I wanted to lash out and ask her what good was she, but none of this was Sunny’s fault, and she’d just delivered the only clues we had for Etta’s whereabouts.
“Thanks, Sunny,” Chav said for the three of us. “I’ll let you know when we find her.”
“Good luck,” Sunny told us. “I wish I had more to offer. I don’t know how a nineties pop trio can help track her location, but I’m keeping you all in my thoughts.”
“Yeah,” Chav agreed. “It was a starter vehicle for Beyonce's solo career. Maybe the clue has something to do with one of their songs.”
I let out a frustrated sigh. “This is getting us nowhere fast.”
“Talk later, Sunny.” Doc hung up the phone, and I noticed his gray eyes had turned golden, reminding me of Bette.
“We need help,” I said.
Doc pursed his lips and then nodded. “Yep, we have to talk to my mother.”
I was in complete agreement. “Maybe she can connect with Etta the way they both contacted Sunny.” The older woman had told Etta that astral projection was strong in their family’s magic. She might be able to use her power to save her granddaughter. It was a small hope, and I held onto it. “It’s worth a shot.”
A few minutes later, we were on Bette’s porch, pounding on her front door. The three-quarter moon was covered by clouds, and I hoped it wasn’t an omen of some kind.
It didn’t take long for Bette to come to the door. Her long hair was piled in a loose bun on her head, and her golden eyes glowed. Her tone was urgent. “What is it?” She glanced between us. “Where’s Etta?” Her hand went to her mouth. “It’s William. He has her, doesn’t he?”
“Yes,” I said. “And we need you to help find her.”
“Then you all better come inside.”
Bette’s husband, Henry, made us coffee as we sat in the living room and explained to Bette what Sunny had told us.
“Do you think she did that astral projection you told her about?” I asked. “Like what she’d done when Pete broke her back?”
Doc gave me a sharp look. My bad. We hadn’t told him about Etta’s near-death experience. Now wasn’t the time for mincing words, though.
“It sounds like a possibility,” Bette replied. She nodded to herself as if she were having another conversation in her head. “The girl has a lot of power. More than I ever had.” She turned to Billy Bob. “She’s born of shaman, wolf, and hedge magic. It’s made her a truly gifted receiver.” Her fingers curled into fists. “Damn, William, and his jealousy. He’ll never be satisfied until he has what he thinks of as his birthright.”
“He’ll never get the chance,” Doc asserted. “I’ll tear his head off first.”
Chav put her hand on his leg. “We’ll stop him.”
His expression turned bleak. “We have to.”
I balled my hands into fists. “Agreed.”
Henry served us coffee and took a position on the other side of the sofa and behind his wife. He leaned forward and put his gnarled hands on her shoulders. “You don’t think they’re talking about Stewart Garvey’s boat.”
The stupid itch had let up for a moment when I’d been with Etta, but now it was back with a vengeance. “What boat?” I asked, scratching my arm.
“The one you all mentioned. Destiny’s Child.” The old man shrugged, and I heard his joints pop. “It’s a dumb name for a fishing boat, which is the only reason I remember it.”
Doc was up on his feet before me. “Where does Stewart Garvey keep his boat moored?”
Henry waved his hand toward the door. “He’s got a boathouse a couple of miles down the road. It’s a bit of a walk down at the bottom of a steep hill. He’s got a cabin near it in the woods.” His lips thinned. “But Stewart and his family don’t usually open their cabin until May. It’s a little early for bass fishing, and the tournaments are about all he’s interested in.”
An empty cabin in the woods and a boat shack that could only be reached on foot. It sounded like a place made in ritual killing heaven. “How do we get there? Can you take us?”
“No,” Bette forbade. “Henry is human. I won’t have him messed up in this business with William.”
“Now, Bette,” Henry soothed. “I don’t need to go.” He glanced at Doc. “I got a map of the area. I’ll mark off where you need to go.”
“Thank you,” Doc told him. “Much appreciated.”
