As I moved out of the shed, Junette asked me again. “Are you going to call a cab?” I scanned the area, making sure nobody was lurking in the shadows.

  “We’re less than a mile away. We can walk.” Alleys provided the best cover. Vlad and his crew were more likely to search the main roads. They may peer down the alleys as they pass, so keeping tight to one side would allow my silhouette to blend in with the buildings and trash cans.

  I grabbed my cell phone and scrolled through my contacts, pressing Gaby Pinsker’s profile pic when I found her.

  The phone rang twice before she answered. “Kind of late, isn’t it?”

  “And here I thought you were a proper night owl.”

  “I meant late for you.” She giggled. “Are you finally ready to hit the clubs?”

  “As enticing as that sounds, I have a case and could use your help.”

  Headlights reflected off the asphalt half a block ahead as a car crept down an intersecting road. I ducked and flattened my body against the fence to my right.

  “Turning in your chit already. Must be something big.”

  “Just a-”

  “Not over the phone. I’ll be at your house in ten minutes.”

  “My office.” I pushed off the wooden slats, staying low but advancing. “And better make it thirty.”

  “See you soon.” She hung up.

  “You need a witch?”

  “I’m more interested in her hacking abilities. If I needed a spell, I’d reach out to the few Wigons living nearby. They owe me favors.” I shook my head. “But unlike Gaby, they don’t know a megabyte from an overbite.”

  She didn’t hide the disgust in her voice. “You know how I feel about witches.”

  Her dislike of witches extended from her feelings about Hoodoo. They both concentrated more on nature and less on the spirits. She believed the magic from earthly items would only work if the lwa were involved. “I’ve always wondered why you fear Wigon magic, but think witches hold no real power.”

  “Wigon potions use ingredients from their realm. I’ve witnessed their effectiveness.”

  “Regardless of her spell crafting abilities, she will perform some magic on this.” I slapped my hand on the laptop inside the backpack.

  “Will she find something on that old computer?”

  “If it contains useful information, no matter how well hidden, Gaby will locate it.”

  “You think it will point back to Claude?”

  “He’s involved in some illicit activity, and his family might also be involved.”

  “His ma faked being blind.”

  “That much is obvious, but I don’t think she was his mother, not biologically, at least.” Shaking my head, I added, “Vlad had a thick accent, but she didn’t. Plus, consider the pictures on the wall.”

  “Her other children?”

  “No family resemblance.”

  “Different fathers?”

  “Or foster kids. She ordered the people chasing us. I initially thought Vlad brought associates, but now I wonder if they were his foster siblings.”

  “The old lady’s the leader of a gang of orphans?”

  “The notion sounds ridiculous when you say it out loud, but...”

  “You’re finally thinking with some skepticism. Not the same man who became putty every time Cinderella opened her mouth.”

  “I’ve taken that into consideration as well. Nina’s been separated from her husband for two years. Perhaps she met someone and wants to end things with Claude. Maybe something about their finances makes divorce not appealing. She happens upon Vlad, who is staying a few doors down at her hotel, and realizes he’s a criminal. So, she offers him money to make her husband disappear.”

  “That’s a lot of maybe and perhaps.”

  “Most theories are until they’re tested. I need to find some excuse to look at their financials without her realizing we suspect her.”

  Nina’s posture stiffened as I entered my suite. Instead of moving from the couch, she peered at me with wide eyes. A world of worry hid behind her perfectly applied makeup.

  I plodded to my office and set the laptop on my desk. “The Russian patient you mentioned, was his name Vlad?”

  “Claude didn’t say their names around me.”

  I walked to the doorway. “Do you remember seeing a large man hanging around the hotel?”

  “I do.” Her eyes widened. “With a thick accent.”

  “Was his voice similar to the one on the phone call?”

  “I don’t recall.” She crossed her legs and leaned forward. “Did this Vlad guy take my husband?”

  “She can act. I’ll give her that much.”

  “He’s a suspect. Would he have any reason to believe you two had money?”

  “How so?”

  “Did you drive an expensive car, wear pricey jewelry, or discuss finances in earshot?”

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Nothing like that.” She shifted on the couch.

  Three quick raps on the door stole my attention. A young smiling face practically pressed against the glass. Gaby.

  “Come in,” I said.

  The bell jingled as she entered. Her overly thick, black eyeshadow matched her clothing. Her leather jacket with metal studs somehow meshed with her black yoga pants, which had designs of white mushrooms, trees, and a pentagram. But the star of David hanging from her neck seemed out of place.

  I had met Gaby when the wizards intercepted rumors about an ex-Mossad agent dabbling in magic. More importantly, they considered her to be a Yaksha in disguise. Israel special forces seemed like a stretch for someone with such a slim frame.

  “Nina, this is-“

  “No names.” Gaby smiled. “I won’t be here long.”

  “Anyway, Nina is my client.”

  Gaby’s curly hair bounced as she fiddled with her ponytail. “You didn’t tell me you had guests.” She glanced at Nina, then focused on me. “What do you have for me?”

  “A memory chip and a laptop.” I handed them to her.

  Gaby pulled a laptop from her bag, opened the lid, and inserted the card. “Password protected, but that can be bypassed.”

  “Do you need time to write code?”

  “You watch too much TV.” Her wide smile exposed white teeth that contrasted with her black lipstick. “Most programs are written and tested before being used in the field. She opened a file and clicked some buttons. A few moments later, she turned the laptop toward me. “Ready to go.”

  The drive only contained three pictures. Gaby flipped through them. The first captured a teenage Vlad, then a youthful version of the woman in the kitchen. The last picture included a girl and two boys of similar ages as high-school Vlad.

  I threw my hands in the air. “Nothing!”

  She hovered her mouse over the files. “Something isn’t right.” Gaby leaned forward. Her eyes widened. “One of these is much larger than the others.”

  “What is it?” Nina asked from the living room.

  “Cinderella is worried she’ll turn into a pumpkin.”

  Gaby opened her mouth but paused when I shook my head slightly. “We won’t know for sure until I fully analyze the data.”

  “How long will that take?” I asked.

  Gaby glanced around. “Not here.” She shut the computer and stood. As she headed to the door, I scrambled to my desk. Not finding any refills for my taser, I searched for an alternate means of protection. My hand stopped when it rubbed against a plastic bag. A smile snuck onto my face as I pulled the small bag of white powder from the drawer. I’ve been looking for an excuse to test it out.

  I turned to see Nina stepping in Gaby’s path. She towered a foot above the young girl. “Why is one picture bigger than the others?”

  Gaby froze in place. Her posture loosened. “He might have hidden files in a PDF.”

  In my past interactions with Gaby, I’ve never seen her open up to someone so quickly. Nina seemed to have that effect on people, except for Junette.

  “He’s a hacker too?”

  She shook her head. “Any noob with the right program could bury a file.”

  “Thank you, mysterious girl with the cutest boots I ever saw.”

  Gaby glanced at her black four-inch heels. Several metal spikes adorned the leather strap running across her exposed foot. She blushed. “You can call me Gaby.”

  “Now the witch is falling for this woman.” Junette scowled. “I don’t get it.”

  I hurried to Gaby, gently grabbing her arm and escorting her from the room. “Are you okay?”

  “I’ve never been better.” She smiled. “Should we bring Nina with us?”

  I spun around.

  Nina stood half a foot from me. “I can wait here if you like, sugar.”

  Alarm bells rang in my head. Before I processed the insincere look in her eyes, a gust of her perfume wafted to me. Vanilla and cherry. Maya.

  An image of my late wife occupied the real estate in my brain. For a moment, I remembered the way she ran her fingers across my back as we lay naked in bed. “Do you want to come with us?”

  “Come on, you ain’t buying this act, are you, Lud?”

  “I should find myself a hotel. I’m getting tired.” Nina smiled.

  “Don’t make her leave.” Gaby grabbed my arm. “We’ll be back soon.” She bit her lip as she locked eyes with Nina. “Wouldn’t you feel safer here?”

  “I would.” She pointed to the couch. But I won’t sleep well on that thing.”

  “It pulls out.” I moved into the room and relocated the coffee table and recliner. After throwing the cushions from the couch, I tugged on the handle. “I have new sheets and a pillow in the closet.”

  “What is wrong with you?”

  Ignoring her, I turned and left. Gaby followed. As we walked through the building and out the door, she asked me questions about Nina.

  “You both need to lose the crush,” Junette said.

  Gaby’s black, nondescript van sat in the shadows. We climbed inside, and she set her laptop on a shelf in the back. She plugged it in and pushed the power button. “There’s something about that woman.” She paused. Her eyes lit up. “That perfume.” She grinned.

  “Are you also fond of the aroma of vanilla and cherry?”

  “No.” She scrunched her forehead. “Cotton candy and caramel apples, with a hint of musky animals.” Slapping me on the shoulder, she added, “When I was a little girl, my dad would bring me to the circus.”

  “Dammit Lud. I told you to be wary of Cinderella. She’s scrambling your brains with some magic I ain’t heard of.”

  “Nonsense,” I said.

  “I remember the smell well,” Gaby replied.

  “Think, Lud.”

  Closing my eyes, I attempted to remember Nina’s face as she talked, but memories of Maya popped into my head.

  Gaby ejected the memory card and slid it into another computer. “This will let us view the files without putting your name on a list.” She winked. “Big brother’s always watching.”

  Thoughts of Maya invaded my brain. They blurred and were replaced with warm feelings.

  “Her magic wears off. It took a while last time, but if you fight it, you should be able to shake it sooner.”

  The more I contemplated the woman’s suspicious behavior, the more Maya’s images flooded my mind.

  “This is interesting.” Gaby pointed the monitor toward me. “One file contained dark web links. They all seem to be related to selling stolen goods.” She tapped the screen. “Your target is a fence.”

  A memory of Nina hugging me popped into my head. Junette was accurate in her assessment. The embrace was excessive. With her husband missing, she shouldn’t carry such a flirtatious vibe.

  “Earth to Ludwig.” Gaby slapped my shoulder. “Are you still with us?”

  “A fence. Makes sense. He had a room full of possibly stolen stuff.” I focused on the screen. “But why graduate to kidnapping? Can you check his browser’s history on the laptop and see if he searched Claude or Nina?”

  She connected Vlad’s computer to her system and booted it up. The keys clicked as she typed. A List of his searches filled the screen. After scanning them, Gaby pulled another drive from her bag and inserted it. She selected a program. “I’m restoring the deleted history.” She paused as the screen flashed. “Nothing about Claude and Nina.”

  “Anything about France, Psychiatry, or pharmaceutical.”

  She typed in a few searches, then shook her head, but hovered over one search. “Pharmaceuticals.” She selected the line. “Fair market value.”

  “The type of search a fence may make.”

  Gaby removed the memory card and inserted another drive into her laptop. “I’m erasing all traces.” She fluttered her eyelashes. “I’ve been trying to find ingredients for a spell. Do you know anyone that’s selling?”

  “Careful.” I glared into her eyes. “The wizards believe you’re unaware of the truth about magic.” Only a few understood true magic’s existence. Most people witnessed it in action at least once, but their minds filtered what they saw, shrugging it off as their eyes playing tricks on them, a mirage, or an overactive imagination. Gaby’s unique mind consisted of a firm science foundation with an unhealthy obsession with the occult.

  “I’ll come up and say goodbye to Nina.”

  I tucked my lower lip. “Things may get dangerous around here quickly.” My longing to see Nina persisted, despite part of me acknowledging her appeal wasn’t genuine. Gaby’s attraction to Nina would be powerful, like my initial experience with the scent. Playing off her deep-seated paranoia may counter her urge. “Can you steer clear for a few days? I’ll bring Nina around when this all blows over.”

  “But-” Gabby crossed her arms.

  “The wizards might be tailing me.”

  “And you waited to tell me!” She pushed me to the door. “I’ll be up all night covering my tracks.”

  I hopped out and headed for my vehicle.

  “Where are we going?”

  “I need to grab something from my car.”

  “What about Cinderella?”

  I opened my door and rifled through the glove box, pulling out a small canister. After opening it, I rubbed some of the thick paste under my nose, and pushed some into my nostrils. The vapor caused me to cough. My eyes watered a bit.

  “What is that?”

  “It’s petroleum jelly mixed with menthol cream. I created this for gory crime scenes.”

  “What if the magic isn’t scent related? It could make you think you’re smelling something, like a-”

  “She doesn’t realize I’m aware of her ability. I’ll test this balm. If it fails, you’ll need to talk some sense into me, like you did in the van. It seemed to help.”

  “You’re going to pretend to be oblivious to her little magic trick? How will you move the investigation forward?”