Excellent, I say. Divine even. Precisely how an ace feline detective likes to spend his time. A trip in time with a bumbling crime-solving witch who leans more on the domestic side than the investigative side of yet another befuddling conundrum the humans crafted out of sheer boredom.
It’s not like I have anything better to do with my time. Who me? I can think of a million things I’d spend my time doing–mainly, not looking after a whiny, perpetually stressed out mother of three–dare I say–needy teenagers, who will impede the actual investigator, yours truly.
Alas, when duty calls, what’s a well-groomed, utterly sophisticated, seasoned investigator to do? Help.
I pray the inept housewife stays out of my way and higher-ups at the Agency of Paranormal Peculiarities, which has set me on this case, reward me for my expertise and unfaltering restraint.
Mexico City, here I come. I’m ready for this challenge. Let the Cinco de Mayo festivities begin.
No one is ever who they claim they are, especially after dark. Nowhere was that truer than in Mystery Lake, the largest small town between Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska. It was the place weary I-80 travelers stopped to get gas or go on a spur-of-the-moment crime spree and rattle unsuspecting residents. Mariana learned that the hard way earlier in the day when the handsome man with the killer smile duped her into believing she could trust him with the keys to her Mini-Cooper. Now she was not only without a vehicle, she was without the keys to her husband’s office, keys to her house, and the keys to her widowed father’s home. Why she had three sets of keys is a long story, but the short version of the final outcome was, two of the most important men in her life would kill her when they found out.
What had she done? How could she have been so naïve?
A too-familiar, critical voice came from behind her. “Way to go. You’re having a fabulous week. What with the angry mob at home, the husband whose face you won’t remember if he continues with his crazy schedule, and now this. Why did you need a valet, anyway? Was the half a block trip to the restaurant from the parking lot too much for your weary feet? Were you afraid you wouldn’t survive the distance?”
Mariana knew not to bother looking around for the speaker. Diana, her mother, had been the queen of sarcasm in life. Five years after her death, her sarcasm was the talk of the spirit world. At least, that’s what she told Mariana. She loved to wield her talents on anyone, with no care in the world for their feelings.
“Mama, this is not the time for a lecture. I’m in the middle of a crisis.” Mariana whispered so no one would think she held conversations with imaginary people.
“Yeah, no kidding. There’s always a crisis. That’s about the only thing, besides your extraordinary mother, that makes you interesting.”
“Would you like me to call the police?” a woman’s nasally voice startled her.
Mariana spun around and almost knocked the woman down. “No. Yes. I don’t know what I want. This is bad. Like my husband will kill me bad.”
The woman’s razor-thin lips parted with a gasp as if what Mariana had said was a possibility. “He will? Do you need somewhere to hide?” She also lowered her voice to a whisper. “You know there’s a secret organization that can help you. We’ve helped plenty of people like you.”
Mariana had found herself in plenty of awkward situations, but this one had to be in her top five. “Sorry, you misunderstood. My husband would never actually kill me,” she could barely get the words out of her mouth. “He’s not that guy. He’s the kindest, sweetest man in the world.”
Her mother chimed in, “And the most patient, because life with this one can’t be easy.”
The gasp the woman held back earlier returned with a vengeance and hit Mariana’s face like a ton of hot bricks. “You’re the mayor’s wife?”
It amazed her how many people in town had no idea Rob and she were married. They knew Mariana from school functions and sporting events, because that was her life while Rob moved up the ranks in his law firm and eventually pursued political ambitions. Now he was the town’s mayor and busier than ever. “Yes, I’m his wife.”
The woman narrowed her eyes. “I had no idea.”
She didn’t know what that meant, but Mariana didn’t like the sound of it. Back in the day, she was a hot commodity.
Mama snorted, “Only if that means hot mess.”
Before Mariana could respond, she noticed a shadow out of the corner of her eye.
The guy, dressed in a gray hoodie and gray gym shorts, ran like a track champion. It took Mariana two blocks of huffing and puffing before the race was over. That would teach her to cancel her gym membership. She thought she got enough exercise chasing after the kids and tending to her duties as the city’s first lady. Based on the burning pain in the back of her legs, she’d have to say she was wrong.
The guy took a hard right and left Mariana in the dust. She gathered what was left of her ego and limped back to the restaurant as sweat dripped down her face.
“Call the police. The other valet stole my keys,” she said to a man in a short red coat with shoulder braids who stepped out of the restaurant. He was a taller, older man with salt and pepper hair, broader shoulders, and deep-set blue eyes. Obviously, the valet.
A smile spread across his face. “What other valet?”
She pointed down the block. “The guy in the gray hoodie.” She realized she’d handed her keys to some random guy. “What is wrong with me? Why would I give my keys to a man in a hoodie?”
He shrugged. “You tell me.”
“That’s not funny. I need those keys.”
He nodded. “Yep.”
“He has my keys, my wallet, my phone, my kids’ pictures, my whole life,” she said.
“You gave him your purse? Why would you do that?” he asked.
“No, I handed him my car keys. He snatched my purse.”
He shook his head. “That’s horrible. Do you think he took your car, too?”
Her car! She hadn’t thought about her car.
“Call the police. I need to see if my car is still in the lot.”
The valet smirked. “Good luck.”
Mariana couldn’t tell if that was a joke or not, but neither solved her problem.
He grabbed her arm. “Don’t scream.” He pulled her closer. “Act natural.” He spun her around and draped his arm around Mariana’s waist and practically carried her down the block. “We’re all friends here.”
The gun pointed at her rib cage was the only thing preventing her from screaming. Although she didn’t dare utter a word, she did her level best to make a scene with her body. She pulled. She tugged. She stomped her foot on the pavement and her kidnapper’s foot. Probably not the best idea, because if he wanted to shoot her, he had every opportunity to do it, but he didn’t. No one around them batted an eye. The woman who she’d run into earlier was nowhere in sight.
Desperate to get out of the situation, she mouthed the word HELP to a couple on a nearby bench. Either they didn’t understand or didn’t care that they were witnesses to the brazen kidnapping of the mayor’s wife. Neither of them responded to her plea.
“They won’t help you,” the valet whispered in her ear.
It occurred to her she hadn’t heard her mother’s voice in a while. “Mama?”
“Present,” she answered.
“Can you do something?” She couldn’t believe she had to spell it out to her.
She giggled. “I did. Promise me you won’t kill me.”
The valet eased his grip on Mariana. “Are we good, Diana? Is it time?”
Mama laughed a nervous laugh.
“What does he mean?” Mariana noticed a Grimoire, a book of spells, on a defunct mailbox on the corner. That’s when it hit her. This was a setup. “No. Nope. No way. Not going to happen.”
He looked directly in her eyes. “It didn’t have to be like this you know.” He nudged her forward, keeping a firm hand on her back.
“What is this?” She swung around to confront him head-on, but the Grimoire flew open and the world went dark.
“Hola, señorita,” a young man, pushing a paleta cart, strolled past Mariana. He had a long line of ice cream fans in head to toe patriotic gear trailing behind him.
“Hola.” Mariana waved before slamming into a giant boom box. “Sorry.”
The man next to the boom box glared at her then pulled his hat over his eyes.
“Can you tell me where we are?” she asked.
He pointed to the street. In Spanish, he said, “You’re in my way. I can’t see the parade.”
Mariana stepped to the side and accidentally knocked over his horchata. The almondy liquid spread along the cobblestones. “Oops! So sorry.” She looked around for something that would tell her exactly where she was. All the signs were in Spanish. The announcers on the radio spoke in Spanish. Mexico? She glanced at the man again, but he still had the hat over his eyes. She needed help.
“Mama, are you here?” she whispered.
Several bystanders whispered to each other as they watched her.
“This is Mexico,” Mariana said. “Why am I here? What about my car, my keys, my family?” Panic normally hit her in waves during the course of a day, but this panic attack hit her like a punch to the gut. She had to get out of there, and fast.
“Don’t panic,” Lola, Mariana’s part-time familiar and full-time pain in the caboose, stepped in front of her. This time, she was a cat, but not just an ordinary cat, because Lola loved to be the center of attention. She was in full patriotic gear: an extra-large red and black Mariachi hat on her head, a bright red serape draped over her Calico fur, and green sunglasses covering her eyes.
“Why are you here?” Mariana lifted her.
She resisted. Affection was a no-no with her.
She hissed, then relented. “Walk and listen. We can’t afford to have you screw this thing up.”
“What do you mean?”
She hissed at Mariana again. “Nope, no talkie. I talk; you listen.”
“Fine.” Mariana found a space in between two sleeping men to squeeze into and pretended to watch the parade. “I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but I’m in the middle of a crisis in my real life. I was robbed.”
Lola slammed her head against Mariana’s face. “What part of don’t talk do you not comprehend?”
Mariana rubbed her cheek. “Why don’t you tell me, kitty?”
Lola glared at Mariana. “Do you have a problem with cats?”
“Only if they were dogs yesterday.”
“So, I like change. Deal with it,” Lola said. “Listen close. There’s a cat.”
Mariana looked for another cat nearby but saw nothing.
“Let me finish. This isn’t just any cat. It’s a familiar. A real hoity-toity type. He’s a descendant of a super sleuth and won’t let you forget it.” Lola rolled her eyes. “I don’t know the details, but they don’t matter. You need to prepare for him and, no matter what you do, don’t let him take over the case. Oh, and don’t drink the water.”
The man to Mariana’s left stirred. “Viva La Raza!” He lifted a fist in solidarity with those cheering around them and promptly fell back to sleep.
“Focus on me,” Lola said.
“Why should I care about a hoity-toity cat? I already have a familiar.”
Lola squirmed out of Mariana’s grip. “Follow me and I’ll explain.”
Mariana focused on the parade. She was reluctant to hear Lola’s explanation. She was no longer on the agency’s payroll. Her days of time traveling to solve paranormal cold cases for the Agency of Paranormal Peculiarities ended two years earlier. Technically. Thanks to her mother’s meddling, the end never meant the end. This was the second time her mother volunteered her for an assignment. Supposedly, she no longer had to do what the folks at the agency told her to do. Obviously, they’d changed the rules. Again. That was clear, because unless she had memory issues, she didn’t recite the time traveling spell that got her here, so that meant the agency pulled a fast one.
“Now,” Lola demanded.
Mariana sighed and followed her to a nearby storefront. One quick whiff of the sweet scent in the air and she knew why she’d chosen this spot. “No sugar cookies for you.” Lola had a sweet tooth that wouldn’t quit.
Lola hissed at her, frightening a small child on their left.
“Could you stop that?” Mariana pointed toward the child. “You’re scaring children, Lola.”
“You can’t mess up this case,” Lola said.
“What case?”
Lola rolled her eyes. “You’ll find out soon enough. Just so you understand, I can’t help you.”
“Why not? And what’s the deal about the water? Why do you care what I drink?” Mariana didn’t know why it mattered. Lola had never been much help in the past.
“Get out of your head. You’ll hurt yourself,” Lola said. “I can’t help you because I’m the victim.”
When Mariana thought about vacationing in Mexico, she always imagined she’d spend time under a giant umbrella on the beach with a stack of romance novels by her side. She never imagined a century old convent surrounded by columns on which they placed busts of important religious figures. A cobblestone walkway gave way to ceramic tiles near the front doors. A large stone fountain sat at the center of the front atrium, surrounded by a weather-beaten stone barrier.
“Tell me again why you require our help,” Sister Immaculata, a nun with disapproving eyes and a narrow nose, said in Spanish. “Are you in trouble with the law? If that’s the case, we can’t accept you or your cat.”
Mariana spun around as Lola meowed. As far as she knew, Lola hadn’t accompanied her to the location of her first death.
Mariana lifted a brow at her.
Lola winked.
Mariana didn’t know what Lola was up to, but she thought it safer to feign innocence. “That’s not my cat, Sister.”
Lola either didn’t hear Mariana or didn’t care because she sauntered away as if she didn’t have a care in the world.
“Don’t touch that,” Sister Immaculata said as Lola sniffed around a fountain.
Lola gave Mariana the side eye.
“Don’t touch it,” Mariana said to the cat. “Trust me, always follow a nun’s orders.”
Sister Immaculata didn’t break her hard stare at Lola. Finally, Lola gave up and walked away from the fountain.
“Fine. Come in, but touch nothing,” Sister Immaculata said. “We will give you a place to bathe, provide a good meal for you and the stray, and a bed, but that’s it. As soon as you’re well rested, you must go.”
Mariana laughed. She’d been a mother for twenty years. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept through the night. Between the kids and her ever-shrinking bladder a full night’s sleep was a pipe dream.
Sister Immaculata glared at her.
Mariana wiped the smile off her face. “Thank you, Sister.”
Sister Immaculata was stone-faced.
“I think I’ll be quiet,” Mariana said.
“Sounds like a good idea,” Sister Immaculata said.
Lola made a strange noise.
Sister Immaculata walked inside the building, pulled a drawer on a hutch open, and lifted something out. “We keep treats for the strays in here.”
Mariana blinked to adjust to the dimly lit room. Candles were the only source of lighting she could see.
Lola narrowed her eyes at Sister Immaculata.
The sister arched a brow at her. “Attitude? We don’t put up with that here. We don’t do a lot of things here. We’re a simple people. You’ll do well to keep that in mind while you’re here. You won’t find any valuables. We work hard, from sunup to sundown. We work together. We grow most of our own food in our garden.” She motioned for Mariana to follow her up a wide staircase and down a long, dimly lit corridor. “You will stay in the room on the right, overlooking the courtyard. We eat twice a day, breakfast and dinner. If you want to eat, you’ll join us on time. We’ll put bowls out for the stray.” Lola gave her the side eye again. “Keep your cat away from the plants and our fountains. Do you understand?”
Mariana nodded. She had no reason to touch the fountain. However, who knew what Lola had planned. The familiar liked to live in the moment. Mariana had no control over her.
“Here’s the room. Everything you need is in here,” Sister Immaculata said as she ushered everyone in and slammed the door shut behind them. She pointed a long, thin finger in Mariana’s face. “You will not cause problems.”
Mariana gulped. “No, of course not.”
Sister Immaculata adjusted the habit on her head. “Every time we open our home to strangers, strange things happen. I don’t like strange things.”
“I understand,” Mariana said. “We won’t cause any problems. One, maybe two nights, then we’ll be out of your hair.”
“Habit,” Lola said.
Sister Immaculata spun around so quickly, her habit smacked Mariana in the face. “Who said that?”
Mariana shot a glare at Lola. “I did.”
The sister turned to Mariana. “I swear it came from behind me.”
Mariana shook her head. “Really? Strange.”
Sister Immaculata narrowed her eyes at Mariana. “I told you strange things happen when we invite people into our home. I don’t like it.” She lit a candle near the door.
Another nun appeared in the doorway. “Sister Immaculata?”
“Not now, Sister Leonora.”
Sister Leonora’s gaze cut to Mariana. They locked eyes.
“Have we met?” Mariana asked.
Sister Leonora cast her eyes on the ground. “I’m sorry, Sister Immaculata, but there’s someone here for our guest.”
Mariana did a double take. “For me?”
Sister Leonora waved someone into the room.
Mariana had seen her mother in different looks in her lifetime, but she’d never seen her look like this. Her mother stepped into the room with a cat in her arms. Mariana couldn’t take her eyes off her. She had to be around twenty years old. Six years before Mariana was born. How was that possible?
“Mama?” Mariana couldn’t help herself.
Her mother’s eyes widened. “No. Do I look old enough to be someone’s mother?”
The tag on the cat’s collar caught Mariana’s eye. It said: Trouble.
Mariana glanced at Lola.
Lola rolled her eyes.
Diana stepped forward and touched her hand. “We should talk.”
Those were the last words Mariana heard before her head hit the floor.
“What year is it?” a paramedic asked as he passed a penlight over Mariana’s eyes.
Mariana closed her eyes. “You’re speaking Spanish. No. I want to go home. No offense against Spanish speakers. I’m one too. It was my first language, but I don’t use it much these days. You know…kids. Their Spanish isn’t the greatest.” She wondered why she was babbling? What did they care?
The paramedic spoke to someone behind him, “She says she wants to go home.”
Mariana opened her eyes, but his penlight blinded her.
“You’re in Mexico City. Can you tell me your name?”
That was easy. “Mariana Galvin.”
He nodded at someone else. “Do you know what year it is?”
“If I have any luck at all, it’s 2020.” Mariana closed her eyes while she waited for him to confirm.
He spoke in a hushed tone to someone behind him.
Mariana forced herself to sit and immediately realized she had no luck at all.
Her mother, the now younger version and still holding the black cat, gave her a look she’d given her many times in her life. It was the one that said to straighten up before things went bad.
Trouble pulled a face as if Mariana had offended him.
“Hi there,” Mariana said as she reached to pet him, but he caught her with a tiny claw.
“He doesn’t like people,” her mother said.
“Neither do I,” Mariana mumbled.
“It’s 1985,” her mother said in English. “So, wrong answer.”
Mariana recognized the sarcasm. She’d inherited it from her mother. “You’re here for me?”
She nodded. “Yes. Can I speak with you privately?”
Knowing how her mother operated, Mariana knew all private conversations led to dark, scary places. Her instinct was to refuse her offer. If her mother got upset, Mariana could always use a spell to get herself out of it. She was a little out of practice, but she could manage.
The minute the paramedics left the room and the doctor released her into her mother’s care, Mariana slipped out of the hospital bed and caught up with Diana who waited for her in the courtyard. Trouble followed close behind them.
“Have we met?” Mariana asked as her mother placed a hand on her shoulder.
“We haven’t yet. Not formally, but that doesn’t matter now.”
“It doesn’t?”
She smiled a wide, youthful smile and leaned toward Mariana. “I can also hear your thoughts, so don’t think too hard. You’ll give me a headache.”
“What did I think that was so wrong?”
Her mother cocked her head to the side and placed her hands on her hips. “You’re in trouble.”
“For what?”
She rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean.”
Mariana thought they were on the same page. “Mama, I told you this was a bad idea.”
She drew back from Mariana. “What did you call me?”
“I said… nothing. I’m tired.”
Her mother narrowed her eyes at her. “You don’t have time for that. You have work to do.” She snapped her fingers at Trouble, who quickly marched to her side to face her. “And, don’t call me your mom again. Is that clear? I don’t know what your issue is, but if you call me that again, I might lose my temper.”
“Yeah, try not to do that. You always blow things out of proportion,” Mariana murmured.
She leaned forward. “What did you say?”
“Nothing. Sorry. I talk to myself.” It wasn’t a lie. Mariana talked to herself, but she tried to keep it to a minimum because she already had a lot going on in her world. For starters, the ghosts. They were everywhere. Being born with the ability to see and speak to spirits made for many foibles in her life, including her former job with the agency.
She waved off what Mariana had said and motioned for her to follow her down a walkway toward the street in front of the hospital. “I don’t want to get into the details, so I’ll keep this short. I know why you’re here.”
Mariana arched a brow. “You do?” Color Mariana confused. Did her mother really know, or did she think she knew? How was Mariana supposed to play this?
Her mother held up a palm. “Someone wants to get rid of you.”
“Me? Why? What did I do?”
“You’re here,” her mother answered as if that was all Mariana needed to know. “Our coven is large, but we’re close knit.”
“Coven?” What was this woman? Mariana’s mother always warned her never to disclose they were witches. She said it wasn’t safe.
“Don’t play coy with me. We know everything that goes on around here. That’s how we protect ourselves. That’s also how we sometimes draw negative attention. I’m afraid your open discussion with a cat at a parade put a spotlight on you. Someone started a rumor.”
“What rumor?” Mariana asked.
Her mother shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. People know you’re here.”
“What people?” Mariana asked.
“People who shouldn’t know.” Diana sighed. “Now we have to do something about it.”
“Wait, I’m a target of the people who saw me at the parade? Why?” The thought sent chills up Mariana’s spine.
“Not them...the people they told. People who don’t want us in Mexico City, but you’re safe here—for now.”
That didn’t ease Mariana’s mind. If someone wanted her dead, they’d do something about it.
“They don’t want you dead; they want Lola dead. It’s your job to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Lola ran up beside Mariana. “See. I told you.”
My, my, my, how many words wasted by these feeble-minded creatures. One would think a witch, or in this case several witches, would know how to conduct themselves properly. It’s not as if they hadn’t worked together before.
Le sigh. I suppose it will be up to me to tidy up this mess. But first, I must hurry things along.
Ah, the perils of an investigative genius. I truly do not understand what the world would do without me.
“No,” Sister Immaculata said as she wagged her finger upon their return to the convent. “I said I’d let you have one cat. Two? No. We can’t accommodate a stable full of felines.” She shot a glare at the new arrivals.
Trouble clearly thought highly of himself. Mariana could tell by the regal way he carried himself. If he were human, he’d suck up all the oxygen in the room with his larger-than-life personality. The way he held his head up gave Mariana the impression he was judging them. She couldn’t blame him.
“That cat won’t stay with me. It’s just me and Lola, Sister,” Mariana said as her mother lifted a brow at her. “Right?”
Diana shook her head. “No, you’re confused. You told me you wanted to keep Trouble with you. Don’t you remember?”
Part of Mariana wanted to deny it, but it was her mother. “Okay, I lied. Cats don’t take up much space. I’ll monitor them, I promise.”
Sister Immaculata eyed both cats. “I don’t want them in our flowers, plants, or the fountain. Do you understand?”
“I do.” Mariana glanced at her mother, but her gaze was settled on Trouble. “What was your name again?” Mariana asked her mother. She and Sister Immaculata exchanged glances. “Is it a secret?” Mariana thought it was a test. Her mother couldn’t on one hand say not to call her mama and on the other refuse to give her name. That was the only way for Mariana to know her mother wasn’t under a spell of some kind.
Her mother’s eye twitched. “My name is Lucy.” She winked at Mariana.
Mariana flinched. That wasn’t her mother’s name.
Trouble yawned, stretched, and walked away.
Sister Immaculata arched a brow at Mariana.
“Did I do something wrong?” Mariana asked.
Sister Immaculata glanced at Trouble. “Watch the cats.” She didn’t wait for Mariana to respond.
Mariana turned her attention to her mother. Why did she lie about her name? Didn’t the sisters know her name? Why didn’t they question her lie?
“Oh, my head!”
Mariana glared at her mother. She didn’t have a headache. She wanted Mariana to shut her mouth.
Her mother smirked. “Do as the dear sister says. Watch the cats like your life depends on it.”
Mariana didn’t like the look in her eyes. “Does it?”
Sister Immaculata gasped.
Her mother twisted on her heels. “Follow the rules and, no matter what happens, don’t leave.”
Mariana froze in place. What had she gotten herself into? This wasn’t her fault. She was on her way to a nice diner with her brand-new press secretary. She didn’t plan for a robbery or a kidnapping. How was she supposed to keep two familiars alive?
Sister Immaculata clucked her tongue. “Understand this. The only reason I said you could stay here was because I have a soft spot for people, but I’m not okay with witchcraft. You won’t use any of that here.”
Mariana nodded. “You have my word.”
The sister eyed Mariana up and down, “Why you?”
“I’m sorry?”
“This happens every few years. The familiars are prime targets for nefarious people.”
“So, they send a witch to play bodyguard every few years?”
Sister Immaculata shook her head. “People aren’t prepared for what they’re up against.”
Mariana gulped. “What am I up against?”
How much longer must I endure this twit?
Lola, a rather unusual familiar with the attention span of a gnat, is the only one who can understand me. I wonder what I’ve done to deserve this. I have a choice: take matters into my own hands or languish with the rubbish.
As they say, rubbish in, rubbish out. If ever there was a time to get rid of the rubbish, this is it.
“Give me a minute to explain it to Mariana,” Lola says.
I don’t have a minute, I explain. How dare she assume I have time to waste! Doesn’t she know who I am? Doesn’t she realize how many would-be clients wish they could have a minute of my time?
“Get over yourself, Sherlock Gnomes,” Lola insists.
Excuse you, alley cat? I hiss.
“Let me explain it to her. She won’t do anything unless she has details. That’s just the way she is. I know you want to be all secretive and everything, so let me handle this. Just stand there and look… look… well, look the way you do right now. It will intimidate her.” She snickers as she turns her attention to Mariana. “Pay attention. You might learn something.”
An eye roll would be appropriate, but I don’t have it in me. If I want to be free of them, I must play along.
“Is it just me or does it seem like that black cat has something to say?” Mariana asked Lola.
Lola glanced at Trouble. “When doesn’t he?”
Mariana hadn’t heard him say anything, so she had to take her at her word. Lola didn’t have a long history of telling the truth.
“Forget him,” Lola said.
That was hard to do because Trouble watched her every move.
“You didn’t hear this from me,” Lola lowered her voice, “but rumor has it, Sister Loose Lips is the one who offed me.”
Mariana blinked. Sometimes Lola spoke like an old Hollywood starlet. No one knew why. “Say that again. When you say offed, you mean killed, right? And who is Sister Loose Lips?”
Lola sighed. “One guess. Sounds like Sister Immaculata. Isn’t it obvious? She hates everyone. Mess up one time, and suddenly, I must die.”
Trouble groaned.
Mariana took it as a sign Lola didn’t tell her the whole story. “You think she killed you because you made a mistake?”
A knock on the door interrupted their conversation.
“Come in,” Mariana said as she shot a warning glance at Lola. If anyone would act up, she could guarantee it’d be Lola.
Sister Immaculata pushed the door open.
“Yes? Did you want to tell me something?” Mariana asked.
Her eyes were vacant. She lifted a hand to knock on the door again.
“I knew it. She’s a zombie!” Lola yelled.
Trouble sighed.
“She’s not a zombie.” Mariana walked over to help the sister. “I think she’s asleep.”
“What?” Lola lunged for her and almost knocked her off her feet.
Mariana caught the sister’s arm before she tumbled over. “Can you not do that? She’s asleep.” Mariana walked the nun over to the bed. “You’re okay. Sit right here.”
Sister Immaculata didn’t argue. A vial of a clear liquid fell out of her pocket.
“Those things have pockets?” Lola asked. “I wondered where they kept their cash.”
“Nuns don’t have cash,” Mariana said. “Can you focus?”
Trouble nudged the bottle with his nose, then backed away and hissed.
“What is that? What did you smell?”
Loud footfalls in the hallway added to the chaos.
Sister Leonora stepped in the doorway. “There you are.” She walked in and grabbed Sister Immaculata’s arm. “Next time you do this, you’ll see the doctor. I hope you tell him your sleepwalking has continued.” She had trouble trying to get the sister to follow her.
“Do you want some help?” Mariana asked.
Trouble coughed.
Mariana glanced in his direction.
He threw himself on the ground in a coughing fit.
“What in the world?” Mariana didn’t know which way to go. Help Sister Leonora or save Trouble? The choice was made even more complicated when Lola grabbed the bottle and ran out of the room with it.
“What was in her mouth?” Sister Leonora asked.
Mariana shrugged. “Who knows? You know how cats are.” Mariana wasn’t sure it was a good idea to share what they’d found.
Sister Lenora reached into Sister Immaculata’s pockets. “Where is it?”
She feigned ignorance. “Where is what?”
Sister Lenora’s face turned a deep shade of red. “The holy water.”
“That bottle has holy water in it?” Mariana asked.
She nodded. “Yes, what do you think was in it?”
She didn’t want to know what Mariana thought. Mariana’s mind could come up with all kinds of crazy things. “Can’t you get more from the fountain?”
Sister Immaculata pushed herself to her feet and took tentative steps toward the door. “Never touch that water.”
“Here, let me help you,” Mariana said. “Why is everyone so worried about the water?”
Sister Leonora snapped. “Get out of my way and let me help her. You can go find that cat and get the water back. You need not worry about why it’s so important. It’s none of your business.” Her shoulders slumped as she sighed. Her voice filled with emotion. “It’s not about the water. Don’t you get it? It’s about everything.” She grabbed Sister Immaculata and pulled her toward the door. “Do you know how difficult it is to care for someone who is aging rapidly?”
Mariana thought back to the years she took care of her mother while she battled several ailments and setbacks. “I’m afraid I do. I took care of my mom.” She swallowed hard. The irony of her mother being here, alive, made her heart heavy.
Sister Leonora swallowed hard. “So, you know. It’s exhausting. It’s all I can do to keep things running smoothly here and make sure she is safe.” She swiped at a tear on her cheek. “I need a break.”
Mariana wrapped an arm around her. “I get it. How can I help you?”
She took a deep breath. “Can you help me get her back to her room?”
That, Mariana could do. She took one arm, and Sister Leonora took the other and they made a slow trek down the hallway and down a flight of stairs to a room behind the kitchen where they made Sister Immaculata comfortable on the bed.
“This is a big place,” Mariana said.
Sister Leonora nodded.
“Are there other sisters here with you?”
“Yes.”
“Where are they?” Mariana hadn’t seen or heard any of them.
Sister Leonora changed the subject. “Is your father still alive?”
“Yes. Why do you ask?”
“You said you took care of your mother. I wondered where he was.”
Mariana didn’t want to get into a discussion about her family.
Sister Leonora must’ve sensed her discomfort. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to pry. It’s none of my business.” She sighed. “It’s been a long time since we’ve had company. I miss the noise.”
Mariana hadn’t realized how nasally her voice was until now. It reminded her of that nanny on TV. The one who fell in love with her British employer.
Lola meowed.
She was right. Mariana had lost focus. “Do you have a big family?”
“Two brothers and three sisters.”
“Do they live nearby?”
Sister Leonora shook her head. “My brothers are near Vera Cruz. Two of my sisters moved to the United States.”
“Do you get to see them often?”
Tears filled her eyes. “No, not since…” Her words trailed off as she wiped her tears.
“I’m so sorry. Would you like me to call someone for you?”
Lola coughed like she had a hairball in her throat.
Mariana had forgotten. They had no electricity in the convent. Sister Immaculata had made a big deal about how they lived.
Sister Leonora smiled. “The nearest phone is a mile up the road.”
Mariana furrowed her brows. “How did you phone for the ambulance earlier?”
Her eyes went wide.
“Sister?” Mariana asked.
“I didn’t have to phone them.”
“What do you mean?”
She rubbed her hand over her forehead. “They were here.”
“Waiting? That’s strange.”
Sister Leonora chuckled. “Sister Immaculata always says strange things happen here.”
Mariana nodded. “She told me that.” She decided not to push the issue. She made a mental note to ask Lola to investigate it.
“What’s it like?” Sister Leonora asked.
“What’s what like?”
She giggled. “What’s it like to live as a witch?”
“I don’t know. I don’t live the life of a witch. I’m a small-town mom.”
Sister Leonora nodded. “So, you don’t know any spells?”
“No.”
“None?”
Mariana shrugged. “Afraid not.” Lying to a nun wasn’t high on Mariana’s list of bad deeds, but she doubted she could get away with this one. “I couldn’t recite a spell if I tried.”
Sister Leonora squinted her eyes at Mariana. “Thou shall not lie.”
Mariana winked. “That’s what confession is for, right?”
“It might surprise you to hear I got here the same way you did.”
Mariana gulped. “Would you care to elaborate?”
Sister Leonora opened her mouth to speak, but the sound of breaking glass interrupted her.
Mariana spun around. Shards of glass were at her feet. “What is that?”
Lola stood nearby with a Cheshire grin on her face.
“Whatever she broke, I’ll pay to have it repaired, provided it’s not a priceless piece of art or a religious relic or anything. In that case, I might have to give you an I.O.U.”
Sister Leonora’s eyes were on the shattered glass. “I understand now. I know who the cat is. Was.” Her eyes filled with tears.
“You do?” Mariana asked.
Trouble rushed over and scowled at Mariana.
“What’s wrong with you?” Mariana asked as she reached to pick him up.
He evaded her by jumping onto a chair then moving to the bed, far out of her reach. He sidled up next to Sister Immaculata and nudged her with his nose. She didn’t move. He moved up more and stopped next to her face.
Mariana reached for him, but he pulled away from her and hissed.
“What’s the matter?” she asked.
He swatted Mariana’s hand away.
Lola made a gross sound.
Mariana glanced behind her. “One cat at a time.” She apologized to Sister Immaculata, “Sorry, Sister,” she said in a hushed voice, “I don’t know what’s wrong with him.”
Sister Immaculata’s eyes opened wide.
Mariana leaned close to her ear under the guise of coaxing Trouble away from her. “Sister, are you awake?” she whispered.
Sister Immaculata gave her a barely perceptible nod.
“Is this a trick?” Mariana asked.
The sister shook her head twice.
“Are you in trouble?”
She nodded once again.
“Is Sister Leonora in trouble too?”
Sister Immaculata opened her eyes, a panicked look on her face. She lifted her chin and pointed it at something behind Mariana.
Mariana turned and suddenly a hand covered her mouth. Before she knew what happened, the person pulled a pillowcase over her head and dragged her out of the room, kicking and screaming.
They pulled the pillowcase off her face and Mariana found herself in the dimly lit hallway. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust. “Mama?”
Her mother made a choking motion with her hands. “I told you not to call me that.”
“What is this? You’re kidnapping me?” Mariana wasn’t sure if she should be relieved or scared out of her mind.
Her mother shook her head. “I’m saving you.”
“From who?”
“From you. You made this so much harder than it had to be. You had one job. That was to keep your eyes on the cats.”
“I did,” Mariana said. “They’re both alive.”
Sister Leonora and Sister Immaculata fought to get through the bedroom doorway.
“She’s awake. She’s awake. I knew it was a trick,” Sister Leonora said.
A loud whistle interrupted the squabbling.
That’s enough! a male with a British accent yelled. I can’t take one more second of this nonsense.
They looked around to see where the voice came from but couldn’t see anything beyond their own noses in the darkness of night.
“Who said that?’ Mariana asked as she moved away from her mother before her mother attacked her again.
I said it, you, ninnies. Do you see what you’ve made me do? I never speak to the humans. Never. Trouble nudged a flashlight toward them. There’s never any reason, but you are impossible.
Mariana couldn’t help herself. “So, you do speak? Shocking.”
Trouble narrowed his eyes at her. I’ve heard enough out of you. He marched toward her and stopped at her feet. Explain to me how you’re an investigator. I don’t see it. All you’ve done is miss every clue I’ve left for you. What do I have to do? Would it be easier if I drew pictures?
Mariana didn’t know if he had nothing else to say, or he was holding himself back, but she didn’t like the look in his eyes.
“Do the right thing,” Lola said. “Hurry before they put us out of our misery.”
“No one will touch us,” Mariana said as the others circled around her like she was the enemy. “Right? We’re all friends here.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she knew it was over.
“What is this?” Lola had asked Mariana a dozen times since she rushed out of the convent and into the back courtyard.
Mariana didn’t have an answer for her yet. Not until she found the proof she needed.
“Hello? Do you hear me?” Lola jumped in front of Mariana as she searched between the bushes. “Hey, lady!”
That made Mariana laugh. She sounded like Jerry Lewis.
“Wait! I have proof of life. Quick, someone bring me a camera,” Lola yelled to the others.
“Lola, this is important,” Mariana said. “I know this is all a big hoax.”
Lola’s jaw dropped.
“Don’t do that. I know you set me up.”
Lola shook her head. “No, I didn’t. Why would I do that? Why would anyone? They made me do it, I swear.” Lola couldn’t stop talking when she was nervous. “Here’s the deal, sweets. You’re supposed to find the person who killed me, remember? Did the mission change? Why didn’t anyone inform me?”
“Lola,” Mariana started by lowering her voice. That’s a trick she learned when her kids were out of control. If she lowered the volume, they would follow suit and curb their behavior. Lola was essentially a child trapped in the body of a familiar. “This isn’t about who killed you. It’s about who you used to be, isn’t it?”
“How did you know?” Lola hung her head.
Mariana stopped her search and found a spot to sit. “The Grimoire and the fountain. It all makes sense now.”
Lola sat next to her. “What?”
“The Grimoire. When I got robbed, I noticed a Grimoire on a mailbox.” Mariana looked around. “Where is it now? I know it’s here.”
Lola cocked her head to the side. “I don’t know what you mean.”
Mariana lifted a brow. “Don’t lie to me. The agency wouldn’t leave the Grimoire for me to see if they didn’t want me to know about it.”
Lola averted her eyes.
“I know what I saw. Where is it?”
Lola pointed. “There’s a fountain right there. Have at it.”
Sister Immaculata walked out to the garden with the Grimoire in her hands. “It’s right here.”
Mariana rushed over to take it from her. “Thank you.” She set the book down on a large stone and it fell open naturally, or supernaturally. Mariana wasn’t quite sure which, but she intended to find out. Just as she suspected, the spells were written in Spanish. “Would anyone care to tell me the truth or would you rather I guess?”
Sister Leonora stepped outside, followed by Mariana’s mother and Trouble, who wore a smug grin on his little face.
“Is this really a convent?”
The sisters exchanged glances.
“Yes? No? You don’t know?” Mariana asked.
“It is now,” Sister Immaculata said.
“And the holy water, it’s not really holy water, is it?” Mariana figured it wasn’t. Based on Sister Leonora’s reaction to the broken vial of holy water and Sister Immaculata’s repeated warnings not to go near the fountain, Mariana assumed it wasn’t holy water at all. It was something far more valuable, or in this case, potentially deadly. “What is in the fountain?”
Her mother fidgeted with a locket on her necklace.
Mariana recognized it. Her mother only wore it when she performed cleanses. She wondered whether it had any significance today.
“It makes things happen,” her mother answered.
“What kind of things? What’s in the fountain?” Mariana walked toward it with her arm outstretched as if she intended to touch the water.
As her hand hovered only inches above the surface, her mother said, “No, don’t touch it.”
Mariana pulled her hand back. “Why not?”
Her mother’s cheeks flushed.
“What does it do?” Mariana extended her arm again.
“We don’t know,” she confessed. “We’re not sure what it does. Sometimes it creates a fog. Other times, it makes people disappear. And sometimes…” Her words trailed as she locked eyes with the sisters.
Mariana tilted her head to the side. “Do you want to finish that?”
Her mother’s shoulders slumped. “It does its own thing.”
“Which means?”
She mumbled something under her breath.
“What was that?” Mariana asked.
“It’s a mistake, okay? It’s a mistake. In my defense, I’m still new at this thing.” She chuckled. “I found the Grimoire and thought I’d mix things up a little.” She chuckled again as she glanced at Lola. “I guess I goofed. So, sue me.”
Lola mumbled something. Mariana was afraid to ask her to repeat it.
“You mixed spells and created a concoction you have no control over?” Mariana couldn’t wrap her head around it. She looked at the fountain. “Why did you put it in the fountain? How much did you need?”
The sisters laughed.
“What did you plan to do with your concoction?” Mariana asked.
Her mother said, “Initially, we wanted to use it for protection, but then, something went haywire.”
“Something like?”
She glanced at Lola. “Like we lost a friend.”
“You killed someone?” Mariana’s breath caught in her throat.
The sisters and her mother were adamant that no one died because of their mix up.
“Why did you have it today?” Mariana asked Lola.
Lola winked. “To help you.”
“I thought you said you couldn’t help me with this case.”
Lola winked again. “I lied.” She spun in a slow circle as if on display and stopped when she was facing Mariana. “Today, we needed a distraction to get me out of sight.”
Mariana knitted her brows. “Why did you need to be out of sight?”
Sister Leonora jumped in to explain, “We don’t know why. We just follow orders. Someone from the agency contacted us. They told us to test you.”
“So, they sent me here to be tested by nuns and two familiars? How did they know I’d end up at the convent? I didn’t even know that,” Mariana said as it occurred to her how she ended up there. Lola told her she’d been killed at the convent, but she never mentioned anything about this. She looked at her mother. “And you agreed to this? You agreed to testing your own flesh and blood? I’m your daughter.”
Her mother’s head jerked. “What? I don’t have children. I’m too young.”
Mariana realized she’d gone too far. She had to walk the last statement back. No need to jeopardize the future. “Sorry. This is all so confusing. What I meant was you went along with testing one of your own. Why? Why now? Couldn’t this wait?”
She offered a half-hearted nod. “We agreed to test potential candidates like we always have.” She glanced at Lola. “It had to be today. Lola died on Cinco de Mayo. You can only break the spell on Cinco de Mayo. That’s why you’re here.”
Mariana’s gaze fell on the sisters. “Are you really nuns?”
They nodded in unison.
“Are you witches too? I’ve never heard of witch nuns,” Mariana said.
Sister Immaculata shook her head. “No, we’re just nuns. We’re helpers.”
“How did you get mixed up in this?” Mariana asked.
“A few years ago, some scary people came to town to kill a witch,” Sister Immaculata said. “We helped hide her.”
Mariana gulped as she realized who that witch was. She looked at her mother. “They came to kill you?”
Her mother nodded. “They tried and failed. Lola and the good sisters helped me dupe them.”
“So, why was I tested? How would that change things?”
“We can’t tell you. The folks at the agency told us to prepare you,” Sister Leonora said.
“Prepare me for what?” Mariana wasn’t sure she wanted to know what would come next.
Lola interjected, “Prepare for what they have planned for you next.”
“Which is?” Mariana asked.
Trouble groaned. Must I explain everything to you? You are being tested so you can join the next generation of crime-solvers. He moved closer to Mariana and lowered his voice. These women don’t know you’re from the future, so let’s not alarm them. Keep it to the current conversation.
Mariana nodded.
You’re here to help them with the real problem. That is, if you pass the test.
“Is there another test?” she asked.
No one responded.
“Well?”
Lola laughed.
“Say something,” Mariana urged.
Lola shook her head. “First, I want to know how you knew I was in on it.”
Mariana sighed. “You’re speaking Spanish. You barely make sense in English, so I knew something was up. Then, when you took off on your own, you behaved like the grounds were familiar to you.” She saved the best revelation for last. “And the sisters were worried about keeping you under control, which means they’re familiar with your antics. You’ve been here before.”
She scoffed. “That’s cheating. You knew I was here before because I told you that.”
Mariana pointed to the space between the bushes. “Yeah, but did you tell me about the habit that’s buried in the yard?”
There was a collective gasp amongst the group.
“I’m impressed.” Lola laughed.
“Tell me the truth,” Mariana said. “You weren’t always what you are now, were you?”
She shrugged. “Duh, I was a dog yesterday.”
Mariana shook her head. “No, I think you were a nun.”
She threw her head back. “That’s the funniest thing I ever heard. Now I know you’re out of your mind.”
Sister Leonora sniffled.
“There. That’s my proof. You are one of Sister Leonora’s sisters, aren’t you? And you hid here. My ma…er…Lucy offered to help you by casting a spell and you had trouble with the brew. Right?”
Lola averted her eyes.
“The truth, Lola!”
Sister Leonora broke the silence. “It’s my fault.” Tears streamed down her face. “I always follow the rules. All the time but…” She sniffled.
“No, it’s my fault. I made her do it,” Lola said.
Mariana directed her attention to the sisters. “If things went so horribly wrong, why did you agree to work with the agency?”
Sister Leonora swallowed hard.
Lola cleared her throat.
“Let me guess, Lola convinced you,” Mariana said.
Lola shook her head. “I did no such thing.”
“No, it wasn’t her. Not this time. It was Lucy. She said she needed help.”
Mariana gulped. “What do you mean? Help with me?”
Her mother shook her head. “No, with an interloper.”
Mariana didn’t mean to laugh, but she’d never heard anyone use that term in real life.
Her mother lifted a brow. “This isn’t a joke. The agency asked us to test one of their team members and we implored them to help us with an interloper.”
“Who is it?” Mariana asked.
“We had a visitor. She had a cat,” Sister Immaculata said.
“And?” Mariana asked. “Where is she?” She didn’t recall seeing anyone.
“We don’t know. She disappeared.”
“Vanished?” Mariana asked.
Sister Immaculata shrugged. “She was here, in the garden, and then she wasn’t. The next thing we knew a group of men was at our door, asking questions. Someone knows what we’ve done.”
“Did they tell you that?”
“Not in so many words,” Sister Leonora said. “They said they knew we’d have a visitor with a cat.”
Mariana gasped. “They knew I’d be here? Were they from the agency?”
The sisters shook their heads.
“They’re after me?” The realization sent chills down her spine. “Where are they now?”
Lola giggled.
“What?” Mariana asked.
Lola glanced at the fountain.
Mariana’s heart dropped. “Are they in the fountain?”
Lola snorted.
“No,” her mother said. “We used the brew to chase them off and now we don’t know where they are.”
“Okay. Let me wrap my head around this.” She shook her head. “You used the spell on people who warned you I’d be here, even though you knew I’d be here, and now you don’t know where they are. Is that right?”
“Sounds about right,” Lola said.
“And I’m here to be tested while all this is going on?” Mariana asked.
Lola nodded. “Yes. I guess it’s what you call a coincidence. Good timing.”
Her mother laughed.
Mariana had so many questions to ask her mother. “Are you a time traveler too? Have you seen the future? I don’t want to burst anyone’s bubble, but I think I survive this circus. Just to be sure, I think I’ll go now.”
“No, you can’t,” her mother said. “First, you need to help us get rid of the concoction, so the sisters can go on with their lives.” She glanced at Lola. “I’m not at liberty to discuss my abilities beyond what I told you. What I can say is Lola’s fate has been set. There’s nothing you can do to help her.”
“And you think there’s something I can do about the brew?” Mariana asked.
“You’ll have to if you want your life back,” her mother said. “I can’t. I’m the one who messed it up.”
Mariana stifled a laugh. The mother she knew never admitted her mistakes. She always found a way to blame someone else.
Trouble groaned. If I have to hear one more word out of your mouths, I’ll… I’ll…
“You’ll what? Stop using that British accent?” Lola teased.
He glared at her. I’m here because I’m the best in the business, unlike some in our presence. I will ensure you return home to your humdrum life.
Mariana didn’t appreciate the insult, but she wanted his help. “I like your accent.”
Trouble gave her the side eye.
“See. You and Columbo the Cat get rid of the bad, bad potion and maybe you get to live to see another day, or at least, get another fun assignment,” Lola said.
Mariana didn’t want another assignment, but she wouldn’t mind a trip to England.
Her mother said, “The cat’s not from England. He’s from Alabama.”
Mariana combed her fingers through her dark locks, pretending her mother hadn’t just read her mind. “Alabama? I’ve never been to Alabama.”
“No, no trips.” Her mother pointed behind Mariana. “You need to retrieve your purse and keys first.” She had Mariana’s purse in her hands.
“How did you get those?” Mariana asked.
Her mother pointed behind her. The valet who’d stolen Mariana’s bag stood near the back door. He waved a set of keys at her. “Finish up. I’m your ride and we don’t have much time.”
“My ride to where?” she asked.
“I can’t tell you. Hurry up. Do your thing and let’s go. You can’t be late,” he said.
She had no fight left in her. It was obvious she’d never get all the answers to her questions. Not in this era. She made a mental note to ask her mother when she returned to her normal life. “Give me a minute.” She grabbed the Grimoire to search for the right spell. “I need everyone to clear the space. We can’t risk anything else going wrong.”
After a few minutes she stepped back into the convent where they had all retreated. “It’s done. I hope.”
Her mother beamed with pride as she walked over to hug her. “Great job. I knew you could do it.” She released her grip. “Now, go with him. I’ll see you on the other side.”
“What?” Mariana asked.
“You passed the test. That’s good for all of us. I’ll see you later.”
“You will?”
She nodded. “Of course.”
The man tapped on the back door. “It’s time.”
Mariana had more questions, but her driver urged her to leave.
“Good luck,” her mother said as she walked out the door.
“With what?” Mariana asked.
“The next test.” Her mother smiled and waved.
“Wait! We’re not done yet,” Mariana said. She pointed to the fountain. “I hope you like margaritas.”
Her mother’s eyes lit up. “Did you say margaritas?”
Mariana nodded. “Look, I’m not very good with spells. I only know how to do a few things. I figured since it’s Cinco de Mayo, we might as well celebrate.”
The sisters exchanged glances.
“It’s one very potent drink. A fountain full of it,” Mariana said.
Sister Immaculata walked to the fountain. “It’s a big fountain.”
Lola sniffed the edge of the fountain. “Smells like a good time to me. What do you say we open the gates, invite the townspeople in, pour some drinks, and have some fun?”
Trouble walked to the fountain and sniffed. If I must.
“Oh, you must,” Lola said with a wink.