Part 22 (1/2)
Maude's face puckered up and she looked off into the distance for a few minutes and then looked back at Mitch. ”I'm not sure. I remember leaving the house, but I don't remember anything after that until I got back home at ten P.M.”
”Are you sure? Think really hard.”
”I wish I could help, but I can't. I'll take a lie detector test if that would help.”
”You'd pa.s.s with flying colors, Mrs. Sampson. We don't question that you're telling the truth. It's not much help if you can't remember.”
”I'm sorry. I wish there was some way we could know for sure.”
”There is,” I spoke up.
Mitch looked at me in question, then his eyes narrowed as his grump-o-meter went off and Detective Grumpy Pants took over. ”Oh, h.e.l.l no.”
”Just because you're a nonbeliever doesn't mean I'm not the real deal,” I muttered.
”What is it?” Mrs. Sampson asked. ”I'm open to anything. I just want to help.”
I knelt down before her and looked her in the eye as I said, ”I could read your tea leaves.”
Mutters of mixed emotions broke out throughout the room, my parents being among the loudest.
”No,” Bernard said rather firmly from beside Maude. ”I won't have it.”
”Why not?” I asked curiously. ”I might be able to help clear your wife's name, Mr. Sampson. Isn't that what we all want?”
”Help? I doubt that will happen. Look at what happened the last time you read someone's tea leaves,” he sputtered.
My eyes shot to Mitch's for a brief moment as I thought of the vision I'd had and the kiss that had followed. I knew Bernard was talking about the time I'd read Amanda Robbins's tea leaves, but Mitch's reading hadn't helped, either. My readings always came true, but they sometimes caused more trouble than they were worth. For the first time, I considered giving up my pa.s.sion. Maybe I was doing more harm than good.
”Yes, I'll do it,” Mrs. Sampson said, surprising us all.
”But-” Mr. Sampson started to speak.
”You don't get to decide everything, Bernard,” Maude announced with conviction. ”I believe the decision is mine, right, Detective?”
The detective looked from her to me and back to her. ”If you think it will help, we'll do this thing,” he said to Mrs. Sampson and then locked eyes on me. ”But I want to be there.”
”Good. We'll meet tomorrow at noon in my sanctuary, and I'll introduce you to my world,” I stated.
He rolled his eyes. I vowed right then and there that no matter the outcome of this case, I wouldn't rest until I made that man a true believer.
Tomorrow was only the beginning.
19.
I opened my front door to find Detective Stone and Maude Sampson on time at noon the next day. I made eye contact with Detective Stone and raised my brows questioningly. He glanced at Maude and then gave me the thumbs-up sign, meaning today was a ”good” day for her.
”Where's Bernard?” I asked, glancing beyond them.
”He's at work. I told him not to take the day off because I didn't want him with me.” Maude nodded once, sharply. ”No negative juju at my reading.”
”Hear that, Detective?” I arched a brow at him. ”No negative juju. Think you can handle that?”
He held up his hands. ”I won't say a word. I'm here to observe.”
”Good.” I stepped back and let them in. ”Follow me.”
I led the way into my sanctuary. Everything was set. I'd already fed my fish, watered my plants, and started a fire in the corner fireplace. I sprayed lavender around the room and flicked on some new age music, then gestured for Mitch to have a seat out of the way. After he sat, I pointed to the chair across from mine at the old-fas.h.i.+oned tea table in the center of the room.
I dimmed the lights until the constellations on the ceiling glowed their mesmerizing hue and the blue paint on the walls turned a bit deeper, calmer. Setting the mood and getting the seeker to relax was imperative for the seer if they wanted to produce a good session.
I gathered my tea leaves and kettle from my supply shelves in the corner and carried them over to the table, setting them down in the center. Taking the seat across from Maude, I held her hands in mine gently. ”Ready to begin?”
She nodded, looking more curious than afraid.
”Good. I normally get an indication from the person whose fortune I'm about to read as to what psychic tool will work best in helping me see the prediction clearly. In your case, you're a tea leaf person just like Amanda Robbins was.”
”Why, that sounds lovely.” Maude leaned forward as if telling me a big secret. ”I think tea is wonderful, you know.” Her eyes sparkled.
I smiled and leaned forward as well. ”Me too.” I winked.
She giggled, and Mitch arched a brow. But staying true to his promise, he didn't utter a word.
”Okay, the first step in the process is for you to brew the tea yourself. I've already boiled the water, so all you have to do is place the loose tea leaves in the cup.”
She did as I told her, with precision, I might add. ”There, all done. I really do hope this works.”
”It will,” I said with conviction, and I could have sworn I heard a soft grunt from the far side of the room. I tipped my head to the side and narrowed my eyes at him, but he just whistled softly and looked around the room-everywhere except at me.
Grrr.
”Now you pour the water into the cup in front of you and stir the tea leaves as it brews,” I said to Maude.
”Okay, I'm good at stirring. I love to cook.” Maude's bright smile faded a bit. ”I don't get to cook as much these days now that the girls are gone, but Bernard still needs to eat. He doesn't have much of an appet.i.te lately. I worry sometimes that there's something wrong with him, too. It's no fun getting old.”
”Now I'd like you to drink the unstrained tea,” I said, steering her mind back to the task at hand and away from her depressing thoughts. Then again, I wasn't sure what we were about to discover wouldn't be just as depressing. ”Think about exactly what it is you wish to know. In this case, where you were on the night of Amanda Robbins's murder.”
”Okay, dear. I can handle that.” She sipped daintily. ”Oh my, this is simply divine.”
”Thank you. I grow my own, you know.” I smiled, and she kept sipping. ”When you only have about a teaspoon of liquid left, stop.”
”All set.” She held up her cup. ”This is exciting. What next?”
”Well, now you hold the cup in your left hand, and then you swish three times in a counterclockwise motion.” She did as I said. ”Now tip the cup upside down on the saucer, and let the leftover liquid drain.” Again she did as I said. ”Okay, now you hand me the cup, and I read your future, well, past in this case.”
She stared down at her cup, looking nervous. ”I'm not sure I want to know what you see, but I know it's the right thing to do.” She slowly handed me the cup and nodded. ”Okay, I'm ready.”