“Hi,” she said, smiling. “Anything new?” she asked him.
“I wish I could say we’d caught him, but no,” he said. “Hey, any new necklaces yet?” he asked Beth.
“No, I’m afraid not. I promised to let you know when I had some, and I really will,” Beth said.
“Thanks. I guess I was just hoping.”
“Aren’t they a little feminine for you?” Gayle said. “And if you’re thinking of getting one for Devin, she bought one just the other day.”
“My mom,” Rocky said. “She’s not living in the area anymore, and I’d love to send her one.”
“What a sweet idea,” Gayle said.
“Hey, Gayle, do you remember what day Brent and I went by Devin’s after work?” Beth asked her.
Gayle shrugged and shook her head. “A couple or three days ago, I guess.”
“Yeah, that’s what I said, but I was trying to pin it down,” Beth said. She looked at Rocky. “Does it matter?”
“Actually, yes, but I can check with Brent later,” he said flatly, then decided to go for it. “I’m trying to find out if you tried to break into her house and then set fire to her lawn.”
“What?” Beth gasped.
Gayle sighed. “Beth, we’re all under suspicion.”
“Look,” Rocky said to Beth, “you two are friends. Naturally, your prints are all over. We’re eliminating people who are close—it helps, believe me.”
“You have my prints?” Beth asked, frowning.
“He’s the government, Beth. He has everything,” Gayle said.
Just then Theo emerged from the back with his customer. Seeing the group at the counter, he joined them as soon as he showed his customer out. “Hey,” he said, looking at Rocky expectantly.
“Hey. Business as usual, I see,” Rocky said, shaking Theo’s hand.
“People like their cards read,” Theo said.
“Do they come to you to speak with the dead?” Rocky asked.
“Sometimes,” Theo said. “But I don’t do anything like that. A good tarot reader understands how the cards can guide someone, though. We’re listeners, really. And cheaper than a psychiatrist.” He shook his head. “Love affairs are my biggest dilemma. Anyway, I’m sure you didn’t stop by just to chat, so what’s up?”
“He’s here because we’re all under suspicion,” Gayle said.
“Oh!” Theo said, clearly surprised.
“Just following through,” Rocky told him.
“Big Brother has my prints, and they’re all over Devin’s house,” Beth explained.
“I’m also back to warn Beth and Gayle to be careful and remind them not to go anywhere alone,” Rocky said. “We think the murderer is targeting women whose family trees go back to the time of the witchcraft trials.” He turned to Gayle. “Did you know you and Beth are distantly related?” he asked her.
“Half of Salem is related,” Gayle said with a shrug. “Of course, aren’t we all related way back when somehow?”
“Neanderthals,” Beth said.
“Well, the point is that women who can trace their family history back that far need to be especially careful,” Rocky said.
“Don’t worry, Beth and I are being very careful,” Gayle promised.
“I convinced the two of them to actually stay together instead of just talking about it,” Theo said.
“Thanks, Theo,” Rocky said. “By the way—you had ancestors here at the time, too.”
“Me?” Theo sounded surprised.
But was his tone sincere—or feigned? Rocky had to wonder.
“Yes, we found out while researching our theories about victimology,” Rocky said. “Our Jane Doe is still a mystery, of course, but the last victim—Barbara Benton—was in Salem specifically because she had family here at the time of the witchcraft trials and wanted to find out more about them. Same with Melissa Wilson years ago, and Carly Henderson.”
Beth looked worriedly at Gayle, then back to Rocky. “You weren’t kidding. We really do have to be careful.”
“Don’t go anywhere alone,” Theo said sternly.
“Keep thinking for me, will you?” Rocky asked them. “If you can remember anything at all that happened at the bar the night Barbara Benton died, it could really help.”
“We’ll try, Rocky. Honestly. We’d do anything to help you,” Theo said.
Waving goodbye, Rocky left the shop, calling out his thanks and one last warning to be careful.
He couldn’t help himself. He stood in the middle of the pedestrian mall on Essex and watched people go by. Some were heading to the Peabody/Essex Museum, some to the smaller “witchcraft” museums and some just to shop or find a restaurant.
He heard snatches of conversation. Many people were excited and unworried, talking about where they were going next. But some were talking about the murders.
Couples held hands tightly.
Mothers walked close to daughters.
Fathers had wary eyes.
Rocky pulled out his phone and called Devin again.
“Do I still have any friends?” she asked.
“I was the perfect picture of diplomacy,” he said, though he knew he was stretching the definition a bit.