There’s a collective sigh from all of us. I breathe for what feels like the first time since entering the place, coughing on the smoke still lingering.
Lanie and Nina scramble up from their huddled position, jumping in to help the tall blond woman from a few moments ago, who materializes from behind the desk, looking like she got into a catfight and lost. Not only is her hair sticking up everywhere, but her mascara is also smeared down her face.
“Bee, do you need help with that?” Alyssa says, pointing to the incense and sage.
Bee waves a hand in the air. “I can handle this, and then I need to head out. My table needs to be set up.”
Whatever the hell that means.
Alyssa rushes toward her friends, pulling them into a group hug.
“Are you two all right?” she asks. Nina nods her head while Lanie shakes hers.
“I will never recover from whatever that was.” Lanie doesn’t even sound like herself when she delivers her answer.
I’ve come to know her as strong and independent. Unshakable. Right now, she seems every bit the young one of the group. Her eyes are wide and mouth set in a grim line. She’s rattled. But who the hell isn’t, after that?
“We’ll be fine,” Nina says. “Go.” She tips her head in my direction, and I offer an awkward wave in return.
Nina smirks, shaking her head.
I look over at Alyssa, still trying to wrap my head around what I just witnessed. She makes her way toward me, jumping into my open arms. I hold her for a moment, surprised she seems to be holding up all right. She’s not even trembling.
“Well, that was nuts,” I say, shaking my head incredulously.
Alyssa looks up at me, grinning. “Tell me about it. I still can’t believe Carl Hampson showed up.”
“And Buck Sauder,” I say, drawing the attention of every woman in the room.
“Who’s Buck?” Lanie asks.
I look to Alyssa. “Remember the photo from Matilda’s office? The one with the five men?” She nods, head tilted to the side. “Buck Sauder was one of them.”
“What? How? None of the spirits that were here resembled anyone from that photo aside from Carl,” she says, and I shrug my shoulder. “Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe he died older, and you don’t recognize him because he doesn’t look the same?”
“If Buck is the older spirit, that’s the one that came from Montgomery Estate. How the hell could Buck Sauder, a man attached to Carl Hampson, have been conveniently hanging around an illegal poker game in Florida?”
That has my mind racing with questions. How did Buck get there? Why was Carl Hampson sticking around his brother’s wife? And what role does Matilda Hampson play in all of this? It’s clear that there’s more to uncover. I make a mental note to look into Buck and Matilda when I get back to Knox Harbor.
“I don’t know, Lyss. Seems to me that this poker game is connected to Carl and Buck’s past dealings. Sounds like they were involved in illegal activity that spanned the US.”
Alyssa’s eyes close on a heavy sigh. She’s exhausted, and I have an urge to sweep her into my arms and get her home.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she says. “I’m sure you’re swamped, and this will likely have you working twice as hard.”
I look down at her and smile. “Captain ordered me to take a couple days. I’ll be fine.”
She visibly exhales. “That’s good.”
I step back, looking between her and her friends. “I have some news. Ian’s changed his name. He goes by Connor Fulton here. My PI was able to locate an address for him.”
Nina’s hands fly to her mouth, eyes bright with unshed tears. “I don’t think I believed that he’d actually be here. I just assumed itwould be another step on a wild-goose chase,” she admits, chin dropping as the first tear slides down her cheek.
Lanie pulls her into a hug, whispering soothing words into the top of her head.
“Are you going to head that way?” Alyssa asks, and Nina’s head pops up.
Her expression is unsurprisingly hesitant. “I don’t think I’m ready to see him tonight,” she admits, her voice tinged with indecision. “After everything we just went through, I need some rest, and time to think over my plan.”
