A Murder in Mohair (5 page)

Edie waved the coffee canister. “My ticker's fine. Just took a few extra pills last night. I haven't heard any more news about Jimmy Hubbard. Have any of you?”

Poor Jimmy . . . they'd forgotten all about him, distracted by Cassandra Waters and Suzanne's unsolicited relationship advice.

“I did hear a few things from Jack,” Dana replied, in a quiet tone.

“Wait a minute . . . slide over, Lucy. Let me get in there. My hearing aids are buzzing with the racket.”

Edie set the coffeepot and menus on the table as Lucy slid toward the window to make room. The diner owner squeezed most of her puffy body under the table, her legs angled out into the aisle.

“Okay, go on, dear. I'm all ears.” Edie cocked her beehive hairdo in Dana's direction.

“Jack didn't say too much. But there was no sign of a struggle. And no sign of forced entry. The police are assuming that Jimmy opened the door to someone he knew, or had no reason to fear. And there was just one other thing they found out right away that might be important: Jimmy had a record of arrests and spent several years in prison. Serious time.”

Lucy was the most surprised to hear that. “Really? He seemed like such a nice guy. No weird tattoos, or anything like that. It's hard to believe he was a hardened criminal. Maybe he'd made some mistake and paid his debt to society. It doesn't mean he was an awful person.”

“Whatever it was, he seemed to have reformed. The police couldn't find anything else amiss since his release. Not even a parking ticket,” Dana said.

“Lucy's right. People make mistakes. Though most of us don't screw up that badly,” Suzanne conceded.

“So, what was he in for?” Edie asked. “Must have been something big to get locked up a long time.”

Dana shrugged. “Jack wasn't sure. But it's possible Jimmy's death is somehow connected to his past. It's one lead for the investigation.”

“Just goes to show, you never know about people, do you?” Edie sat back and shook her head. “Maybe he was messing around with the wrong types again. It's not ours to judge the man. We all have some dirty laundry in the back of the closet we wouldn't want to show the world. You can bet on that, girls.”

“Everyone has secrets. That's certainly true,” Dana agreed.

“Speaking of—here comes the Queen of the Secret Guessers. Right on cue,” Edie whispered. “I just have to introduce you. I want to know what you think.”

Before Lucy or her friends could reply, Edie had pushed herself to her feet, effectively blocking the path of her niece, Nora and Cassandra Waters, who were headed toward the register, check in hand.

Edie waved to them. “Nora, come on over. Say hello to Lucy and her friends.”

Lucy leaned close to her friends and whispered, “Do you think the psychic heard us taking about her? We were pretty discreet and she was sitting far away.”

“But maybe she read our thoughts?” Suzanne teased her.

“More likely, our lips. I bet she knows a lot about that, too,” Dana whispered back.

Good point, Lucy thought. But there was no chance to reply. Nora and Cassandra Waters were suddenly smiling down at Lucy and her friends as Edie made some quick introductions.

“You know Lucy and her pals, don't you, Nora? They all hang around the knitting shop with Maggie.”

“Sure I do.” Nora cast a small but friendly smile at the group. “Nice to see you.”

“I love your store,” Suzanne said. “I don't go in enough. I could buy everything in there. But my husband won't let me.”

Nora's smile grew wider. “Stop by anytime. I'll give you the friends-and-family discount.”

Edie slung her arm around Nora's shoulder. “She'd give the store away if Richard didn't watch her. Doesn't take after me that way,” she insisted, though Lucy did see Edie pluck the table check from Nora's hand and stick it in her apron pocket.

“This is my friend Cassandra.” Nora stepped aside so that Cassandra could come closer. So far the psychic had stood by quietly, her slim white hands clasped loosely in front of her, almost in a pose of meditation.

She looked a bit different from her photograph, Lucy thought, but no less attractive. Just less glamorous. Her long dark hair was parted in the middle, framing her thin face and large blue eyes. She wore a pale blue tunic with long bell sleeves and gauzy skirt, printed with a blue and white batik design.

Lucy noticed the same pendant she'd seen in the photograph, a hunk of raw crystal on a chain, hanging from her neck, and a big ring on the middle finger of one hand, a large pink stone set in silver.

Except for the exotic jewelry, Cassandra Waters's appearance didn't give much hint at her profession and she didn't seem nearly as pushy or enterprising as Edie had portrayed her. At least, not yet, Lucy thought.

As Lucy and her friends greeted Cassandra, Lucy tried to act as natural as possible and suppress the impulse to treat the woman as if she were visiting from another solar system. Which was difficult, considering all that she'd heard.

Dana was doing a fine acting job, smiling and extending her hand. Suzanne, however, looked quite curious, even suspicious.

“I think I've heard of you, Cassandra. Aren't you a . . . psychic or something?” Suzanne asked boldly.

“Yes, she is and a totally amazing one,” Nora said before Cassandra could answer. “She's been a great blessing in my life.”

Cassandra seemed flustered by the compliment, her gaze dipping down a moment. “Thank you, Nora. But I've been blessed to be able to help you.”

Edie stood behind them; she met Lucy's gaze and rolled her eyes. Can you believe this load of baloney? Lucy could almost hear her say.

“I find it fascinating, questions of clairvoyance and intuition,” Dana said. “I'm a psychologist and I've observed these phenomena firsthand. How does the information come to you?” she asked. “Do you see things? Or hear things? Do you use cards?”

Dana's tone was curious and even respectful. Though Lucy knew how she really felt.

If Cassandra Waters felt put on the spot, she didn't show it. She was used to being interviewed this way, Lucy realized.

“I'm mostly clairvoyant. Meaning, I see visions,” she replied with a small smile. “Though I will say I receive messages in many forms—through spirit voices and dreams, reading tarot cards, even animal messengers.”

Lucy found the last interesting. She wondered if her dogs had any messages from the “other side” for her. Aside from “I need to go out. ASAP!” and “How about a biscuit?” her fur friends didn't appear to possess any extrasensory canine perception.

“I wish I could hear voices, to help me sort out the buying clients from the lookie-looks just wasting my time,” Suzanne confessed.

Cassandra smiled gently. “We all have these powers, if we choose to acknowledge and develop them.” She reached into her shoulder bag, a tapestry fabric sack, and pulled out a handful of her cards. “Here's some information about my services. Contact me anytime. I'd love to help you with your questions. This is my path, what I've been sent here to do. To use my gift to help others.” Her warm voice and gaze were as sincere as any minister who had taken vows. She clearly thought of herself as one. Or wants us to, Lucy thought.

As they each took a card, Cassandra's gaze came to rest on Lucy. She smiled down kindly and Lucy felt a bit mesmerized by her startling eyes. “I'd love to do a reading for you, Lucy. There are spirits all around you, eager to communicate.”

“Me?” Lucy's reply came out in a squeak. She laughed nervously. “What about?”

As soon as she answered, Lucy realized how silly she sounded. Walked right into that one.

“Your life's path, your future . . . your relationships.” Cassandra nodded, the last category said in a definite tone.

The psychic's soft smile melted to a more serious look. She gently shook her head. “I'm sorry . . . that's all I can tell you right now. The energy in here isn't right. Too much tension and negativity flying around.”

“Oh, sure.” Lucy nodded, as if she knew all about the type of energy that made spirits kick back and get all chatty. Thinking about it, she doubted the menu at Edie's diner would encourage clear communications with the spirit world. It was enough to cause indigestion on any plane of reality.

“I often do group readings. Some people prefer that. Especially a group of good friends,” Cassandra added, smiling again, as if she had easily sensed their close bond.

“Thanks. We'll think about it.” Dana also held a card and glanced at Lucy across the table. Lucy wondered if she was serious after all. Maybe just curious? Or deciding to unmask a faker, since Dana did seem to know a great deal about how psychics operated.

Cassandra continued to smile with warm confidence. Their doubts and suspicions seemed to roll off her back, Lucy noticed. Or, perhaps more accurately, off her aura?

Cassandra stepped back from the table as Nora began to say goodbye. “Nice to see you all. Tell Maggie I said hello. I really have to get back to knitting again,” she added.

“We meet on Thursday nights,” Lucy added, “if you'd ever like to join us.”

Lucy knew that all her friends liked Nora and none would mind her extending the invitation.

“Thanks. I might take you up on that sometime.” Nora smiled. “I'll let you know.”

A busboy came over to the table and offered the group more water. Nora reached out and ruffled his hair. “Hey, Dale, too busy to say hello to your mom?”

The boy acknowledged Nora with an embarrassed smile. “Sorry, Mom . . . I wasn't covering your table and I didn't have time to talk. Aunt Edie doesn't like that,” he added, glancing at his great-aunt.

“That's right,” Edie agreed. “You two can catch up at home. He's got tables to clear—nine and three. The dirty dishes are just sitting there, honey.”

“Got it covered, Auntie.”

As Dale dutifully ran off, Lucy couldn't help noticing how Nora's gaze followed him. She could only imagine what Nora was thinking each time she set eyes on her only boy. Of course, she had to be thinking of Kyle, the child she'd lost.

At least the two didn't bear much resemblance. Dale was on the fair side, with light brown hair and a broad-shouldered, athletic build. He looked about seventeen, a junior in high school, Lucy guessed. One who played a lot of sports: football or basketball? Maybe even lacrosse?

She remembered Kyle with his dark hair and slim build. More intellectual looking. He'd been a senior in high school when he passed away, and was headed for a prestigious college. His unexpected death had been a real tragedy. It was surprising that, even now, two years later, Nora was able to emerge somewhat from her mourning—which she credited to her sessions with Cassandra Waters.

Nora did seem back to normal, if you didn't look too deeply. But Lucy also sensed a lingering sorrow and a certain fragile quality. She suspected that just beyond the surface, Nora's healing had a long way to go. Certainly this was the kind of loss that one never truly recovers from, and which made people like Nora even easier prey for people like Cassandra Waters?

As Nora and Cassandra left, Suzanne checked her phone and began tapping out text messages.

“Good—my first appointment is held up in traffic. They're coming out from Boston to look at a waterfront listing. Just came on the market, sort of a faux French chateau with solar panels? Mine is not to judge. Just to sell. Sell, sell, sell.”

The house sounded sort of hideous to Lucy. But Suzanne had definitely sold worse-sounding properties.

“Did you really mean what you told Cassandra, or were you just baiting her?” Lucy asked.

“Of course I meant it. What salesperson wouldn't want to read their customer's mind?” Suzanne laughed. “Do I think she can really read minds? That's another question.”

“How about you, Lucy?” Dana asked. “Do you think spirits with special messages for you are hanging out in Edie's diner, hovering over our table?”

Dana was partly teasing, Lucy was sure. But partly serious, too.

Lucy laughed. “No. I don't know,” she said honestly.

“No offense, Lucy. But I think Cassandra just sniffed out the weakest link. Dana and I give off alpha energy,” Suzanne added, “and you're so sweet and nice.”

“I'm an easy mark, is that what you're trying to say?” Lucy was laughing but also a bit insulted.

Suzanne shrugged. “If the crystal pendant fits . . .” she said in a tiny voice.

“I don't know about you guys, but I'm definitely curious. I think we should book a reading with her. All of us, together. That will make it easier to observe her techniques. While she's focusing on Lucy, for instance, we can figure out her scam.”

“I don't know. She seems pretty smooth to me. But a reading would be fun. I wouldn't mind doing it.” Suzanne picked up the card and her phone and stashed both in her purse. “And let's not forget Maggie and Phoebe.”

“Of course not. I'm sure they'll want to try it, too,” Lucy said.

Edie appeared beside the table again. “So, what did you think of that swivel-hipped Svengali?”

“We're going to book a group reading, Edie. We want to see what really goes on. Want to join us?” Dana offered.

“I had the same idea. I'm seeing her tonight,” Edie replied.

“She kept saying that spirits want to talk to me.”

“Just what she said to me,” Lucy cut in. “That must be her standard bait.”

“Well, she also tossed a few tidbits, you might say. Nothing specific. But did set me back on my heels. How does she know this stuff?” Edie looked perplexed a moment, then she resolved again. “But it's no big trick to toss a lot of stuff at the wall and see what sticks, right? Let's see if she can keep that up for half an hour, or more. I bet I see through this gal's game pretty quickly.”