Trajectory

me the evil in Woodland Creek, and show me what we need to know. Show me.” Her hands were now shaking over the bowl but nothing was happening that he could see. He almost said so, but she held up one finger and leaned forward.

“What is it, Mama?” Zazie whispered.

“Cigarette tray, black crow, cigarettes, Zippo.”

“She’s not making sense, Z. Grandmother, what are you talking about?”

“Ashes to ashes, black wizard’s son, crow flies, ashtray, video games.”

“She’s translating what she sees, it’s not always clear. Think, does that sound like anything you’ve heard of or someone you know?”

“Ash?” He hadn’t thought of Ash before. There was nothing about Ash that screamed dark wizard. If it was Ash, he’d have to go warn Chloe. She had no clue she was around a killer every day. It couldn’t be Ash, could it?

“Ash, ash, ash, ash,” Regina was repeating the word over and over again, and it was clear to him that had to be who she was talking about. The Zippo, he had one, he’d flicked it over and over while they talked that day.

“I’ve got to go warn Chloe. She’s not answering.”

“The funeral home will more than likely have her turn her phone off. You won’t be able to get to her until she goes back to work.”

“That won’t be until later, it’s not even noon yet. I have to go try and find her now.”

Regina was still looking into the bowl. Her eyes were wide, but she wasn’t saying anything. She looked scared. It wasn’t clear if she was seeing what Ash had done, or knew something they didn’t.

“What is it, Mama?” Zazie said.

“Zeezee, you have to stay until he comes. He knows where Samuel is.”

Zazie clutched her heart and slid closer to her mother as Brent watched, unsure how to help. “Are you sure, Regina? You better be sure.”

Regina grabbed onto Zazie’s arm and pointed to the bowl. Both women were now transfixed, but he didn’t want to leave Zazie there to face Ash on her own. He didn’t know what to do. If he went to the police, they probably wouldn’t believe him, so that wasn’t an option.

“Z, what do I do?”

“Go, son, go warn Chloe. I’ve got to find my son.” Zazie had never sounded more serious, so he nodded and ran out the door.

“Bye, Grandma.”

“Wait, Brent.” Regina stood and he came back in. “Don’t call me grandma, please, but come here.”

“Sorry, Grandmother.” He smiled. “What is it?”

“Ashtray or whatever his name is, he’s powerful. He has dark magic on his side. You haven’t figured out how to use your magic yet, so you’re going to need some protection.” She walked over to her shelf and pulled down a box.

She took out a necklace with a large pendant on the end of it. It was huge and green, shaped like a crystal, but dull and solid. “What the hell is that?” he asked.

“Protection,” she said as she put it around his neck and kissed his cheek.

“It’s hideous.” He looked at the thing lying against his shirt.

“Protection doesn’t have to be pretty, sweet boy, now go.” He gave her a quick hug and tucked the pendant under his shirt. It jutted out beneath his shirt, but at least it was close to him. If there was magic in it, he wanted it no matter what it looked like.

He jumped in his truck and headed out before he realized he wasn’t sure which funeral home she was going to be at. He’d start with the ones he knew and keep calling her cell phone until he got ahold of her.

Chloe held Connie’s hand tightly as the mortician led them down a hallway toward a metal double door. She could tell Connie was worried about how she would handle seeing her daughter again. She held the dress out for him and he took it from her. It was pretty, Chloe thought. Layla would have liked the choice her mother made.

“We’ll get her all fixed up.” The funeral director walked with them as the morgue was attached to his building, so they worked together.

“Thank you for taking care of my girl,” Connie said.