An Incantation of Cats by Clea Simon

Author:Clea Simon [Pinter, Jason]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Polis Books

“Would you like some water?” Elizabeth asked, showing Becca to a worn couch. Despite its sprung upholstery, it looked comfortable, Clara thought, with deep cushions and soft velvet that still retained some of its pile. As her acute nose informed her of its other recent usage, her ears went back. This, then, was where Frank and Gaia had their assignations.

The odors were too faint for Becca to notice, however. And as Elizabeth hurried over to a corner, where a sink and hot plate made for a makeshift kitchenette, she took in her surroundings. In front of the sofa, a scarred wooden coffee table held two dirty mugs as well as an opened deck of Tarot cards. Metal shelving lined the walls, stuffed with books and boxes, several wrapped in cellophane. The door to the shop remained ajar, as did one by the sink, revealing a small lavatory below a smoked-glass window. As Elizabeth ran the tap, Becca craned around to see the exit to the street. Her view was nearly blocked by large cardboard boxes, some open, others taped shut. Someone was in the midst of packing, though whether that work would require pruning shears or gloves, Clara didn’t know.

“Here you go.” Elizabeth slid onto the sofa beside Becca, handing her a plastic beaker of water.

“Thanks.” Becca managed a smile but did not, Clara was glad to see, drink. Instead, she turned to face the open boxes. “Are you, uh, changing out the inventory?”

“That? Oh, yes.” Elizabeth appeared flustered, as if she were seeing the boxes for the first time. “I’m afraid Margaret let things go, and so I figured that while I’m here I would try to get things in order. There’s so much that’s outdated and nothing has been taken proper care of. Of course, it would be a huge help if we had a proper staff.”

Becca nodded. “I ran into Gaia.”

Elizabeth sighed and shook her head. “That girl,” she said. “She didn’t belong here. She had no feeling for the craft.”

Becca’s eyes narrowed. For a moment, Clara thought, she resembled Laurel. “That’s why you let her go?”

A startled laugh. “You thought—because of Frank? No, she did Margaret a favor, though my sister doesn’t see it that way. Frank was a liability from the get-go. She’ll be much better off now that he’s gone.”

Before Becca could respond, the jingling of bells announced the opening of the store’s front door.

“Elizabeth, are you there?” a voice, nasal and a little whiny, called.

“Margaret?” She rose and turned. “Coming!”

Becca followed her back through to the front of the shop.

“Glad you’re feeling better.” She greeted her sister with a hug.

“What? Oh, hi, Becca.” The shorter sister had her coat on, and her pink cheeks attested to a longer walk than the half block from her apartment. Still, she bobbed her head toward her sister. “Yes, thank you, Elizabeth. The nap did me good.”

Becca looked from one sister to the other, but bit back whatever response she was about to make. “I’m glad you came by,” she said instead.

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