"Superior Tiger Hearing," almost everybody in the room said.
Jack grinned. "Finally, my talent is recognized."
Then he opened the door and a very downcast Nigel walked in, followed by a still-defiant Erin.
"Come on in and get some food," I invited them.
Erin, dressed in all black and looking like a Russian ballerina or a deadly assassin, looked at the burgers and sniffed. "I don't eat cow."
I held up a glass. "Milkshake?"
"Thank you."
Who knew? Naiads liked milkshakes.
Jack strode over to stand next to me. "Before we begin, we'd like to take a half an hour to lecture you on the importance ofcommunicatingwith your friends and loved ones," he growled.
"We'd like to, but we won't," I quickly added. "Because who has that kind of time? And I'm sure Sheriff Gonzalez and Deputy Kelly have things to do. People to meet."
"Criminals to catch," Jack said, and that got a nervous chuckle, but mostly everybody just stared at us like we were about to pull a rabbit out of a hat.
Come to think of it, we kind of were.
Susan held up a hand and then stood. "Well, first off, I should tell you that Dr. Booker called me and recanted her claim that she 'saw' Lorraine kill Earl. She said her magic powers are on the fritz."
Lorraine jumped up out of her chair. "Well, we should sue! She caused a lot of trouble for me and everybody else around here with her… fritzy magic."
"Yes, and I'm sorry," Susan said. "On behalf of the Dead End Sheriff's department, I apologize. And it taught me not to rely on unsubstantiated magic ever again."
Andy said nothing, but nodded vigorously.
"For what it's worth, Dr. Booker said what she actually saw was Earl hitting Lorraine, and that's all. She extrapolated the rest. I think the FBI plans to talk to her about her false and overreaching claims too." She nodded at Andy. "Hand me that bag?"
He handed her a bulky canvas bag, and she put a hand in and then paused. "Tess, I know this is a terrible thing to ask, and it may play havoc with the chain of custody, but since you are the most trustworthy person I know, would you be willing to touch this skull and see if you get any visions from it?"
I stumbled back a step, and Jack caught me with firm hands on my arms.
ThisI had not seen coming.
"You don't have to do it, Tess," Jack said. "We know who killed Earl."
"I can try," I decided. "I don't know if my… gift… works on bones. I think it might have to be a sentient being, like even a ghost. But I'll try. It won't be that bad, since I know exactly what I'm going to see."
She brought the bag over to where Jack and I stood, and I looked into her eyes.
"Okay. Well, if you can trust me, I can trust you. Here goes."
I plunged my hand into the bag, immediately touching the smooth, rounded curve of the skull, and I got…
… Nothing.
Nothing at all.
I blew out a breath. "Sorry. Nothing. Back to good old-fashioned detective work."
She grinned. "Or whatever you call what you and Jack do."
"Or that," Jack said.
