Page 18 of A Seer and Present Danger

“That better not be a seer thing.”

“Nope, just a cat mama thing. When Smuckleberry was a kitten, she was a terror.” I yawned. “She outgrew it. Kind of.”

Jules gave me a look of concern. “Did you get any sleep last night? After everything that happened at the diner?”

“Three luxurious hours. All praise coffee.” I raised my extra-large, quad-shot, chocolate and raspberry mocha. “I’ll have energy for days!”

“You’ll need it.” Dusi stepped down the ladder, fluid and sure-footed as a trapeze walker. “Book club is in a few hours, and I’m sure Xtelle will have many opinions on the book not having any horses in it.”

“We should have a signal,” Jules said. “So we can distract her.”

“I have no idea what distraction would work on the ex-queen of hell,” Dusi said. “No legal ones, anyway.”

“She loves murder,” I said, then winced. “That was supposed to be a joke. It was a long night.”

“Hey. It’s okay. Let’s take a break.” Jules touched my arm and guided me over to the couch and chairs.

The furniture was antique, but sturdy and comfortable. I sat, sinking into the cushions Jules had recently recovered in a lovely floral pattern. Dusi poured us all water and placed it on the low tables.

Jules relaxed next to me, and Dusi sat in one of the chairs.

“How are you, Piper, really?” Jules asked.

“I’m fine. I was trying to be funny.”

“You are funny, but last night was enough to shake up anyone. Do you want to talk about it?”

I nodded, relieved I could tell my friends anything. “I feel so bad for the victim, I really do. But I’m also sad this happened at the Blue Owl. That’s one of my safe places you know? It’s like a second home to me. To have something so violent happen there makes me feel…vulnerable and unsettled.”

“Of course it does.” Jules reached over and patted my hand. “It’s an awful thing.”

I knew she was speaking from experience. Her old house and shop had been broken into just last month.

“But more than all that, I’m worried about Jean. She looked so lost and afraid.”

“Have you heard anything more about her?” Jules looked as worried as I felt. “I tried calling Delaney and she said Jean’s fine and the investigation is ongoing.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t storm down to the police department and demand answers,” I said.

“Oh, I did. But I got the same answer from Myra and Ryder and Hatter and Shoe. Do you have any insider knowledge?”

“I used my powers a little. At the crime scene.”

“Oh, that’s good. What did you see?” She looked so hopeful and encouraging. Of all of my friends, Jules had always been the one who wanted me to be proud of my ability, even though I wasn’t very good at it.

“It’s a jumble. The future—futures,” I clarified, “are a jumble. I see little things that might happen but only some of it ever does. Free will messes up every possible tomorrow.”

“It’s powerful stuff,” Jules agreed.

“And with all of us shaping the future just by being alive and making decisions and taking actions?” I shook my head. “It’s hard to pin down the real future.”

“How do you know which one is most likely to happen?” Jules asked.

“Gut feeling, I suppose. Plus, I’m older than I look. I’ve had practice.”

“Was there anything the jumbled futures had in common?” Dusi, ever practical, asked. “Anything that repeated?”

“I did see Jean under house arrest in a few of them.”