“Look at that necklace,” Jenks said proudly, pointing through the glass. “It’s got a hunk of bone for the pendant. You could get that. Put the demon curse in it, and bang! Not only do you have a new focus, but you’ve got yourself some kick-ass Native American bling.”

Hunched over the display case, I glanced wearily up at him.

“Oh!” he exclaimed, and I followed his gaze to an ugly totem shoved into the corner of the case as if in apology. “Look at that! That would look great in my living room!”

I exhaled slowly, dubiously eyeing it. The thing stood about four inches high, and the animals portrayed were so stylized, I couldn’t tell if they were beaver, deer, wolves, or bear. Blocky teeth and big eyes. It was ugly, but a right kind of ugly.

“I’m getting it for Matalina,” he said proudly, and my eyes widened as I tried not to imagine what to a pixy would be akin to a six-foot totem pole in the middle of Matalina’s living room. I had no idea how pixies decorated, but I couldn’t imagine the woman would be pleased.

“Ma’am?” he called out, his posture upright and eager. “How much is this?”

I leaned heavily on the counter as the woman finished up at the register and hustled over. Tuning her and Jenks out as they haggled over the price, I looked at the necklace. It was out of my easy price range, but there was a statue of a wolf next to it. It was expensive too, but if it didn’t work, I could bring it back.

Reaching a decision, I straightened. “Can I see that wolf statue?” I asked, interrupting Jenks trying to sweet-talk the woman into giving him a senior citizen discount. She wasn’t buying that he had kids and a mortgage. I couldn’t blame her. He looked like he should be in high school with that funky hat on.

Her eyebrows high and her expression cagy, the woman unlocked the case and set the statue in my hand. “It’s bone, right?” I asked, turning it over to see the MADE IN CHINA sticker. Not so authentic, then, but I wasn’t going to complain.

“Ox bone,” the woman said warily. “No regulations on importing ox bone.”

I nodded, setting it on the counter. It was pricey, but I wanted to go home. Or at least back to my motel room. “Would you give us a price break if we bought two pieces?” I asked, and a satisfied smile spread over the woman’s face.

Delighted, Jenks took over, overseeing her wrap both pieces up and boxing them individually. My pulse slow and lethargic, I dug in my bag for my wallet.

“My treat,” Jenks said, his young features looking innocent and flustered. “Go stand by the door or something.”