“I need to be able to sneak into the morgue,” I explained.
“And I need to go with her,” said Mac.
Coraline nodded. “Okay. Two potions to change your looks.”
“I don’t know if I need one,” Mac replied. “They won’t recognize me in the human world.”
“Well, you’re getting one because we have two objects we want read.”
“Deal,” I said. “I can do that when I get back.”
“Now,” Coraline insisted.
Her tone was firm, and I nodded. “Sure thing, boss.”
Jeeves appeared again, a box in his hands. He looked at Mary as he set it on the table. “The things you requested, madam.”
“Thanks, pal.” Mary slapped him on the back as he walked away, then pushed the box toward me. The grin she shot me made a shiver go down my spine, and I stared at the box like there might be a head inside.
10
Carrow
“That was quick,” I said.
“That’s me, babe.” Mary nodded to the box. “Now get reading.”
I opened it slowly, revealing an old wine glass and an intricate silver brooch. I stared at them before touching. “I can’t control if I see past or present. But usually, what I see is useful.”
“Useful how?” Mary asked.
“It reveals when danger is coming, or when something terrible happened. Sometimes good stuff, too, but that’s rare.”
“Well, try to see who once owned them.”
“I’ll try.” True, my vision was currently blurry, and I felt like I might keel over on the bench soon, but maybe this would help.
I drew in a deep breath and tried to imagine seeing the original owner. I had no idea if this was how magic worked, but I figured I might as well try.
“Show me the owner,” I murmured, feeling like a crazy witch in an old movie.
I glanced up at the three actual crazy witches in front of me, then down at the Cookie Monster bikini I was wearing. Hmm…not so far off the crazy witch vibe, myself.
My fingers closed around the wine glass, and an image slammed into my head. A beautiful blonde woman dressed in some kind of old-fashioned clothing, like something from a World War II movie. Same for her precise makeup and sculpted updo. I could vaguely hear another person speaking in the background of the vision: “I told you I’d curse you, Ophelia.”
Ophelia?
A shadow appeared from the side, bringing with it a flash of pink light that enveloped Ophelia. Chanting sounded in a language that I didn't recognize, and I struggled to memorize the words. Ophelia shrieked, then shrank into a tiny silver brooch.
I blinked, looking at the brooch that still sat in the box.
It was the same.
I jerked back, shock lancing through me.
“What is it?” Mary’s voice interrupted my vision.
I looked up. “Uh, I think this brooch might be a person.”