#fenixtj

She glances at it, grasping at straws.

Ricardo? Joke book... and like an arrow to the heart, she remembers not a troll, but a Pooka. A llama pooka! One who sang her praises, adored her! ANd, later died

Her face falls, and she closes her eyes. "Shit." softly and out-of-character for her.

"Jessica?" Constance looks at her

"Are you okay?" SHe moves to the Countess

"No." she takes a deep breath, opening her eyes "I will be. Thank you, Constance."

Ricardo often spoke of destiny, how he had a mission for destiny, or how destiny was demanding.

No one seemed to guess it might be a sister.

"All right. Should I.. keep searching?"

Jess is quiet so long that Constance might want to repeat her question. Just then, she says "How far back do the County census go?" quietly.

She does repeat it, then says "Well uhm.... you hired me at..>" She names the time "And..had me do a census at..." She names a year or so ago... which was after Ricardo was dead

"Damn."

"I mean,that's fine. Thank you."

She remembers celebrating Ricardo at that year's Samhain.

But Samhain'ms memories are blurry. Others knew Ricardo longer, if anyone ever did. He was her biggest fan, her most vocal, sometimes embarrassingly so, supporter

She clears her throat. "Constance, will you excuse me? I need to talk to Diego."

"Of course" she nods

Subdued, she goes to find Diego.

Diego is watching TV.

But he looks up, and mutes the telenovela "Jessica?"

From the door. "Do you know where all the paintings in that gallery come from?"

"Nancy collected most of them" He says "It was her idea."

"Do you know where all the paintings in that gallery come from?"

"Do you know where the one of me comes from?"

"One of you?" He rises "Oh, the cowboy girl?"

"Yes."

"Where did it come from?"

"She found it in a pawnshop, liked the look of it and snatched it up. It does look rather like you"

Jess nods. "Pardon me. I need to talk to Nancy."

"Of course, Jessica. I'm going to finish a show then.. go out on a date. Call me if you need me though"

She nods and goes to locate Nancy.

Nancy is in the spa

she soaks

eyes half closed

"Nancy?" quietly.

"Sorry to disturb you."

"Oh, hey? Yeah, I'm a bit shopped out" a smile "Did you see the art gallery idea? Some of the stuff I got is amazing"

"It is."

"Where did you get the one of the cowgirl?"

"Oh, a pawnshop." She answers

"Where?"

She straightens "About a mile Southwest of here, near the gas station? It's under the barbershop"

"Can you get me the address?"

"SERIOUSLY?" She rises out of the water and grabs a towel "What's going on?"

"No, not... not this instant. No emergency. Sorry. Today, though?"

"Jessica, I don't remember the street number.. It's Southwest of here by a mile, near the gas station, under a barbershop. What's up?"

Nancy was annoyed, now she's looking concerned "hey, something is bugging you, and for once it's not me asking you about your romantic life"

(Can Jess find the place from what Nancy has said?)

Should be able to. Only so many gas stations near barbershops

She nods. "It's fine. Thanks, I think I can find the place. Enjoy your soak, Nancy."