Page 109 of Power of the Mind

“Yep.” I wasn’t sure how I would come up with the money, but I would figure it out. Diem bribed people with fifties, and I used clothing. What could I say? We ran in different circles.

“Fine. What do you need?” Memphis asked.

“Did you make an appointment with Madame Rowena?”

A pause. “Yes. For tomorrow afternoon, and I’m not canceling.”

“Good. Don’t. What time is your appointment?

“Four fifteen.”

“Perfect.”

“Why?”

“No reason. I gotta go. Love you, babe. I’ll call you later.”

“Tal, what’s this about? I thought you needed something.”

“I do. You’ll see. Let’s make a date to get that shirt next weekend. I get paid Friday.”

“Okay, but—”

I hung up before Memphis could redirect to my supposed favor. He was a fashion diva like me, and it was easy to create a diversion when you understood a person’s weaknesses.

I faced the fuming man beside me, and before he blew his top, I said, “Janek Piotrowski.”

Diem opened his mouth, closed it again, and narrowed his eyes like he was missing something. The Memphis-focused anger bled away, and although I sensed Diem wasn’t in the mood to play games, he grumbled, “What?”

“Janek Piotrowski. We need to talk to her. She’s the naturopathic doctor Winifred uses, remember? The one she recommended to Allan. Her card was on his fridge.”

Diem’s gaze flicked back and forth like he was drawing up the memory or trying to see the card in his mind’s eye.

I didn’t wait and barreled on. “Peggy Andrew’s son did some digging for me and discovered his mother had a cupboard fullof herbal medications alongside her prescription drugs. Peggy’s daughter shared that their mother visited Janek a few times.”

Diem’s frosty demeanor warmed. He released the death grip on the steering wheel and shifted in his seat. He didn’t look at me, but I knew interest when I saw it.

“Amber’s brother told us his sister tried everything under the sun to cure her migraines, including herbal drugs. When I asked where she used to buy them, he checked her room, stating his mother hadn’t packed her things away, and he found a few bottles with stickers on the caps, indicating they were from a supplement place on Pape Avenue.”

“Pape Avenue,” Diem repeated under his breath like he was trying to recall why the street name was familiar.

“Dr. Hilty’s office is on Pape, and guess what’s right next door?”

Diem’s gaze crashed into mine. “The supplement store. I saw it.”

“Yep, and guess who owns it?”

“Janek Piotrowski.”

“Bingo.”

Diem took a minute to let those facts settle, then said, “I’m still not following.”

“It’s all speculation at this point. Lil’ old me pulling theories out of midairagain, but that’s been the root of this entire case, hasn’t it? You didn’t initially believe there was anything to investigate and poo-pooed the entire principle of mind control, but now we have eleven suspicious deaths and sweetie, if it ain’t Professor Plum in the conservatory, we still have a pool of suspects we haven’t looked at. Everything is sketchy and not lining up, so why not push the bar higher and see what we come up with? Why not start accusing the innocent Miss Scarlett or the dubious Mrs. Peacock. I’m just saying. Rowena and Hiltycould be using people without them knowing they’re being used.”

“The fuck are you talking about? Speak English.”

I chuckled. “Drive, Guns. I’ll explain when we get to the office.”

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