The Diviners (The Diviners 1)

“Looks like I’m just in time.” Gabe dropped onto the stool next to Memphis. He grabbed Memphis’s hamburger and took a generous bite from it. “Mr. Campbell. Just the man I wanted to see. Alma’s having a rent party. We going. Oh, and get us some good hooch.”

Gabe handed him a thick wad of bills.

“Not in front of Isaiah,” Memphis whispered.

“He doesn’t know what we’re talking about. He’s enjoying that shake,” Gabe said.

“Don’t know what?” Isaiah said.

Memphis flashed Gabe a You see? look.

Gabe pursed his lips and folded his arms across his chest. “Little man, you got some kind of magic ears over there?”

Isaiah grinned. “No, but I do have powers.”

“Isaiah,” Memphis warned.

“Oh, do you now? I see how it is,” Gabe teased.

“I bet I know how much money you got in your pocket,” Isaiah said, turning all the way around on his bar stool.

“Isaiah, Gabe doesn’t have time for your games now,” Memphis said sharply. “Eat your food.”

Isaiah’s eyes narrowed. Memphis knew that look well enough to know that trouble generally followed it.

“You got a five, a one, and two quarters. And a address for a lady named Cymbelline.”

Gabe emptied his pocket. His eyebrows shot up. “How’d you know that?”

“Told you! I got the gift. I can prophecy, too.”

“He can’t do any such thing. Isaiah, quit telling stories,” Memphis said, flashing his brother another warning look.

“I can say whatever I want,” Isaiah snapped back.

“He can say whatever he wants,” Gabe said, grinning. “Tell me something else, little man.”

“I can see people’s futures sometimes.”

“Isaiah. Quit it now. We’ve got to get home, anyway—”

“Hold on, now, brother. Boy’s about to tell me my future. Maybe he knows something about the recording. So tell me, Isaiah, am I going to be Okeh Records’ newest star?”

“I gotta be touching something of yours.”

“Mr. Reggie! Excuse me, Mr. Reggie!” Memphis said quickly. “What do we owe you?”

“Hold on a minute, Memphis,” Mr. Reggie called. He carried two plates of food in his hands.

“Tell me,” Gabe whispered, extending his hand. Isaiah took it in his own and concentrated. After a long moment, he dropped Gabe’s hand very fast and backed away, his eyes big.

“What did you see? Don’t tell me—is she ugly?” Gabe joked.

“I didn’t see nothing,” Isaiah answered, and Memphis didn’t even correct him. He looked up at Memphis with very big eyes, and Memphis knew that whatever Isaiah had seen, it had spooked him.

“Get your coat now, Ice Man.”

But Gabe wouldn’t let it alone. “Come on, now. What do you see for your old pal Gabriel?”