Midnight Hour (Shadow Falls: After Dark #4)(79)

The woman pursed her lips. “Did the fortune-teller react to this?”

“I … don’t know, that’s when everything went crazy. A storm filled the room and the armadillo got loose.”

“Armadillo?” The old woman tapped her index finger to her lips as if thinking. “Odd.”

“I mentioned that in my message,” Holiday said.

“Yes, I am just digesting it.” She continued digesting, tapping her lips before focusing again on Holiday. “You said your husband was

attempting to find the fortune-teller. Has he had any luck?”

“No,” Holiday answered. “But he’s not giving up.”

Ms. Wales refocused on Miranda. “When the tattoo appears, is it in reaction to anything? Are you experiencing distress or … pleasure?”

The way she said pleasure with her English accent made it sound naughty. “Nooo.” Miranda heard Della smother a laugh.

Miranda gave the woman’s question another consideration. “Wait. It does seems to appear when I’m upset or overwhelmed. But…”

“But what?” She leaned in as if holding on to every word Miranda said.

“It’s kind of strange that it hasn’t appeared with just anyone.”

“I’m intrigued. Tell me more.”

“It’s only shown up in front of my sister, my two close friends, and Perry. When my parents came to the hospital I was afraid they’d see it.

That’s when I … kind of said, ‘go away,’ and it did. They were there for hours. It didn’t come back.” Her mind raced. “Oh, but wait,

there was the nurse in the hospital. And I didn’t know her. So I guess it’s not about who’s there.”

“Still interesting,” Ms. Wales said. “Perhaps you trusted this nurse since she was taking care of you.”

“Maybe.”

The woman went back to digesting. “Have you attempted to ask the tattoo to appear?”

Miranda bit down on her lip. “Why would I? I mean, I’d like it to go away and never come back.”

“So you associate the tattoo as a bad thing?” she asked as if puzzled.

“I … I associate it as being freaking weird,” Miranda spoke honestly.

“I suppose it is a bit peculiar.” Ms. Wales paused. “But for the sake of unraveling the mystery, would you be willing to try?”

Miranda looked at Holiday. Holiday looked at Ms. Wales. “Is there a chance it could be harmful?”

“It has not hurt her thus far.”

Holiday exhaled. “It’s completely up to you, Miranda.”

Miranda considered it. While the woman seemed a little off her rocker, she might be the only person to understand what was happening.

“How should I say it?” Miranda asked.

“Politely, I would assume.”

Della coughed again.

Miranda, feeling a little stupid and a lot frightened, held out her arm. “Tattoo, come back.”

Everyone held their breath. Nothing appeared.

“I don’t think it works.”

“Very disappointing.” The woman went back to tapping her lips. Then she looked up. “Would you mind disrobing?”

“What?” Della and Holiday spoke up at the same time.

Miranda’s mind choked on the idea and left her speechless. She was not taking her clothes off.

“Oh, my.” The woman glanced at Holiday. “I simply … I’m wondering if the tattoo has relocated elsewhere on your body. You may keep your

underclothing on.”

Miranda met Holiday’s befuddled gaze.

Holiday stood up. “Ms. Wales, it’s not that I don’t trust you, but … is there a reason for this? I’m aware that I contacted you, but you

didn’t answer my call and then you drove all this way as if you know … something. Maybe if you explained—”

“Yes, I suppose I should enlighten you.” Her thick gray brows tightened. “It might be easier to just show you.” She dropped the photos on

the sofa and started unbuttoning her blouse.

Miranda’s mouth fell open. When she saw the woman’s leopard-print Victoria’s Secret bra, she almost covered her eyes. Della let out another

stifled snicker.

Holiday stood up. But then the old woman pulled her blouse off her shoulder and exposed her upper back and Miranda saw it. Air caught in her

throat.

Kylie, Della, and Holiday moved in.

“It’s identical,” Kylie said.

“No shit, Sherlock,” Della said.

Miranda just stared at the swirly, almost vine-like pattern on Ms. Wales’s back. “You didn’t get that put on there?”

“No, dear. I was told that it appeared when I was only a few months old. My mother, the Goddesses rest her soul, was a mystic witch as was her

mother before her. My grandmother died shortly after I was born, so I never knew her. Normally, mystic talent isn’t hereditary. And being half

human, my gifts are nowhere near that of a mystic witch. That said, it was viewed as extremely odd that the gift was passed on to my mother.

Adding to the mystery is that I’m told my grandmother occasionally wore the same tattoo. It came and went, apparently emotionally charged, and