Southern Curses by Stuart Jaffe

Author:Stuart Jaffe [Jaffe, Stuart]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: paranormal mystery, supernatural suspense
Publisher: 1
Published: 2016-04-25T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

“Calm down, kid.” Max closed the front door. “Tell us what’s happened.”

PB gave a sideways glance at Madame Vansandt before moving closer to Sandra. “I did as you asked me. I followed Mother Hope again, and just like before she went into the O. Henry Hotel and didn’t come out. I got bored, and I figured if she won’t come out, I could sneak in and spy on her.”

“You shouldn’t have done that. It’s too dangerous.”

“Why? A couple of uptight people at the counter and two bodyguards so pumped full of steroids they probably have no balls. Besides, I’m here, ain’t I?”

“I just meant —”

“No time for this crap. Listen. I got in, hid under a room service cart, and ended up in her office. Sat there for two hours before she said anything worth hearing. Leon Moore called — she had him on speaker — and I heard him saying they followed you here to this witch’s place. Then he said that one of his spies called him saying that Tucker Hull had sent a hit squad over here. Mother Hope yelled at him saying he had to grab you right away. I slipped out, got in my car, and raced over here.”

A sour tasted filled Max’s mouth. He swallowed hard against it. “They’re all coming here?”

“That’s what I been saying. We’ve got to go.”

“Hold on. You were in Greensboro. That’s a forty minute drive. How did you beat them? Shouldn’t Leon have taken us by now?”

“Mother Hope told him to get a ward before coming here. Protection against ghosts and witches. She talked a bunch of crazy stuff like that — I figure, when you get a lucky break, you take it and don’t ask questions.”

Sandra had moved to the balcony window. “Looks like Leon’s finally arrived.”

Tapping on his leg, Max observed Madame Vansandt. “Tucker’s men probably had to get wards, too. They’re really scared of you.”

“Hey,” Drummond said. “Wards could be for me. You know I can be plenty scary.”

Max checked out the window. Leon had three men with him, all dressed in gray suits and carrying handguns like classic G-men from a 1950s movie. Only thing missing were the hats.

As Leon pointed out positions for his men to take, Max heard Madame Vansandt snapping her fingers. He glanced back. She glared at Maria until the woman rose from her cowering corner and walked over with head bowed.

“Be a kind dear and fetch me a red candle.”

To Max’s astonishment, Maria gave a quick curtsy before heading into an adjacent room. After she left, the old witch opened a drawer on the side table and picked up a pen and pad. She bent over the pad and wrote.

Drummond flew in through the wall. Max jumped — he had not realized the ghost had left. “I was right,” Drummond said. “Those wards bounce me off like a pinball hit by lightning. I can’t get close to any of the Magi people.”

Max went to the front door, stopped, and came back.

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