Who Do, Voodoo?, page 20
“Thank you. Our hearts are broken,” he said. “I have to consult my spirit guides for instructions from Callia. The spell book was empowered to obey direct female descendants. Now that Sophie is gone, the daughter-to-daughter lineage is finished.”
“Who controls the spell book now?” Nick said.
“What about me?” Nola said, looking up at her father.
“You are the daughter of a son, dear one, and loved deeply,” Osaze said, quietly. “But Callia’s power cannot be passed on to you. You must create your own mastery with spirit. When it’s time, I will teach you.”
“We have to put Callia’s voodoo to rest.” Nick leaned forward with his fingers laced between his knees.
“You are correct to worry, Nicolas,” Osaze said. “What was put into action cannot be stopped. Anyone who bought a spell and defied the curse remains under the absolute threat of the spirits who protected Callia. We can’t call off the spirits once a curse is in action. And if you try to stop them, they will turn on you.”
“You have to find a way to end it,” Nick said.
Ivalisse came into the room, wiping her hands. “Lunch is ready.”
We followed her into the kitchen. A glass pitcher of lemonade sat in the middle of the table next to a large platter of tuna-salad sandwiches on toast.
I was halfway into my chair, then remembered the spell book sitting on the coffee table. Jimmy had come back into the house with more boxes while we were in the living room, but I didn’t see him leave. I got up and excused myself. A taupe kitten scampered past me in the hall and darted into the living room.
I heard a hiss, then Jimmy’s voice. “Scram, you rodent.”
When I entered the room, Jimmy was tucking the spell book into his jacket.
“What are you doing?” I said.
I glanced down the hall to call for Nick and Osaze. Then I heard a click. Jimmy grabbed my arm and pushed me into the hall against the front door.
He put the tip of his switchblade to my throat. “Scream and I’ll cut you.”
My heart pounded. I lifted my chin to pull away from the sharp metal. He pinned me to the door. Seconds passed. Jimmy didn’t know what to do with me. He couldn’t get out without moving me somewhere.
I knew this kid. He was a momma’s boy. He followed instructions. Madame Iyå wasn’t there to tell him what to do.
“Stealing won’t help your mother.” My pulse raced. “The spell book is cursed. Remember how Callia’s spirit slammed the door at the séance? Imagine what Callia would do if you stole her secrets. Leave the spell book, Jimmy.”
He kept his eyes on me, shaking his head no.
Jimmy was a knife wielder; Sophie was beaten to death. Jimmy couldn’t have been her killer.
“The police will be looking for the spell book,” I said, my voice soothing. “I won’t say anything. But they will figure out you took it. The police will go to your mother. It won’t look good. You’ll both be under suspicion for Sophie’s murder. That would be wrong. It would break your mother’s heart, wouldn’t it, Jimmy?”
He moved the knife off my throat. “My mother didn’t kill Sophie.”
“I know,” I said. “And neither did you. Leave the spell book here, Jimmy. You have to protect your mother.”
“I . . .” Jimmy backed away. He touched the spell book under his jacket.
“What’s taking you so long?” Nick’s voice came from the kitchen door.
The blade in Jimmy’s hand glinted; sweat beaded his forehead. He slid the knife up his sleeve as Nick came down the hall.
“I forgot where I left the spell book. Jimmy helped me find it. Thanks so much.” I took the spell book from Jimmy and nodded. “If I don’t see you again, please send your mother my best.”
Jimmy bolted out the front door.
I leaned against the doorjamb to steady my wobbly knees. When I found my breath I said to Nick, “One more person off the suspect list.”
“What does that mean?”
I explained my thinking.
“You figured he wasn’t the killer because he had a knife and Sophie was beaten?” Nick’s face was red, his voice strident. “Where did you come up with that? I’m no cop, but I never heard a theory like that. You could have been killed.”
“Nick, I knew. Everything inside of me said he wasn’t the killer.”
“I buy your reasoning only because he didn’t knife you. If he did kill Sophie in an attempt to get the spell book away from her, then he wouldn’t hesitate to kill you to keep it.” Nick pulled his phone from his pocket.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m calling Dave to have Jimmy picked up.”
“No.” I took his hand and stopped him from dialing. “Then you’ll have to tell Dave about the book. And swear you won’t say anything to Osaze and the others. Let it go. I want the time you promised me.”
Nick hesitated, looking from me to his phone to the street and then back to me. He blew out a frustrated breath and shoved the phone back into his pocket. “Fine. But that’s it. You’re not leaving my sight.”
“Fine with me,” I said. “I could use the backup.”
We walked to the kitchen. Ivalisse, Nola, and Osaze were already eating.
Nick sat down and reached for a tuna sandwich. “Liz, tell Osaze what happened at the séance.”
I looked at Nola. “Didn’t you tell him yet?”
She stopped midbite, furrowed her brow, and shook her head.
“What séance?” Osaze reached for the lemonade.
“A few of us gathered at Sophie’s apartment last night: Me. Nola. Sophie’s roommate, Linda. A neighbor, and some friends. Madame Iyå led the . . .” The words came out before I remembered Osaze’s disgust with the woman.
Osaze slammed his glass, spilling lemonade onto the tablecloth. “Madame Iyå?” He glared at Nola. “You let a con artist use Sophie’s memory for personal profit? I thought you had better sense than that, Noemi. Then you invite her worthless son to my house today? I told you to stay away from that pair. What’s wrong with you?”
Nola shot me a thanks-a-lot look, then said to Osaze, “The séance wasn’t my idea. Linda made all the arrangements. I had to be there—to make sure Madame Iyå treated Sophie with respect, Father. I can’t stop Linda from hanging out with Madame Iyå or Jimmy. It was Linda’s idea for him to carry the boxes here, too.”
Ivalisse lifted an eyebrow. “That’s a first—you taking orders from your friends.”
Nola shrugged and bit into her sandwich.
“Something occurred at the séance that Madame Iyå had no control of.” I described Linda’s outburst.
Osaze sat back with his arms folded. “I’m not surprised. Callia wanted the spell book returned to the family.”
“But why choose me for the task?” I scooped a bit of tuna on my finger and dropped my hand to the side of my chair. The taupe kitten, next to my chair, licked it off.
“She trusted you,” Ivalisse said.
Chapter Twenty-eight
Osaze rose from his chair at the table. “If you’ll excuse me, I want to spend a few moments alone in the sanctuary to seek guidance.” He picked up the spell book and walked out the back door, the taupe kitten trotting behind him.
Ivalisse and Nola started the dishes. Nick and I cleared the table, navigating around each other in the small kitchen until Nick gave up and leaned against the yellow tiled counter. Ivalisse washed. I dried. Nola stacked clean plates in the white overhead cabinets.
“Is Linda at the apartment today?” I said, handing Nola a glass. “I want to talk to her.”
“Yeah, I’m meeting her as soon as we finish here,” Nola said. “What about?”
I hesitated, unfamiliar with the conventions of voodoo curses. Does the curse make a judgment on a gray area like a third-party mention? I already danced around the curse with Robin; did it matter how many other people I talked to? I shrugged.
“Well, hell, if you don’t want to say, then never mind,” Nola said. “I’ll tell Linda to wait for you.”
“Watch your mouth, Noemi.” Ivalisse dried her hands on a dishtowel. She gave Nick the pitcher of lemonade to put in the refrigerator. “Osaze is ready for you.”
I glanced out the kitchen window. The door to the sanctuary was ajar. Ivalisse shooed the three of us out of the kitchen. Nola left for the apartment. Nick and I crossed the backyard.
Candlelight flickered behind skulls on the shelves inside the sanctuary. Osaze, eyes closed and palms tented to his lips, sat on the velvet throne at the far end of the room. Nick slipped into the chair next to him. I took a bench to the side.
Osaze began to speak. “There is disruptive energy from spirits safeguarding Callia’s secrets. Sophie’s death stirred anger and revenge. Time is running out. Each new moon heightens the momentum of the curse in its obedience to Callia’s mandate. The threat to those who breached their promise is imminent.” He looked over to me. “Callia is grateful the spell book has returned to our family. I have her sanction to destroy it and release the curse.”
The tension in my shoulders relaxed. “Can you release it now?”
“Tonight,” Osaze said. “I will burn the spell book under the waning moon. The curse will dissipate in the ashes.”
“And anyone under the influence of the curse will be safe?” I said.
“Yes.”
“Osaze.” Nick leaned forward in his chair. “We can’t burn the book. What about a reversal spell?”
“A reversal spell turns the voodoo back at my family,” Osaze said. “The curse is attached to the spell book. Why don’t you want it destroyed, Nicolas?”
“The spell book is evidence in Sophie’s murder,” Nick said. “I have to give it to the police.”
Osaze’s brow creased. “How is it evidence?”
“Burn it.” I tapped my foot.
Nick turned to me. “Robin’s lawyer will want to see it, too.”
I winced.
“Who is Robin?” Osaze said.
“She’s my friend,” I started carefully, searching for a way to explain.
Nick didn’t seem to mind explaining for me. “Robin is a suspect in Sophie’s murder. Robin and Sophie argued the night Sophie died.”
Osaze frowned.
“I’m sorry, Osaze,” I said. “I should have told you sooner. The police used their argument as a motive to link Robin to the crime.”
“But they can also use the spell book to broaden their investigation,” Nick said.
“To whom?” I snapped back. “Henry and Linda? More likely that they’ll see Robin’s initials and stop there.”
“What was their argument about?” Osaze said to me.
“The tarot cards we showed you were used to harass Robin,” I said. “Madame Iyå told me she gave the only copy of the deck to Sophie. Because of that, we assumed Sophie left the cards on Robin’s door.”
“Proof by assumption?” Osaze said.
I shifted on the bench, unwilling to discredit Sophie to Osaze. “It was foolish of Robin to accuse Sophie without more proof. But I promise you that Robin didn’t hurt her. I’ve known Robin my whole life. She’s not a killer.”
“Do the police have evidence against the woman?” Osaze said.
“Evidence that was planted,” I said. “Robin is innocent.”
“Innocent because she’s your friend or because you have proof? You judged Sophie without confirmation but you can acquit the accused because you think you know her well? We see the best sides of our friends and loved ones, Elizabeth, absolving them from blame.”
“All the more reason to turn the spell book over to the police,” Nick said. “Let them pore through it and find a clue to the killer.”
“They won’t.” I stood in front of Nick and crossed my arms. Maybe a kick in the shins would keep him quiet. “Putting the spell book in evidence will exacerbate the problem.”
“Enough. The woman purchased a spell?” Osaze looked at me, his eyes cold and piercing. “Explain how you had the audacity to come here and ask me to help someone accused of killing my niece. The truth.”
I put my hand to my heart. “I’m sorry if I offended you. Despite the evidence, I believe in Robin. When she’s arraigned on Monday, her life will be turned upside down, and the person who really murdered Sophie will go free. We weren’t aware that Sophie was your niece, Osaze. We came, hoping you could end the curse. Two of Sophie’s clients are dead. I’m frightened for the other three.”
Osaze tented his hands under his chin. “Those three bought spells with their own free will, advised and aware of the consequences of the curse. Are you truly so frightened for them? Or are you eager for me to burn the spell book based on a desire to destroy it as evidence? If the spell book will help bring my niece’s killer to justice, then Nicolas is right. It must be turned over to the police. Why should I help my niece’s alleged killer? Let her choices direct her fate.”
“What about the other two?” Nick said.
Osaze shrugged.
“Henry’s an elderly man, an innocent. Linda was Sophie’s roommate and close friend.” I brushed a bead of sweat from my forehead. “Surely you wouldn’t let them stand in harm’s way.”
Osaze paused. “I can create a hex-breaker to protect them, but it requires the presence of the cursed. The initiation is complex—bathing in oils, talismans, and daily incantations. Bring the old man and the girl here tonight. I’ll take their presence as proof of your altruism, Elizabeth. Tomorrow I will call the detectives and give them the spell book.”
Nick paced between the shelves of skulls. “The DA is up for reelection next month. A quick prosecution on a sensational case would look good.”
Osaze threw his head back and laughed at Nick’s last sentence. Curious, I waited for an explanation.
Instead, he said to Nick, “Do you believe in the woman’s innocence?”
“Liz is passionate about it. I believe in her.”
I was warmed by Nick’s confidence in me but still angry with him. If it weren’t for his big mouth, the spell book would be burned.
“We’ll make certain the two come tonight,” Nick said.
“What about Robin?” I said. “The police will question her about her initials in the spell book. She’ll be forced to explain, and she’ll unleash the curse.”
“When you can prove her innocence, I will help her,” Osaze said. “Until then, Callia will decide how the curse plays out.”
“There are others.” I picked up the spell book and flipped through the pages until I found the “Safety Spell.” I held the page in front of Osaze. “Look.”
Osaze studied the entries. Nick read over his shoulder. There were lines of initialed signatures, each dated 2005 in the same wobbly penmanship.
“That’s my mother’s handwriting.” Osaze set the spell book on his lap, and his eyes drifted to the floor. “She must have shared spells with evacuees in Houston after the hurricane. So many lost everything.”
“Your mother tried to help them,” I said, kneeling in front of him. “They should be protected, too. We can’t track all these people down for you to perform a hex-breaker. The only way to keep everyone safe is to burn the book.”
The sanctuary was silent. Nick stared at the floor. Osaze gazed across the room to the lantern lit above the altar. I looked from one to the other and waited.
Osaze opened his hands on his lap, palms up. “It pains me to allow the curse to menace so many when I know how to end it. But I want the killer brought to justice. And if the spell book aids a conviction, it must go to the police. This afternoon I will pray to the Iwa to guide the two of you to a suitable resolution. Then I will prepare for the ceremony and your return.”
Osaze began to walk through the sanctuary, blowing out candles until he reached the door. Nick and I followed and we walked to the main house together.
Before we entered the back door, Osaze took me aside. “I will pray for the spirits to accompany you, Elizabeth. Pay attention. If your friend is indeed innocent, they will guide you.”
Oh, great. More voices.
Inside, Ivalisse was at the stove. The kitchen was filled with the scent of garlic and onion, coming from the pot she stirred.
“Ivalisse,” Osaze said. “Gather the group. We’re performing a ritual tonight.”
She lowered the gas flame to simmer and set down the spoon. “Everyone?”
“Yes,” Osaze said. “The energy must be powerful. Prepare food and music to please the spirits. I am breaking Callia’s curse.”
Ivalisse raised her eyebrows, then smiled. She looked from Osaze to Nick to me, opened a drawer, and took out a notebook. We left her at the phone, making calls.
At the front door, Osaze shook Nick’s hand and kissed mine. He said, “The ritual will be at midnight. Go in peace.”
Nick and I crossed the street to his car. The late afternoon sun glistened behind pink and gray clouds. A cool breeze rustled through the trees. I pulled my jacket closed and lowered my head.
Nick wrapped an arm around my shoulder. “Don’t worry, Liz. We’re doing what we can.”
“I am worried. How does any of this hoodoo help Robin? We need someone to give us a lead, not a ritual.” I slid into the passenger seat. My cell phone rang.
My mother. “Is Jarret on the way with the pie plate or are you two still busy talking?”
I bit my lip to hold back my fury. “Find another pie plate. Jarret left hours ago without it. I’m in Hollywood with Nick.”
“Oh.”
“Don’t ever send Jarret to my house again, Mom. Let go. I did.”
“I don’t want you to be lonely,” she said.
“I’m not. I’m happy with the company I’m keeping.” I glanced at Nick as he steered the car into the street.
“What are you two doing?” my mother said.
“We’re trying to help Robin,” I said.
“Put Nick on the phone.”
“I can’t. He’s driving.”
“Just put him on the phone.”
I tapped Nick’s sleeve and handed him the phone.
He drove with his left hand and held the phone to his ear with his right. “Hi, Vivian.” His eyes stayed on traffic; his head bobbed as she talked. “Okay . . . Okay . . . I see . . . Thanks, yes, good-bye.”
