“Because that therapist was my mother.” His lips smashed into a straight line. “I own this house and this office, and I promise you I have not rented it out to a single person. You must be confused. Maybe she used to be a patient of my mother’s but now has a new doctor?”
“But…but….” I blinked and stared at the door.
I am confusion.
I know what I saw…I saw her walk inside this door. I know I did, because I remember thinking it was a creepy place to have a therapist’s office.
Behind me, I faintly heard a discussion continuing with the man, Landreia, and Gigi but it made no sense at all. There had to be another answer. This was where Saffie went for her meetings, I knew she wasn’t going anywhere else. If he said someone else had moved their practice here I would’ve believed it more. There had to be more to this story, otherwise Saffie was getting therapy from a — ghost.
OH MY GODDESS.
She was a ghost.
She was dead.
HOLY SHIT. OH MY GOD.
“—I wish I could help more—”
“You’ve done great!” I jumped forward with a wide grin. “So sorry to disturb your holiday, we’re gonna go now.”
I grabbed Gigi by the arm and half-dragged her toward the street. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Landreia holding her wand up to the man. What are you up to, ma’am? When I got to the cobblestone sidewalk, I pulled Gigi back over to my car then all but pushed her inside.
“Savannah, what are you doing?” She hissed as she slammed her door behind her.
I turned the truck on just as Landreia climbed in the passenger seat. “What did you do to him?”
Landreia grimaced. “A minor memory spell so he won’t remember this. Just better for him.”
“SAVANNAH,” Gigi yelled. “Why did you drag me away? What’s going on?”
“Yes, that. You figured something out, what is it?”
I spun sideways in my seat and pushed my hair back. “Y’all. Y’all. Saffie is the Death Card in The Coven…”
Gigi scowled. “Yes, we know this.”
I nodded and waved my arms. “And what magical talent comes with the Card?”
Landreia cocked her head to the side. “Communication with the dead.”
I stared at them, waiting and willing for it to click. But all I got was blank stares. “Y’ALL DR. TROY WAS A DAMN GHOST!”
They both gasped.
Landreia’s face turned sheet white. “Oh my…”
“NO.” Gigi’s eyes were wide as she shook her head rapidly and shivered. “No way.”
“Yes way! Think about it…have either of you ever SEEN Dr. Troy?” I leaned forward. “Landreia, Saffie said this therapist came to her in the hospital and shit, right? So it was that convenient that she only ever came by when no one else was in the room? I bet if you call that Dr. Allen friend of yours he’ll tell you there was no Dr. Troy there. I BET YOU.”
Landreia leaned back against the seat and fanned herself despite it being twenty degrees outside. “Oh my…oh my…”
“Think about it. I don’t think either of you need a refresher on the night we did the séance.” I arched one eyebrow and waited. They both shuddered. “Exactly. Dr. Troy was a damn ghost. Not living. A spirit. Saffie just never realized it because she doesn’t know she’s the Death Card.”
Gigi put her hands on her head and shook herself. “I don’t like this. Nope. Don’t like it.”
“In hindsight it really is obvious,” Landreia said softly. “Although it doesn’t explain where she is now.”
“Now we call The Coven.” Gigi leaned forward and pulled my phone out of my front coat pocket then placed it in my palm. “Call Cooper.”
I nodded. I didn’t want to call them and get Saffie in trouble. Or waste their time. But this was getting weirder by the minute. I found Cooper Bishop’s name in my contacts and hit to call him, then hit speakerphone. As the ringing filled the truck my stomach tightened into knots. I felt queasy and my pulse pounded.
It rang six times before the answering machine picked up. “This is Cooper Bishop. Leave a message or text me.”
Normally I was definitely the text me option, especially with Cooper because the sound of his voice did unexpected things to my pulse that I both loved and hated…but this was not a message for text. When the machine beeped, I tried to be as calm as possible. “H-hey Cooper, it’s uh…it’s Savannah Grace. Saffie’s friend in Salem. Um,