“They are nothing like Clue!” Lara eyed the Ouija board. Lara’s magic had “come in” during a sleepover at Caren’s when Lara was six. As a prank, Caren’s older sister and her friends tried to scare the younger girls with a séance. Instead Lara had moved the board with her mind, scaring six teenage girls, sending them squealing through the house. It had been the first time Lara had made a “correction.”

As if reading her thoughts, Caren said, “My dad said it was static electricity that moved the board. It happens all the time.”

“It does not happen all the time, Caren.” After Caren watched her unzip her own wedding dress with magic, Lara knew that her friend was growing suspicious; she was probably connecting all the weird things she’d witnessed over the years.

“What was the name that appeared on the board? The one that had you so freaked.” Caren looked up. “Alta…”

“Althacazur.” Lara snatched the cup from the counter. It was a name that she had never forgotten. Lara had asked the board who was there and “Althacazur” had been the response.

“Betsy was going to name her cat Althacazur, but you were so freaked out that you cried. Those were fun times.” Caren looked at the painting leaning next to the sofa. “How did you get that thing?”

“My mother,” said Lara. “She’s cleaning and thinks it would look perfect in my dining room.”

“Or here,” said Caren. “Would look great next to the leather Chesterfield over there.” Caren pointed toward the book clubbers, who had thick copies of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell on their laps.

“It’s an heirloom,” Lara said with a sigh. “I’ll put it up for a little while then gift it to you. Gaston Boucher is going to make the frame a little less… well, just a little less…”

“Yeah, a little less would be nice.” Caren nodded gravely.

Lara headed past the Ouija board a little too quickly on her way to the door. She could hear Caren giggle behind her.

“You’re so mean,” said Lara as the door shut behind her.

She crossed the street and opened the door to Gaston Boucher’s frame shop. Another bell rang overhead. Why did everyone in Kerrigan Falls need to announce their door was opening? It wasn’t like crime ever happened here. Despite the old-fashioned touch of a bronze bell, the inside of the gallery was sleek. White framed prints in all sizes were arranged in neat stacks that leaned against the wall, with sleek laminate counters and up-lighting. Two chrome Wassily Chairs with brown leather were gathered around a small glass table with hulking art books in the center.