Evan took out the flyer. “Lady Annabel thinks that the girl has never stayed here, but I understand that you hold ceremonies outside of this place. Is it possible that you’ve seen this girl at any of them?”
Rhiannon studied the flyer very carefully. Then she handed it back. “No, I can safely say that this girl has not been to any of our ceremonies.”
“I’m sorry to have troubled you,” Evan said.
“Oh, no,” Rhiannon said. “You were summoned here.”
“I was?” He looked confused.
“You belong with us, you know. You are one of us, even if you try to deny it.”
Evan gave an embarrassed laugh. “Oh, I don’t think so. I was brought up strictly chapel.”
“I can tell a true Celt when I see one,” Rhiannon said. “The Celtic religion is in your veins, boy. Your ancestors were worshipping here before Christianity was even thought of. You should at least come to one of our ceremonies. May Day is not far-off. Do come. You’d be amazed at what you will feel.”
“Thanks, but … I don’t think this is my cup of tea,” Evan muttered. The woman’s intensity was unnerving.
“It’s not supposed to be a cup of tea,” she said. “If you want a cup of tea, you go to your chapel. If you want the energy of the universe, you come here.”
Evan shuffled his feet, wondering how he could make his escape without appearing too rude. “I—really ought to …”
“Just one minute.” Rhiannon held up her hand. “What do you know about Druids?”
“I’ve seen the eisteddfod,” Evan said. “They wear robes.”
Rhiannon sniffed. “Stage Druids,” she said. “Invented in the seventeenth century. Nothing to do with us or our religion. Promise me one thing.” She darted into the darkness of the hall again and reappeared holding a slim book in her hand. “This will explain who we are and what we do. I wrote it myself. Promise me that you will read it and bring it back to me.”
As she handed him the book, he felt a current of connection between them. He couldn’t tell if it was just the static in that thick carpet or if there was really an electric charge when the book touched his hand.
“All right. I’ll read it.” Anything to get away.
“I’ll be seeing you again soon,” Rhiannon said. “Very soon.”
Evan could feel her eyes watching him as he left the building.
Chapter 8
“A little too intense for her own good sometimes,” Annabel said. “Now I just have to find my husband and—oh, here he is now.”
A man was running up the steps from the beach. He was tanned, barefoot, wearing white pants and a flowing white shirt unbuttoned to his waist. His long blond hair blew out behind him like a halo.
“Hi, honey. What’s the problem?” he asked, pausing to give her a peck on the cheek. “I was off jogging but I got a feeling that something was wrong.” He looked inquiringly at Evan.
“The constable is looking for a missing girl,” Annabel said.
“Then you’ve come to the right place,” the man said smiling. He held out his hand. “Randy Wunderlich. I’ve located plenty of missing people in my career. What can you tell me about her?”
“The constable thinks she might have stayed here,” Annabel cut in before Evan could answer. “But I think we’ve established that she hasn’t.”
Randy put his fingers to his temples. “Wait a minute. As you were talking, I got something … something to do with water? Ocean? Across the ocean?” he asked.
“She’s from America,” Evan said.
“Ah. Okay. That’s a start. What do we have to go on? Do you have anything belonging to the girl? Something I could touch when I go into a trance?”
Evan thought that it was rather like giving a bloodhound an old sock to smell and a ridiculous picture of Randy, sniffing out a trail, sprang into his mind. “I’ve got this poster,” he said, holding it up. “The photo’s not very good, and I’m afraid I can’t tell you much. She was studying over here, at Oxford, and wrote to her parents saying she was heading for Wales. She hasn’t been heard from in over two months now.”
Randy barely glanced at the poster but put his fingers to his temples again. “I’m not picking up anything at the moment.”
“I’ve already told the constable that she hasn’t been here,” Annabel said. “And you’re probably not picking up anything because she’s gone back to America. ‘Ocean,’ you said. The girl is across the ocean.”
“Yeah. That could be it,” Randy said. “Sorry not to be more positive, Officer. I’ll keep on trying. If anything comes to me, I’ll be sure to let you know.” He looked at Annabel. “Did you want me, honey?”
“Yes, I did. We’re supposed to be meeting with Ben in—” she consulted her watch “—fifteen minutes. And you can’t see him dressed like that.”
“Just because he’s a stuffed shirt doesn’t mean that I have to be,” Randy said. “He’s an accountant. He’s supposed to look like that. I’m a psychic and a well-known personality. He has to take me or leave me.” He put an arm around her waist. “Come on. Race you up to the main house.”
As he pushed her forward, Evan heard her mutter, “Sometimes I wish you’d grow up, Randy.”
“But you married me for my youthful good looks,” he chuckled, “as well as for getting your head straightened out.”
Evan trailed behind them as they went up the steps. As they passed the spa building, Evan heard a shriek.
“Evan Evans—what are you doing here?”
Betsy and another girl were just emerging from the building with buckets and mops. They were both dressed in short green uniform dresses with the oak tree logo of the Sacred Grove on the breast pockets.
“Hello, Betsy,” Evan said.
Randy turned back. “Hey—you two know each other? That’s so cool.”
“He’s the constable in our village,” Betsy said, her face bright red with embarrassment.
“Great. Terrific. So you’ve heard that you might have a budding psychic living in your midst, have you, Constable?”
“Yes, I’ve heard all about it,” Evan said.
“The grad student who discovered her is very excited by her preliminary results. She’s asked me to test her on a more sophisticated level.” He smiled at Betsy. “So you’re all set for our session together this afternoon then, Betsy?” He gave Betsy a fake punch on the arm that was somehow very intimate.
“Oh, yes, sir,” Betsy mumbled. “I’ll be there, sir. And thank you for finding me a job here. It’s wonderful.”
“Glad you could join us,” Randy said. “The more positive vibrations there are around this place, the better. We’re going to make this place the psychic capital of the world, you see.”
“Come on, Randy. Ben will be waiting,” Annabel dragged at his arm.
Randy waved easily. “See you at four then. Don’t be late.”
“Thank you for coming, Constable.” Annabel turned to Evan. “I’m so sorry we couldn’t help you. And please excuse me if I don’t show you out. We have an important meeting with our accountant. The main gate is through that archway to your right. I’ll call Blaine to let him know you’re leaving.”
Then she and Randy hurried up the path. Betsy stood glaring at Evan, her hands on her hips.
“And just what are you doing here, I’d like to know?”
“Missing person report,” Evan said, waving the flyer at her. “I thought this might be a good place to check out.”
“Oh, yes, I believe that,” she said. “You came here to spy on me, didn’t you? Keeping an eye on me again.”
“No, Betsy, I swear …”
“When will you learn that I can take care of myself?” Betsy demanded. “I’m a big girl, you know. If you were my boyfriend, I could understand that you wanted to run my life for me. But you’re not, are you?”