Page 46

Story: Scar

Claudine grabs a smoldering bundle of sage. “I read the cards before you came. I know your intentions are pure. May I sage you to get rid of any spirits?”

“Sure.” I don’t believe in magic, but I’ve seen enough that I know there’s more to this world than we can see.

After fanning sage over me, she repeats the process with Julia. Then she asks us to sit on the couch while she pulls over a chair for herself.

“Your brother told me Bonnie never made it to France,” Claudine says.

“That’s right. She never got on the plane.”

“She’s in grave danger.” Claudine leans forward and turns her piercing gaze on me. “I fear she’s no longer with the living.”

“Why do you think that?” Julia asks softly.

“The spirits speak to me. They whisper of a terrible darkness overtaking the mountain. A man. El Diablo.”

“The Devil,” Julia whispers.

“Blackstone.” My jaw clenches.

“Or the sheriff,” Julia says.

“Whatever happened to her is related to her ex-husband,” Claudine says.

“How do you know her ex is involved? How do you know it’s not a new boyfriend or someone else?” Julia asks.

“She wasn’t seeing anyone new. She was too afraid of men after her ex tried to kill her.”

“What?” Julia glances at me.

“One night, he tried to drown her in the bathtub. When she fought back, he lied and said he was just playing around. But she was too smart to fall for his lies. She filed for divorce the next day. You must find her. Quickly. Her son is in great danger, too.”

“How can we find her?” Julia asks. “Have the spirits told you anything?”

“They speak in riddles.” She shakes her head.

“Matrix was trying to find out if she wears any kind of GPS devices, like a smart watch or a step tracker,” I say. “He’s been searching through databases but hasn’t come up with anything yet.”

“A watch?” Claudine cocks her head to the side before responding. “She counts her steps on her watch. It’s a WalkSmarter.”

“No wonder Matrix didn’t find it. That isn’t one of the larger companies.”

“Will knowing that help?” Claudine asks.

“If she’s still wearing it and the battery isn’t dead, we can triangulate the towers it’s pinging off and get an approximate location,” I say.

“Let me know what you find. I worry for my friend. And her son, how is he?” Claudine asks.

“Safe. He’s with my grandmother.”

“Good.” She studies me before nodding. “You have darkness inside you, but your light will keep it from claiming your soul. Stay with the light. She will help guide you.” She points at Julia.

“Thank you for seeing us,” Julia says. “We’ll let you know what we find out.”

“Be careful. El Diablo’s power grows.”

“We will,” I assure her.

When we get outside, I call Matrix and relay the information.