“I have no idea. I want to know when it was painted and who she is, and who the hell decided to text it to me.”
“Well, by the style of her dress I’d say it was painted during the late 1980s.” Sandy’s pursed her lips as she enlarged the photo. “She’s a real looker. Expensive, too. That haircut’s so precise you could shave your legs on the edge.”
“Thanks, I needed that visual.” I leaned over to glance at the picture again. “She’s wearing an expensive dress, though. That’s a Donna Laurenz, unless I miss my guess.”
“I think you’re right.” She snapped her fingers. “I have every Styalista published. I know I saw that dress in there. I’ll have Lihi get on it.”
“You don’t have to bother her—” I started to say, but Sandy formed a ring with her index finger and thumb and raised it to her mouth, whistling sharply. A moment later, a homunculus appeared. Twelve inches tall, she looked like a cross between a bat and a woman, with leathery wings and large ears. She was wearing a pink halter top and a pair of leather shorts with a hole cut in back for her long, rat-like tail. Lihi was cute more than anything, but I knew better than to underestimate her. Homunculi were dangerous if you crossed them, but Lihi was bound to Sandy by a mutual contract, so I wasn’t all that worried.
“Lihi, see this?” Sandy showed the homunculus the picture.
Lihi nodded. “What do you need, Mistress?”
“Please go through my back issues of Styalista and find this dress. I want to know what issue it’s from—what month and year. Also the designer’s name and if the story says anything about someone who may have bought the original.”
“As you will.” Lihi vanished as quickly as she had come.
“She’s cute.” I started the car. “How long has she been with you? I can’t remember.”
“About four years. We agreed to a seven-year contract to begin with. She’s handy and her pay comes easy. She loves crystals, and since she can’t enter this realm without being summoned, she can’t go hunting them herself. So I promised her ten quartz crystals per month, with a bonus of an amethyst and citrine at the end of the first year, and other gems at the end of other years.” Sandy grinned as she leaned back.
“You got off easy.” It seemed to me like Sandy was getting the best of the deal.
She snorted. “Not so much. She eats like a trucker. I go through a lot more food than you might think. And in her world, those ten crystals per month? Are quite a hefty payment. But we get along and I’m pretty sure we’ll both want to renew when the seven years are over. She’s incredibly handy and I like her sense of humor, though it takes some getting used to.
“So, who do you think the woman in the painting is?” Sandy asked as I turned left on Backslide Street—aptly named, given the gradient. I grimaced, coaxing the car up the steep hill.
“I don’t know. But given she appears to be a vampire by the tips of those fangs showing, I’d better find out, and find out quick. If Ralph confirms she’s the same one who hired him, then I need to talk to Aegis. I’m sure as hell not looking forward to that conversation.”
We topped the hill and turned onto Exxo Street. From there it was a block to the Blue Jinn. Easing into a parking space, I turned off the ignition. As the car settled, Lihi appeared again, her wings fluttering just enough to keep her aloft above Sandy’s lap.
“I found the information you asked for. The issue with that dress in it was released in October of 1987 and it’s a Donna Laurenz original. No copies were made.” The homunculus looked extremely pleased with herself.
“Good job, Lihi. Go enjoy yourself the rest of the day. I won’t be needing you till tomorrow, so take some time and have fun.” Sandy waved her off, and Lihi vanished with a smile on her face. “I told you, a Laurenz. 1987. If there were no copies, then whoever is wearing that dress in the painting bought the original.”
“I wonder how we could find out the name of whoever bought it. I doubt the designer—or her company—would release confidential records like that.” The wheels of my brain were spinning as we entered the Blue Jinn.
“We have a reservation. Gallowglass.”
The hostess ticked us off her list and led us into the depths of the restaurant. The Blue Jinn was a fancy steakhouse with a lounge. The bar, open from four p.m. till midnight, sported a stage for live music and the occasional dinner theater. We passed by the lounge to a booth near the back with a window overlooking the patio. The hostess handed us our menus.
“Your server will be with you in a few moments. Can I start you off with drinks and appetizers, or do you need a few minutes?”
I didn’t feel like alcohol. “Peppermint mocha. For an appetizer, I’d like a bowl of your New England clam chowder.”
Sandy ordered a cup of lemon tea and the lobster bisque. As soon as the hostess left, she leaned across the table. “I think you need to talk to Aegis about this, and soon. Seriously, Maddy. You two have something good going. He’s not going to ruin it by—” She paused as Rose Williams, a member of our coven, hurried over to our booth.
“Maddy, I don’t want to interrupt your lunch, but I think you should know that the Greyhoofs are spreading rumors about you.” She shoved her phone toward me. “Read what he said about you on Flitterbug.” Flitterbug was a social networking site for the Pretcom. I had very little to do with it. Social media in general irritated the hell out of me.
I reluctantly took her phone and glanced at the “flit”—as they called the posts. There, George Greyhoof had written:
don’t be deceived by the illusionary allure of bewitching bedlam. for true comfort, check in at the heart’s desire inn, where we cater to all your needs—both the sublime and carnal.
“Damn it.” I scanned through the rest of his posts for the week, only to find several less-than-flattering mentions of the Bewitching Bedlam. Including the insinuation that Aegis would feed off our guests. “I’ll box their ears.”
Sandy took the phone from me and read through the notifications. She silently handed it back to Rose. At that moment, the waitress brought our soup and drinks.
“Would you like to order now?”
I wanted to bark “No, go away!” but bit my tongue. The waitress hadn’t done anything wrong. Motioning to Rose to stick around for a moment, I glanced at the menu again.
“Grilled cheese with cheddar, a side of steamed asparagus, and fries, please.”
Sandy handed her menu to the waitress. “BLT on whole wheat, a side salad, and onion rings.”
The waitress jotted down our orders, took our menus, and left. As soon as she was gone, I turned back to Rose.
“How long has he been spreading stuff around like this?”
“Since they first realized you were serious about opening a bed and breakfast. At first, I didn’t think anything about it. I thought he would stop, or something. But apparently he’s out to cause you more trouble than I first thought.”
“Have you heard anything else?” Just how far had the Greyhoof boys gone to smear my reputation?
Rose ducked her head. “I should have told you all of this earlier. Last week, I overheard Ralph badmouthing you and Aegis to a couple from out of town. He warned them not to book a room at the Bewitching Bedlam because your ‘boy toy’ might end up having dessert ‘on the house.’ I interrupted him and told him to watch what he said, but he blew me off. After seeing George’s flit, it occurred to me they might really be trying to sabotage your business. I decided I had better tell you.”
My temper rising, I tried to keep my voice steady. “I’m glad you told me, even if I am pissed. Thanks, Rose. I’ll see you at the Esbat on Wednesday.” The Moonrise Coven held rituals on the Esbats—the full moons—as well as the Sabbats, and our eight High Holy days. I handed her phone back to her.