“Again, I’m impressed. When you chased after us at Sailor’s apartment, I had no idea it was you.”
“Yeah, that was just dumb luck. It’s like I’m charmed lately, excuse the pun. I went by Sailor’s building just to practice this glamour deal. Gotta say, it’s a little addictive once you start doing it. I thought I’d see if I could fool folks who really knew Sailor, up close and personal, like his neighbors or landlord. Couldn’t believe it when I looked up the stairs, and there you stood, with that Gypsy lady.”
“Why did you chase us?”
He grinned. “Just to see if I could. A guy like me, in my normal form . . . well, I don’t exactly inspire fear and trembling just by looking at me. You get my drift. It was a hoot to see how scared you guys got. You just about jumped off the roof!”
“That we did. And before that, while you were in Sailor’s form, you figured you could kill Tristan with impunity.”
“Impuni-what? I figured I could get away with it, if that’s what you mean. Went there to get the lachrymatory Tristan promised Renee, and figured he’d be a goner by then. But he came at me, really made me mad. He was sick as a dog, but he still thought he could take me. I guess I showed him what for, but it sure did make a mess.”
“Your use of poison surprises me. I thought you’d be a gunman.”
“Why’s that?”
“You pulled a gun on me once, a while ago, remember?”
“Oh, that wasn’t a real gun. It was a starting pistol. Nabbed it from my nephew’s track coach. I support gun control, tell you the truth. Bunch of nutcases walking around with concealed weapons, what’s that about? No, thank you. Besides, poison’s got lots more advantages. Slip some mushrooms into one of Renee’s pasties, wait a few hours, and it’s vomit city. After all, who could resist one of Renee’s creations—am I right?”
I nodded. “That makes a lot of sense. You’re pretty smart, Jamie. You thought this through.”
“See, you get me. You suppose me and you got a shot at this coincidentia oppositorum deal?”
“I thought you were partnering with Renee?”
He glanced down at her crumpled form. “Yeah, that might not work out so good. Seems like we weren’t on the same wavelength, after all. Plus, she’s prob’ly gonna be pissed when she comes around, so I really could use someone on my side. Not sure my Russian connection can handle someone like Renee. Also, here I thought she was the big threat to you and Aidan, but now I guess there’s something else happening.”
“Something else?” I kept my eyes on Jamie, but tried to convey calm and strength to Selena, who hadn’t made a sound other than a muffled whimper.
“You don’t know?” Jamie asked. “Yeah, turns out, Renee’s just an underling, too! She likes to talk a big game, but she’s takin’ orders, just like the rest of us.”
“Orders from whom?”
“Hey, lady, if I knew everything you think I know, I’d be running the show already, wouldn’t I? All I know is she started burning some batches of cupcakes, and it was a bad sign. That’s why she was kind of freaking out, and thought if you were sick, she might be able to pry you away from Aidan, and then you and she could get together. It wasn’t that great of a plan, though. And she hadn’t really counted on Tristan showing up—she was so excited to get her hands on that lachrymatory, thought it might solve all her problems. Whatever happened to that, by the way?”
I could feel the lachrymatory humming in my medicine bag. “I don’t even know what you’re talking about.”
“Heh. Good one. So back to what I was saying: I’m gonna need a strong ally or two. You and me, maybe we could be partners.”
“It’s not such a bad idea, actually. But . . . somehow I doubt I could trust someone who would hold my sister at knifepoint.”
Jamie looked down at Selena, a confused look on his face, as though he had almost forgotten the teenager was still in his arms, at his mercy.
“This is your sister?”
I nodded. Behind Jamie, I spied the glow of Oscar’s green eyes peering out of the dark rear of the store. I wasn’t certain how this situation would end, but my confidence was growing. It felt as though the befuddling spell was lifting, and I could sense my powers more clearly than I had in days.
“See? Matching polka-dot dresses. Selena’s my magical match,” I said, holding out my skirt. “Mess with her and you mess with me.”
“Now, see here—that’s not my fault. I didn’t know that. How am I supposed to know something like that? She walked in here with Renee, is all.” He licked his lips and seemed to be trying to think of his next move, or how to stall for more time. “So, I gotta know, how’d you finally figure me out?”
“Amoeba Records doesn’t open till eleven.”
“How’d you know I didn’t come to Haight Street early, to get a coffee or something?”
“I didn’t. Not really. It just made me wonder.”
“That’s it? Ah, jeez, gave myself away for no good reason. Story of my life.”
“Also, I tried to think of anyone who might want to move up in this world, to partner with Renee. Like you say, you’ve got ambition. And—no offense—but you’re a little bit crazy.”
“Heh, good one.” His hand had slipped down a bit, but that knife was still too close to Selena’s vulnerable throat. One quick jab would be enough to end her life.
“Jamie, do you know what it’s like to get on the bad side of a witch? I mean, like, the really bad side of a witch?”
It was hard to tell in the dim light, but I thought he blanched a bit.
“Take a moment and think about that,” I continued. “Really ponder it, roll it around in your mind, meditate on it. And then think about what it might be like to be on the bad side of several witches. A whole coven, or maybe two.”
I could feel strength surging in me. I didn’t dare turn around to look, but I wondered whether Aidan might have shown up after all, or Patience and Renna, or maybe even my grandmother’s coven. There was definitely something going on. Somebody—maybe several somebodies—had my back.
“What . . . what are you smiling about?” Jamie asked.
“Ever have a day when you’re just feeling good?” I said, now grinning. “Really good. Like the fog has lifted?”
“What are you . . . ? What’s goin’ on?”
I heard chanting behind me. It started as a low hum, almost undetectable, but gradually grew in intensity.
“I hate that mumblin’ thing!” Jamie said. “How are you doing that?”
“Witches come from a long line of powerful women, Jamie—you should know that. We’re never truly alone. We come by the dozen, plus one. That’s what a coven is.”
“Stop it!” He brought the knife closer to Selena’s neck. “Stop mumblin’!”
“I’m not saying a word.”
I concentrated on his forehead. Kept my gaze there, my eyes piercing and focusing intently. The chanting continued, filling the room and lending me strength. Oscar’s presence was helping to open the portals, to let the spirits slip through. But this time, there was more than one spirit guiding me.
Jamie’s forehead started to smoke. He cried out. A charred symbol took shape: the sigil of Deliverance Corydon, seared into his flesh. He dropped the knife and fell to his knees, screaming in pain. Oscar moved in on him then, looming over him, snarling.
“Lily!” Selena ran to me, throwing her arms around my waist. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I let the bugs out accidentally. And the cupcake lady said she would help me and we could find a trap for them here, so I came with her—”
“Shhhhh, later, m’ija,” I said, hugging her to me with one arm. I kept my other hand on my humming medicine bag. “Jamie, the only way to save yourself is to confess everything to the police. Do you hear me? You will get Sailor off the hook, or so help me . . .”
Behind me, the chanting continued until it was loud enough to drown out the raucous sounds emanating from Aunt Cora’s Closet.
“I’ll do it! I’ll do anything! Just stop!” Jamie lay on the floor, crying out and writhing.
“Basta, m’ija,” I heard Graciela say from behind me. “Enough. Stick a fork in him, as you young people say. He’s done.”
Chapter 29