“You’re very wise,” said Erin.
“Mommy says I’m an old soul.” The girl opened the velvet bag, removed a large deck of cards, and shuffled them. “Now that you have a goal, I can read the cards for you.” She turned over the first card. “The first card is the past. You got the Tower, which means that you had a big change. Probably an unexpected one. Everything you thought was strong and steady fell down around your ears, basically.”
“I’ll say,” said Erin.
The girl laid down a second card. “This is the present. You got the Star. Magic is flowing around you. There is great potential if you follow the voice within.”
“That sounds good,” said Erin, feeling cautiously optimistic.
“I like the Star. It’s a good one.” The girl drew a third card and turned it over, revealing a wheel surrounded by creatures. “The future. The Wheel of Fortune.”
“Is that good?”
“It is what it is. The Wheel means change. Where you were is different than where you will end up. It also symbolizes karma.” The girl’s gaze met Erin’s. “What goes around, comes around.”
The Tower, the Star, and the Wheel of Fortune settled in Erin’s mind like gems in a setting. “Thank you. I think you helped a lot.”
“Do you want to get your own set?” The girl’s hazel eyes blazed with hope.
“I think I will. Give me a set like yours. And—you know what? You got anything for good luck? Good dreams? Anything like that?”
“Have I? Have I ever!” The girl bounded out from behind the counter. She grabbed a handful of crystals and stacked several books in the crook of her arm. “These are just what you need.”
“Great. Anything else you would recommend?” she asked, throwing herself fully on the judgment of the precocious child.
The girl looked her up and down. “Let me see. I know you said you didn’t want a wand, but how about a necklace?” She ducked behind the counter and retrieved a clear crystal dangling from a silver chain. “This one is good for everything.”
“I’ll take it.”
The girl piled Erin’s purchases on the counter and pecked the cash register with two fingers to add up the total.
Erin handed over cash and received her change.
The girl hummed a tune as she wrapped the more delicate items in tissue paper and slipped each one into the bag.
The sound of footsteps on old wooden stairs echoed through the room.
“Mommy!” called the girl. “Look at all the things this nice lady bought.”
The girl’s mother emerged into the front room. “Oh, my. Have you been a good salesperson?” Unlike her daughter, the older woman was dressed in casual slacks and a blouse that wouldn’t have been out of place in a more conventional workplace.
“She got the quartz crystal necklace.” The girl picked it up. It was the only item remaining that hadn’t been packed into the bag. “You want to wear it to go?”
Erin looked back and forth between the girl and the shop owner. “Sure. Yes.” She reached across the counter and took the necklace from the girl’s fingers. Triggering the clasp open, she drew the necklace around the back of her neck and re-clasped it, letting the sparkling crystal fall into place on her chest. She touched it self-consciously. “Thank you.”
“I hope it’s everything she promised you,” said the woman, handing over Erin’s bag.
“I have no doubt of that,” said Erin.
“Come back and tell me how it worked!” the girl called as Erin pushed open the door of the shop.
“I will!” Erin turned and waved goodbye before the heavy door swung closed with a final rattle of bells.
16
When the phone rang, Erin dove across the bed to retrieve it, narrowly missing Nancy Drew, who blinked at her myopically before trotting out of the way. Erin picked up the phone and mashed the button to answer.
Raya’s voice crackled through the handset. “Hey. What are you doing?”
