Mischief in Mudbug (Ghost-in-Law, #2)(4)

“That sounds harsh,” Sabine said.

“You’re only twenty-eight and in good health. I’m not saying the treatments will be easy, but you are in the best of possible shape to handle them.”

Sabine swallowed. “And if that doesn’t work?”

“A bone marrow transplant is always an option,” Dr. Breaux said and gave them a pained look. “Unfortunately, the most successful match for a treatment like this is a close relative.”

Sabine clutched the arms of her chair until her fingers ached. A relative? Could this situation get any worse? Sabine’s parents had died in a car accident when she was just an infant. A distant great-aunt on her mother’s side of the family had raised her, but no amount of searching, either through earthly channels or paranormal, had yielded any information at all about Sabine’s father or any other relatives of Sabine’s mother. She might as well be searching for the fountain of youth.

Dr. Breaux cleared his throat. “I know your greataunt is dead, Sabine, but I looked into things, hoping to find another relative—at least on your mom’s side.”

Sabine shook her head. “I’ve already looked, Dr. Breaux. You know I’ve exhausted every channel.”

Dr. Breaux nodded. “I know you’ve exhausted all of your available channels, but sometimes if one is, um, creative, one might find information by matching medical records.”

Sabine stared at Dr. Breaux. “So did you find someone?”

“Yes,” Dr. Breaux said. “Your aunt had a nephew.”

Sabine straightened in her chair. “A nephew? How is that possible? I asked, over and over again, and she always denied having any family at all.”

Dr. Breaux looked down at his desk for a moment, then back up at Sabine. “My guess is she didn’t want people to know.”

“Who is it?” Sabine asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.

Dr. Breaux sighed. “Harold Henry.”

“Jesus H. Christ!” Maryse jumped up from her chair. “Harold Henry? Are you kidding me?”

“I’m afraid not,” Dr. Breaux replied.

“I’m related to Harold Henry?” Sabine asked in dismay.

Maryse slumped back into her chair. “Not that it matters. Harold won’t work. Even if he wasn’t in jail and he agreed to do it—which would never happen—he’s old and has fifty million things wrong with him. High blood pressure, heart problems, and God knows what else.”

“I agree,” Dr. Breaux said. “Harold wouldn’t be a very good choice, even if he was a match.” He hesitated for a moment, obviously not wanting to say the next thing on his mind. “But Hank might be. You’re the same blood type, anyway, so that’s a start.”

Maryse groaned and covered her head with her hands. Harold and Helena’s son, Hank Henry, her ex-and always-disappearing husband, made professional illusionists look like amateurs with his ability to vanish into thin air.

“And there’s no other way?” Sabine asked, starting to feel more than a little desperate. “Can’t we look for another match, outside of my family?”

“Of course we can look,” Dr. Breaux said. “I’ve already started the process, but I don’t have to tell you the odds of finding a perfect match outside of a family member or the odds of success with anything less than a perfect match. I want the best possible odds.”

Sabine nodded. “I understand. So what do we need to do now?”

Dr. Breaux picked up her file. “We’ll start the chemo right away. There’s an opening next week if you can arrange it. If there’s any chance you can locate another family member…just in case…”

Sabine sighed. “I’ve been searching for my family since I was old enough to read, Dr. Breaux. Unless there’s a miracle, I don’t see it happening now when it hasn’t all these years.”

Dr. Breaux gave her a sad nod. “I understand, Sabine.”

“But we’ll be happy to try again,” Maryse said. “Hank can’t hide forever, and maybe it’s time to try less traditional methods.” Maryse stared at Sabine, obviously trying to communicate more than her words. “Who knows, something might appear now that didn’t before.”

Helena! Well, it was certainly a less than traditional route, and God help them both—it was the best idea Sabine had heard in years.





[page]Chapter Two




Raissa Bordeaux stared across the table at Maryse and Sabine, an uncertain look on her normally focused face. “So let me get this straight,” Raissa began, “Maryse started seeing her dead mother-in-law weeks ago, and now you see her, Sabine?”

Sabine glanced over at Maryse, looking for permission to tell Raissa everything. Maryse nodded, and Sabine began her explanation. “No. I can only hear her. We’re not sure why I can’t see her, but Maryse still can.” Sabine hoped her mentor—a real psychic—might have some answers.

Raissa’s bright green eyes glowed with interest. “Okay. So both of you can hear her, and Maryse can see her, so what exactly do you need from me?”

“Does that sound normal to you?”

Raissa laughed. “Hell, no. It’s probably the most bizarre thing I’ve ever heard.”