Page 38 of Amber Gambler

“I’ll get what I need, change, and be ready when you guys get here.” I rubbed my nape. “We close in an hour. I’ll need to run out to Bonaventure, pack my supplies, then get Josie and Matty. Mr. Collins is also here and intends to go along for the ride.”

“The grandfather?”

“He heard about my near-death experience, and he’s worried Audrey is the asrai.”

Aided by the Buckley Boys, no doubt, local cemeteries would be buzzing with the hot gossip.

“His insight could prove valuable.”

A commotion in the garage drew me to my feet. “I need to go.”

Ending the call, I walked in through the open bay door to find Paco scooping screws into a pan. A woman old enough to be his grandmother stood behind him, admiring the view as he bent over. The smudge of black on her pale slacks, as if she had wiped her fingers clean, convinced me Paco had help making the mess.

About to go rescue him, I hesitated when Badb called out to me from the power line.

She turned her head toward the burning tree, stretched her wings, and cried out again. As I stared at the elm, an odd sensation flickered across my skin. Static electricity. That same prickle I got before a storm that promised to be a bad one. But the sky was clear. Not that there had been clouds last time lightning struck either.

A yelp drew my attention back to Paco, who was rubbing his backside while the elderly client tittered behind her hand. Abandoning Badb to her vigil, I went to save Paco—and Matty—from a lady who had her own ideas what thefull servicepromise on our sign meant.

Had we all ridden to the culvert in one vehicle, the quarters would have been close on the backseat. The predictable squabble between my siblings, as to who would be forced to sit next to Harrow, would have broken out in record time. I had enough anxiety about what I was about to do without them adding to it.

They still didn’t know Lyle had tipped off the sentinels, so they treated Harrow like he had tested positive for bubonic cooties. But, if they started acting nice to him all of a sudden, he would get suspicious, and then I would have to admit I told them the truth, and then we would end up in our feelings, and then I would really rather not face the fact he left me for different reasons than the ones I was used to blaming.

Ugh.

Then there was the whole Kierce thing. Yeah. I had the absolute worst taste in guys.

As if she could tell I was thinking about him, Badb made a pitiful rasping noise from her seat beside me. I had no doubt her decision to tag along was the only reason Josie let Matty sit upfront. Josie wasn’t a fan of the crow, which resulted in the crow doing unto Josie as Josie did unto her.

“Are you ready?” Matty patted the vintage bowler’s bag in his lap. “This is all you.”

“We need to lay this spirit to rest.” I pulled into the same parking lot as before, and Carter wasn’t too far behind me. “Her soul has earned its peace.”

“Does your, uh, client need help?” Josie sat beside Mr. Collins. “I can get his door.”

“Tell her thanks.” Mr. Collins mimed gripping the handle. “I’ve got it.”

Going through the motions, he pulled the latch then stepped through the metal onto the sidewalk.

“He says thanks,” I passed along his words, “but he let himself out.”

Us Marys exited the wagon, Badb surging over us, and met with Harrow and Carter.

Together, the seven of us set out for the culvert.

“What do you need from me?” Harrow snagged the spot beside me. “How can I protect you better?”

He would have earned more points for his concern had he not been tracing the arc of Badb’s flight as we spoke. His fixation, and the leaf situation, left me twitchy about what came next.

“I brought a rope.” I touched my waist. “I’m going to knot it around my torso and let you hold it.”

“That’s your plan?” Josie abandoned Carter. “That’s how fishing works, you know.”

“Dangle the bait,” Matty agreed, “and wait for a bite on the line.”

“Frankie brought more than hope and a rope.” Carter punched my upper arm. “You did, right?”

“Thanks, guys, for your votes of overwhelming confidence in me,” I muttered. “I’ll cherish them always.”

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