Witching Time (The Wild Hunt #14) - Yasmine Galenorn Page 0,17
at the key. “I think…” I fit the key into the lock and turned it. A very quiet click, and the box opened.
Inside, I found an absolutely stunning diamond ring. It had to be three carats, and I knew from the feel of it that it was diamond and not cubic zirconia. The stone was set in a rose gold setting. I picked it up and read the inscription on the inside. “Hiram & Denise.”
“This was her wedding ring.” I paused, then said, “Denise, if you’re here, do you want Kaitlin to have this ring?”
The lid to the trunk thumped again.
“Is that why you’ve been tearing up the house? You were afraid the ring would be given away or lost?”
Again, a thump.
I let out a long breath and turned to Tyra. “She wants this ring to go to whom I assume is her stepdaughter Kaitlin. Is that right, Denise?”
The lid thumped, this time emphatically.
“I don’t know how to find her,” Tyra said. “Can you help?”
“Well, give me the name of your landlord. I can probably track Kaitlin down.” I turned back toward the trunks. “If I take the ring and find your stepdaughter and give it to her, will you leave Tyra alone and move on? You really should let go and find your way to your next adventure,” I added. “I can help you if you don’t know how.”
A sudden gust of wind swept through the house and then…nothing. Denise was gone.
“Well, that takes care of that,” I said. “She’s gone, and you shouldn’t have any more problems. I’ll take the ring and make sure it gets to Kaitlin. Text me the name and phone number of your landlord.” I glanced around at the mess. “Do you want me to help you clean up?”
Tyra dropped into a chair at the dinette table. “No, I can do this. Thanks, though. I’ve been at my wits’ end.”
“Sometimes, spirits don’t know how to get the attention of the person they’re trying to contact. They…kind of go overboard.”
“What about the rest of her stuff?” Tyra asked. “And what do I owe you?”
“I don’t think she cares. You can donate it, or keep it if you like. This was a relatively easy job. A hundred should do it.” I knew Tyra didn’t make a lot of money, so I decided to give her a break. I usually charged about five hundred for a simple exorcism/cleansing. As she wrote me out a check, I turned to Trinity. “Thanks, dude. You coming out to the harvest festival tonight?”
He shook his head. “No, I’ve got somewhere I promised to be. But I might make it out there later. I could use a few pumpkins for the stoop, and I haven’t been out of the city proper in ages.”
After Tyra texted me the landlord’s name and number, I pocketed the box with the ring, the locket and the key, and Trinity and I headed out.
Chapter Four
I walked into the house only to find my father teaching Raj how to play poker. They were using potato chips for money.
I stared at Curikan for a moment. “What are you doing?”
He flashed me a guilty grin. “Well, Raj wanted to play a game and I didn’t feel like playing Monopoly.”
Raj had developed a love for Monopoly, and every time he begged to play it, I regretted ever even mentioning it. I found it boring, but he would sulk if I asked to fold the game halfway through. As I glanced at Raj’s eager look, I decided maybe poker was a good substitute.
“Carry on,” I said, heading toward my bedroom. “I’m going to take a shower before making an early dinner. I need to eat before I head out to the harvest fair.”
“I’ll cook, if you like.” My father was an excellent cook and I welcomed the offer.
“I’d love that. Thank you,” I said, blowing him a kiss.
By the time we were ready to eat, Kipa arrived. Curikan had made sloppy joes, and I had the feeling that Raj had spurred him on with that one, but they were good and I had no complaints.
“So, what are you going to do while I head out to the fair?” I asked.
Kipa shrugged. “Watch TV. Maybe—”
“Play poker,” Raj said.
Kipa did a double-take. “What? How do you know how to play poker?”
Raj nodded, smiling. “Curikan taught Raj.”
“Well, then, poker it is,” Kipa said, laughing. “We’ll have a boys’ night in, how about it? I happen to have a bottle of Vykolian brandy—”