Aces Read Free

psychics. The kind used to track down dead bodies. They said most bodies are found in the vicinity of water. Lakes, rivers, ponds. I got to thinking about it and realized I’ve never seen a dead body before.”
    “And that’s a bad thing?”
    “Sure. I don’t like the idea of not experiencing all that life has to offer.”
    “So you decided to go out in the middle of the night and look for dead bodies.”
    “Yes.”
    “Anyone in particular?”
    “No. Anybody will do.” She giggled. “Any
body
will do.”
    I hesitated, picking my words carefully. “You realize how messed up that sounds?”
    Soelle turned and looked at me, and I felt a momentary pang of terror. Then her brow creased in puzzlement. She was looking at something above my head. I looked up and saw something hovering there: a small white rectangle. “What . . .”
    Soelle touched my arm, startling me. She was standing right in front of me now. “Give me a boost.”
    I hunched over and laced my fingers together. She slipped her foot into the cup formed by my hands and I hoisted her up gently. I tried to crane my head back, but it was all I could do to keep from dumping us both into the creek. I looked over at the dark water churning by. There was something strange about it; something I hadn’t noticed earlier. I couldn’t be sure—it was too dark—but I thought it was flowing in the wrong direction.
    “Got it!” Soelle said. I lowered her to the ground. She was holding the white rectangle in her hand, flipping it back and forth between her fingers. “Now
this
is exciting,” she said.
    It was a playing card.
    The ace of hearts.
    * * *
    A few weeks after that, I came home to find Soelle in the front yard holding a leash. She was dragging it back and forth across the lawn like she was walking an invisible dog. I came over and saw there was a collar on the end of the leash. It was red with the words MY FAVOURITE PET embroidered on it.
    “Dare I ask?”
    Soelle smiled. “I went down to the store to get a chocolate milk, and the guy behind the counter called me a witch.”
    “He said that,” I said, sceptically, “right out of the blue?”
    “Well . . .” Soelle hesitated. “I asked him if he had seen any aces lately.”
    “Any aces.”
    “Like the one I found under the bridge. I’m looking for the rest of them. I thought he might’ve seen one of them around. That’s when he started looking at me funny. He said he recognized me and that people were talking about me.”
    “So what else is new?”
    “They’ve always talked, but no one’s ever called me a witch before.”
    “And what, you’re worried they’re going to burn you at the stake?”
    “No, of course not. The guy in the store did say he’d call the cops if I didn’t leave, though. He was a real
ace
-hole. But it got me thinking, what if he did call the cops? How would the poh-lease deal with a witch?”
    “I think they shoot them on sight,” I told her, “but they use silver bullets.”
    “That’s for werewolves, you nerd.”
    “What does it matter? You’re not a witch. People in town, they’re just . . .”
    “Yes?”
    “They don’t know what to make of you.”
    “Maybe I am a witch.”
    “You’re still young. You can be whatever you want.”
    Soelle shrugged. “Maybe I want to be a witch.”
    “A witch who looks for aces. Sounds like a wise career choice.”
    “Thank you.”
    “It still doesn’t explain the leash.”
    “Oh, this.” She held it up like she didn’t even know it was in her hand. “This is for my familiar. I figure if I’m gonna be a witch, I’d better start acting the part.”
    “You’re already acting the part,” I said. “That’s why people think you’re a witch.”
    Soelle nodded thoughtfully. “Toush.”
    “That’s touché, you nerd.”
    * * *
    Soelle started dragging the leash with her everywhere she went. This went on for about two weeks, and then one day I noticed her without it.
    “Give up on the familiar?”