by Dana Davis
Noah didn’t waver. He moved behind Daisy, put his hands on her shoulders, and steered her toward the door. “I’m bossing you right to the couch, where you’ll sit the rest of the day.”
“I’m not an invalid.”
“You just got out of the hospital, Daisy.” His tone grew serious so she decided not to push. Instead, she allowed him to escort her to the couch, where she did as she was told and sat. I scared the shit out of him. The least I can do is rest and let him get bagels. I really am hungry.
She nuzzled Perky a moment before putting him on the floor. The dog promptly trotted into the kitchen to trail after Noah, nails clicking on the tile. With the openness of the house, Daisy could lean forward and see through the kitchen and living room, all the way to the front door, which was open to let the cool November breeze into the house. The security screen let her see outside. The sun illuminated everything and she got a glimpse of the familiar blue sky.
Everything looks so normal. Bridgette didn’t respond, thankfully. Glad she’s not eaves-dropping.
“Hey, boy.” Noah peered down. “You want a treat?” He disappeared into the laundry room where, for some reason unknown to Daisy, the builder had put the food pantry.
“I want a treat,” Bridgette said from the overstuffed chair where she now sat, long legs crossed and one foot bouncing a designer sandal. “But Jay’s not here.”
Daisy smirked. “You’re terrible, Bridge.” She glanced at Scarlet, who had visited the bathroom and obviously touched up her pink lipstick. “You okay?”
Those penetrating eyes moved to her as the medium pulled a chair from the dining table and sat. “That’s my line.”
Daisy watched her reflection in the flat screen television that hung above the fireplace. Reflective surface, like a very dark mirror. Great. “Is the TV safe?”
“Yes. Just mirrors you have to look out for.”
“Good.” Daisy reached for the remote and turned on the television. She muted it as she searched through news channels and the closed caption appeared.
“Okay, what kind of bagels do you ladies want?” Noah stepped around the bar from the kitchen. “I’m buying.” He grabbed a pen and sticky note from the bar where the landline phone sat, making Daisy’s get-well balloons bob and scrape together, then plopped down at the dining table. “Fire away.”
They told him what they wanted and he tucked the list into his pocket. “He kissed Daisy on the forehead. “I’ll be back soon. You stay put.”
“Don’t forget the cream cheese,” Daisy called as he grabbed his car keys off the bar and made his way through the kitchen.
“He gave a wave as he turned into the laundry room. The door opened and shut, followed by the garage door. When Daisy saw Noah’s car drive past the front of the house, she got up.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Her cousin’s green eyes narrowed on her. She stood in the kitchen, making coffee.
“Bathroom. Unless you want to hold my hand while I pee.”
“You’re not my type.”
As Daisy passed Scarlet’s chair, she gazed down at the medium. “You must have some way to locate this hitchhiker.”
“No. I can enlist help from the other side but that’s about all. No guarantees. Even the dead keep their distance. Hitchhikers straddle two worlds, Daisy. Why do you think they’re so feared? Why do you think mediums get years of training and take special precautions when we contact the other side? We can’t just snap our fingers and send these entities back. It doesn’t work like that.”
“Then how do we find it? How do we stop it?”
“We can’t just yet.”
Swell. “Then can you at least teach me to enlist help too? Maybe we’ll have more luck.”
“You’re not ready for that.”
“Then get me ready.” With that, she made a beeline for the master bedroom.
Perky followed, his nails clicking on the tile. He waited just outside the water closet door until she was finished. As she washed her hands, something blurred past her right shoulder.
She jumped and gave a startled squeak, water splashing onto the counter and floor. “Get out, you damn spook!” She turned off the faucet. Holy shit! How the hell am I gonna get used to this? “Scarlet! Bridgette!”
The two women came running.
Bridgette’s eyes darted around. “What? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine but I want to do a riddance spell.” She pointed at her cousin. “And I want you to reinforce it.” This spell was for getting rid of unwanted pests, like mice, rats, and other critters. Dogs included.
Scarlet stood nearby, watching. “Spells won’t work.”
“Well, you got some kind of mojo I can use to keep them away?”
“I told you, it doesn’t work like that. They go wherever they want. You can’t communicate with them yet so—”
“Then you tell them to get lost.”
“If I piss them off, they’ll only make more trouble.”
Daisy scooped up Perky. “You told off that last one and he went away.”
“Yes. But he could’ve just as easily ignored me and stayed.” She glanced at Bridgette and back to Daisy. “Trust me when I tell you they’re not that easy to get rid of.”
Well that’s just fabulous. “Then it won’t hurt if I try my own way.” Daisy walked over and handed Perky to the medium. “Hold onto him and wait in the guest room until we’re done, please. If he’s too close to the spell, he’ll go crazy trying to get out of the house and hurt himself.” Scarlet took the dog without another word and left.
When Daisy heard the guest room door shut, she closed her bedroom door and led Bridgette to the large dresser mirror. She didn’t dare take the sheet off yet. “Let’s localize it. See if it’ll work on this room first.” She began the spell she and Bridgette had memorized before the end of their teen years. The redhead repeated each stanza in Irish Gaelic for added strength. Static rose around them.
“Okay, keep your fingers crossed.” Daisy reached a hand up and pulled the sheet off her dresser mirror. Almost immediately, the glass began to fill with movement.
Bridgette peered at her. “Well? Did it work?”
“Shit.”
“I’ll take that as a no.”
After Bridgette helped her replace the sheet, Daisy stormed out of the bedroom. “You can come out now, Scarlet!” Instead of going back into the main room, she turned into the office and started up the spiral staircase to the attic library.
“Where’re you going?”
She leaned over the railing to look at her cousin. “Just getting some books. I’ll be down in a minute.” She kept her magick books and stuff she sold online up here. The small window of this converted attic let in sunlight, making the place seem cheerful. I’m probably the only one with an attic room in this whole neighborhood. Hell, maybe even in all of North Scottsdale.
Arizona wasn’t exactly known for basements or useable attics, especially not in newer homes. Noah’s old laptop sat on the table next to his notes and three of her oldest books. No one could read the symbols in these books any longer but Noah was trying to decipher them. He had a knack for linguistics, thanks to his father’s bloodline. If it weren’t for the ancient spells protecting them, the books would’ve gone to dust ages ago.
Guess the ancestors never dreamed we’d one day have computers. Would make things a hell of a lot easier if I could scan these in. But magick books couldn’t be copied or scribed for more than a few hours at most, not for many, many centuries now. Maybe even millennia. And Daisy needed to cast several spells just to accomplish that much. So, she had to do things the old-fashioned way – read from the books themselves, the way they were intended, and memorize what she could. Her mind ticked off the three books she’d seen downstairs, probably retrieved by Bridgette.
There has to be something up here I can use. But what? She pulled four spell books from various shelves. They were thick and heavy, like most of her books, and she struggled to car
ry them. Well that’s just great. Guess I’m still weak from being dead. She headed down the winding stairs. Perky hadn’t followed her up this time so at least she wouldn’t need to carry him down too. Thank the universe for small favors. Her pooch waited at the bottom and yipped once when he saw her.
Just as she put her foot on the office floor, Bridgette reappeared in the doorway. “You’re supposed to be resting, Daisy.”
“Sue me.”
The redhead crossed to her in three strides and took two of the books from her. “What’re you doing, anyway?”
“I’m gonna see if there’s a spell to repel ghosts. Permanently.” Daisy headed for the family room with Bridgette and Perky on her heels.
“There isn’t. Unless you want to cast more alarm spells. But from what Scarlet’s said about you attracting them, this place would be howling all the time.” Bridgette followed Daisy’s lead and put the books on the couch.
“Howling from what?” The medium studied them from the dining chair where she’d been looking at her phone.
A sigh left Bridgette’s lips. “Alarm spells. For ghosts. She wants to keep them out of the house.”
“Oh. Won’t work. You’re a medium now, Daisy. No spell will keep them away from you.”
Well, that’s just freaking dandy. “You’re just a bucket of sunshine today, aren’t you?”
Scarlet smirked. “Yeah, well, you’ll get used to them. Eventually.”
“Is that part of my medium training? Or are you just cranky?”
Those dark eyes lifted to her. “You’ve been in my home, Daisy. What do you think?”
I think I don’t want to live the rest of my life with sheets over my mirrors. The landline rang, startling Daisy. When did I get so damn jumpy? She crossed to the bar that separated the kitchen from the dining area and picked it up. Her heart also raced because her mother, Penny, had called this very phone from the afterlife, asking for help. “Hello?”
“Daisy? It’s Kali. How are you?” Without Kali’s help, Daisy would’ve been stuck in the afterlife. Dead. This wonderful necromancer had coaxed her soul back to her body.
I owe her big time. “I’m good, Kali. Relieved to be home. What’s up?”
“Oh, good. I’m so glad. Anyway, the other reason I’m calling is Bridgette asked me to look into Rebecca Miller’s family. I found her grandmother’s grave. In the Apache Junction area. I’ll email you both the information.”
Daisy fought the urge to do a happy skip. Rebecca had cleared out her home and disappeared after using a Charon reaper to trap Penny’s soul. Payback for Daisy killing her elderly uncle, Wil Miller. The psycho. I bet she helped that old man conjured up that skinwalker too.
“That’s great news. Thanks so much, Kali. That’ll help us a lot.” Though just how it would help, she wasn’t exactly sure. Maybe she could do a disclosure spell at the gravesite. But that would only work if Rebecca had been there recently and touched the headstone. And it didn’t do much except give the identity of a person. And we already know Rebecca is involved. We just don’t know where the hell she is right now.
“You’re welcome.” Noises in the background filtered through the phone. “Just a minute, Daisy.” Voices mumbled through the earpiece for several seconds before Kali returned. “Sorry about that. We’re having computer problems today. Let me know if you go to that cemetery. I want to go with you.”
Thankfully, all necros weren’t like Rebecca. “What’re you doing in an hour?”
“You want to go today?”
“Yes. Is that a problem for you?” She hated to admit it, but having Kali along would make her feel better protected.
“Actually, other than the computer problems, we’re pretty dead around here today.”
Daisy chuckled. “How long have you been waiting to use that line?”
“A while. You have room for me in your car?”
“Sure. I’ll talk to Noah and let you know what time. You have my cell number?”
“Yeah. Oh, and you’ll have to pick me up at work. You okay coming here?”
“I’m a big girl.” Who has to face that cemetery again, no matter what. Gran and Gramps are buried there. I can’t avoid it forever. “I’ll call you after lunch. Bye.” Daisy pressed the off button, put the phone on the bar and turned to Bridgette, who studied her with a questioning look. “Kali found a grave. Rebecca’s grandmother. She’s emailing us the info.”
The redhead gave a tiny grunt. “It’s a start. I plan to give that necro bitch a lesson she won’t forget.”
“Get in line.” Daisy opened the laptop that sat on the bar and pressed the power button to turn it on. “Kali wants to come with us to the cemetery.” When she glanced at Bridgette, the redhead had her cell phone in her hand, probably checking for Kali’s email. “Anything?”
“Not yet. How soon do you think you’ll be able to go?”
“You mean you weren’t listening to my thoughts, Bridge? Wow, I’m impressed.”
“Ha-ha. But I’m guessing that asking Kali what she was doing after lunch is a clue.”
“Good call, Sherlock.” Bridgette gave her a doubtful look and Daisy rolled her eyes. “What? I’m not going to sit around here with a bunch of spooks when I can be out looking for Rebecca. Oh, I should call Paul. Maybe he’s heard something by now.”
Paul Manny managed the Southwest Native Museum, where Daisy had stolen the ancient Kachina. She owed him another but hadn’t found one, yet. Rebecca also worked at the museum. Well, she had up until Daisy found out who had soulnapped her mother in the afterlife. Rebecca disappeared right after. Lickety split. Something her grandfather used to say and she smiled to herself that she remembered it.
Bridgette waved a hand at her. “I’ll call Paul. Your man’s home so get some food in your belly. You’re starting to look too skinny.”
At that moment, Daisy heard the garage door open. She shook her head at her cousin. “Snooping again, Bridge? That’s not nice.”
“Not snooping. I have eyes.” Bridgette pointed toward the front of the house.
“Oh, right.”
Her cousin smirked as she held her phone to her ear. “Paul? Bridgette McDougal.” A pause. “Yeah, she’s home now. Doing better. Anything on Rebecca?” Another pause. “Okay. We’ve got a lead on her. Yes, I’ll let you know if we find anything.” She paused again. “Okay, I’ll tell her. You too.” She hung up and Daisy gave her a “What’s up?” look. “She hasn’t been back to work. No one’s heard from her.”
“Damn.”
“Paul says to tell you hi and wish you a ‘speedy recovery’. His words, not mine.”
“I need to send him a thank-you for the flowers.” She took in a long breath and eyed the bright yellow daisies on the bar as she headed into the kitchen for plates and utensils. At least Paul still has a sense of humor. Perky trotted into the laundry room, tail flipping side to side, when Noah put a key in the lock. As Daisy rounded the corner of the island, a cabinet door swung open, startling her. Her heart thumped against her chest. “Shit. Stop that.” She didn’t see anyone and Perky was too distracted by Noah to hear what was going on in the kitchen.
“Problem?” Scarlet said from the dining table. She studied her phone and sounded distracted.
“Just another friendly, neighborhood spook.” At least I hope it’s friendly. “Didn’t you sense him, or whatever it is you do?”
The medium got up and crossed into the kitchen just as Noah set two paper bags on the island. “They don’t always show themselves, Daisy. Even to us.”
“Great.” It’s not enough I’ve got them lurking in my mirrors. Now I have ones I can’t even see going poltergeist on me.
Scarlet glanced around the kitchen. “All right, you can come out now. No one’s going to hurt you.” She waited a few seconds then shook her head. “He’s gone. Whoever he was.”
Daisy closed the cabinet and studied the medium. “What’s the attraction of cabinet doors? This happened when Mom was soulnapped.”
> “I remember that,” Noah said as he pulled cream cheese and bagels from the paper bags. Scarlet turned to help him, while Bridgette squeezed past Daisy for cloth napkins from one of the drawers.
Daisy’s kitchen was a decent size, but with four adults and a pooch underfoot it seemed crowded.
“Depends on the souls,” Scarlet said. “And why they’re still here. Opening a door can mean they have a secret they need to tell someone in the living world.” She smiled, fleshy lips spreading wide. “Or they could just be messing with you.”
“You’re joking?”
“Wish I were.”
“Well that’s just fabulous.”
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* * * *
Chapter 6
Don’t Turn Around
It had taken some fast talking but Daisy finally convinced Noah that she could handle a trip to Apache Junction and they’d stopped to pick up Kali from work on the way. Having her, Scarlet and Bridgette along, seemed to help him feel much better about it.
“There’s the turnoff.” Bridgette pointed a freckled arm to a narrow, semi-paved road up ahead just as the GPS announced the street in a monotone female voice.
“Got it.” Noah slowed and took the turn, gravel crunching beneath the tires of the Hybrid.
Daisy yawned as she gazed out the window from the backseat behind her husband. Right after Bridgette called shotgun, supposedly to help with directions, Noah had encouraged Daisy to take a nap. Those two are in cahoots. I just know it.
The drive from North Scottsdale to Apache Junction usually took about forty-five minutes, but it seemed shorter since she’d slept almost the entire way. She didn’t want to admit it but the short nap had been refreshing.
Scarlet sat behind Bridgette, looking out the other window. Kali sat in the middle, studying her phone, her finger tapping or sliding up and down the screen. “You were doing that when I fell asleep.”
Kali eyed her. “What can I say? I’m addicted to web shopping.”