to anyone’s use of the root for evil.”
“Evil? I hardly think that criteria would apply to Dr. Shaw,” I said, remembering my own visit with Essie Goodwine. She’d given me a packet of Life Everlastin’ and an amulet to ward off evil spirits.
She’d also told me there would come a time when I would need to tell Devlin about Shani’s ghost because he would have to choose between the living and the dead. I couldn’t imagine revealing such a thing to him back then, but last night I had come very close.
He knows, Essie had said, touching her heart. In heh, he knows.
He probably did know on some level. The draft, the cold spots…the inexplicable sounds in the middle of the night. The spiny hair at his nape, the icy shiver along his spine…
I forced my attention back to the ghost at hand.
Robert Fremont gazed down at me so intently, I wondered for a moment if he could read my thoughts. He had the power to pass himself off as human. What else could he do?
“Do you know anything about rootwork?” he asked.
“I only know what I’ve read here and there. You don’t grow up in South Carolina without some knowledge, no matter how rudimentary. It originated in West Africa, didn’t it?” Which naturally made me think of Darius Goodwine.
“Devotees believe that all things have spiritual essence, a soul even. A knowledgeable root doctor can tap into that universal power through the spirit world and use it for good or ill. Mariama was raised to respect the root. She was meant to follow in Essie’s footsteps. I think that’s why Shaw really brought her to Charleston.”
“So that he could use her to tap into the spirit world? I suppose that makes sense. He’s always had a keen interest in the afterlife, but not for personal gain or power. His wife was ill for a long time before she died. He tried to make contact through séances, but according to Devlin, Mariama wanted no part of it. She was afraid of what Dr. Shaw was trying to do.”
“She had a healthy fear of the dead as anyone with her knowledge would.”
“Because a person’s power isn’t diminished by death?”
“Because she knew you can’t always control what you bring back,” he muttered.
A chill wind feathered up my spine. “Did you see a lot of Mariama after she moved here?”
“Some, but she wasn’t in town long before she met someone new.”
“John?”
“He was taboo and that made him all the more irresistible to her.”
“Why was he taboo?”
“Old resentments run deep in these parts. Distrust of the white man is still alive and well, and a union with John Devlin was considered a betrayal by some. He wasn’t just white, he was rich. Old-money, Charleston rich.”
“So, Mariama’s family didn’t approve of the relationship?”
“It was deeper than disapproval. And much more complicated.”
I was very curious about Devlin and Mariama’s relationship, but reluctantly I moved on to a new subject. “She lived with Dr. Shaw when she first came to Charleston, didn’t she? Did you know Ethan Shaw?”
“Well enough to realize that he was in love with Mariama, too.”
My brows shot up in shock. “Ethan?”
“It’s like I said—”
“Every man who crossed paths with Mariama loved her.” But Ethan? “Did Devlin know?”
“He may have, but most men had blinders on when it came to Mariama.”
“Do you think anything went on between them?”
His gaze was scornful. “She wouldn’t have given someone like Shaw the time of day. But she wasn’t above using him if the need arose.”
“Using him how?”
He took a moment to answer. “Mariama had an unnatural power over the living. Whatever she wanted…whatever she needed…she could always find someone willing to do her bidding.”
That didn’t exactly answer my questions, but I suddenly remembered something Devlin had said to Ethan the night before. You told the police you were with me the whole night. You didn’t just give me an alibi. You gave yourself
“Evil? I hardly think that criteria would apply to Dr. Shaw,” I said, remembering my own visit with Essie Goodwine. She’d given me a packet of Life Everlastin’ and an amulet to ward off evil spirits.
She’d also told me there would come a time when I would need to tell Devlin about Shani’s ghost because he would have to choose between the living and the dead. I couldn’t imagine revealing such a thing to him back then, but last night I had come very close.
He knows, Essie had said, touching her heart. In heh, he knows.
He probably did know on some level. The draft, the cold spots…the inexplicable sounds in the middle of the night. The spiny hair at his nape, the icy shiver along his spine…
I forced my attention back to the ghost at hand.
Robert Fremont gazed down at me so intently, I wondered for a moment if he could read my thoughts. He had the power to pass himself off as human. What else could he do?
“Do you know anything about rootwork?” he asked.
“I only know what I’ve read here and there. You don’t grow up in South Carolina without some knowledge, no matter how rudimentary. It originated in West Africa, didn’t it?” Which naturally made me think of Darius Goodwine.
“Devotees believe that all things have spiritual essence, a soul even. A knowledgeable root doctor can tap into that universal power through the spirit world and use it for good or ill. Mariama was raised to respect the root. She was meant to follow in Essie’s footsteps. I think that’s why Shaw really brought her to Charleston.”
“So that he could use her to tap into the spirit world? I suppose that makes sense. He’s always had a keen interest in the afterlife, but not for personal gain or power. His wife was ill for a long time before she died. He tried to make contact through séances, but according to Devlin, Mariama wanted no part of it. She was afraid of what Dr. Shaw was trying to do.”
“She had a healthy fear of the dead as anyone with her knowledge would.”
“Because a person’s power isn’t diminished by death?”
“Because she knew you can’t always control what you bring back,” he muttered.
A chill wind feathered up my spine. “Did you see a lot of Mariama after she moved here?”
“Some, but she wasn’t in town long before she met someone new.”
“John?”
“He was taboo and that made him all the more irresistible to her.”
“Why was he taboo?”
“Old resentments run deep in these parts. Distrust of the white man is still alive and well, and a union with John Devlin was considered a betrayal by some. He wasn’t just white, he was rich. Old-money, Charleston rich.”
“So, Mariama’s family didn’t approve of the relationship?”
“It was deeper than disapproval. And much more complicated.”
I was very curious about Devlin and Mariama’s relationship, but reluctantly I moved on to a new subject. “She lived with Dr. Shaw when she first came to Charleston, didn’t she? Did you know Ethan Shaw?”
“Well enough to realize that he was in love with Mariama, too.”
My brows shot up in shock. “Ethan?”
“It’s like I said—”
“Every man who crossed paths with Mariama loved her.” But Ethan? “Did Devlin know?”
“He may have, but most men had blinders on when it came to Mariama.”
“Do you think anything went on between them?”
His gaze was scornful. “She wouldn’t have given someone like Shaw the time of day. But she wasn’t above using him if the need arose.”
“Using him how?”
He took a moment to answer. “Mariama had an unnatural power over the living. Whatever she wanted…whatever she needed…she could always find someone willing to do her bidding.”
That didn’t exactly answer my questions, but I suddenly remembered something Devlin had said to Ethan the night before. You told the police you were with me the whole night. You didn’t just give me an alibi. You gave yourself
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