Words of Wisdom

by D E Dennis

  “I don’t need to be a psychic to know things have been hard for you,” I said sympathetically. “The Breyfogles were your friends.”

  Her face crumpled. “My best friends,” she cried. “I don’t know what to do. I just can’t believe Tad did something so awful. They seemed really happy.” She wiped her eyes on the sleeves of her chef’s jacket and then she took note of Kali. “I’m sorry, I’m being rude. My name is Nadia. Who are you?”

  Kali waved. “Not at all, Miss Nadia. I’m Kali Moon. I’m Amari’s younger sister.”

  Nadia blinked. “Really?” She looked back at me. “I didn’t know you had a sister. Do you have the gift too?”

  “No—” Her denial was immediate, but since technically my psychic gift was just cover for my empath ability, and she was one too...

  “Yes,” she corrected herself. “I also have the gift. It runs in our family.”

  Nadia gasped. “Amazing!”

  “Nadia.” I squeezed her hand in order to bring her back to the point. “There’s something we need to talk about.”

  “Yes, what is it?”

  “Do you know what happened to Tad Breyfogle?”

  She sniffed. “Gwen told me he committed suicide. He couldn’t live with what he had done apparently, but I say he just couldn’t live with the consequences of getting found out,” she spat.

  Kali and I shared a look. She gave me an imperceptible nod of the head. “Nadia,” I began, turning back to her. “Tad Breyfogle did not commit suicide. He was murdered.”

  Nadia reeled back. “What?! No? But Gwen said—”

  “The police have just confirmed it,” I said gently. “He was killed, and the suicide note was faked.”

  “But that...” She trailed off, words failing her.

  “I’m so sorry, Nadia. This must seem like a nightmare.” She nodded, eyes beginning to water. “And I feel as though I’m responsible.”

  “You?” she replied, confused. “Why would you think that?”

  “I think his killer went after him because they were afraid he was going to get away with murder, but they would never have pegged him as a murderer if I hadn’t spoken to those reporters. I put the target on his back.”

  “No.” Her hands clamped down almost painfully on mine. “You did nothing wrong. You showed the world what a filthy, murderous piece of trash he was and if someone killed him because of it then they did the world a favor.”

  “But that’s just it...” I began, looking away from her angry eyes. “He wasn’t a murderous piece of trash.”

  “I don’t understand,” she replied.

  “Tad Breyfogle had an alibi for the time of the fire. He also had a reason for not revealing it sooner. He didn’t kill Veronica. He was on the opposite side of town.”

  She stiffened, not saying a word, but she didn’t have to. Suddenly, I was flooded with a wave of guilt so intense a tiny whimper escaped my lips before I could stop it. Nadia abruptly released my hands, but sitting as close as she was to me it didn’t matter. I immediately began my breathing routine, while Kali came to my rescue.

  “It’s just awful,” Kali said sadly. “My sister can’t help but feel responsible for the part she played in this whole mess. That’s why she would like to speak to Gwen and Oliver to see how they are holding up. Losing their parents in such horrible ways must have taken a toll and they might need someone to talk to.” Nadia was nodding along, her expression carefully schooled to appear neutral. “Would you mind giving her Gwen’s number, so she can make plans to drop in on them?”

  “Yes, of course.” She got up, hurried over to her desk and grabbed her phone. “I’m sure they’ll appreciate it.”

  I typed the number she showed me into my phone then Kali and I stood up. My stomach stopped churning the moment she was out of reach of my abilities. “We won’t keep you any longer, Nadia. I know how busy you are.” We said our goodbyes.

  Kali kept it in until we slammed the car door shut. “Did you feel what I was seeing?!” she blurted.

  “Umm, oh yes,” I said, as I started the engine. “She was pissed. Positively spitting mad at Tad Breyfogle and the thought that he killed her best friend... And the guilt she felt when I said he was innocent...”

  “But she was surprised too. When you told her he didn’t commit suicide,” Kali added. “Genuine surprise.”

  “Yes, but was that because she didn’t know the suicide was faked...or because she faked it and she was surprised her trick had been discovered so soon.”

  “She has access to their house, doesn’t she?” Kali asked.

  “I bet the guards let her in without question.”

  “And she’d know where the keys are kept?”

  I nodded. “How could she not?”

  “So, our three main suspects...”

  “...just became four,” I finished for her.

  Kali frowned. “But you know her. She’s a client. Do you really think she’s capable of murder?”

  “I didn’t think Kayla’s killer was capable of murder either,” I said grimly. “We both picked up on that rage and that guilt. We can’t ignore it.”

  Slowly, she nodded. “No, we can’t.” She looked at me. “I think I understand you a lot more now.”

  I DROPPED KALI OFF at school and then made the dreaded call. She picked up on the second ring.

  “Hello?” Gwen Breyfogle inquired.

  I took a deep breath. “Hi,” I said, “it’s Amari Moon. Do you remember me?”

  “Of course I do,” she said. “What’s up?”

  “I was just wondering if I could stop by your house tonight?” I said, getting right to the point. “You’ve just lost your parents. I figured you and your brother could use a friend.”

  “A friend who accused my father of murder in front of the whole town?”

  I sputtered an apology in response, but Gwen laughed.

  “Don’t be sorry, Amari,” she replied; listening closely I heard she was more amused than anything else. “You were right after all.” Clearly, the police hadn’t gotten around to telling her that they were working under the new theory that Tad Breyfogle was murdered.

  “Still,” I said, “I feel bad for what you guys were going through. I’d like to bring you dinner and...” I quickly cast about for something that would ensure she’d say yes. “And hear more about your perfume business. You make the perfumes yourself, right?”

  “Yes,” she said, sounding ten times more animated than she did two seconds ago. “Do you want to know how I do it?”

  “I’d love too,” I lied. “So tonight?”

  “Tonight. Six o’clock,” she repeated cheerfully. “I’ll show you how I made the one based on your scent.”

  “My scent?”

  “Cinnamon and hot apple tea, remember? I call it Moon Spell.”

  I absentmindedly rubbed my cheek. “Moon Spell...that’s a pretty name.”

  She giggled, not picking up on how thoroughly creeped out I was. “See you tonight!”

  I hung up and checked the time. I had a client showing up at my door in ten minutes. I hit the gas while my thoughts turned to what I was making for dinner.

  “KALI, ARE YOU READY yet?!” I yelled through her bedroom door. “What’s taking so long?”

  I jumped back when the door suddenly swung open. “Sorry, sis. I didn’t know what we would need so I brought everything.” She shoved her tote bag at me and I peeked inside.

  “Pepper spray, Taser, first aid kit, and...” I blinked at her. “Are those nunchucks?”

  She shrugged. “We can’t be too careful.”

  “Where did you even get those?” I cried.

  “Daddy gave them to me before I moved out of South Koruna. I didn’t tell you because I thought you might get all huffy about us thinking Zinnia Springs isn’t safe.”

  “I don’t get huffy.” I huffed. “And you don’t need all this. Gwen thinks it’s a harmless visit to eat and talk about perfume. She’s not going to attack us.”


  Kali raised her brows. “Won’t that nutty, knife-waving chef be around too? What if she catches you in their godly home?”

  “Oh yeah...good point.” I handed the bag back. “Bring the nunchucks.”

  She nodded determinedly and followed me into the kitchen. “What did you make?”

  “I kept it simple,” I replied. I held up the container I had just pulled out of the fridge. “Leftovers.”

  We set off for Gwen’s. As expected, the guards let us in as soon as we gave our names, so we drove in and weaved our way through the neighborhood and into the Breyfogles’ driveway. Gwen strolled out of the house moments after I turned off the engine.

  She waved enthusiastically and I gave a half-hearted wave back. “Hi, Gwen,” I said as we walked up. “This is my—oophf!” Gwen seized me in a tight hug.

  “Amari,” she said when she released me. “I can’t wait to let you try Moon Spell.”

  “Moon Spell?” Kali couldn’t resist asking.

  Gwen turned that unsettling smile on Kali. “Moon Spell is the perfume I made based on Amari’s scent. It’s intoxicating. It seems just as lovely as Amari.”

  She leaned in to sniff me, but I quickly danced away. “This is my sister,” I said, putting my arm around Kali. “I hope you don’t mind that I brought her. She wants to learn how to make perfume as well.”

  Gwen clapped. “The more, the merrier.” She beckoned us inside. We followed her at a more sedate pace.

  “She’s a bit too happy for someone who lost both their parents less than two weeks apart,” Kali hissed at me.

  “You see what I’m dealing with here,” I said out of the corner of my mouth. “This is the plan. I’ll stick close by her and draw on her emotions while you pay attention to her micro-expressions.”

  Kali nodded. “Okay,” she whispered back.

  “I’m going to get my brother and tell Chef to serve dinner,” said Gwen. “You remember where the dining room is?” She pointed her finger nonetheless in the direction of the dining room.

  We followed her finger and went through the double doors. Gwen and Ollie appeared moments after our butts hit the seats.

  “Hey, Oliver,” I greeted.

  He grunted in reply.

  “How are you guys holding up?” I asked when the silence grew uncomfortable.

  Gwen sighed deeply. “It’s just so tragic. I can’t believe Daddy hurt Mom.” She looked away. “I thought they loved each other,” she said softly.

  Oliver snorted. “Dad only loved himself. I told you he was cheating, Gwenie, I told you! And he got rid of Mom, so he could live happily ever after with his side chick.”

  Oliver was sitting across from us. We couldn’t feel his emotions but we could see them on his face plain as day: open hatred.

  Gwen’s chin wobbled. I feared a sudden onslaught of tears, but at that moment Chef Tatiana walked in.

  Her eyes narrowed into slits when they landed on me. “What are you doing here?” she snapped.

  “Tatiana?!” Gwen cried. “What’s wrong with you? Amari is my guest.”

  Eyes bulging, she protested, “But she’s a psychic!”

  Gwen giggled. “I know, isn’t it cool?”

  Tatiana restrained herself with difficulty. “Yes, ma’am,” she said through gritted teeth. “Very...cool.” She stepped out of the dining room and came back with a tray loaded down with delicacies.

  Gwen stopped her before she could take her plate. “Oh, Tati.”

  “It’s Chef Tatia—”

  Gwen snatched my container of food off the table and shoved it at her. “Amari was so nice. She brought us some food. Will you heat it up and serve it, please? Thanks, Tati.”

  Tatiana popped the lid and grimaced at the contents. “What is this?”

  “It’s ackee and saltfish,” Kali piped up.

  Her response was to snap the lid back on and storm off.

  “We’re never going to see that again, are we?” I mused out loud.

  That made Oliver laugh. “I’d put money on it.” He focused on me. “So what are you doing here, psychic? Are we really supposed to believe you were worried about us?”

  I frowned at his use of air quotes, despite them being on point.

  I scoffed. “No, I’m not here because I’m worried about you. I’m here because I’m getting a sick kick out of all this. Your mom came to me before she died and asked me to psychically find out when your father was going to kill her. I was too late to flex my psychic prowess so I felt I had no choice but to turn to avenging her and make sure everyone could see how amazing my gifts and I are while I figured out how he pulled it off.

  “The current theory the spirits and I are working with is he dressed as a woman and lurked around the back of her shop until no one was around and he could strike. I outed him in front of Zinnia Springs to turn the pressure on and he finally cracked. He confessed and shot himself in the head just like I hoped and now I’m here to play on your grief and maybe offer my psychic services. I never miss a chance to drum up some business.”

  Gwen’s mouth was hanging open and Oliver, maybe for the first time in his life, was speechless.

  I threw up my hands. “Well, there it is, Oliver. You got the whole dastardly plan out of me.”

  It started off slow, a few snorts, but after a minute Oliver was full-blown howling. He smacked the table repeatedly, tears running down his face.

  “Well played, psychic,” he said between chuckles. “Well played.” He cleared his throat. “Sorry, I guess finding out my father plotted with his mistress to burn my mother alive has me seeing hidden motives everywhere. But you’re alright.”

  I cringed at the matter-of-fact way he relayed that. “Thanks.” I turned to the matter at hand. “So how are you two, really?”

  Gwen sighed deeply. “I’m—”

  The door to the dining room banged open and Tatiana reappeared with my offering in a fancier bowl. We were silent as she served, but she wasn’t. She scraped the serving spoon against the bowls, banged them on to plates, and threw the utensils down like they burned her skin. She punctuated her tantrum with a slammed door on exit.

  “Sorry about Tati,” Gwen apologized while she mopped up a bit of spilled soup. “She’s got a temper.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Kali said. “Mari has that effect on chefs. I think they sense the crimes she’s committed against the culinary arts.”

  “Hey!” I cried while they laughed at me.

  We kept the conversation light during dinner. There was no point in questioning Oliver because he wasn’t close enough to me. Kali would have had to crane her neck to see around me to catch Gwen’s micro-expressions.

  When the last morsel was consumed, Gwen jumped out of her seat. “Okay, guys, come up to my room and we’ll get started.”

  “I’ll watch,” Oliver said nonchalantly, and we all followed her up the stairs to her room. I don’t know what I was expecting, but the tidy, bland space I walked into wasn’t it. The room had all the personality of office space. The walls were white, the bedsheets were white, and the carpet was gray. The only spots of color were the rows upon rows of shelving stacked with all different kinds of colors and shapes of perfume bottles, and the basket of mewling kittens in the corner.

  “The kittens from the garden?” I cried. “You adopted them?”

  She cocked her head. “I had to. I need to get their scent just right and it’s easier having them here than tromping out to the bushes every minute.”

  I didn’t have a response to that.

  Kali stepped away and began looking through her selection of perfumes, while I took a seat in the chair Gwen pointed out for me. Her workstation was neat and organized. The cheesecloths, essential oils, droppers, and measuring cups all had their place. She picked up an unlabeled bottle and held it up.

  “This is Moon Spell,” she said. “I’ve finally gotten it right. Arm please,” Gwen asked and I let her take my hand and spritz Moon Spell on the inside of my wrist. “Smel
l it?” she said eagerly.

  I gave my wrist a tentative sniff...then another...then I put it up to my nose and breathed deeply. “Steaming cups of apple cinnamon tea.” I smiled. “It’s like Christmas.”

  Gwen beamed. “You like it? You really do?”

  “I love it,” I said sincerely. “It smells wonderful. Are you sure I’m the inspiration?” I laughed.

  She nodded fervently. “Yes, this is you.”

  “Let me smell.” Ollie appeared over my shoulder making me jump. I held out my wrist for him.

  He hummed. “Not bad, Gwenie.”

  Gwen clapped her hands. “Okay, now here’s how you make it.” She then launched into an explanation that involved base notes, measurements, alcohol, and the many different types of oils and plants that could be used to make perfume.

  I was lost after two minutes, but I kept nodding and smiling along all the same. Kali soon rejoined us, clutching a bottle of perfume she took from the shelf.

  “And that’s it.” Gwen completed her speech. “Just bottle it and you’re good to go.”

  “Amazing.” I grinned. “You know I’d love to have a bottle of Moon Spell. How much?”

  Gwen shook her head. “There’s no charge for you. You inspired it after all.” I thanked her.

  “Who inspired this one?” Kali cut in, holding out the perfume for us to see. The label said Radiant Ronnie.

  Gwen lost a bit of her glow. “Radiant Ronnie. I made that one for my mom. Her nickname was Ronnie,” she said softly. “It’s sweet orange, cedar wood, and sage.”

  “I’m sorry for your loss,” Kali said.

  Gwen just nodded while Oliver stood there stiff and silent.

  “And then to lose your dad too.” I shook my head sadly. “Where were you guys when it happened?”

  “Which one?” Oliver jeered. “When Mom was burned alive or when the Donor blew his brains out?”

  “Oh, Ollie,” Gwen said tiredly. She sighed. “I was here making perfume when Mom was killed in the fire. And when Daddy took his life over it, I was a couple houses down visiting my girlfriend. I went over around six and stayed the night.”