in front of her the paper that he was holding.
– What is it? – asked Miranda.
– This is a newspaper clipping, – he explained.
– So what?
– And the fact that this article is about what happened to Carolyn. And this clipping fell out of the pocket of your almighty Madame Josephine, when she took out a business card.
– Oh my God, – exhaled Miranda and clutched her head with both hands, – What a fool I am!
– We are both fools, – grinned Aiden.
– And I so thanked her… This… This…
– Charlatan, – Aiden finished for her.
– Exactly, – Miranda nodded her head. – Do you know how much money she took?!
– I can imagine, – said Aiden, – But this show was worth it, – he smiled.
– You know, you were probably right about all these psychics…
– And here I thought about the opposite. Maybe someone really has some super abilities?
– What?! – Miranda was surprised, – Are you serious? You never believed it! And then, after this, as you called it a “show”, did you suddenly think that someone could really have super abilities?! – Miranda laughed.
– Strange, really … – he smiled, – But… yes.
– Well, – the girl said, – Then another “show” is waiting for you.
– Madame Clowness is not the only one you called? – Aiden asked.
– Yes. I called another one.
– Is she as funny as Josie?
– Josie? – Miranda grinned. – Like you’ve known her for a hundred years, and she’s your best friend, – said Miranda and, suddenly remembering Carolyn, visibly darkened.
– Sorry honey, – said Aiden, rising from his chair and walked over to the girl.
– Forgive me, – he said again and pressed her head to himself. – I know how important this is for you… And I am very sorry, indeed it is a pity that this Madame Josephine turned out to be just a soulless cheat. I really hoped she could help. I hoped that I was wrong…
– Do not need to apologizes, – Miranda said, – You are not guilty of anything.
The girl looked up at Aiden.
– No, she’s not as funny as Josie, – she smiled. – Just an elderly and, seemingly sweet, woman.
7. Unexpected visit
Somewhere around ten in the evening the doorbell rang.
– Wait, Miranda, – Aiden called the girl when she rushed to open the door. – Maybe we will check her somehow? – he suggested.
– Check? – Miranda asked, – But how?
– I don’t know, I’ll think of something, – he said, – Do not tell her that there is someone else at home besides you. Okay?
– Okay, – Miranda agreed.
The doorbell rang again. Aiden quickly went into the living room. There, in the living room, there was another door leading to a small room like an office. A man went there. From there he could perfectly hear everything that happened in the living room.
Miranda opened the door and was surprised to find that on the threshold of her apartment there was a short young woman who looked to be about thirty-five. Usually dressed. Nothing special. In light blue jeans, a black blouse with a short sleeve and a small handbag. Long blond hair was gathered in a ponytail. On the neck hung some amulet.
– Good evening, – Miranda said.
– Good evening, – the guest answered her.
Without waiting for an invitation or any questions, the woman neatly walked between Miranda and the door jamb straight into the apartment and began to look around like Miranda was not here at all.
– Excuse me … – said the owner of the apartment, – Who you are? What do you need? – she did not understand.
The woman, as if recovering herself, looked at Miranda.
– Oh, I apologize, – guest said, – I know you were waiting for another person. But she won’t come.
– Will not come? – Miranda asked.
The woman nodded back.
– Well… So she sent you instead of herself?
– Not. Nobody sent me. This woman you are waiting for… There was an accident on the way to you…
– Oh my God! Is she all right?
– Yes. Nothing serious. Will live. But she will hardly be able to visit you anytime soon.
Silence reigned around for a minute.
– Excuse me, – Miranda started, – If she didn’t send you, then…
– I was just passing by your house, – the woman interrupted her. – saw Madame Josephine coming out of your door a couple of hours ago…
– Do you know her?
– Unfortunately yes.
– Why “Unfortunately”? – Miranda asked.
– Because I can not stand people like her, – guest explained. – She could play in the theater…
– Yeah … – Miranda exhaled.
Silence again. The woman was looking at something again.
– So how do you know that Mrs. Lorac will not come and that she had an accident? – after a moment of silence Miranda asked.
– I had a vision…
– Vision? – Miranda was surprised.
– Ah, sorry for the sake of God, I still have not introduced myself. Anna Miller. I’m a psychic.
– I do not understand anything, – Miranda shook her head.
I passed by your house. Seen Madame Josephine. Actually, my plans did not include visiting you. I had almost reached my house when something suddenly stopped me. And… Something pulled me back.
Aiden all this time stood in the office with his ear to the door. But there was no one in the living room, and he could not hear anything. The man opened the door a little and was about to exit when he heard someone enter the living room.
– Come in, sit down please, —Miranda said.
– No thanks, I’ll stand, – Anna answered her and looked at the table covered with a colorful tablecloth. The woman gently ran her hand over its surface and grinned.
– Funny, – she said, and then suddenly looked at Miranda, – There is someone else in the apartment, – she said.
– No, no one else, – Miranda lied, – I’m alone here.
Then Anna closed her eyes and said:
– A young man of about thirty. Tall. Dark hair, brown eyes. This is your fiance, – having opened eyes and having looked at the girl, Anna concluded.
Miranda sighed.
– Aiden, come out, – she said loudly.
A man came out of a small room in the living room.
– You said she was old! – he said