I pretended like I was desperate for company and joined the rest of the people staying at the B&B for breakfast the next morning.
After I’d gone back to my room yesterday, I’d done some research on Maya Lewis, the woman I’d seen at the fair. She’d clearly seen something when she’d been holding my hand.
And talking about the accident? That was more specific than I was comfortable with. Maybe she really did have a gift, and if she did, she might be able to give me answers.
So, today, I needed to be a real tourist and tour more of the town. Make nice with the locals and business owners. And I needed to track down Maya.
All that started with a nice breakfast. When I walked into the dining room, I was surprised to find the owner sitting at the table with an unfamiliar man. They laughed and joked in an easy manner. Were they good friends? Even more? Maybe lovers? Both were drop dead gorgeous, and if I really had been here for a simple vacation, I might have indulged in that a little more. Maybe flirted with Maddox, the owner, because I could have sworn he was flirting with me when I checked in yesterday.
Maddox waved me over. When I got a closer look at the other man, I saw he was in uniform. Good. This man worked for the local police department, which meant he probably knew most of the people in town. Exactly who I needed to talk to.
I joined them with a warm smile. “Good morning.”
“How’d you sleep last night?” Maddox asked.
“Great. It was quiet—I’m used to more noise from living in the city.”
“Oh, yeah, where?” the policeman asked.
“Here and there,” I said, reaching a hand out. “I’m Hawk Verity.”
He had a strong grip, with cool fingers but a warm smile. Kind of like Maya yesterday. At least it seemed like I was off to a good start.
“I’m Chris,” he said, releasing me. “And you don’t mean the Hawk Verity? The author?”
I straightened in my seat. Most people didn’t recognize me in person. I tended to keep a low profile, even if I communicated with fans all the time over email and various social media outlets.
“That’s right.”
Chris grinned at Maddox. “You do realize you have a celebrity staying here?”
Maddox looked at me. “Is that so?”
I shook my head. “Not really. I’ve only published a handful of books—”
“And they’re all interesting,” Chris said with a nod. “The supernatural and paranormal—ghost towns. All of that.” He leaned in like we were sharing a secret. “Are you here because you think the B&B is haunted?”
I chuckled. “No. I promise.”
But part of me was reluctant to divulge why I really was here. The instant I said anything about vampires, the rest of the town was sure to find out. I hadn’t met anyone yet who I trusted enough to tell the truth.
Though Maddox and Chris both seemed perfectly harmless.
“Then what is it?” Chris asked. He shared a look with Maddox. “We promise we won’t tell.”
I smiled at him, trying to play along. “Don’t laugh.”
“We won’t.”
“It’s Bigfoot.”
Maddox’s eyes widened. “Seriously?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard any rumors about Bigfoot around here,” Chris said.
“They’re out there,” I said. “You hear things all the time. A monster in a lake, ghosts at the local high school. Psychics.”
“Now that’s one we can help you with,” Chris said. “Silver Creek has its very own fortune teller.”
Jackpot. “Really? I’d love to talk to her.” I smiled again. “You know, in case that whole Bigfoot thing doesn’t pan out. You know where I can find her?”
“Absolutely,” Chris said. “She runs her business out of her house over on 6th.”
“Great. I might pay her a visit today.”
“If you do, tell her Chris and Maddox sent you.” Chris stood, nodding at Maddox. “Thanks for breakfast. Nice to meet you, Hawk.”
Maddox stood as well. “I should probably get back to work. Let me know if you need anything. I can give you a map of the town and let you know where to find the library—you might be able to learn more about local lore there, too.”
“Thanks. I’ll be around.”
When he walked away, I took out a notebook instead of my recorder and wrote 6th on a pad of paper with Maya’s name before I got myself some breakfast.
***
I was at her house only two hours later, standing on the sidewalk in front of a cute two-story craftsman. I wanted to believe I’d find more answers here, but to be honest, I wasn’t even sure if she would talk to me.
Not after the way she’d left yesterday.
But I still walked up to her door and knocked. I wouldn’t know if I didn’t try.
When she opened the door, I was surprised to see her give me a wide smile. “Hi there,” she said.
“Hey. I…don’t have an appointment,” I told her, noting the sign on the front window, “but I thought you might have a minute to talk. Chris and Maddox over at the B&B suggested I come.”
Her smiled widened. “Of course. They’re always sending people my way.”
All right. I hadn’t been expecting this. I thought she might politely ask me to leave. Or tell me there wasn’t anything else she could do for me. But instead, she opened the door wider and welcomed me in.
I followed her to the living room, which had been altered to look more like a setting for a séance. There was a table with a deck of Tarot cards on top. In the corner, a set of shelves held crystals and other witchy knick-knacks. Maybe she was a Wiccan. Or maybe she really did have a gift and could see visions.
“I appreciate you letting me in,” I told her honestly. “I had a few questions about yesterday.”
She gestured to the table. “Please sit.” She joined me and then gave a gentle smile. “I feel bad.”
“Why?”
“Well, I already kind of knew you were coming,” she admitted. When I lifted my eyebrows, she laughed. “Not a psychic thing. Chris told me you might come by. He also told me who you are—a writer. And what you write.”
“Well, it’s not exactly a secret.”
“I didn’t think so. But I also heard you’re here for a story, and unfortunately I don’t have one to give you,” she said, lifting her hands in an apologetic gesture. “If you were anyone else, I’d do the whole show and dance, but I don’t want to lead you on or make your research any more difficult.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that what happened yesterday…it was all an act.” She gave a sheepish smile. “I mean, I’m sure you’ve seen it before. We read people, not minds or pasts or futures. That’s how our profession works. I promise I don’t try to dupe people or anything, but they’re looking for something uplifting, hope for the future, and that’s what I give them. That’s all.”
She was telling me she was a fake. A fraud. Probably a good one, though, because she was still in business. That’s what most fortune tellers were. People who gave other people hope. There was a lot of smoke and mirrors involved, but no true psychic ability.
I stood, disappointed despite the fact I’d tried to prepare myself for anything. I paced one way, then the other, trying to figure out just what to say to her. All of the sudden, I was doubting myself. Maybe she was really good at her job and yesterday had been…I wasn’t sure. A lucky guess?
With another smile, I said, “It truly felt like you saw something yesterday.”
“I’m not going to lie—I’m good at my job.”
I paced the other way but couldn’t decide whether or not to trust my gut. It felt like she was lying. But it wasn’t like I could prove it.
“I won’t write about it,” I told her, suddenly getting an idea. “I mean, I assume you think I’m here to write a story. But this…it’s personal.”
She studied my face. It was almost unnerving having her eyes on me. Like she could see straight to my soul. Like she was seeing more of what she saw yesterday—and I desperately needed to know what that was.
“I have so many questions and I…” My voice trailed off when I noticed a picture on the wall. There were people in there I recognized. Chris and Maddox from this morning, and a handful of other people.
Off to the side, a man stood just slightly apart from the group. A man I couldn’t take my eyes from.
“Who is this?” I asked my voice low, stunned.
I’d seen this man before. I knew it. I could never forget his face. It had been in my dreams more than once. He was the one I was looking for—had been looking for all these years.
I needed to find him.
She stood and joined me, her eyes on the picture. “Who?”
“Him.” I pointed out the man on the left. “I need to speak with him.”
“Jacob?” she asked, then grimaced, like she’d made a mistake. “A—just another local. He’s—”
“He lives here? Nearby?” I spun to face her. “I need to talk to him. Please. It’s important.”
“I’m—I’m so sorry.” She checked her watch. “I have another appointment soon.”
I cursed under my breath and then turned for the door, ignoring her questions behind me.
“Sorry about all this,” I said as I walked out the front door. “I have to go.”
I heard her behind me, but I kept moving. Jacob. His name was Jacob. And I’d do whatever it took to find him.