The Madness of Mercury (21 page)

“I did try to question him about that. I asked if these were normal for the elderly.”

“They’re quite common. Many elderly people do suffer from dementia. It can be terrible. Family members are hoping to spend some time with a loved one before they pass, but that personality seems to disappear and something else takes over. I’ve certainly seen it. But my aunt … like I said, these episodes are unpredictable.”

“I don’t mean to harp on this, but with her transits and the fact that she’s elderly and frail, she could be in danger from prescription medication.”

“You mean, like the wrong medication was prescribed?”

“Not necessarily,” I said. “Just that her system is extremely vulnerable right now and any medication could hit her hard. I’d keep an open mind about senile dementia. She’s confused and paranoid, yes, but that could all disappear when the transit’s over. Oh, before I forget, I’ve arranged for the séance tonight.”

Dorothy groaned and rolled her eyes in response.

“Two people I know from the Mystic Eye will be here, Nikolai and Zora. Nikolai’s very bright, very intuitive. He’s a licensed clinical psychologist and he’s also licensed to work with hypnosis. So even if you’re not in agreement with his belief system, he’s a responsible person.”

“That’s something.”

“Zora’s a bit more intimidating, but Nikolai says that we need her. And there’s something else I should mention … ” I hesitated.

Dorothy looked at me sharply. “What?”

“Nikolai has a local TV show where he performs exorcisms.”

Dorothy blinked and plopped heavily into one of the armchairs. She stared at me.

“And he’s a bit theatrical—he likes to dress up in robes.”

“I’m sure he needs the drag,” she replied flatly.

“He can be a bit much, but I’m told he’s very talented.”

“I can’t wait.” Dorothy heaved a great sigh, rose from her chair, and left the room.

T
WENTY-
T
HREE

A
LBA LED ME UPSTAIRS
to the second floor, both of us loaded down with my things. I followed her down the hallway, in the opposite direction from Evandra’s and Dorothy’s bedrooms, into a room that was the size of my entire apartment. The ceiling had to be at least twelve feet high, if not higher, and the dark mahogany headboard of the canopy bed was nine feet tall. Tapestry drapes in a deep green material hung from the canopy, and matching drapes hung at the two long windows that overlooked the formal garden.

Wizard, hearing our progress, rushed into the room and hopped on the bed. Under instructions from Dorothy, Alba had already made up the room and spread two extra blankets across the foot of the bed.

“Thank you, Alba. This is fantastic.”

Alba was a small woman, just barely over five feet, dressed in a plain black cotton dress with buttons running down the front, a white apron over all. Her skin was olive and unlined, making it impossible to narrow down her age. She could have been anywhere past her mid-thirties. It was only the weight gain around her middle that made me revise that figure upward. Her English was perfect, with only a slight touch of an accent. Today she seemed very subdued. I was certain she was upset about Luis’s death.

“Did you know Luis very well, Alba?”

“Not well, but he was a very nice man.” Alba quickly made the sign of the cross over her breast. “He’s worked here for the sisters a long time. His family must be very sad.”

I nodded. “Did you know he had a bad heart?”

“Is that what they say?” Alba replied dubiously. “No. He never said anything to me. Always very pleasant and kind. I always made sure he had some lunch when he worked. Very sad.” She reached over to straighten out the extra coverlet at the foot of the bed and fussed until it lined up perfectly.

I watched her carefully, convinced there was something on her mind. “Alba?”

“Yes?”

“Is something wrong?”

She stiffened and turned to me. “Nothing is wrong.”

I remained silent and watched her carefully. “Please tell me.”

She looked down at the floor for several moments and finally seemed to make up her mind. “Luis … I saw him from the window that day.”

“The day he died?”

“He was acting strange. I should have said something. I should have gone out there.”

“Strange how?”

“He was walking in circles. At first I thought he was looking for something in the grass. But then he seemed to stumble. I watched him for a minute.” She shook her head. “The mower was running but he wasn’t paying any attention to it. Then someone called me. Gudrun, I think, and I had to go to Miss Evandra’s room.” She fell silent.

“Did you tell the police about this?”

Alba’s eyes grew large and she shook her head negatively. “I don’t like to talk to the police. I thought it was strange, but if they say he had a heart attack … I don’t know what that looks like.” She pointed to the intercom. “I sleep on the third floor, miss. If you need anything, just use this.”

“Call me Julia, please. What’s on the top floor—the fourth floor?

Alba stiffened. “Nothing. Just old things in the attic. Old furniture … trunks. I never go there.” She turned away as if to hide her reaction to my question.

“Alba, what is it?”

Alba’s shoulders sagged. She turned back to me. “Please don’t tell Mrs. Dorothy I said anything.”

“I won’t. I promise.”

“Sometimes I hear noises up there.”

“What kind of noises?”

“Like … crying.”

I studied Alba’s face. The look of fear was unmistakable in her dark eyes. “Sometimes in an old house, noise can travel differently,” I replied. “Maybe you heard Dorothy. She’s had some hard times.”

“I know, miss … Julia. I know. Mrs. Dorothy just laughed. Told me, no such thing as ghosts.” Alba shrugged as if she didn’t believe in such manifestations either and left the room, closing the door quickly behind her as if to avoid any more questions.

I sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed Wizard’s ears. He started to purr. I’ve read theories about energies trapped on the physical plane, but frankly, I was more inclined to go along with Dorothy’s belief system. I hoped tonight wouldn’t prove me wrong.

I didn’t know what to make of Alba’s information about Luis. Her description of his behavior didn’t sound like any heart attack I had ever heard of. Could he actually have been looking for something in the grass? Had he had warning of a heart attack and ignored it? The autopsy would take some time, but if there was anything suspicious about his death I hoped the coroner would find it. For now it might be better not to mention to Dorothy what Alba had seen.

I couldn’t wait to get in the shower. I blasted the water until hot steam filled the room. I stripped off my clothes and climbed in. It was delicious. Afterward, foregoing my usual uniform of jeans, I dressed in a sweater and skirt. A little makeup and I finally felt a whole lot more presentable.

Wizard had made himself at home on top of the coverlet. I set up his bowls and litter box in the bathroom. I didn’t mind if he had the run of the house, but if we were only staying for a few days, I planned to keep him in my room as much as possible. When my laptop and files were organized on the writing desk, I walked down the hall and knocked on Evandra’s door, steeling myself to face the duplicitous Gudrun.

T
WENTY-
F
OUR

W
HEN
I
ENTERED,
I
spotted Reggie Carrington seated on the loveseat across from Evandra, sipping carefully from a delicate china teacup with a flowered saucer balanced on his knee. He was dressed in ratty jeans and a hooded T-shirt emblazed with the figure of a surfer riding through a pipeline wave. A tattoo of a blue shark stood out starkly on his tanned forearm. “I know this must be a great shock to you, Aunt Dorothy,” he was saying. “But you see, I hired a private investigator to trace my family. Actually, I shouldn’t call you that, because we’re probably really cousins more than anything.”

Evandra seemed excited and happy, although pale. Eunice and Gudrun were studying Reggie carefully. Eunice leaned forward and whispered to her sister, “He looks just like him, dear, doesn’t he? Except for the blond hair. But the mannerisms … it’s fascinating.”

Evandra nodded, her face wreathed in smiles.

“Before my grandmother died, she told me all about my grandfather, Jonathan. Your brother, Aunt Evandra and Aunt Eunice.” Reggie nodded in their direction. “It really wasn’t hard once I knew his original name and where he came from. Before that, it was the great family secret.”

“Our mother tried to locate Jonathan after my father died,” Eunice volunteered. “She hired all sorts of people after he ran away, but no one was able to find him. She was broken-hearted over that.”

“According to my dad, Australia was a pretty wild place in those days. In some parts, it still is. People went there to lose their past. No one cared who you used to be. My grandfather took the name ‘West.’ He became Jonathan West. He married and had one daughter, my mother, Lillian West. She married and her name became Carrington, hence me.”

Evandra gasped when she heard the name Lillian, her face drained of color. “And my brother? When did he die? And how?”

“Heart attack. He was only thirty-four. I’m so sorry to bring you sad news.”

“Oh no, you’re a godsend. I can’t believe you’re here, sitting here with us. Jonathan’s grandson! We had no hope of ever seeing him again, but to think he lived a lifetime that we never knew of.”

Eunice had a faraway look in her eyes. “Did he have a happy life?”

“I think so. By all accounts. He made some money in ranching. My mother told me her parents always seemed to be very happy with each other.”

“I have so many questions.” Evandra’s voice quavered. “But for now, dear, you’re here with us. We want you to stay forever … or as long as you possibly can.”

My eyes shifted to Dorothy. She was studying Reggie, a suspicious look on her face. Reggie turned and flashed a brilliant smile in her direction, apparently oblivious to her mood.

“And of course you’ll join us this evening, won’t you, dear?” Evandra added.

“Is there a party?”

“Not exactly. We’re holding a séance. Hopefully to communicate with another long lost relative.”

Reggie paused with a cookie halfway to his mouth, his eyes growing wide. “Oh … ah, good-oh. I’m up for it. Thank you for inviting me, Aunt Evandra.”

T
WENTY-
F
IVE