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“And you don’t?”
“She didn’t say anything to anyone. She just stole away in the middle of the night. Why would she do that?” Darius nibbled on a fingernail that he’d painted black.
She rolled her eyes at Eric. “Did she owe someone money?”
“No, but she was worried about something.”
Christina’s pulse ticked up again. “Did she tell you what?”
“I’m not sure, but I think it had something to do with those murders.”
“What murders?”
Eric’s arm tightened around her and she was glad of it.
“She had newspaper clippings of a murder in San Diego and another one in Portland—one man and one woman.”
“Did she say anything about them?” Christina licked her lips and shot a sideways glance at Eric.
“Not much, but she kept the articles and read them so much they became dog-eared. And she seemed frightened. Santa Cruz is pretty laid-back, but she wouldn’t stay at the boardwalk once the sun went down.”
“Do you know if anyone was stalking or threatening her?”
“In Santa Cruz?”
“Look, I know you think Santa Cruz is paradise on earth, but there are a lot of crazies there just like anywhere else. Maybe one of her clients, someone who saw her on the boardwalk started fixating on her or something.”
“Why wouldn’t she just tell us? And we’d already left the boardwalk. Why take off all secretive like that?”
“We’re talking about Vivi here. Your guess is as good as mine.”
“You don’t care about your sister? You don’t want to find her?”
Christina’s body stiffened and Eric’s hand moved to the back of her neck and squeezed. “Of course I do, but you haven’t given me anything. What do you think happened to her? If someone abducted her, why would she take her purse and pack a bag?”
“She packed a bag, but she left her most important possessions.”
“What would that be, her bong?”
Darius whistled. “Wow, you really are a cop, aren’t you?”
“Just tell me what she left that was so important to her.”
“Her tarot cards, her incense, her amulet.”
“Her amulet?”
Darius tapped his throat. “A necklace she always wore. Why would she leave that stuff?”
Eric snapped his fingers and strode across the floor to his own room, calling over his shoulder. “What did Vivi’s necklace look like?”
“It’s a circle with two wavy lines and then a straight line intersecting the wavy lines.”
As Darius described the amulet, Eric returned to her room waving the notepaper with the symbol of Liz Fielding’s necklace. “Like this?”
“Whoa, man. Where’d you get that?” Darius snatched the paper from Eric. “That’s it.”
Christina covered her mouth with one hand. What did it mean? Was Vivi a member of this coven, too? “I—I’ve never seen her wear that.”
“Well, she did, all the time, under her clothes. And she left it. Why would she leave that and the other stuff?”
Because someone is killing off members of her coven.
“I’m not sure, Darius. Look, just keep me posted. I think Vivi left of her own free will. I don’t think you need to worry.”
He held the paper back out to Eric. “You’re not going to tell me where you got that drawing?”
“FBI business.” Eric shoved the paper into the pocket of his damp trunks.
Christina took a deep breath. “She’ll probably be in touch later, and I’ll keep you posted.”
“Here’s my number.” Darius hunched over the nightstand and scribbled on the hotel notepad. “I hope you’re right. She thinks a lot of her big sister.”
Unexpected moisture pooled in her eyes, and her nose tingled. “I’m sure she’s fine. She probably just wanted a break. Take care of her cards and necklace. Put them away. Put the necklace away. She’ll be back.”
“You’ll let me know as soon as you find her?” Darius crossed his muscular arms and took a stance like he wasn’t leaving until she agreed.
“Yes. I’ll let you know.” She held out her hand. “Thanks for coming by and telling me all this.”
Darius unfolded his arms but didn’t take her hand, leveling a finger at her instead. “Just find her. I think she’s in danger.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Darius stepped toward the door Eric was holding open and shook his hand before he slipped out.
Christina stared at the closed door.
“Are you okay?” Eric’s low voice brought her back from an abyss of crazy.
