2 Lady Luck Runs Out by Shannon Esposito

to go with me. She wasn't afraid of much. Might have to bribe her, though.
    *     *     *
    The party didn't start winding down until three in the morning. Mallory and I collapsed at a table with Landon, Sylvia, Frankie and Jack. Parts and pieces of our costumes were piled up in front of us, and we had switched to water and finger sandwiches as we chatted, tired and happy.
     I stroked Mage, Landon's black shepherd, who had left Landon's feet to rest his head in my lap. I cringed at first, but no visions came so I happily gave him whatever attention he wanted. My ears perked up when I heard Frankie pumping Landon for more information about Zach.
    "Zach Faraday?" Landon picked up a sandwich triangle. "I've known him for a few years. Just ran into him last week and got him to agree to be the entertainment tonight. Guess he's back in town for his mother's funeral. I'm surprised he came back, actually, considering he and his mother weren't on speaking terms. Seems to really impress people with his psychic ability." He took a bite and chewed. "What'd you think of him?"
    Mallory stiffened beside me at the mention of Zach's name and glanced at me, her eyes wide. I nodded. Well, at least he didn't live here in St. Pete. Now that the funeral was over, he'd probably go back to wherever he came from. That wouldn't be soon enough for me.
    Then Landon's words hit me. Wait, he and his mom weren't speaking? They must have really had a falling out . Was it bad enough that he could have been the one that slipped the rattlesnake into her condo? Is he dangerous enough to murder his own mother?
    "Oh, I thought he was amazing. No way could he fake what he told me," Frankie said. Her wig looked like road kill on the table in front of her. Her cropped red hair stuck up on her head. "I really believe he was communicating with my great aunt Violet."
    Sylvia was shaking her head. "Not good. People should not mess with the spirits."
    Forget spirits. Living people were the dangerous ones.
    "I don't see what the harm is. If all they want to do is get a message to their loved ones that they're okay, what's wrong with that?" Jack asked.
    "How do you know it's really your loved one? Could be a deceiving spirit just trying to turn you away from God." Sylvia made a sign of the cross over her chest. "Is not for us to mess with."
    "Oh, I don't know, Sylvia," Mallory spoke up. "Don't you think that if someone had a gift, like being a psychic, that gift came from God and He would want the person to use it?"
    "No," Sylvia said emphatically. "Is only trouble."
    I could see Mallory's disappointment in that answer. She could deny caring what other people thought all she wanted. I knew deep down it bothered her, too.
    "Well, I think there are lots of things we just can't fathom with our limited human brains," Landon said. He turned to me. "You've been awfully quiet, Darwin. What did you think of our party psychic?"
    "He seemed to shake you up good, Darlin'," Frankie said. "You never did tell me why."
    Mallory stared at me. I could feel the anxiety wafting from her.
    "He, um... knew some things about my father." I felt Mallory's anxiety jump up to a new level. "I think he's the real deal. Kind of scary. And on that note, I think it's time I get my little sister home."
     
     

 
    CHAPTER THIRTEEN
     
    Monday, we officially started Mallory's training to help in the boutique. I figured since she was going to be around for awhile, I'd keep her busy and out of trouble. Plus, she really was good with the customers. She was in her element helping the dog owners pick out costumes for the annual Dog-O-Ween contest coming up. One problem solved. On to the next.
    We took a cab Saturday morning to McGillis's Serpentarium. Mallory stared out the window, scowling, her arms crossed over my favorite turquoise silk shirt. My bribe to get her to come.
    "It won't be that bad." I paid the cab fare and we stepped out, staring up at the large 3-D metal cobra draped around the