“Ah…” Okay, that does it. Weird or not, superstitious or not, it’s gotta have something to do with my “issue.”
He must’ve interpreted my “ah” for skepticism, as he immediately adds, “The Gamesman probably ran out of deer.”
“The Gamesman?”
“It’s a store. Been in the town for four generations, and it’s got everything you need for the outdoors. But with popular items like deer, they run out fast.”
“I see.” I don’t see. Aren’t people supposed to hunt deer, rather than buying one at a store? “Well, I gotta get going.” And figure out what I’m going to do about that damned man-doll. “Nice meeting you. I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other around.”
“Of course. Have a good one.” He waves and resumes his walk. The dog follows, tail waving back and forth like a metronome.
I start toward the mannequin. I’m going to undo whatever issue it’s forced on me by destroying this voodoo ritual site and pulling out the arrows.
I wrestle the mannequin around, trying to yank it out of the ground. But the feet are connected to a double spike and buried deep in the soil.
It takes some time and effort, but eventually I prevail. Once the damn thing is free, I throw it on the ground, where it lands with a solid thud.
The crotch looks like a hedgehog. I reach down and pull at an arrow. Crap. It’s stuck really deep and barely budges. A second and third arrow are about the same. But I’ll be damned if I give up now. I feel like there’s already more blood going to my dick—
“Uh, what are you doing?”
I turn my head and see Becca. Why the hell is she glaring at me? I’m the one who’s mad!
I let go of the arrows and straighten up. “You have a lot to explain. Wife.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Becca
“Me? Explain? You’re the one damaging my property!” I say. “If you need to vandalize something, go smash your drums!”
“I’m not vandalizing it! I’m trying to end the curse you put on me!” He points an accusing finger.
“Curse? What…? Did you snort some cocaine while I wasn’t looking?” I never got the impression Devlin would do that. And I can’t recall any articles about members of Axelrod going into rehab. But that doesn’t mean much. Some people can handle coke. And who knows what shenanigans go on in rock bands?
“Of course not. But the voodoo! Don’t deny the voodoo! Matty told me everything.”
“Told you what? That this is a voodoo doll?” Dev is definitely high. “Matty’s a pastor. He doesn’t believe in voodoo.”
“But…you got it right after your show in New York.” He says it like he’s trying to convince a two-year-old that if you mix white and black, you get gray.
“So?”
“That’s when I started having performance iss—” After a moment of silence, he clears his throat. “Uh… Anyway, why did you get it? And why shoot arrows into the crotch?”
“Is that what’s bugging you? Are you feeling sympathy pains for the mannequin or something?” Weirdo.
“Just answer the question.”
“This mannequin is Jeff. Not you.”
“Who’s Jeff?”
; “An ex-boyfriend. The one who made disgusting noises with another woman on the phone, remember?”
Devlin nods slowly. “Oh… The subscription service guy.”