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"No water up there mom, do you want someone to run a bath for you?"

"Well, cold porcelain turn me on" She watched her mother as she cat walked up the stairs

At two o’clock, FloraFlora was driving She missed Westfield and the view of busy shops reminded her of her youth She looked at the rearview mirror and sahite van behind her

"I’ us?" Flora said

The van was sticking close

"It could be an ordinary car" Julie said

The chilly feeling at the back of her neck was dread

"I’ll stop here and pretend we are going to Miranda’s shop"

"You do believe in tarot cards after all" Julie said with a sot?"

Miranda’s crystal shop looked small inside because every space was occupied There was so and the air reeked of incense

Large crystal balls all shiny and jagged, stood on a table at the corner of the shop She turned to look at the bookshelves alongside her and realized that the titles were all aboutthe back as a long glass filled with shiny stones Boxes of incense were stacked behind the glass case There was a photograph of a wouru who had taughtin the doorway