Page 54 of Choosing Stella

“You told me not to take an elevator because you saw a needle. We took another route and found two men with a loaded syringe.”

“And you decided that could still be instinct.”

“It could.”

Her eyebrows rose.

“You’re stubborn.”

“I’ve been called worse.”

She pushed her empty plate away.

“What about tarot?”

“What about it?”

“You keep acting like the cards are supposed to give me a name, address, and signed confession or they aren’t useful.”

“If they could give you those things, I’d have fewer objections.”

“That isn’t how it works.”

“I know.”

“No, you know what I told you. You don’t know what it feels like from my side.”

The cloth-wrapped deck sat near the end of the counter. She’d brought it out sometime before I got up.

“Then show me.”

Stella turned toward the deck.

“Show you what?”

“What the cards can actually tell you.”

She stilled.

“About the murder?”

“No.”

I leaned back in the chair.

“About me.”

For several seconds she didn’t move.

Then she stood and retrieved the deck.

“Are you sure?”

“If I say yes, are you going to tell me my future?”

“I don’t do party tricks.”

“I’m devastated.”