Page 96 of Midnight Auto Parts

She was no stranger to domestic abuse, having set broken arms for her neighbors and wept tears of rage with her friends. I had witnessed both during my time in New Orleans under her roof. Yet she had never, to my knowledge, abused her power to exact revenge on behalf of those who had been hurt.

She did use some of her money, which was its own kind of power, to get the ones who wanted lawyers the best representation she could afford. More often than not, it was in vain. The victims returned to the abusers who refused to let them go.

That was the cycle Keshawn’s grandmother wanted broken. That was the fire she had lit in this girl’s soul. That was the generational power of women lifting up women, and it was beautiful.

“I see your thoughts all over your face,cher.”

“I’ll pay for her to relocate to the Quarter, if she’ll go.” I kept my voice down to avoid distracting Tameka with problems for another day. “What do you think?”

“The girl doesn’t have the gift. That much is clear.” Vi pursed her lips. “Just because she can’t apprentice doesn’t mean we can’t put her to work. We can find ways to help her help others that won’t end in tears and blood.Ifshe wants it. I ain’t making nobody do nothing. That’s the quickest way to get nowhere fast. I don’t want more trouble than I’ve got on my doorstep.” She pinched the back of my arm, and I yelped. “And don’t go thinking I mean you.”

“I found it.” Keshawn held up a bone the length of her palm. “What do I do with it?”

“You give it here.” Tameka crammed it in her pants pocket. “Where next?”

The question had been addressed to me, and I had my answer ready. “Twelve feet to your right.”

The women hustled to the spot, Tameka directing her daughter as I, in turn, gave her instruction.

Once I had them settled into their tasks, I took a chance on contacting Anunit from a short distance.

“You’ve spent more time among these women than anyone else. Do you know who told them about the burial ground? The Morgans couldn’t have just stumble across it. They must have planned for it.”

“I woke when the first bone left the safety of its resting place. I do not know what came before. There is a darkness in this place that is not of me or of my doing. The Morgans go there each night, behind a ward I cannot penetrate. They return in the morning full of purpose and magic, their breath heavy with apples they refuse to share with the others.”

Fresh screams rose behind us, from the direction of the bonfire, and Anunit fell silent in my head.

“We need to hurry along.” Vi rubbed her hands. “I’ll stay with Keshawn. You take Tameka down one.”

“All right.” I angled myself in Tameka’s line of sight. “Come with me.”

A brief hesitation tensed her shoulders, but the panicked cries must have convinced her to listen.

“This one feels bigger than the others.” I paced as she dug, wishing for substance. “Be careful with it.”

“Got it,” Keshawn hollered behind us, tugging a thighbone from the dirt.

“Go on down.” Vi walked with Keshawn to Tameka, her hands shooting out a few times to help the girl with her burden before cursing her own limitations. “We’ll finish here. You get Tameka started on the next one. We only need maybe two more.”

I couldn’t fault her logic, not when Keshawn couldn’t hear or see us to take our cues. It was better for us if I directed Tameka where to begin then we let Keshawn come behind us. As yelling and weeping grew, I found myself fisting my hair and tugging with frustration. I couldn’t do anything but course correct when Tameka got too far to one side or the other.

God, I was unraveling as Anunit roared and chased the others, who must be scared out of their wits.

A warm, steady pressure in my hand sent my fingers curling into my palm. “Almost time.”

“Five minutes.” Vi leaned over Keshawn’s shoulder. “She’s got the last one.”

Rocking back on her heels, Tameka wiped the sweat from her brow. “Where do we hide them, Frankie?”

“Somewhere remote.” We couldn’t risk someone else finding them. “Keep watch over them.”

Gathering the bones, Tameka watched her daughter unearth her last one. “When will you be back?”

“An hour.” I balled my fists, hating I had no better answer. “I’ll send people sooner, if I can.”

Astral travel was quicker, but we needed all hands on deck. That meant I had to come in person. With as much backup as I could beg, borrow, or steal.

“An hour.” Tameka drew herself up taller. “We can make it that long.”

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