A Finder's Fee Read Online Free PDF

tearing me up. What’s wrong with it anyway? Does it need catnip or something?”
    I scooped up the cat I’d grown to love and sat down on the bed with him on my lap. “He doesn’t like strangers.”
    “I can see that. What about the witch? Did he like
her
?”
    Treasure hissed at her then settled down to purr on me. “I don’t know what I can say to convince you. Maggie didn’t take me over.”
    “So you have full recall of everything that happened to you, everything you did, in the last few days?”
    I had flashes of total clarity, but I had to admit—to myself—that most of the last few days were a blur.
    When Maggie and I had parted company earlier that day, I’d been at the town hall site, lying on the cold ground. I could see that I’d been digging—not very successfully—trying to reach what was left of Maggie’s home. I suddenly remembered about Kevin having the excavating equipment and walked to the Blue Whale Inn.
    I was sure I knew when I was looking through Maggie’s eyes, and when I was on my own. As I’d told Kevin and the others, everything was gray and surreal when I was with Maggie in the past.
    It was different when I walked to the Blue Whale. I knew I was in my own time and I knew what I was doing.
    “So that’s ‘no’ on that score.” Ann sat down and looked out the window. “There’s a good chance this entity was using you, Dae. I know your motives are good, but we don’t know what her motives are. She may still be using you to get whatever she wants. Now you want Kevin to help you.”
    Her words brought a few doubts sailing along like clouds across the sea. The incidents of the past few days had been odd, even for me. It shouldn’t have surprised me that Ann would point that out. I shored up my resolve and remembered that this quest meant a lot to Maggie. After hundreds of years, her spirit would be united with her lover’s and a wrong would be put right for the people of Duck who’d hated her.
    “Why are you being so stubborn about this?” Ann asked. “Is it personal, or just that Duck pride standing in the way of admitting you might be wrong?”
    I lay back on the bed and forced myself to close my eyes. Everything inside of me was jumping around like I’d had too many energy drinks. I tried to relax. “I only have a few hours before we can work at the site. I should get some rest.”
    Her eyes narrowed as she stared at me. I didn’t have to see her to feel her gaze. It was as sharp as a shard of glass trying to slice away my defenses. Ann was a powerful psychic. I wouldn’t let her in.
    “Yeah. You do that.” She got up and opened the bedroom door. “And if there is someone else inside you, let me just say to her that you aren’t alone anymore. Don’t make us hurt you.”
    Ann left the room quickly after her ominous words. I waited with my eyes closed until I heard her talking on the phone downstairs.
    I jumped out of bed and went into the bathroom, locking the door behind me.
    “Are you all right?” I asked Maggie.
    “I’m fine. You?” The words came from my mouth but the tone and dialect were different. Maggie had originally come from Surrey in England. That, and the old-fashioned English she used, made our voices very unique.
    “I was worried. I didn’t know if I’d lost you when the beads broke.”
    “Oh, my friend, there is so much more that binds us now than the beads. Is this your home?”
    “Yes.” I smiled. “The bathroom. Sort of a room for the bedpan.”
    She giggled. “What now? Do you hope to fool your friends?”
    “That would be nice. I can better look for your lover’s resting place without their aid.” Her dialect was beginning to rub off on me. I had to watch it.
    “Then I will do my best to stay hidden.” She looked around the bathroom. “This is a place of wonder! And so many handsome men. Would that I could kiss them all.”
    Maggie wasn’t a witch, but I’d learned she was a tavern wench who liked men a lot. Though she