Lost Bird

  Mandaline planted her hands on her hips. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing’s wrong.” Sachi held her tote bag in front of her, a totally ineffective barrier against her friend’s senses.

  The witchy standoff lasted nearly a minute before Sachi felt her face heat. She pointed upstairs and stepped around her friend, who followed her up to the apartment over the store.

  “Spill it,” Mandaline said.

  Sachi set her tote bag in the bathroom and turned. “It happened again.”

  “What happened again?”

  “The aura.”

  Mandaline’s brow went from furrowed to raised. “Oooh. Where? And who?”

  She felt even more stupid explaining it. But when she finished with her story, Mandaline hugged her. “Maybe this is a good thing, right? You acknowledging you need to open yourself was what the Universe wanted to see before planting more opportunities in your path.”

  “I don’t need opportunities,” Sachi grumbled. “I don’t want them, either. I just want some peace.”

  “Maybe this is the peace you seek.”

  “The peace I seek isn’t seeing hunks in Publix. The peace I seek is…” She let out a groan. “I don’t know what the hell peace I seek, but it’s not a piece of ass I’m seeking, that’s for damn sure.”

  Mandaline grinned. “So says you. Maybe that’s not what the Universe says.”

  “I’m taking a shower.” She returned to the bathroom and locked herself in. With the water as hot as she could stand it, she stood there, letting it soak through her.

  Unfortunately, she knew it wouldn’t be hot enough to soak the memories of those gorgeous blue auras out of her mind.

  Chapter Five

  Sachi, Mandaline, Brad, and Anna headed over to Tammy Evans’ house Sunday evening, arriving a little before six. It was a rural area, nearby properties sporting pastures with horses, cattle, and even the odd burro.

  Her rambling, one-story ranch-style house sat about a hundred yards off a crumbling, pothole-ridden asphalt road, the clay dirt driveway curving through a gate and up to a gravel parking area next to the house. The front yard looked well-tended, the grass freshly mowed, beds of azaleas surrounding the bases of several large, drooping oak trees that shaded the yard. Behind the house, it looked like a narrow swath of mowed yard led into overgrown and partially wooded land.

  “Looks like she needs a few pet goats to take care of that pasture,” Sachi muttered.

  Two cars sat parked there already, so Mandaline pulled her Honda Element behind one of them and parked. As they got out, Brad handed Mandaline her hobo bag with the stuff she’d need for the initial walk-through. Tammy Evans emerged from the front door, smiling as they headed up the walkway leading to the entryway.

  Sachi came to a sudden stop, Brad bumping into her, as she saw who emerged from the house behind Tammy.

  John Evans and Donut Hunk.

  Both of them still sporting delicious blue auras.

  She must have let out a terrified meep, because Mandaline stopped and turned. “You all right?” she softly asked. They were still far enough away that Tammy and the men couldn’t hear her.

  Sachi nodded, unable to take her eyes off the two men.

  Mandaline frowned, glanced at the men, then back at Sachi before a beaming smile broke across her face.

  Before Sachi could protest or run for the hills, Mandaline hooked an arm through Sachi’s and practically dragged her up the walk to where the three now stood waiting.

  Sachi knew damn well Mandaline had figured out why she’d reacted the way she had.

  Goddamned witch!

  “What’s going on?” Brad muttered to Mandaline.

  “I’ll fill you in later,” she whispered back. “Hi, Tammy?” she asked, still keeping her left arm hooked through Sachi’s as she reached out with her right. “I’m Mandaline Royce.”

  The women shook. “It’s so good to meet you, dear. This is my nephew, John, and his friend, Oscar.”

  Holy crap on a crap cracker, Donut Hunk is the roomie.

  Mandaline introduced the rest of their group, Sachi nodding.

  John smiled. “How’s your hot water heater doing?”

  She nodded, forcing a smile she hoped looked real, or at least not totally dumbassish. “Great, thanks.”

  “This is my friend, Oscar Weinstein,” John said.

  Fanfreakingtastic, Donut Hunk has a name.

  “We sort of bumped into each other at the grocery store Friday night,” Oscar said, his smile turning Sachi’s insides into something that might have oozed from Vesuvius when it wiped Pompeii off the farking map.

  She nodded again, trying to step behind Brad and use him as a human shield, but Mandaline wouldn’t let her.

  In fact, the dang witch tightened her grip on Sachi’s arm, keeping her right there by her side. “Very nice to meet you both,” Mandaline said, taking over. “Let’s start by going inside and talking before we do a walk-around.”

  Hunk One and Hunk Two parted and let Tammy go first, followed by the four of them, the two men bringing up the rear.

  Sachi wasn’t sure if she liked it better when she could see them, or knew they could see her ass.

  Once inside, Sachi tried to pull her mind into working mode. Despite her loss of focus, she noted the house appeared neat and tidy. Tammy showed them to the living room and invited them to take seats.

  “Can I get anyone anything to drink?” Tammy asked.

  “Not right now, thanks,” Mandaline said. “Let’s take care of the preliminary investigation first.”

  Sachi didn’t miss how Mandaline pulled her down onto the couch with her, Brad flanking Sachi on her other side.

  Once seated, Mandaline finally released Sachi’s arm and dug a notebook and pen out of her bag. With Tammy seated in a recliner across from them, and everyone else seated on another easy chair, as well as dining room chairs that the men brought in to fill out the seating, Mandaline started her usual round of questions.

  Thirty minutes later, Sachi was convinced the older woman wasn’t suffering from dementia. Sachi wasn’t sure the woman was really experiencing anything supernatural in origin, but Tammy definitely believed what she said.

  She even had a few pictures on her iPhone, which she showed to Mandaline. “Now, I know,” Tammy said, glancing at her nephew, “that as people get older their memories go. I’m not a fool. But I kept seeing the hose in different positions. So every morning for the past week, I took pictures. I didn’t move it. As you can clearly see, it’s in different locations. Close, but still moved.”

  Sachi, Brad, and Anna all gathered around. Yes, the hose was close to where it had been, as if someone had tried to make it look the same, but it had definitely been moved.

  “It’s not just that. I’ve found stuff moved in the garden shed, too, and I’m the only one who goes out there. And,” she said when her nephew tried to speak, “yes, before you ask, it’s locked. That’s not all,” Tammy said. “At night I’ve heard voices and seen lights out in the woods.”

  “Are you sure it’s not someone on your property, Aunt Tammy?” Oscar asked.

  “They were little green lights. Like giant fireflies. They weren’t people. I’m telling you, I think it’s Herbert or Charlie. Or maybe both. They loved gardening.” For the first time, she looked sad. “We spent a lot of time when Charlie was growing up outside in the garden.”

  “Does there seem to be a pattern to when or how they appear?” Mandaline asked.

  The woman thought for a moment before shaking her head. “I don’t think so.”

  “I need you to start keeping a detailed journal of what and when you see it, all right?”

  “I can do that.”

  “And nothing happening inside the house?” Mandaline asked.

  “No. Just outside in the garden.”

  Mandaline looked through her notes. “Why don’t we head on out there then, and you can show us around.”

  “Of course.” Tam
my stood. “I realize you might find other explanations for what I’m seeing, but I can’t help but think something wonderful will come of all this.”

  Sachi had started to rise when Mandaline met her gaze, grinning ear-to-ear with a smile that would have put the Cheshire cat to shame. “I’m sure you’re right about that,” Mandaline said.

  Sachi reached up to scratch the side of her face with her left hand, where Tammy and the two men couldn’t see, flipping Mandaline a bird as she did.

  Mandaline clamped her lips together to stifle her laughter as she winked at Sachi.

  Damn witch.

  * * * *

  John tried to hang back behind everyone else. He was sure once he saw Sachi again that he wouldn’t feel the same way about her.

  Wrong.

  He couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off her. Even if he wasn’t looking at her, it was like something visceral inside him felt attuned to wherever she was, following her.

  And he definitely didn’t believe in love at first sight. He sure as hell didn’t believe in ghosts.

  He appreciated that everyone seemed determined to not make his aunt look crazy, but he also felt badly that they were wasting their time on all this nonsense.

  Then again, he didn’t mind spending the time in Sachi’s presence.

  She’s not only a customer, now she’s working to help out Aunt Tammy. I damn sure don’t want to do anything to screw that up.

  No, better to watch from afar. Then he wouldn’t have anything at risk other than his time.

  He damn sure wouldn’t risk his heart.

  It never hurt to look, however.

  I’m pathetic, not dead.

  * * * *

  It turned out most of the property’s twenty acres were wooded, and butted up against a portion of the Croom Tract of the Withlacoochee State Forest. At one time, the Evans’ property had been partially cleared pastureland, but had grown up in the more than three decades since they’d last owned horses. Tammy and her husband had owned the property for over forty years. Only the front three acres, containing the house and her garden area, were kept up.

  Long shadows, punctuated by dark pockets of underbrush, were visible in the quickly waning light. Sachi and the others stood at the fence and looked out onto the back acreage.

  “We’re not hiking through that tonight,” Brad said. “It’s almost dark. I don’t want to be hunting through that when we have no idea what’s out there. Last thing we need is someone stepping on a snake or something.”

  “Agreed,” Mandaline said. “We’ll have to come back earlier in the day to go through it when we can see better.”

  “But I’ve only seen the lights at night,” Tammy said. “And I can see them from here.” She pointed off into the deepening gloom. “They’re out there. Greenish lights. Not like flashlights. I’ve tried taking pictures and video of them with my cell phone, but nothing shows up. It’s not made for night pictures.”

  “Any noises?”

  “Nothing other than voices sometimes, but I can’t understand what they say, and they sound like men’s voices.”

  “We can try observing from here first,” Mandaline said. “Also, we can set up some trail cameras. If there’s something out there not supernatural, those will catch it. But if we can observe the phenomenon, we need to get out there to find the cause of it.”

  Sachi stared at the woods. Personally, she thought there was as much paranormal activity going on out there as at an Apple Store Genius Bar in the middle of a mall, but maybe that was just her.

  It was damned hard to focus on anything other than the two gorgeous, blue auras calling to her from John and Oscar.

  For all she knew there could have been a freaking herd of screaming banshees tooling around out there at full tilt and she might miss them, as distracted as she felt.

  Mandaline glanced at Sachi. “We’ll put together a plan and come back on Tuesday night to get started.”

  “How much do I owe you?” Tammy asked.

  “Not a thing. We never charge for what we do. Our friend, Julie, who started all this, she refused to charge. You’re welcomed to make a donation to the charity of your choice in her name, if you’d like, but we won’t take your money for this.”

  Tammy smiled. “Thank you so much.”

  They walked around to the cars and said their good-byes. Sachi forced herself to shake hands with both John and Oscar so as not to look like a totally antisocial freak.

  She didn’t know what she expected. When Mandaline first met Brad and Ellis, she’d had a series of wacky and realistic visions when they touched.

  All Sachi felt was idiocy for flinching at the contact. Back in Mandaline’s SUV and on their way down the driveway, Sachi forced herself not to turn to look back to where the men stood with Tammy in front of the house.

  In the backseat, Anna and Brad were talking.

  “You all right?” Mandaline quietly asked Sachi.

  “Yeah, boss. I’m fine.” She stared out the window at the deepening night and tried not to think about blue auras or gorgeous guys or anything else that disturbed the calm eddies she wanted to swim through in the river that was her life. She didn’t want any rapids or white water. She’d had more than her fair share of those as it was. Enough to last her a lifetime.

  All she wanted was peace, and her dad.

  * * * *

  Anna didn’t hang around when they returned to the shop, and Brad went upstairs, leaving Sachi and Mandaline alone by the back door. Sachi had managed to pry her car keys from her father’s hands after promising to not try to sneak in a round of skeet.

  She wouldn’t have put it past him to call the field just to make sure they were closed and that she couldn’t get in to shoot.

  “If it counts for anything,” Mandaline said, “I like them both.”

  Sachi leaned against the side of her car. “Yeah, whatever,” she grumbled.

  “I also watched them. They were both watching you.”

  Sachi cursed the little surge that raced through her. “So?”

  “Oh. My. Goddess. Knock it off, Sachi.” Mandaline grabbed her by the shoulders and gently shook her. “Call either of them. Hell, call both of them. Ask them out.”

  “I do not need a guy in my life right now.”

  “Would it hurt to ask them out for pizza or coffee? Tell them you want to talk about Tammy Evans.” Mandaline grinned. “After all, you are in charge of this investigation.”

  “What? Oh, fuck no. No no no. What the fuck? You cannot do that to me, girlfriend.”

  “Watch me.” Mandaline grinned and dropped her hands. “I just did.”

  “I took a fucking bullet for you! See if I ever do that again.”

  Mandaline crossed her arms over her chest. “And that’s why I’m forcing you to confront this. If not them, someone, sometime. The Universe is going to keep dropping guys in front of you until you finally give in and take a chance.”

  “Them? Did you just say them?”

  Mandaline grinned. “I most certainly did.” She turned and headed for the back door. “And if you don’t get off your ass, I really will toss a love spell your way.” With that she closed the door behind her. Sachi heard the deadbolt snap into place.

  Still grumbling, she unlocked her car and got in. “Goddamned witch probably would, too.”

  * * * *

  When Sachi returned home, her dad seemed to radiate nervous energy.

  “How was today?” he asked.

  “I didn’t sneak in any shooting, Daddy. I swear.” She dumped her purse on the counter and headed to the fridge for a bottle of hard cider. She wasn’t much of a drinker, but she really wanted one tonight.

  “So? How did the investigation go?”

  She pulled a bottle from the fridge, grabbed the magnetic bottle opener from where it hung on the front of the fridge, and popped the cap off. Then she took a long swallow, enjoying the slight bite from the cider. “It was just the preliminary talk and walk-through, not the act
ual investigation. We’re going back over on Tuesday to start.”

  “Do you want me to go with you?”

  “No, actually, I want you to plan your move from Idaho.” She walked over to him and gave him a one-armed hug. “Did you finally make your decision?”

  He’d seen another cardinal at one of the other interviews and was waffling, unsure which job to take. After slowly nodding, he said, “I still think the one in Pasco.”

  “Because of the cardinal?” She knew she shouldn’t ask, but couldn’t help it. She could only rein in her snark for so long before it busted out in other, more hurtful ways.

  He smiled. “They offered the best salary and had the best benefits.”

  “Ah, logic.”

  “Yes, as hard to believe as it sounds, Miki, I do use logic on occasion.”

  She took another sip. “So when do you start?”

  “Monday, if they have their way. But I told them I need to take care of moving first.”

  She tried to slow her racing pulse as her excitement built. “So when are we moving you?”

  “I guess that depends on how soon Ellis and Brad can come help. I’ll pay to fly them out, and their expenses,” he said.

  She tried to keep her calm. She really did. She set the bottle down on the counter and took a deep breath, but then the little girl still hidden somewhere deep inside her threw her arms around him and started crying tears of gratitude. “Thank you, Daddy.”

  It felt so good to bury her face against his shoulder and feel safe again. To know, finally, they could be a family again. Or, rather, what remained of their family.

  He chuckled as he hugged her. “You act like that now. Wait’ll I’m hounding you about not eating right all the time, and how many hours you’re working.”

  “I don’t care,” she mumbled against his shirt, relieved that, for the first time in her adult life, she could finally reconnect with her father. “I’ll be glad to have you here.”

  Despite how he’d talked, she’d still secretly feared, up until that moment, that he might change his mind and return to Idaho. “I’ll make our plane reservations tonight,” she said. “We’ll fly out and get the house packed and be ready when Brad and Ellis get there.”