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“False alarm,” I said. As I moved to close the door, the crow swooped toward me, cawing madly. A shiny item around its neck glinted in the sunlight. I left the door ajar and waited.
It was either a message from Birdie or a message from the Fates. I was dying to know which.
The crow landed on the porch, dropped the item on the mat, and flew away.
I stooped to examine the delivery—a clear snack bag. Inside the bag was a tiny scroll tied with a metallic silver band, as well as a pale pink pacifier. Birdie’s findings, presumably.
I removed the band and unrolled the paper. Written in chicken scratch was a single name. All those computers and Birdie still wrote by hand? Her inkjet printer must’ve been out of magenta and refused to print anything at all.
I continued to stand on the porch and study the name. I managed to work out Sarah, but the last name was pure scribble.
“You look like you’re trying to solve the world’s problems on the world’s smallest piece of paper,” Ray remarked.
I held up the paper for him. “Can you decipher the last name?”
He squinted. “Lots of loops, that’s about all I can see.”
“Nana Pratt,” I called. “We need you.”
The elderly ghost materialized out of thin air. “Did you spill something?”
“No. I can’t read Birdie’s handwriting.” I showed her the paper.
“It says Peele. See there. The loops are the three ‘e’s.”
Now that she’d pointed them out, they were plain to see. “Either of you know the Peele family?”
They shook their heads.
I had a name, and a pacifier that suggested Sarah Peele was the adoptive mother of the fae. That crow was worth its weight in gold. No wonder Birdie fed them.
I retreated into the house, feeling a surge of hope. This was helpful. I’d have to send Birdie a thank you basket.
I stopped short in the foyer as I fully processed my thought. When did I become the sort of person who sent thank you baskets? What had Fairhaven done to me?
Sian appeared at the base of the staircase, stretching his arms over his head. “Good news?”
“How’d you know?”
He pointed to my face. “You’re smiling. An uncommon sight.”
My face fell. “Is that the fae version of telling a woman to smile more?”
Sian blinked. “I do not understand. Why would I not want you to smile more? You deserve happiness.”
Gods, Sian was too sweet and innocent for this world. He needed to scurry back to his realm before we corrupted him.
“As a matter of fact, there is good news. A breakthrough in the case.” I dangled the bag in front of him. “I believe this pacifier belonged to your sister, which means I have the name of the adoptive mother.”
He removed the bag from my hand and gazed at the pacifier. “Can we see her now?”
“I think it’s best if I go alone first.” I had no idea what kind of person Sarah Peele was. There were too many variables, and I didn’t want to put Sian in harm’s way. He was here to mend his mother’s heartbreak, not cause it.
“Lorelei!” Nana Pratt burst straight through the wall like her fluffy robe was on fire.
“What’s wrong?”
“That thing is back, and it’s brought a friend.” Her voice trembled.
