The Madness of Mercury (26 page)

“I do understand. I’ll stay tonight and we can talk in the morning.”

Dorothy nodded. “I’m staying right here for the rest of the night.” She pushed an ottoman close to the armchair. I dug into a chest at the foot of the bed and found several blankets. I shook them open for her. Evandra was talking quietly to herself but no longer seemed to be aware that we were in the room.

“Go back to bed, Julia,” Dorothy said. “Try to get some sleep. I’ll prop a chair against the door as soon as you leave, just in case I fall asleep and she tries to get out. I’ll call a locksmith in the morning too.”

“No argument from me.” I closed the door behind me and returned to my room. I climbed under the covers once again, certain I wouldn’t be able to sleep at all. That’s the last thing I remembered until the first gray light of morning filtered through the windows.

T
HIRTY-
T
HREE

I
STRETCHED AND WINCED.
My muscles ached from tension and interrupted sleep. I climbed into the shower and let very hot water course over me. Then I dressed in jeans, boots, and a warm sweater and finished packing my bag. I had slept on the problem and knew there was no choice. I headed down to the kitchen and found Dorothy making toast. A carafe of coffee sat on the counter. She looked at me wordlessly and poured a cup, placing it on the table in front of me.

“The doctor’s on his way. She finally fell asleep last night. Richard’s taken over upstairs and I’m waiting for the police to come by. I insisted they come back.” She seemed to notice me for the first time. “You’re all dressed? Julia, truly, I’m so sorry about last night. I don’t want you to leave. I didn’t mean to lose my temper.”

“It’s forgotten.”

“I don’t know what I can do. I can’t leave here with Evandra in bad shape. Richard has a business trip coming up tomorrow. Alba isn’t up to dealing with Evandra and the police don’t seem to offer any help with Eunice.”

The kitchen door burst open and Reggie, looking tanned and fit and bursting with energy, bounded into the kitchen. “Ga’day, Aunt Dorothy. What’s for breakfast?”

Dorothy’s face flushed beet red and her lips turned into a thin line. “Nothing for you. That’s for damn sure. Get the hell out of this kitchen.”

“What did I do?” His eyes opened wide. I couldn’t tell how much of his expression was the result of hurt feelings or how much was disingenuousness.

“You turned up on our doorstep.” She moved menacingly toward him. Reggie took a step backward and beat a hasty retreat.

“No need to be nasty, Auntie Dorothy,” he mumbled as he retreated from the kitchen.

“Sorry, Julia. Just can’t stand that little bugger, and I’m not in the mood to put up with him right now. He can go somewhere else for his breakfast. Do you think they headed straight to that place last night? Prophet’s Paradise or whatever it’s called?

“Yes, I’m sure they did. Dorothy, I’ve come to a decision. I’m going after them. I’m driving up there today.”

“Oh, Julia, I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You’re not asking. I checked Eunice’s chart last night and I’m convinced she’s in great danger. There’s no time to waste. She needs to be brought home immediately.”

Dorothy stared at me speechlessly.

“Besides, what else can I do? I’ve had it with Reverend Roy and his people. They’ve infected everything that’s good about this city. I’ve been uprooted from my home, and I could possibly lose it. They’ve interfered with my business. Prophet’s Paradise can’t be that hard to locate. I’m going to find it. I’m sure that’s where she’s been taken, and whatever I need to do, I’m getting her out of there.

Tears came to Dorothy’s eyes. “I’d go with you if I could.”

“You’re needed here. What you can do is pack me a lunch for the drive and ask the police to contact the sheriff’s office in Mendocino County and let them know the situation. She may not want to come back, but then again, she may have had a change of heart. We really don’t know until we locate her and talk to her.”

“The police! Lot of good they are. When I called them this morning, they told me to contact a lawyer. If I’m not her legal guardian, there’s nothing they can do. Same nonsense as last night. According to them, she may be eighty-seven but she still has rights. Damn that Gudrun. If there’s any way, I’ll have her prosecuted … that’s if I ever see her again. It’s downright criminal what she’s done. Leading an old lady astray with this nonsense. No sense of responsibility.”

“I’m not sure it’s an issue of responsibility,” I replied.

Dorothy stared at me. “What does that mean?”

“I told you how I saw Gudrun at one of those meetings.”

“Yes, I know.”

“But I think she’s more than a member. I think she works for them … targeting people … particularly the elderly and the wealthy. I think that’s what this so-called nature community or retirement shelter is all about.”

“Dear God.” Dorothy slumped into a kitchen chair and rubbed her hands over her face. “What can I do? I should have listened to you.”

“You mentioned real estate holdings once. Is there anything in Eunice’s name?”

Dorothy’s eyes grew wide. “Why, yes, actually. I believe there’s a commercial block downtown somewhere. I’m not sure exactly. Somewhere just south of Market.”

I remembered Don mentioning the Reverend’s company, Revelations LLC. It all made sense now.

“Does Eunice have access to bank accounts?”

“Yes, but she’s never bothered with any of that. All the bills for their needs and the house go straight to the accountant. She’s so frail, Julia. She could never survive if she were put in an abusive situation.”

T
HIRTY-
F
OUR

“
Y
OU ARE SO NAÏVE.”
I had called Don on my cell just to hear a friendly voice, hoping he’d have more detailed information about the specific location of the so-called Prophet’s Paradise.

“Thanks a lot.”

“No, I mean it. You really are. But I guess Sagittarians are so busy leaping to the next thing, they don’t see what’s right in front of them.”

Holding my phone in one hand, I was packing up Wizard’s things and the last of my belongings with my free hand, getting ready for the ride up north.

“You just don’t get it, do you? This guy donates a ton of money to politicians. They wouldn’t care if he practiced human sacrifice as long as they get their votes. As far as the media goes, he’s a golden boy. Her aunt needs to hire a lawyer. You shouldn’t be the one going after her. Haven’t they caused you enough grief?”

“Don, please,” I begged. “I just need to know where this place is. Don’t lecture me.”

Don sighed loudly at the other end of the line. “It’s in a town just across the Mendocino line … Ardillas, I think. Squirrelville.”

I smiled in spite of myself. Leave it to Don to translate the Spanish word.

“As a friend, I’m telling you to leave it alone.”

I didn’t respond.

“You know, I don’t even have to be in the same room. I can see that stubborn look you get on your face.”

“What look is that?”

“The one where your teeth clench and your jaw shuts and your eyes glaze over.”

“You know me too well.”

“Yeah … well … frankly, this is a matter for the police or the lawyers. If your friend were appointed her aunt’s guardian, she’d have the right to go in there and haul the silly old lady’s butt home. But without that, good luck. Even little old ladies have rights.” He was silent for a moment. “I hope you don’t think you’re gonna charge in there and demand to take her home.”

“Why not? Dorothy’s hands are tied. She’s stuck here with her other aunt and can’t do it herself. The police won’t do anything. Eunice took off of her own free will, or so they say.”

“They’re right.”

“But Don, she
was
abducted. I saw that woman Gudrun at the Mason Street theater. I’m sure she’s involved up to her eyeballs. She timed it perfectly. She knew we’d all be busy downstairs with the séance.”

“The séance? Okay, I want to hear about that.”

“I’m not sure what to make of it myself, but Evandra is sure the ghost of her aunt Lily is warning of danger.”

“She’s probably right. And you could be putting yourself in danger. The rumors I’ve been hearing are scary. Supposedly the Reverend’s followers are required to sign over everything they own.”

I flashed back to the letter from
Desperate in San Leandro
, the woman who was alarmed about her mother’s involvement in the cult. Little did I think it would be a forerunner of Dorothy’s situation, or mine for that matter.

“By the way, I found a few more articles with some nasty details. One, about the woman who claimed she was held against her will, said she was forced into hard labor and beaten.”

“And no charges ever brought?”

“Nope. Nothing came of it. And she disappeared. In fact, both of them haven’t been seen since. Maybe they were threatened or worse, and maybe the local cops or politicians were paid off. Who knows? That was a few months before the Reverend headed for California. You be careful. He may be a crackpot, but he’s a very dangerous one.”

“Later, Don. I’ll keep you posted.”

T
HIRTY-
F
IVE

I
T TOOK TWO TRIPS
to the car to load Wizard’s litter, food, and bowls. I planned to bring him down the hill to Kuan’s apartment. Dorothy had said she didn’t mind Wiz roaming the house, but I felt better with him in more stable territory.

On my last trip to the car, I glanced into the library. In the confusion of the previous evening, no one had cleaned up or cleared the candles away. What
had
happened last night, anyway? I had nothing to compare it to. I’ve certainly never been a devotee of séances, so I’d approached it with no preconceived notions. Was Zora truly a medium? Were there really such individuals, able to call forth the dead? In my heart of hearts, I didn’t believe that was possible. I’d like to think we’re no longer bound to the earth when our physical body expires, but mentally, I shrugged. Who knows? It’s all just a best guess. Had Zora actually channeled a spirit? The changes in her voice and demeanor were chilling. And if so, was that spirit Lily, as Evandra believed? I ran my fingertip over the tabletop, half expecting ghostly writing to appear.