I gazed at my ring for another moment, not liking how pretty it looked on her graceful hand. The ring made me think of the beag Dupree had been looking for, and I wondered if Patience could help me with that as well.
Interrupting my thoughts, Patience demanded, “What?”
“What, what?”
“I don’t have to be a psychic to know there’s something else on your mind. Spill.”
“As a matter of fact... there’s this shoe box that dates from the time I knew Tristan Dupree.”
“Where did you know him from?” Patience asked.
“In Germany, half a lifetime ago. He knew my father.”
“I hear your father is bad news.”
I nodded. “Anyway, I think this beag Tristan was looking for might be in the shoe box.”
“And...?”
“I need help to open it.”
“Not a typical shoe box, then.”
“Not exactly, no.”
She let out a long sigh. “Where is it?”
“I can’t do this right now. I have to go try on dresses with Selena.”
Patience’s jaw dropped. “Excuse me? Sailor’s rotting in jail and you’re busy trying ondresses?”
“First of all, he’s not ‘rotting in jail.’” I talked a big game, but in truth my stomach was quailing at the very thought. Was Sailor safe? He was healthy and strong, experienced with supernatural evil. But could he hold his own among whatever nefarious characters were behind bars with him? “He’s only been there overnight. I’m on it as much as I can be, but I will not disappoint a young girl. Especially since I don’t exactly know what to do next.”
She stared at me.
“I’m open to ideas at this juncture,” I added.
“You’re a piece of work, Lily Ivory. Okay, how’s this for an idea? We need more help. I assume you have not failed to notice that all signs indicate we are dealing with some kind of supernatural evil. If that is the case, then my visions and your shoe box of whatever will only take us so far. We need more weapons. We need Aidan.”
I had been afraid of that. But she was right.
“Aidan’s a little... He might be a little upset with me at the moment.”
“Why am I not surprised?” she said dryly. “Well, then, I suggest you get on Aidan’s good sidetout de suite, because we’re going to need him.Sailoris going to need him.”
“I know, and I will,” I said, though I worried about what Aidan would demand from me in return. I pushed that thought aside—one problem at a time. “For the moment, will you stick around while I finish up here, and then we’ll take a look at the box?”
Patience sighed. “Fine. But don’t dawdle. Time is money.”
Chapter 12
“Well, aren’t you the businesswoman?” I said to Patience as we returned to the shop floor.
“You’d better believe it. I’ve got a mortgage and bills to pay, just like everyone else.”
Bronwyn arrived and greeted Patience with an enthusiastic hug and lavish praise. Bronwyn had been coaching me to get over my jealousy of Sailor’s beautiful cousin and the time she spent with him. Bronwyn was an openhearted, generous person who truly believed that most people were good and loyal, and that jealousy was a reflection of a person’s insecurity, not an external reality. Bronwyn was also fascinated by Patience’s psychic abilities, and swore Patience had “read her future to a tee.” When I pointed out that there was no way to tell how accurate Patience’s predictions were since the future hadn’t happened yet, Bronwyn laughed and called me a spoilsport.
I had to admit, Patience accepted Bronwyn’s effusive greeting with good grace.A beautiful Gypsy queenaccepting tribute from one of her subjects,I thought, then chided myself for being so mean-spirited.
