The Madness of Mercury (18 page)

“December 21st was the birthday of the person my client would like to contact.”

“Very good reasoning. That is, assuming the spirit is willing.”

N
INETEEN

I
WAITED UNTIL EVERYONE
had gone and helped Gale and Cheryl return the folding chairs to the storeroom and clean up the tables.

“Julia, there’s so much food left over. Why don’t you take some home, and you too, Cheryl.”

Cheryl replied, “Don’t mind if I do.” She produced some large plastic containers from the office and we filled them to capacity. At least now I wouldn’t have to worry about food for the next day or two while I camped out at Gloria’s house. I stayed while Gale and Cheryl went through the movements of closing the shop for the night, and we three left together, retrieving our cars from the parking area behind the Eye.

As Gale closed and locked the shop’s back door, I eyed my handiwork of the previous evening. Gale spoke as if she knew my thoughts: “I’m having Edwin come by tomorrow to remove the plywood and put in some sort of reinforced glass that can’t be broken the same way, or maybe just a solid panel. The metal bars are still good, and hopefully that’ll deter any more back-alley attacks from those cowards.”

Cheryl watched silently. “I feel terrible I wasn’t here when it happened. When I think … ” She trailed off.

Gale reached over and squeezed her hand. “It’s okay, sweetie. Fortunately Julia was here too, otherwise … I don’t know. I doubt I could have done it alone, and then the whole building could have gone and the people in the apartments upstairs … I had nightmares last night when I was finally able to get to sleep.”

We said good night to each other and one by one pulled out of the alleyway onto Broadway. I headed across Columbus back to my grandmother’s house. When I arrived, I found Wizard curled up in a ball, depositing cat hairs on my heavy knitted sweater. I bundled him up in my arms and carried him downstairs to the living room. I found my grandmother’s space heater in the hallway closet, closed the doors to the kitchen and the hallway, and plugged it into an outlet in the dining room. I turned it up full blast. The house felt even colder than before, if that was possible, but I really had no choice but to make the best of it. Since the gas starter in the fireplace wasn’t working, I opened the damper and managed to get a fire going with a few wood logs I piled in. Between the heater and fireplace, I thought the two rooms should stay warm enough to be comfortable.

The spirit of the season had still not bitten me, which was a good thing if it kept me from spending more money, but I decided I’d better wrap my few presents while I had the time and the space to do it. I pulled out the roll of Christmas wrapping paper from the bag I’d packed and found scissors and Scotch tape in the hallway desk. I placed my grandmother’s plum shawl in a small box with tissue and her garnet necklace in the box from the jewelry store. It wouldn’t be possible to disguise the fact that Kuan’s present was a book—it was way too large—so I just wrapped it as it was, adding ribbons and labels, and then placed the gifts on the hallway table. I still needed to find a present for Gale, the girl who has everything, and I planned to check Macy’s again for the ivory sweater with pearls for Cheryl. There wasn’t time to order online, and if I had no luck, I’d find her something else. Christmas was only five days away. I didn’t know if I’d be able to return home by then, or if I’d even have a home at the rate things were going, but at least here, my little finds were safe until the holiday arrived.

I pulled the drapes closed to keep as much warmth in as possible. I found sheets, blankets, and pillows in the linen closet and made up a bed on the sofa. I threw another log on the fire for insurance and put on my T-shirt and thermal leggings. Grabbing my laptop, I curled up under the covers of my makeshift bed.

I decided to compare Evandra’s chart against Dorothy’s and Richard’s. I wanted to know why she was so convinced Dorothy was trying to hurt her. After several minutes of study, I was no further along, but I did notice that Richard’s natal Neptune exactly connected with Evandra’s Moon and Ascendant. Given Evandra’s transits, it wasn’t a connection I liked. It could represent a deep spiritual tie, but could he possibly be deceiving her? Or was he psychically or even physically draining for her in some way?

What was more interesting was that the difficult aspects in the Dorothy-Richard composite chart made negative connections to Evandra’s natal chart. It was as if the combination of their energies affected the elderly woman far more than either one of them as individuals.

Wizard joined me and snuggled in the space between my knees and the back of the sofa. I couldn’t think about these people any longer. I closed my laptop and grabbed my book on eclipses from the coffee table. Before I could work my way to the end of the first chapter, my eyes closed. The book slipped out of my hand to the floor. I started, then resettled myself, drifting off to sleep watching the fire while Wizard snored softly amid the mass of blankets.

T
WENTY

M
Y CELL PHONE WOKE
me the next morning. I fumbled for it on the coffee table and squinted, unable to read the caller’s number.

“Hello,” I mumbled. I could see my breath in the air. The fire had gone out during the night and the open damper had sucked the rest of the warm air out of the room. The little space heater was still working its heart out to little avail.

“Julia, it’s Dorothy. I’m so sorry to bother you. I’m just at my wit’s end.”

“What’s going on?”

“I really need help. Richard’s not here and I can’t reach him. I found Evandra outside in the garden in the middle of the night. She was in her nightgown. She could have fallen or caught pneumonia. The doctor’s on his way, and I have that architect and designer and their crew coming in. Damn this house. It’s so big and the walls are so thick, I didn’t hear a thing. I hate to ask, but is there any way you could come by? Gudrun’s with her now, but Alba’s busy and Eunice might need help. I need to go out to pick up some groceries.”

“Sure. I’m actually at my grandmother’s at the bottom of the hill. Just give me a few minutes to pull myself together.”

“Bless your heart. I’m sorry to have to ask.”

“Not a problem. See you in a bit.”

I untangled myself from the blankets and padded over to the fireplace. A tiny amount of warmth still emanated from the hearth, even though the fire was completely out. I grabbed the poker and shoved the damper closed. I pushed back the drapes in the living room and dining room. Frost had even formed on the inside of the windows overnight. That furnace couldn’t arrive soon enough. Two more days.

I dished a little food out for Wizard, gave him some fresh water, and headed for the shower. I turned the faucets on full blast and then remembered the hot water heater was gas powered. No hot water. What could I do? I could heat some water on the stove to wash. No, I couldn’t. No stove. This is ridiculous, I thought. I felt helpless. This was worse than camping out, an activity I completely loathe. Such a city slicker I am. What’s next? Coffee! No stove. Maybe Gloria had an electric coffeepot. I rummaged in the pantry and the big cabinets under the counters but didn’t see one. I was sure she had one; I just didn’t know where she was hiding it. I was panicking. The microwave. Why didn’t I think of the microwave? How quickly civilization unravels. I downed some coffee and, once restored, washed my face and brushed my teeth in cold water. I threw on my jeans, a warm sweater, and socks and sneakers. I picked up the living room, leaving a warm blanket on the sofa for Wizard. On the way out, I tucked a note under Kuan’s door asking him to check on Wizard when he had a chance, then headed to the Gamble house on Telegraph Hill.

T
WENTY-
O
NE

B
ARREN IVY BRANCHES, LIKE
determined fingers, clung to the house as if claiming it for the earth. Blank windows faced the street like sightless eyes in the gray early light. I rang the bell next to the double doors and Dorothy opened them a moment later. Her hair was pinned back. Dark circles were visible under her eyes, and freckles stood out against her pale skin.

“Thanks for coming, Julia. I’m completely wiped out. There’s coffee in the kitchen though.”

“Sounds great.”

We went through the swinging door. Dorothy poured a generous mug for me and placed a small pitcher with cream next to it.

“So tell me … what exactly happened last night?”

“Something woke me. I don’t know what. But thank God I did wake up. I don’t know what it was, Julia, but I had this urge to check on both of them. Eunice was sound asleep in her room. I could hear Gudrun snoring in the room at the end of the hall. I cracked the door to Evandra’s room. It was completely dark, but somehow I knew she wasn’t there. I hit the light switch and the bed was empty. I just panicked. I ran up and down the hallways, checked all the rooms upstairs and down, and couldn’t find her. I didn’t know what to do. Then I was standing in the front parlor and something caught my eye at the side windows—her nightgown. I didn’t know what it was at first, but there was Evandra. Outside, in the formal garden at the side of the house. I went out through the conservatory and found her wandering around, talking to the statues like a lunatic. She didn’t really recognize me and she didn’t make much sense, but I was able to get her back in the house. I don’t know what to do. I can’t have her wandering around. It’s just not safe.”

“Can you have a lock installed on her door and make sure she can’t open the windows all the way?”

“I guess I’ll have to. But I hate to do that. She’d be a prisoner in her own home. I can’t ask Gudrun to give up her bed and spend the night with my aunt. What else can I do?”

“Maybe leave your bedroom door open? Or get one of those monitors they sell for babies, so you can hear her if she wakes.”

“That’s a good idea. I didn’t think of that. I’ll have to find one. It took me a long time to get her settled, but I finally did. I fell asleep in the chair next to her bed—I was afraid to leave her. But I really didn’t sleep very well after that. She terrified me. I’ve never seen her like that. I don’t know what was wrong with her.”

“Like the other night when you found her wandering?”

“No. This was different. She seemed to be in a much worse state.”