The Mountains Bow Down by Sibella Giorello Page B

past lives, so we could move forward. Make peace with all that stuff you supposedly did before you were yourself.”
    â€œYou knew Judy pretty well?”
    â€œShe produced my CD. Then she put me in movies so I could make some money. I didn’t agree with all her ideas, but she sure took good care of me.”
    Her drink arrived with two limes and one lemon. She thanked the bartender and stabbed the plastic straw through the ice, forcing carbonated bubbles to explode at the surface. Her hazel eyes became as watery as opals.
    She almost whispered. “I can’t believe she’s gone.”
    â€œYou were surprised?”
    She hesitated. “Sandy said we’re not supposed to talk about it.”
    â€œI agree with him. I’m just curious. I didn’t know her long, but she sure didn’t seem like the type to commit suicide. Especially like that .”
    MJ continued to stare into her drink. “Are you a cop?”
    â€œPardon?”
    â€œYou sound like a cop.” She looked over, leveling me with her eyes.
    â€œI’m helping Milo with his role. I’m an FBI agent.” I paused. “But I still wonder why Judy would kill herself.”
    Without a word, she picked up her drink and walked back toward the crowd. Only she hovered at the edges, some lovely butterfly with a broken wing, while Larrah Sparks tried to find the right crystal, the accurate vibration for Barbie as a victim. Aunt Charlotte placed a violet-blue stone—fluorite was my guess—in the actress’s thin hand.
    â€œFeel anything now?” my aunt asked.
    â€œMaybe . . .”
    I felt something, and it was gripping my shoulder.
    Claire had changed from the yellow sari into gray sweats. The pink stone was still glued to her forehead but the adhesion was giving way. The crystal tilted, the third eye of a drunken cyclops.
    â€œI just figured it out,” she said, letting go of my shoulder. “You think somebody murdered Judy. So Mr. Toxic came on board to help you.”
    Here was another problem with Claire. She had busted-watch accuracy. Twice a day she managed to be right.
    â€œWhere did you get that idea?” I asked.
    â€œRaleigh, I’m a clairvoyant.” She leaned in with the inebriated third eye. “You can’t fool me. I know when something’s going on.”
    I wanted to push her back, get her out of my personal space. Instead, I praised her. “Your clairvoyant skills are excellent, Claire.”
    As expected, the compliment confused her. She took a step back, relaxing. “I probably came on a little too strong at dinner,” she admitted. “But it’s because I feel responsible.”
    â€œFor what?”
    â€œFor Judy. I tried to tell Charlotte.”
    â€œThat Judy was suicidal?”
    â€œNo, about the vibrations. In the crystals. They’re not the same. I told Charlotte we’re getting too close to the North Pole. I told her how magnetic forces can make the needle on a compass go crazy. I think that’s what killed Judy. This crazy magnetic energy.”
    â€œIt’s crazy all right.”
    â€œAre you calling me crazy?”
    â€œI’m saying there’s no wa—”
    â€œYou think I’m crazy!” Shouting again.
    The pretty people on stage turned around. I waited, holding my peace, until the lemmings returned to their tutorial. My aunt was explaining how the Pueblo Indians buried their dead with Jet so they had protection in the afterlife.
    â€œClaire, you can let yourself off the hook. The crystals can’t make people want to kill themselves.”
    â€œYou’re wrong. You watch. Watch me and my third eye. I’m going to break this case wide-open.” Her voice was rising again. “You can make fun of me, go ahead.” Yelling now. “I’m going to find out who killed Judy.”
    â€œClaire, keep it down.”
    â€œAnd when I’m done, the whole world will know