hand of hate 01 - destiny blues (31 page)

I stepped into the air-conditioned reception area, and an elderly man greeted me, introducing himself as Norm Saunders, the Funeral Director. I gave him my name and kept my dark glasses on as he led me to the Founder’s Suite. Saunders escorted me to a seat at the front of the room, near the casket and flowers.  
 

“We have everything in readiness.” He pointed out the flowers, and the quality of the materials appointing the child-sized casket. The dark woods and brass handles shone beneath white flower sprays, giving the setting a somber, mature theme.   
 

My great-grandmother wore a lavender suit, with her hair neat and styled in a French chignon. Tiny as a doll, her olive skin and firm chin spoke to the strength of her character.  
 

“My Gran would be pleased,” I told him. People began to trickle in, and I sat where he told me.  
 

“I’ll be right over there.” He pointed to a spot near the door. “If you need anything, give me a signal.” He handed me a program and scooted back to the entrance. Karen arrived with her family. She’d brought her mother as well, and they filled the row behind me.  
 

Violet came in a few minutes later, with Mina in tow. She was polite, and less stiff than I’d expected. She offered her condolences and agreed when Mina took my hand and asked to sit next to me. A surprise, since we hadn’t spoken in years.
 

“Thank you for coming Violet. Thanks for bringing Mina, too.”
 

“I do realize you want the best for Mina. I’m sorry things had to work out this way, but Mina’s well-being is the only thing I care about.” She put her arm around her daughter and pulled her closer. “I’m going to ask the courts to award me permanent custody. This time, I think the judge will agree.”
 

I nodded. “I understand, and for what it’s worth, I think you’re doing the right thing. I want Mina to be safe, too.”
 

Violet turned to face me. “I never thought I’d hear you talk this way.”
 

“I love my brother, but I can’t ignore his problems any more. He’s put Mina at risk. I don’t want to lose her, but I want her to be safe.” My lips trembled, and I fought to keep my composure. “She is better off living with you, Violet.”
 

“This doesn’t mean you won’t be able to visit her, Mattie. I want you to know that. We can work something out.”
 

I nodded, too full of emotion to answer, glad I’d worn sunglasses.  
 

Mina pulled on my arm to whisper in my ear. “Are you going to make the monsters go away?” She had dark circles under her eyes.
 

I remembered Lance’s admonition. “They’re gone. They won’t bother you anymore.”
 

She cupped her hand to my ear and whispered. “No, the other one. He’s following me.” Her brow wrinkled with worry. She pointed to a spot just past the casket. Sure enough, the faint outline of her unnamed djinn sat not three feet away. “He keeps staring at me.”
 

My great-grandmother had been right. Shore Haven was experiencing an epidemic of loose djinn running around town.  
 

“We can fix this right now.  Come on.”   
 

I told Violet I was taking Mina to the ladies room, and we scooted down the hall to the conveniently empty restroom. I locked the door, and as soon as the monkey-like djinn appeared I clapped my hands and sent the creature to the cave.
 

“Is he really gone?”
 

“He’s really gone, and he’s never going to bother you again. Ever. And I don’t want you to tell anyone about this, or we’ll be in trouble. This is our secret.”
 

“Is he dead?”
 

“No, honey, I sent him back to his home. I want you to forget all about this. Can you do that?”
 

She nodded.  
 

“That’s my girl. Come on, let’s go back, your mom is waiting for us.”
 

She heaved a big sigh, and we rejoined her mother. Gerard Fontaigne had arrived, and taken the empty seat I’d been saving for Lance.  
 

“Where’s Lance?” I asked. “I thought he was coming with you.”
 

“I dropped him at his house to change, but he told me he had some things to attend to.”
 

Worry gnawed at me. “Is he mad at me?”
 

“I don’t think so, Mattie. He seemed preoccupied by something. Distant. I drove by on my way over here to offer him a ride, but he wasn’t home.”
 

“Maybe he went to pick up his car at the impound.” Maybe he’d heard about Andrea’s death.    
 

“Perhaps.”
 

Soothing music came over the speakers, and I settled into the padded chair. Every few minutes, more people arrived. I looked for Rhys, but couldn’t find him. I studied the picture on the front of the program.   A sepia-toned print showed Madame Celeste Coumlie standing proud beneath the palm-shaped sign in front of her home. She must have been in her early thirties. Her dark hair trailed to her waist, and her unnatural eyes stood out in the photograph, but her bare arms showed no markings. Other photos inside the program included a picture of the wedding party and even a photo taken with President Herbert Hoover. Several testimonials written by people who knew her best, memorialized her wonderful qualities.   I recognized a few names and even a couple of famous actors. The room filled up, almost every seat was taken, and more people continued to arrive. Most had auras and lifelines, but I spotted more than a dozen who didn’t. I wondered if they were all djenie.  Several guests arrived with invisible djinn in tow.  
 

Over the next two hours, a steady stream of people filed by the open casket to pay their respects.   Herman the German, Frau Deckhardt, the owner of the Shanghai Palace, Bunny Tacker and her fiancé Ronnie all stopped by. Mimsy Wu even introduced me to her mother.   
 

I finally caught sight of Rhys and Henri, but they stayed at the back of the room, deep in conversation with an older man I didn’t recognize. I watched him for a few minutes as they stood in the doorway, and then Rhys followed the man outside. I stood to follow him, but Mayor Jim Brunson intercepted me.  
 

“I am so sorry, Mattie. I admired your great-grandmother and knew her for many years. She encouraged me to go into politics. I had no idea you two were related.”
 

I blushed. “Thank you for coming.” I was getting pretty good at this funeral-speak, but not so good at making chit-chat with the Mayor after nearly running him down with my scooter. “I’m sorry about the other day. I mean, I got a little distracted, I’m glad you’re okay.”
 

“No apology necessary, I may have over-reacted. Mrs. Coumlie had been ill for a long time. I know how difficult it can be to concentrate on work when you’re so worried about your family. Caring for the elderly can be an enormous strain. You should have said something. I’m revoking your suspension. Your job is waiting for you. Come back to work whenever you’re ready.”
 

I started to protest, but my common sense kicked in. “Thank you, sir,” was all I could manage.  
 

“Call me Jim, Mattie.” He shook my hand and I beamed at him in return.  
 

Well slap me with a feather and call me stupid. I felt like I’d just won a new car.  
 

Norm Sunders chose that moment to pop up and congratulate me on the overflow attendance. He complimented my new buddy Mayor Jim on the large turnout of local politicos and asked if Senator Barnes would be attending. As the men drifted away in conversation, I realized who was missing from the throng. Other than my brother, the only obvious no-shows were from law enforcement. In fact, not one of my friends from the police department or Parking Control had come. The message was clear, the realization stung. A lot.  
 

Karen tapped me on the shoulder. “Congratulations.  I told you everything would work out.”
 

I shrugged.  “So why didn’t anyone from the department come? Not even Mike.”
 

She looked around the room. “You’re right. Oh, you understand where those guys are coming from, they’re just like you. They aren’t comfortable with um, this kind of stuff.”
 

“You mean the paranormal community. Anomalous individuals. The Hand of Fate.”
 

She waved her hand. “All of that. Like it or not, you’re one of them now.”
 

“They’re never going to accept me.” I lowered my sunglasses. “Not like this. They’ll shun me when I go back to work, too.”
 

“So get contact lenses. In a few weeks this will blow over. They’re still your friends, Mattie.” She gave me a worried look.
 

“What?”
 

“Maybe this isn’t the best time to tell you, but Martin got a huge promotion a couple of weeks ago. The bank is relocating us to San Francisco. I wanted to tell you earlier, but you were so upset, I couldn’t.”
 

I was stunned. “Wow, um. Congratulations. You’re moving?”
 

She nodded and squeezed my hands. “At the end of the month. Martin’s already found a couple of houses for me to look at. We’re flying out next week to decide which one to make an offer on. I’m going to miss you, Mattie. I can’t imagine living so far away from you. You’ve been like family to me.”
 

My throat felt dry. I tried not to show how upset I was. “We’ll still talk all the time. I’ll come out and visit. Abbot’s won’t be the same without you.” I’d just lost my brother, great-grandmother and best friend, all in one day.
 

“I’ll call you as soon as we get back, if not before.” We hugged. Martin came up to us and put his arm around her.  
 

“Don’t worry, Mattie. The boys and I will take good care of her. As soon as we get settled, you come out for a good long visit.”
 

“Thanks Martin, I can’t wait. Congrats on the promotion.” I followed them out to their car and watched as they drove away. My old life was slipping away from me, and I could do nothing to stop it. I walked back into the funeral home to search for Rhys. The place was thinning out, but I didn’t see him anywhere.  I hoped he hadn’t left already.  
 

“You look real pretty today.” The warm voice of my brother sounded like music to me.
 

I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him tight. “I’m glad you came. I’m so sorry, it’s my fault you got arrested.”
 

   He appeared pale, but good humor crinkled at the corners of his eyes. My brother was back. “No shit.  They must have followed you out to the faire. They had me in custody less than an hour later.”  
 

I choked back my emotions. “Oh, that. Um, sorry. I was talking about, oh never mind. You’re out.” I gripped his gnarled hand in mine. “I talked to Violet.”
 

“Yeah, I ran into her in the parking lot.”
 

“And?”
 

He looked away and shrugged. “And nothing.  No promises.”
 

I blurted it out without thinking. “Andrea’s dead. The Night Shark got her.”
 

“I heard about that.” He raised an eyebrow at me. “Can’t’ say as I’m real broken up about it.”
 

“I’ve got your money.” I held up my hand at Lance’s reaction. “Wait. I have to tell you something.”  I pulled off my sunglasses.
 

Lance let out a low whistle. “What have you been up to?”
 

I took a deep breath. “Um, Madame Coumlie is our great-gran.”
 

“So you said.”
 

“Well, I’m her heir. The oldest woman of the line. I’m not sure what it all means yet, but this happened right after she died. And there’s some other stuff too. Stuff that’s still happening. What I mean to say is, when I went to pay off your IOU, Mimsy Wu refused to take my money. She gave me a receipt and everything, but when she found out I’m the new Hand of Fate, she said your money was no good.”
 

My brother cocked his head as he studied my appearance.  “Yeah, well that Mimsy’s a piece of work, all right. By the way, where’d you find that lawyer? He’s a helluva guy.”
 

I met his eyes. “You have to go back to rehab, Lance.”
 

He stroked his chin. “I’ve got to clear up a few things, and Violet wants me to meet with a counselor later in the week.”
 

“At least you’re talking.  That’s good.”
 

“Look sis, I’ll see you around. I’m going to pay my respects to Celeste and take off.”
 

“Celeste?”
 

“She was a good friend of mine long before she became our gran.”
 

I frowned at him, incredulous.  
 

“You don’t know me nearly as well as you think you do.” He kissed my forehead. “Go on. Your boyfriend is outside waiting for you.”