Intersections Read online

  And then they were gone.

  I turned back to the table and this time, I was the one who gasped.

  The pointer, the one that Seph had knocked to the floor, sat on the table, once again pointing at Simon.

  9

  "You need to leave," Persephone said once the lights were back on.

  Simon shook his head. "I'm innocent. I'm not running."

  "You know how this town works." She took his hands. "You better than anyone. The mediums are the life's blood here. Mayor or not, they have to lock you up. If they don’t, then they're admitting the entire thing is a fraud."

  Rose had grabbed Madame Nephthys by the shoulders, pulling her toward the door and away from us. She kept her hands on the psychic's shoulders, tense and ready to yank her away.

  Nephthys raised her veil and I lost my breath.

  "I'm not a fraud," the girl said.

  All I could think of was our kiss and how stupid I was in not putting two and two together. Of course the girl was Rose's daughter. Who else could she be?

  Persephone spun, fire in her eyes. "Oh, don't even, child. Not with me."

  "It's true," Rose said. "She has the gift. Even more than you."

  Seph stomped across the room and thrust a finger toward her mother. "The only gift I ever had was in eating your bullshit by the spoonful."

  Rose took a step back, shock on her face. This was the twenties, after all, and a woman wasn't supposed to say things like that. Not that Persephone ever did anything that society said she should. I would have thought her mother of all people would have known that, but I suppose fifteen years is a long time.

  "This isn't just a typical swindle here," she continued. "This is a dangerous game you're playing. It could end in an innocent man's death."

  "He's not innocent," Nephthys said and I wondered if that were her real name. "And I'm not a fraud. You saw for yourself. The Ouija isn't rigged."

  "Like hell it isn't." Seph marched over and, grabbing one end, flipped the table over.

  "Persephone!" Rose screamed.

  She ignored her mother as she ran her hands around the wood, looking for a string or crevice. "I'm just missing it is all. Connie!"

  I looked to Nephthys and she met my eyes. She was frightened and hurt and I wanted more than anything to hold her.

  "Connie! Now!"

  Rushing to Persephone's side, I helped examine the wood.

  "It's just a table," I said. "Just an ordinary table."

  "Then it's the pointer." She hurried around the table. "Where’d the damned thing go?"

  "Persephone," Simon pleaded. "Please. Just stop."

  "No. Not until I find the damned—”

  He placed a hand on her shoulder. "It'll all work out. Have faith."

  She looked up at him, quaking in anger, and he kissed her.

  Three policemen stepped into the room then. One was the redheaded officer who had tipped me off on Caitlin to begin with.

  "Mr. Mayor?"

  "Hi, fellas." He smiled. "I know why you're here and I won't give any fuss. But can we do this without cuffs and the like? Wouldn't look good for the mayor to be escorted through town like a common thief."

  "Of course, sir."

  "I guess you'll hold me tonight until the Sheriff can come in from Larchmont and question me?"

  "That's right, sir."

  "It'll be good to see Bill," he said and walked over to them. "I just hope he's still not mad about me beating him in the election."

  Two of the officers walked out with him. My redheaded friend took in the room, including the overturned table.

  "Everything all right in here?"

  "Oh, just dandy," Seph said.

  "We'll need to question all of you tomorrow as well. So don't leave town."

  Rose nodded. "You don't have to worry about us, officer."

  He narrowed his gaze on me, then tipped the brim of his cap to the ladies and left.

  Relaxing, Rose finally took her hands off of Nephthys. "You should go get ready for bed."

  Eyes on Persephone, the girl asked, "Will you be okay, Mama?"

  "Just go on now. I'll be up in a bit."

  She nodded and, sparing me one final glance, headed from the parlor.

  "You two help me with this table," Rose said.

  I rushed over and helped right it, but Persephone stepped away. She collapsed in a chair and pulled a cigarette from her purse, sliding it into the long, black holder she always carried.

  "I'd prefer it if you didn't smoke inside," Rose said.

  Ignoring her, Seph lit the cigarette. "Well, Mother." She said the word with all the love of a curse. "I hope you've enjoyed yourself."

  Rose sat at the table. "You know I didn't want that, don't you? I've known him since he was Connie's age."

  I didn't know what to do, so I hovered near the door and watched.

  Seph snorted.

  "Listen. I'm sorry I never wrote,” Rose said. “I kept meaning to, but... I don't know. I didn't think you'd want to hear from me. And then, when Nephthys came—”

  "Her real name is Nephthys?"

  Rose grinned. "Why, yes, it is, Persephone."

  "So she's my sister. How old is she?"

  "She'll be fourteen next month."

  "Did Daddy know?"

  Rose shook her head. "She... She's not his."

  "Jesus." Persephone laughed. It wasn't a pleasant sound.

  "After your father left, I was so lonely. I started renting a room out at the old house and my first lodger was Joseph. He was a widower. An insurance salesman. On the road quite a bit for work but looking for a place to hang his hat. He hadn't planned to stay here but we found a comfort in one another. He was a very faithful man."

  "Meanwhile Daddy raised your daughter all on his own."

  "Don't do that," Rose said. "Your father left me here to starve while I'm sure he hired all sorts of tutors and nannies to look after you."

  "But none of them were my mother." Persephone nearly snarled the words.

  They hit Rose hard and her shoulders slumped. A tear ran down her face, hovering from her jaw before plummeting to the floor.

  Persephone went back to her cigarette. "And what happened to dear old Joseph?"

  "He died. Train accident down near Pittsburgh. Nephthys was three when it happened."

  "And how long did it take before you forced her into the business?"

  "I didn't. It was her choice, just the same as it was yours."

  "Oh, that's rich."

  "Neph used to see her father after he passed. Several times a week I'd find her talking to him."

  Persephone waved that off. "Coping mechanism, that's all. How a child with an overactive imagination deals with the death of a parent."

  "Maybe. But she spoke to Francis, too."

  "So did I."

  "But she didn't know about Francis. I'd never mentioned him to her. I never mentioned you to her either, for that matter, and yet she knew she had a sister. Knew things about you, too. She was the one who told me you were working with Harry Houdini."

  "She could have read that in the papers."

  "And yet she didn't. I know you don't believe in any of this, but it's real. Everything she does is real. I'm sorry, but it is. And if the spirits say Simon murdered that girl—”

  "Just stop. Stop it." Persephone stood. "You're either so committed to your fraud that you'd lie to me or you're completely insane. And, honestly, Rose, I don't know which it is." She grabbed her purse. "Nor do I care. Come on now, Connie. I've had enough of this."

  As we headed to the front door, Rose came up behind us.

  "Persephone," she said. "Please. It's not a coincidence that you're here. Neph always says that there’s a certain symmetry to matters supernal, and I think we're supposed to reconnect. We're supposed to be a family again. I know that will take some work, but—”

  "I have a family, Rose. And they don't lie to me." Persephone squeezed my shoulder and then we were out the door.