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“Mama, how did you know?”
“Know what?” she mused.
Whether she did it to drive her son mad or just because she could, Irene knew how to make everyone suspicious and filled with anticipation at the same time.
A few hours later, Noah noticed that there was a man seated across from U-Jin. He appeared to be Korean as well and was speaking to him in his native language. Noah knew a lot of different languages, but Korean wasn’t one of them.
“Let me ask my friend,” said U-Jin, nodding at the man. “Noah? This man’s sister recently died while in a retirement community in Tennessee. Their family was quite wealthy, having owned dozens of Korean groceries in the South. She wrote to him that she was in love and might be getting remarried.”
“I’m sorry for your loss,” said Noah. “What was her name?”
“Wei-Na. I just called her Wei-Wei,” he said with a sad smile. “Do you see her? I want to know if she is okay. I sensed that something was wrong the last time we spoke, but she seemed distracted.”
Noah nodded at the man and closed his eyes. Like Julia, he didn’t need to close his eyes, but for some reason, it made the customers feel more confident in their abilities.
He took in a deep breath and, beneath the table, gripped Julia’s hand. They both had powerful abilities, but together they were able to call forth even the most horrible spirits and settle them.
When he opened his eyes, a lovely, tiny little woman was standing beside the man. She pressed her fingers to her lips, grinning at him, and pulled her brother’s hair. The man instantly reached for the back of his head, frowning.
“Wei-Wei, that’s not nice,” said Noah, grinning at the woman.
“She’s here. I knew it. She’s here,” said her brother. “Is she well?”
“She is well,” nodded Noah. “Your brother is worried about how quickly you died. Did something strange happen?”
“I became ill with a stomach bug, and it attacked me quite quickly. I was lucky that the man I was dating was so kind to me.”
“What man?” asked Noah.
“What? What is she saying?” asked her brother. U-Jin gripped the man’s hand, quieting him.
“The man who ran security at my retirement community. We’d become great friends. And then became more. He was so lovely to me but then asked to marry me. I didn’t want to marry again. There wasn’t a reason for me to marry again. He was upset but then suggested we move in together. I refused.”
“Did he hurt you in any way?” asked Noah.
“I don’t know. I don’t remember much after I became ill. I gave him access to my checking account so that he could purchase my medications. Was that wrong?”
“No, Wei-Wei, that wasn’t wrong,” smiled Noah. “We’ll find out what happened. I promise you. What was the man’s name?”
“Bill. Bill Laughlin. He was a lovely man. A recent widow himself. That’s why I thought it was strange he wanted to marry again so quickly. It had only been two months since his wife died.”
“Is there anything you’d like me to tell your brother?” asked Noah.
“Tell him to stop worrying about me. I’m in a much better, more peaceful place. He should worry about himself and find a life.”
“I’ll tell him,” smiled Noah. “You can go now if you wish.”
She slid behind her brother and tugged his hair one more time. He laughed, shaking his head as he rubbed the spot. When she was gone, Noah told him his sister’s final words. After he left, he wrote down the name of the man she’d been dating and asked comms to check on him.
It surprised none of them when the bus from Maison Soleil pulled up to the Square, and a dozen women stepped off. Word was traveling fast.
“Good morning,” said Miller as he opened the door to the reception area.
“Good morning,” smiled the woman. “What can I do for you?”
“Well, I’m interested in looking at a residence here. I’ve been retired for a while but wanted to move back home. You know, aging parents and all that.”
“Of course, of course,” said the woman. “Please, have a seat, and I’ll call Mike to explain everything to you.” She handed him a clipboard with information to fill out, and Miller skimmed over most of it. When the other man entered the room, he immediately felt the need to punch him in the face.
