Page 26 of More Than Meets the Eye

“I’m sorry, Tess. Are you okay?”

“Thank you. I’m not great, but let’s focus on helping you.”

Phin folded his arms. “Not another word about mirrors until you tell me what’s going on.”

Jack and I gave them both—because Horatio was avidly listening—a quick and very incomplete version of what had happened the night before.

“We’ll let you know what Susan finds out, but let’s get back to this mirror,” I said. “Oh! Aunt Ruby would be so disappointed in me. Mr. Horatio Mercury, please meet Phineas Hunter.”

“Nice to meet you. Call me Phin.”

“Horatio.”

“What can you tell us about what happened to you, Horatio?” I touched the corner of the mirror, half afraid it would suck me into it.

Stranger things have happened in Dead End Pawn.

“That’s the worst part. I don’t know.” Tiny Mr. Mercury started pacing back and forth behind the glass. “I don’t remember anything of my life before this.”

“Is it possible you’re not actually human, but a spell turned sentient?” Phin wondered.

I winced. Phin, the past president of the Dead End High Science Club, didn’t always think about feelings.

But the little man didn’t seem offended. “I don’t know. I thought of that, too. Had a lot of time to think of theories. But I just don’t know.”

Phin nodded slowly. “Okay. I know some people. Tess, is it okay if I take the mirror home with me? It would be good if I had it—him—nearby to test things out as I learn them.”

“You won’t hurt him, will you?” I suddenly felt anxious. Buying a mirror didn’t give me the right to harm the person or being who lived on the other side of the glass.

For the first time, we saw Mr. Mercury smile. “You are a kind young woman. Let Phineas take me home. The sooner we figure this out, the sooner I can find out who I really am and what the rest of my life is going to be. I can’t keep on like this.”

I felt tears threatening, so I quickly nodded and turned away. “Let me get a blanket to protect the mirror in your car.”

Before we wrapped it up, I leaned down to say goodbye. “Mr. Mercury, I wish I could be part of solving your mystery, but I know if anybody can, Phin can. Good luck, and I’ll come over the minute you two learn something.”

“Thank you, Tess. I hope we’ll talk soon.”

Jack helped Phin carry the bulky mirror to his car, and I locked up. I was just stepping off the porch when I heard loud polka music start up inside the shop.

“Yellow Rose of Texas?”

Jack walked over to meet me. “Hey, that’s Willie Nelson.”

“Willie Nelson sang polka?”

Jack looked horrified. “Polka?”

“It’s the disco ball,” I said grimly, pulling my keys out of my purse.

“Oh, no. We can’t fall for its tricks. The next thing you know, we’ll be dancing the polka all day long.”

I shuddered and put my keys away. “Beau’s for lunch?”

On the way to Beau’s, I caught myself humming about the yellow rose of Texas and realized I’d been ear wormed.

Jack had to stop me from banging my head against the dash.

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