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what he was seeing. “However?” she encouraged.
    He looked up, as though he’d forgotten she was there. “I think it’s safe to say he is an occultist. There are certain symbols here,” he showed her one of a crescent moon and star. “If this was witchcraft, the pentagram, the star, would be pointing up and the moon would face the other way.” He searched for another image and showed it to her. “This is a veve, a voodoo symbol to summon Baron Samdi. Not one of the nicer voodoo saints.”
    “ So he’s a voodoo occultist?” she asked.
    Alex shook his head. “I don’t think so. I don’t know much of voodoo practices but I know enough to say most of these symbols have no place in voodoo rituals.”
    “ Then what are you saying?”
    Alex handed the camera back to her. “I think there are two possibilities. These symbols have been drawn to inspire fear or we have a multi faith occultist on our hands.”
    “ Multi faith?”
    “ Yes, one who draws on various belief systems. There were also Eastern, Native American and Hindi symbols in there.”
    Frankie had met some witches through her job, usually they were like the ones she had encountered in Aberdeen. They had been a new coven that had played pranks by levitating gas lamps and causing a spate of UFO sightings. They were harmless, just having fun and had agreed to tone their antics down. However, for all her acceptance that magic was real, she’d never thought about how or why it worked. She’d also never met a black magic practitioner before.
    “ So you can mix and match magic?” she asked him.
    Alex could see she was beginning to trust him and he found himself enjoying that trust. He didn’t think she gave it easily. “Strictly speaking, magic doesn’t need any spells or symbols to work, only the belief in magic and force of will is required.”
    “ Then why use spells?”
    “ Because spells focus the mind. You could memorise which months only have thirty days, but isn’t it easier to use the mnemonic rhyme?”
    “ So it doesn’t matter which brand of witchcraft you use, as long as you believe it?”
    “ Exactly,” he grinned. “You can even use prayer.”
    “ Wait, you’re telling me miracles are just magic?”
    “ Oh dear,” he teased. “Have I shattered your faith in miracles?”
    She took it in good humour. “I didn’t actually believe in miracles, I thought they were mass hysteria and gross exaggerations.” Frankie frowned and thought over everything he’d told her. “So you think these symbols are just window dressing for this guy?”
    “ Yes,”
    “ That means we’ve got a witch who’s figured out how magic works.”
    “ Yes.”
    “ And that makes him more dangerous than the average witch.”
    “ Yes.”
    “ So is he an occultist or Satanist?”
    “ He may worship the devil but magic itself is neither good nor evil, only used for good or evil.”
    Frankie hadn't thought she’d be in a theological discussion tonight or she’d have brushed up on her subject. “Then what is magic?”
    “ Basically just energy or power. My very existence can be called magical, as can what you called your gift. Human life force itself could be called magical.”
    “ You mean the soul?”
    “ That’s one name for it.” Although he didn’t want to, Alex checked his watch. “And our half hour is nearly up, Miss Wright. As much as I would like to prolong things, you and I will have some difficult questions to answer if we aren’t downstairs soon.”
    “ You’re sure she’ll call?”
    Alex smiled. “My suggestions are hard to resist.”
    Frankie’s thoughts were too chaotic to formulate a plan beyond going home. She stood up.
    Alex stood up with her. “I’ll see you out, I assume you’re finished here?”
    “ Yes.”
    Alex guided her outside, making sure Sarah saw them on their way out.
    “ Do you need a cab?” he asked.
    “ I drove,” she turned to him “Thank you for your time. You were very helpful.”
    He could see