A Deep and Dark December(50)
“No. What’s wrong with her heart?”
“Her blood pressure is elevated. We’ve given her some medication to help bring it down, but again, it isn’t having the effect it should. Can you think of anything that could have caused this? Any changes in her life or lifestyle?”
“Sorry. No.”
He nodded and consulted the chart he held in his hand. He scribbled down some notes, then flipped it shut and headed for the door. “We’ll keep a close eye on your aunt.”
“Thank you.” Erin watched the doctor leave, then turned to her aunt. “You’ve got to calm down, Auntie. You heard the doctor.” She slipped Cerie’s hand into her own. “I don’t know what’s happening to you… to us, but I’m going to find out.”
Her aunt shifted in the bed.
“Graham’s here. He knows, Auntie. He knows all about my ability. I’m helping him find out what’s happening.”
Cerie’s body stiffened and her heart rate went wild on the monitor.
“Auntie, please calm down. It’s all right. Everything’s going to be okay.” Erin flicked a nervous glance from her aunt to the monitor and back again. She didn’t know what she’d do without her aunt. Worry crawled inside her and weaved its web, wrapping her chest in tight bands. Erin couldn’t lose her. She wouldn’t lose her. She’d do whatever it took to stop whoever was doing this to them. Whatever it took.
*
Graham stared into Donald’s eyes, chilled by what he saw. Donald was there, but inaccessible, as though he was looking at Graham from the bottom of a deep, dark pit.
“Tell me what’s happening to you,” Graham said.
Donald’s gaze held firm as though he was trying to convey something he couldn’t with words. “Happening,” he repeated.
“He won’t tell you anything,” a voice said from behind him. Graham spun around to see Mabel, standing in the doorway. She made her way toward them, her eyes on Donald. There was a softness in the look she gave him and an extra sway in her step. “He hasn’t been able to do much more than repeat words or phrases for days now.” She settled into the chair next to Donald and patted his shoulder.
“What are you doing here?” Graham asked.
Mabel smoothed the hair that Donald had plucked at back down over his ear. “Erin and I have been taking turns looking after Donald and Cerie.” She turned her cunning gaze on Graham, brows raised. “I could ask you the same question, Sheriff.”
“What do you make of Donald’s and Cerie’s…conditions?” he asked, avoiding Mabel’s question, at the same time, feeling disrespectful talking about Donald as if he weren’t sitting inches away.
“I think…” She stopped Donald from reaching up to pull at his hair again and twined his fingers in hers. “They’re in trouble.”
Graham had to tread carefully here, unsure how much Mabel knew about the December family’s abilities especially Erin’s. “How so?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” She leaned across Donald and whispered, “Evil’s taken up residence in San Rey.”
“What do you mean, evil?”
“Witches,” she breathed.
“Witches.” He pressed his lips flat to keep from laughing out loud. Was she serious?
“It’s the only explanation. They’ve put a spell on San Rey. All the crimes…the murder…you can’t tell me that’s not the work of sinister beings.”
Graham sat back in his chair. She was dead serious. Witches. “Is that why half the town has horse shoes tacked to their front doors?”
“Witch repellant.”
“Well, it’s not working. And just how did the town come to believe witches are causing all the problems?”
Mabel’s gaze slunk to the corner of the room. “Everyone knows Samhain is their high holiday.”
“Mabel,” he began to admonish, then decided against it. Let the town’s people believe what they wanted. It wasn’t like he had a better explanation for what was happening. “You haven’t seen the witches, have you?”
She scooted to the edge of her chair, her full focus back on Graham. “As a matter of fact—”
“Mabel.” Erin approached them. “I didn’t realize you were still here.”
Jumping to her feet, Mabel dropped Donald’s hand as though it was a live grenade. “Of course, dear.” She approached Erin, a blush blooming from her chin to her hair. “Have you seen Cerie?” She wiped her hands on her hips. “Of course you have. How’s she doing?”
Graham stood, too, with the growing realization that Mabel, the most gossipy woman on the planet, had a secret she didn’t want revealed. Interesting.
Erin crossed her arms, rubbing herself as though she were cold. “She’s sedated. They’re going to run some tests on her.”
“Does the doctor know how to help her?” Mabel asked.
“He thinks it might be some kind of neurological problem.” She hitched her shoulders. “I don’t know.”
Erin looked so lost, so alone. Graham wanted to go to her and put his arms around her, but not with Mabel the Mouth standing right next to them. What was building between him and Erin was too fragile, too new. He felt an overwhelming need to protect it, to protect her. She’d only just broken up with Keith a few short hours ago. The gossips would spin that against Erin and she didn’t deserve any more of their hate.