“Man, these people never change, do they?” Isla says, taking Matilda in.
“Alyssa,” Matilda calls, flouncing toward us. “And Nicholas. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?”
He looks down at me and shrugs. “I’m here with her.”
She tilts her head, her expression thoughtful. “With her…interesting,” she muses aloud, then turns to me. “Can I speak freely?”
I glance up at Nick, moistening my lips nervously, waiting for some sign that he won’t bolt out of here.
“Pretend I’m not even here,” he says, flashing me a reassuring smile.
I turn back to Matilda. “What can I help you with?”
She nods eagerly, holding up a hand and hurrying toward the back.
“Should we follow her?” Nick asks, and I shrug uncertainly.
Less than a minute later, she’s scurrying toward us with what looks like a wand of sage gripped in her hand.
“What the hell is that?” Nick whispers.
“Sage,” Matilda says, having heard him. “For cleansing the area.”
“Do you think that could move me along too?” Isla asks, hope lacing every word.
I grimace, shaking my head just enough that nobody else should notice.
Isla’s smile disappears and she harrumphs, placing her hands over her chest.
Nick grunts, and I look up in time to see his eyes close in a pained expression.
“I know I said to pretend I wasn’t here, but I really have to suggest you not light that in here,” Nick says. “It’s a fire hazard and acode violation. You’re in town, and the whole of Main Street could light up like a torch if this goes wrong.”
Matilda brushes off his concerns with a wave of her hand. “You don’t need to be crazy to be smart, but you need to be a little smart to be crazy.”
“What does that have to do with this situation?” Nick asks, looking between Matilda and me.
“Eccentric ways are called for in this situation, Nicholas. We’ll be fine.” She turns to me. “Do you know what to do with this?”
“Yes,” I say, tilting my head to the side. “But I can sense that you do too. So why call on me?”
Matilda straightens, placing one hand on her hip. “One hand is not enough to catch a flea,” she says, gritting her teeth and lifting both eyebrows skyward. It’s clear she’s trying to relay that the flea is in fact a ghost, without using those words.
“Got it,” I say, holding my hand out for her to pass over the sage. “Nick, since you are law enforcement, would you be willing to wield the sage for us?”
He rubs at his full bottom lip, inspecting the sage like it’s a weapon of mass destruction, eventually reaching out to take the bundle.
From Matilda’s back pocket she pulls a grill lighter, large enough to get the sage burning hot.
“Follow us and wave the sage in the air, making sure to cleanse all the items,” Matilda instructs Nick. “I’m unsure what brought the unruly spirit into my space.”
I can’t help but stifle a laugh as Nick reluctantly waves the sage bundle in the air, his eyes bugged out like a startled rabbit. Matilda stands beside him, chanting in a language that sounds like a mix of ancient incantations and gibberish, while Isla, unbeknownst to anyone but me, dances in and out of the smoke, holding onto hope that the sage will send her on.
“To the window, to the wall,” I say under my breath, drawing a deep chuckle from Nick and a look of confusion from Isla.
“What was that?” Matilda asks, looking over her shoulder.
“Never mind,” I say, smothering my laughter. “Please continue.”
