Hot, Hard & Howling - OpenDrive

Mari Freeman
“You’s not bringin’ that dark charm inta my place, is you?” The voice, heavy in
Cajun accent, came from Nell’s right. Darkness behind the counter veiled the speaker.
The fact that the woman knew she had the damn thing doubly verified she’d found the
right place. It also made her a bit nervous.
“I was hoping—”
“You was lookin’ for someone to enlighten you?” The woman appeared from
behind the counter as if materializing out of the night itself. Her bright yellow skirt
swished against her legs in the low light. The brightness of it and her startling
appearance made Nell blink. Something splattered on Nell’s face. The shock made her
retreat, stumbling down the steps and back onto the sidewalk. The cat hissed.
Nell wiped her face. Ash and who knew what else. She brushed it off on her thigh.
The woman stood in the doorway, making it clear Nell was not to bring the pack or,
more importantly, the necklace back into the building. The old, dark-skinned woman’s
face was wrinkled by time and hardship. Her skirt was tattered, the bottom hem torn,
strings hanging loose and dirty. Her tight, red camisole shirt showed every bony curve
of the tiny woman’s ribs.
The woman lit a half-smoked cigar. “You.” She jutted her chin out and tilted her
head to study Nell. She pointed a crooked, boney finger at her. “You brought me that
Chinese root when you’s here last, you did?”
Nell huffed in surprise. She and Avery had come to see this woman and he’d
brought a gift of some rare root. Nell couldn’t remember what it was or why he’d
brought the stuff. “My friend did, yes.”
The woman plopped down on the highest of the three steps and tucked her skirt
between her spread knees. “You got more now?” She let out a large puff of smoke that
formed a perfect ring.
“I’m sorry. No.” Nell thought through what she did have with her—a little makeup,
deodorant, the newly acquired phone and the content’s of Trent’s backpack. “Werewolf
hair.”
“Ain’t so rare ’round these parts, girly, but useful. Very useful.” Another smoke
ring floated in front of Nell’s face.
“I just need you to look at something. See if you have any clue where it may have
come from. Perhaps you’ll know who might want it. I’ll stay out here.” Nell started to
pull her pack off.
“Holy Jesus, chile!” She snubbed the cigar out on the step. The cat brushed against
her leg on its way inside. “Not out here in front o’ the Lord and everyones. Bugaboos
for miles can feel that creepy mojo. Lucky girly to be alive this long. Come whid me.”
She got up and headed down the street, leaving the door to her shop open. Who steals
from a Voodoo Queen? Talk about bad karma.
Nell followed for two blocks. The woman stopped by a high wooden fence. She
fiddled with the lock on the gate then pushed it in. The gray and white tabby shot
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