Cliona shook her head. “I spoke to everyone I know and showed them those pictures Moira took, but everyone is stumped.”
“We need a necromancer.” The glowing symbols seemed a little familiar, but I couldn’t recall a time or place I’d ever seen them. Maybe they were in a book?
“Yes,” Evie said. “I’ve got one on speed dial.”
I looked up hopefully, only for my friend to roll her eyes. “Good luck. If you get one to answer, expect to pay an arm and a leg just to talk to them, let alone come out to take a look.”
“I don’t mind paying, but I’d rather keep the location secret since they all work for the government. They can work from photos.”
“Ethan can chip in,” Evie said. “Since the spell was directed at him.”
“Because of me,” I added.
“Yes, but technically you’re running around magic free, and Ethan is at home playing the human equivalent of Pet Sematary.”
Cliona laughed. “Such a creepy book.”
Evie grinned. “I introduced Mom to Stephen King recently. She doesn’t believe me about It.”
I shuddered. “Read that book during the daytime.”
“Wimps,” Cliona said fondly.
“That creepy clown lives forever in my nightmares.” I walked around the entire body and couldn’t see anything different from the first time I’d seen it. “I’ll be right back,” I said. “I want to try something.”
At Evie’s questioning look, I held up a finger. “Back in five.”
I leapt away and put on full speed to reach my apartment in less than a minute. Another minute and I had the finger bone in my pocket and was back on my way to Evie.
The bone shivered in my pocket when I walked within a few feet of the body. I held it up to show Evie and Cliona. “It wants to rejoin,” I said.
Cliona blinked. “Don’t come any closer.”
The body on the table let out a slight shiver.
“Creepy,” Evie said and took a few steps back.
“What does it mean?”
Cliona’s eyes narrowed. “This was the only piece of her you found?”
I nodded.
She looked back at the body. “Your mother was using this as the link.”
“She’s got the look in her eyes,” Evie said. “The one that says she’s about to tell us something either very awesome or very fucked up.”
“My favorite kind of look,” I responded.
Cliona came over and held her hand out for the finger bone. “Hand it to me, then go take your pictures. I have an idea.”
I didn’t ask questions. Once I dropped the bone into Cliona’s palm, I pulled out my cell and took tons of detailed pictures of the poor witch’s body, starting from the head, all the way down to her feet. Wherever there was a glowing symbol, I snapped a picture. When I finished, Cliona jerked her head.
“Come. Let’s see if we can stabilize that spell and wrest all control away from your mother.”
Evie gawked at Cliona. I blinked in surprise. “You think the bone can do that?”
“No,” Cliona said. “I think a powerful witch can do it. We’ll have to move the body to a safer place, just in case, but I have a spot. Evie, contact your husband and tell him you’ll be home later tonight.” She looked at me. “Moira, go get your gloves, hat, and sweater. It’s a little chilly where we’re going.”
