The Dark Remains - Mark Anthony [81]
Marji’s smoky lips curved in a smile as she slipped her fingers up and down the length of the candle. “Honey, you light these in a ritual to make a man do your bidding, if you know what I mean.”
Travis returned Marji’s smile. “I know. I’ll take five of them.”
Marji laughed—a delicious, throaty sound—and fanned herself with a hand. “Well, it’s nice to see you’re so modest, honey. But are you sure you don’t want ten? That way you can get the whole team at once.”
Travis rubbed a hand over his shaved head. “Let’s stay with five. I’m only human, after all.”
It was fleeting, but Grace noticed his grimace as he said these words. She wasn’t the only one, for the shadow of a frown touched Marji’s face.
“Of course you are, honey. Aren’t we all?” She took five of the candles, set them on the Formica counter, and wrapped them in purple tissue. When she was done, she turned toward Grace. “And what can I get for you, queen?”
Grace took a step backward. “Why did you call me that?”
Marji shrugged, raising her arms—an elegant motion, like ribbons in water. “You’re pretty as a queen, honey, that’s all. Maybe you’d like a Valkyrie charm bracelet.” She reached into the case beneath the counter and pulled out a slender silver chain. Tiny charms dangled from it, making a faint but audible music, like the sound of falling snow. “I see that you like them.”
“Like what?”
“Runes.” Marji brushed the charms with a finger. “Like the ones on your necklace, honey. Although, as I like to say, I’m a girl who knows her futhark, and those aren’t Viking runes you’re wearing. Do you know where that writing comes from? It isn’t Minoan, is it?”
Grace clutched a hand around her necklace. It must have slipped out when they dashed inside. “It’s nothing,” she said, tucking the pendant back beneath her sweater. “And I’ll take the bracelet. It’s perfect.”
Marji wrapped it up. She totaled the items, and Travis paid her in cash. She handed him the paper sack.
“Thank you, miss.”
“You’re welcome, honey.”
Travis started to move from the counter, then glanced at Grace. Neither was certain if it was safe to go outside yet. Hindu tapestries and Egyptian camel rugs draped the store’s windows; she couldn’t see outside.
Marji crossed her arms and leaned on the counter. “All right, you two. Now why don’t you tell me why it was you really came in here? And I am not going to believe that you came running in like Bonnie and Clyde on the lam because you needed candles and some pretty new jewelry.” She placed hands on her hips. “And call me Marji. I haven’t been Miss since Bobby Farrell caught me behind the bleachers.”
Travis opened his mouth, but Grace was stunned to find herself speaking. She was pathetic at lying, but it turned out she was pretty good when it came to the truth.
“There’s a police car out front. We came in here to get away.”
Marji gazed at Grace with gentle brown eyes lined thickly in mascara. Then she came around the counter and placed one of her long, beautiful hands on Grace’s. “I know what it’s like, honey. To not want to be seen.”
Grace studied the other, then nodded. Of course. “I suppose you do,” she said.
Marji lifted Grace’s hand and gently turned it over. With a red fingernail she traced the lines on Grace’s palm.
“What are you doing?”
“Relax, honey. I’m a professional. Besides, you don’t want to go outside just yet, do you? Now take a breath and let your sister Marjoram do her work.”
Sister. The word was a comfort to Grace. Marji’s touch was warm and light as a hummingbird against her skin.
Marji gave an appreciative murmur. “Well, I’ve never seen such a strong lifeline, honey. Here, it was cut just after its beginning, and then again not so long after that, but each time it just kept going. And there’s another happening yet to come that will try to take you, but your life is too strong to stop.”
Grace bit her lip. Maybe Marji wasn’t a professional. She had always felt her grasp on life was tenuous at best.
“Now, your headline is sharp and deep, so you’re a total brainiac. I think we all knew that to begin with. And as for your