the lotus position. “Barb, the weirdest thing happened today. We were in the shop and got into an argument and he grabbed me and kissed me.”

  Barb’s hand flew to her mouth. “He what?”

  “He kissed me. Took me by surprise, and frankly, he’s lucky I only slapped him instead of cold-cocked him. I was so pissed. Nobody grabs me like that and gets away with it.”

  She shut her jaw, which had fallen open. “Uh, I hope he apologized?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, he did, but I’m betting only because he was afraid I’d report him for inappropriate behavior. Then he asked why I came back to Gull Harbor, but in that angry rhetorical way.” I blushed. Until now, the incident had just seemed odd. But telling Barb what happened made it feel too intimate, almost embarrassing.

  “What did you say?” Barb pulled down one of the afghans draped over the back of the rocker and spread it over her legs. The heat from the fireplace was fierce up close, but a few yards away the chill of the house took over. I was beginning to regret not firing up the generator.

  I slowly shook my head. “What could I say? I was pissed off. Anyway, I know his wife’s dead and I’m sorry, but I just don’t want him following me around again like he did in school. Kyle can be a nice guy, but he’s not my type.”

  Barb leaned her head back, staring at me. “You’d be surprised, Persia. Don’t write him off yet. Maybe he’s not your type, for all I know you don’t even have a type, but don’t close and lock the door.”

  I sighed, exhausted. The day had been far too long. “Uh huh. Whatever.”

  With a slow smile, Barbara said, “Kyle never got over you, Persia. Not even when he married Katy. It’s something you’re going to have to face head-on one of these days.”

  “Maybe, but today’s not that day.” I knew she was right, but I didn’t want to think about it, didn’t want to deal with any more baggage than I’d accumulated with Elliot. I’d come home, hoping for a clean slate, a new start, but Kyle was promising to be an obstacle to that goal. I leaned closer to the fire, searching for answers in the flames. None were forthcoming.

  From the Pages of Persia’s Journal

  Narcissus Dreaming Oil

  So many women are unhappy and lonely—even when they’re in relationships—that I decided to create a blend to intoxicate the senses, to sweep women into a time when beauty was a gift from the Divine. Aphrodite, Venus, Freya, Hathor, Erzulie, Shakti . . . each a goddess of love, desire, and beauty. Each captured the hearts of their worshippers and inspired art, poetry, music, magic, and passion. I believe we can draw upon their inspiration to ignite our own inner goddess and to discover the power of our own beauty, within and without. Because until we love ourselves, how can we expect anybody else to love us?

  As always, I should include a checklist of time-tested hints for women who want to bring a spark back into their bedroom:• Make sure you have clean, comfortable sheets and bedding on your bed. Buy something that you like instead of something utilitarian.

  • Keep the TV out of the bedroom.

  • Don’t be afraid to experiment with toys or books on the subject of sexuality.

  • Soak in a long bubble bath, eat good foods, buy clothes that make you feel sexy.

  • Treat yourself as you want to be treated.

  • Establish “date night” with your partner to make sure you get some time together every week.

  • If you have children, hire a babysitter once every two weeks and spend a long evening with your partner, child free, without worrying if anybody is going to come barging in the door.

  • Discuss your needs with your partner outside of the bedroom.

  • Learn to dance—even if only in private—because dancing is sexy.

  • Regular exercise increases libido.

  • Use scented oils and fragrances to enhance the mood, like Narcissus Dreaming oil.

  To blend the oil, gather a dark bottle and stopper, and an eyedropper, as well as the following ingredients:

  1/4 ounce almond or apricot kernel oil

  40 drops narcissus oil

  21 drops dark musk oil

  21 drops amber oil

  14 drops rose oil

  8 drops orange oil

  OPTIONAL:

  Garnet and rose quartz chips (you can use chips off a

  gemstone chip necklace)

  1 shredded, dried rose petal

  Using the eyedropper, add each fragrance oil to the almond oil. Gently swirl the bottle to blend the scent. After adding the orange oil, cap and shake gently. At this time, add the shredded rose petal and/or the gemstone chips to the bottle for added energy, if desired.

  My crystal research indicates that rose quartz crystals are excellent for inspiring peace, happiness, and love. Garnets empower sexuality, passion, and inner strength. The rose petals will intensify the scent and add a decorative touch. As always, remind customers to avoid eating or drinking the oil, to keep it in a cool, dark place, and to keep out of reach of children and animals.

  Chapter Fourteen

  My eyes shot open and I bolted into a sitting position as a flood of light washed over me, startling me out of my sleep. Who the hell was in my bedroom? I leapt out of bed and looked around, but then realized that I’d left the light switch on and that the power had come back on. Woohoo! We had electricity again. I glanced at the alarm clock. I’d always used a battery operated one just in case of emergency. Two in the
morning. Barbara had left around eleven PM, easing her car out along the freshly cleared road.

  I flipped off the lights and crawled back in bed, but something furry was holding down the covers when I tried to slide my feet back under them. I squinted through the darkness to peer at the bottom of the bed. Delilah, sound asleep. Gently, I reached out to stroke the slumbering cat’s fur.

  “You really do like me, don’t you, you little bugger?” She wiggled her ears, shifted, and continued to snore as I maneuvered around her. With the wind rattling the windows, I closed my eyes and fell asleep to the sound of pounding rain.

  After a brief but intense stint on my exercise bike that left me a sweaty pile of Jell-O, I soaped up under a hot shower and then slipped on my usual tight black jeans, a black turtleneck, and a pair of high-heeled ankle boots that zipped up the sides. Aunt Florence had breakfast ready when I dashed into the kitchen and planted a kiss on her cheek.

  I snitched a piece of bacon from the plate as I carried it over to the table and popped it in my mouth. “Yum, smoky.”

  “You wait for me, missy.” Auntie added a dish of scrambled eggs to the table, along with toast and a bowl of lightly sweetened peaches and cream. “I want some of that bacon and you always hog it.” She grinned.

  Snorting at her pun, I brought over the pot of Earl Gray and filled our cups, then sat down and piled a man-sized breakfast on my plate. Aunt Florence was looking over the paper. She let out a little “Oh.”

  “What is it?” I poured two glasses of milk and handed her one.

  “Radiance Cosmetics certainly hasn’t wasted any time.” She cleared her throat and began to read the article to me.

  Radiance Cosmetics announced this morning that its new spokesmodel will be Colleen Murkins, of Gull Harbor, Washington. Ms. Murkins was the first runner-up in the Radiance Cosmetics Beauty Contest, losing by only a few points to Lydia Wang, also of Gull Harbor. Julia Skyler, Vice President in charge of public relations for the company, commented that, “Everyone at Radiance Cosmetics has been deeply shocked by the death of Ms. Wang and we extend our sympathies to her family and friends.” Ms. Wang was murdered this week. According to the rules of the contest, Ms. Murkins will assume the crown and begin her duties on May 15th, after the contracts have been finalized. In unrelated news, Radiance Cosmetics has announced yet another delay in the unveiling of its new China Veils line of cosmetics.

  Aunt Florence pushed the paper aside and picked up her fork. “I understand their need for expediency, but Lydia’s barely cold in the grave. That’s business for you, though. If I were in their shoes, I suppose I might do the same.” She munched on her bacon as she stared out the window. “The storm left a real mess out in the gardens today. Sarah will never manage it by herself.” She sighed. “It’s time I faced up to reality. I’m going to call Day Labor and hire some temporary help, just until Trevor’s back with us.”

  I nodded. “That makes sense, even though it’s hard to face that he might not come back for a long time unless we can find a way to help him out. While Marta’s death opens up several intriguing possibilities, we still can’t prove that he’s innocent, nor that there’s any link between the two deaths.”

  The phone rang, interrupting me mid-bite. Tawny was on the other end. “I’ve scheduled an early appointment for you, Persia.”

  “You’re already at work?” I asked, repressing a grin. “What happened to ‘I’m not going in the store alone’?”

  She sounded a little sheepish as she stammered out, “Oh, well, see . . . I got here early and was hanging out in the bakery when Mrs. Konstantinos offered to come with me while I checked to make sure everything was okay. Anyway, I scheduled an appointment for you with Juanita Lopez. She wants a custom-blended scent. She’ll be here at ten-thirty.”

  “I’ll be there.” I dropped the receiver back in the cradle. “That was Tawny. I’ve got an appointment this morning. Guess things are back to normal. At least, as much as they can be.” Since Lydia’s death, most of our customers had been more interested in gossip than goodies, and our sales had declined while our foot traffic increased.

  Auntie pushed back her chair and began clearing the table. “As soon as I arrange for some help for Sarah, I’ll head out. What time do you and Barbara need to leave for Seattle?”

  “Let’s see.” I glanced at the clock. “If we take the ferry at four, we’ll be there with time to spare. So we’ll need to be at the dock by three at the latest.” Sometimes the line of cars waiting for the ferry was backed up for half an hour.

  “Are you taking into account the possibility of missing one and having to take the next?” Aunt Florence raised one eyebrow.

  “That won’t matter. We don’t need to be at the club until around nine.” The party at most nightclubs didn’t get started until close to midnight, and we wouldn’t have to fight traffic too much. The ferry docked right down at the port of Seattle’s landing and our drive to the Blue Dragon would take an hour or so depending on city traffic.

  “Are you going to stay the night? When does the last ferry return to Gull Harbor from Seattle?”

  I hadn’t thought about that. “I don’t know, but I’ll call you if we need to stay in the city.” I picked up the last of the dishes and handed them to her, then retrieved the sponge and dishcloth and washed the table. “Actually, while I’m over there, I should drop in at the Radiance Cosmetics Boutique.”

  Aunt Florence glanced at the clock. “Then you’d better leave earlier, to make sure you get there before they close. Say two at the latest. Go on now, and talk to Barbara. I’ll be there by noon. Tawny can handle the shop by herself for a few hours, so don’t wait for me if I’m late.”

  The storm had died down sometime during the wee hours of the morning, and the sky was a pale blue gleaming through puffy remnants of clouds. Within another month the island would be in full swing with families and tourists, but we were still on the tail end of the rainy season and I had the feeling there would be another good blow or two before the weather opened up. I paused by my Sebring, inhaling a lungful of the air that had been charged by the storm. There was something inherently crisp about salty breezes that made me feel alive.

  The sound of a screeching car interrupted my thoughts and I spun around, just in time to hear someone shouting, “Persia! Persia! Wait up!”

  Oh God, no! Elliot jumped out of the car, looking more rumpled than ever. When he hadn’t contacted me the day before, I’d thought that maybe he’d gone home. That maybe my message scrawled across his chest had finally gotten through, but no such luck.

  “What the hell are you doing back here? I told you to get lost. I mean it! Beat it, scram, hit the road, Jack. I don’t want you around here so take the hint and leave me alone.” I marched over to his car. He’d narrowly missed taking out one of the rose bushes that lined the driveway. Stupid bastard. What had I ever seen in him?

  “What the hell did you mean by this?” He pulled open his shirt. His chest was red where it was obvious that he’d been scrubbing, but my body graffiti was still crystal clear. Or should I say, crimson red.

  Exasperated, I said, “I thought maybe you’d get the message. Elliot, just go. Get out of here and get out of my life.”

  His anger turned to confusion. “But I thought we could talk. You can’t mean it, Persia. We can’t be over. I’m out of jail now. Things can go on just the same as before.” He stared at me with that stupid blank look reserved for kittens, puppies, and other young waifs. It just looked creepy on grown men.

  “Are you insane? I don’t want anything to do with your thieving, lying ass. You’re a cheat and you’re a thief and you’re in my way! Get back in your car, turn the hell around, and hit the road because you’re not staying here another minute.” I started forward, one deliberate step at a time, and he backed up, all too aware of what I could do to him. Elliot was far from athletic.

  He paused by his car door. “Don’t throw away the best thing you’ve ever had, Persia. But I’m willing
to be big about it, to take you back if you apologize. You won’t get any better, not being the cold, ballbreaking bitch you are.”

  “Do you really think it’s wise to say that kind of crap to me?” I jumped toward him and he scrambled into the driver’s seat and threw the car into reverse.

  “You aren’t going to get rid of me that easy!” he shouted as he wheeled out of the drive and screeched down the road.

  As I watched him go, I had the uneasy feeling that he meant his parting shot. As Kyle had instructed, I noted down the time and everything that I could remember from the conversation. Damn, what a way to start the day.

  I sped along Beachcomber’s Drive, carefully skirting the downed branches that littered the road. A few of the side streets had been hard hit. Here and there, utility crews still worked on the power lines, scurrying to get them back up and running. A lot of the houses along the road were still dark, and plenty of wood smoke spiraled into the air.