Page 66 of The Lady on Esplanade

CHAPTER 20

“I’ll let them in,” Jolene said, moving to the foyer, shattering the unholy silence that had settled over us.

More cold air entered the room as the group joined us, their faces somber and all eyes reddened.Cooper stood to help Mimi out of her coat before Jolene led her to a chair.

Mimi held up her hand.“I need to keep busy.Working in the kitchen is just what the doctor ordered, and I say it’s time for lunch.If you all will excuse me…” Her gaze fell on the creepy doll.She drew back as if struck, her nostrils flaring.

“What is that thing doing here?”

“Sarah found it in the bathroom,” I said.“We thought you might have put it there.”

“Absolutely not.”Her mismatched eyes blazed.Facing Beau, she said, “I thought I asked you to get rid of it.”

“I did,” he said through gritted teeth.

“I think it’s trying to tell us something,” Sarah suggested.

“Clearly.”Felicity snatched it from the chair.“And none of us want to listen.”She headed toward the front door.“I’m going todump this in Beau’s truck so he can return it to where he found it.Maybe that’s all it wants.”

Mimi’s skin had turned the color of parchment.“Its message is contradictory.There’s something evil attached to it.But there’s…that’s not what keeps moving it.There’s another spirit.A benign one, I think.It’s unclear to me why it keeps showing up unexpectedly.”

I appreciated her judicious use of the word “unexpectedly.”I would have used something more specific, like “horrifyingly” or “hellishly.”

“Like they want us to pay attention,” Sarah said quietly.The only other sound in the room was that of Beau snapping his rubber band against his wrist.

Felicity paused on the threshold, holding the doll upside down by its foot as if awaiting instruction.It seemed apparent to me that whatever paranormal vibes were winging their way around the parlor, she was immune to them.

“But it’s not the evil part that wants us to notice it,” Sarah continued.“It’s…trying to hide, and the other entity, the gentle one, wants us to look.”

“Is it connected to Adele?”Cooper asked.

Sarah shook her head, her gaze settling on Beau, her eyes distant, their usual bright blue faded now to a soft gray.As if they no longer belonged to her.“No.But she wants us to pay attention.”

“Okay,” Beau said.“Can you ask her to be more specific?”

“No.But she says you can.”Her strange eyes shifted to Felicity.“And so can Sunny.”

“All right.That’s enough woo-woo for me,” Felicity said, heading toward the front door, holding out the doll at arm’s length so that it wouldn’t touch her.“Sarah, I’m not sure what shows you’re allowed to watch at home, but I think your imagination is just a little too wild.”To the rest of us, she said, “I’ll be right back.”The lamps flickered as the door slammed behind her.

Without a word, Mimi turned in the direction of the kitchen.Neither Sarah nor I pointed out that we had already eaten; we knew she wouldn’t hear us.

Jolene motioned for Uncle Bernie to sit in one of the armchairs, then took his cane and carefully leaned it against one of the arms.

“Sorry about that, Sarah,” Beau said.“Felicity is under a lot of stress, and I don’t think she intended to be rude.”He walked toward the bar cart.“I know it’s early, but can I get anyone something to drink?”

“Bourbon on the rocks for me, please,” Bernie said.Nodding at me, he said, “Begging your pardon.”

“No need.It’s been a stressful morning.I think I’d like an espresso.The stronger the better.”

“I’ll go make that espresso,” Jolene said, grabbing the lunch tray to take it to the kitchen.“I think I’ll have one, too.”

“Make that three, please,” Cooper said.“I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.I thought I was too old for nightmares.”

“Why don’t you help Jolene?”I said to Sarah.

“But…”

“Now,” I said, sounding more like Melanie than I’d intended.