Prelude to a Witch Page 13

“I don’t know. I think I’m going to have to try to communicate with them.”

  “What if they don’t want to be communicated with? What if they want to kill you?”

  “If movies and television have taught me anything, they definitely want to kill me. They have that look.”

  He managed a smile, but it didn’t touch his eyes. The worry lurked there. “Maybe you should bring the whole team in on this.”

  “Clove can’t be brought in on anything right now.”

  “Then bring in Aunt Tillie and Thistle. At least then I wouldn’t be as worried.”

  “I can’t bring them in until I know what I’m dealing with. I ... .” The sound of wheels on the hardwood floor drew my attention to the hallway, where Aunt Tillie was zooming up and down on her scooter, Peg following.

  Snort. Snort.

  “What is she doing?” Landon asked, allowing himself to be momentarily distracted.

  “Mom vetoed the second set of leggings about an hour ago. She demanded Aunt Tillie hand them over or eat liver for dinner.”

  Landon made a face. “Oh, please tell we’re not having liver for dinner?” He looked horrified at the prospect. “Let’s go to the diner.”

  I laughed. “It’s Mexican night. They made burritos, tacos and quesadillas. The only one who would be eating liver in that scenario is Aunt Tillie.”

  “That sounds fun.”

  “Then I’m telling the story wrong. Aunt Tillie has been ranting since she got home.”

  “Is she still wearing the leggings?”

  As if on cue, Aunt Tillie zoomed by again, Peg’s hooves echoing on the floor as she chased her.

  Snort. Snort.

  “So, the leggings are still on,” Landon confirmed. “I guess Aunt Tillie isn’t taking the threat seriously.”

  “It’ll bubble over once we all sit down to dinner together.”

  “Hey, we’ve had some quiet dinners. We’re due for some fun.” He leaned in and kissed my temple. “You seem tired. We could order pizza and go home if that appeals to you more.”

  “I kind of want tacos.”

  “They are delightful.”

  “How did your search go?”

  “We found absolutely nothing. The state police brought in dogs and an evidence team for the house. We have nothing but a dead teenager.”

  “And three other teenagers who might be considered suspicious.”

  “I can’t really share that information with the state police. Marcus’s attack went down as an accident in the books and Amelia’s disappearance was recorded as ‘teenage misadventure.’” He used the appropriate air quotes. “I can’t tell them the truth.”

  “No.” I rubbed my chin. “We have to figure out how it all fits together.”

  “Any ideas?”

  “No.”

  “Have you seen Hannah?” He looked to the hallway when Aunt Tillie sped by again. “She added her cape.”

  Snort. Snort.

  I laughed. “She’s been steadily adding components. She didn’t start out with the hat or the shoes. She was barefoot. Mom insisted that if she was going to terrorize the house she wear shoes so she wouldn’t accidentally slide off and break a hip.”

  “Good plan.”

  “Yes, it’s delightful.” I stretched my arms over my head. “Hannah showed up here a few hours ago.”

  Surprise lit Landon’s handsome features. “What did she say?”

  “She stopped in to visit me, mentioned that you were different from the way you used to be when you guys were involved, and then went on her merry way.”

  “I am different.”

  “Were you not a bacon glutton back then?”

  “Oh, I was always a bacon glutton. Back then I was a bacon glutton boy. Now I’m a man who embraces his bacon gluttony.”

  He was so serious I had to tilt my head to study him. “You’ve been a man as long as I’ve known you.”

  “Not really. Back on that first case, I was giddy about being undercover. I took my job seriously but didn’t consider the ramifications for anybody else. Then you came out of that maze, white as a sheet, and I felt this ... tug.”

  “That sounds serious.”

  His lips curved. “It was. The tug I felt was for you. I didn’t like that you were unhappy. I didn’t like that you were afraid. Er, well, at least I thought you were afraid. I didn’t realize you had magic backing you up. I thought you were some poor, demure flower who needed me to protect her.”

  “And how long did that last?”

  He shrugged. “Probably until I saw your entire family wearing matching track suits in a cornfield.”

  “Hey, Clove, Thistle and I were not wearing those track suits.”

  “In my memory you were because that makes it funnier.”

  “It didn’t end funny. You got shot.”

  “I survived. That’s when I started thinking hard. That’s when I started growing up.”

  “What did you think about?”

  “The prettiest woman in the world.”

  “Am I supposed to believe that’s me?”

  “Yup. I fell in love with you right away, Bay. I might not have realized it, but you changed me right from the start. Hannah isn’t wrong about that. Even if she is still harboring a crush on me, I couldn’t become a man for her. You were the only one who could make that happen.”

  I considered telling him about Adrian. Ultimately, I decided that was Hannah’s business. If Landon got puffed up thinking that Hannah still had a crush on him, there was no harm in it. He might’ve been a man, but he still liked his ego stroked.

  “Well, I happen to love the man you’ve become.” I pressed a kiss to his cheek. “He might be a glutton, but he’s loyal, funny and gives the best proposals in the world.”

  “Don’t forget sexy.”

  “You’re definitely sexy.”

  WE GATHERED IN the dining room for dinner thirty minutes later. Hannah joined us, her smile broad and pleasant, seemingly delighted by the food on the table.

  “I love Mexican food,” she enthused. “This looks amazing.” Her smile slipped when she saw Marnie walk out of the kitchen with a plate piled high with liver and onions.

  “Don’t worry.” Marnie’s smile was evil when it landed on Aunt Tillie. “Only one person will be eating this tonight.”

  Aunt Tillie’s gaze was dark as it landed on Marnie. “I’m not eating that.”

  “Then give me the leggings,” Mom instructed in her harshest voice.

  “No. They’re my leggings.”

  “Well, this is my Mexican feast,” Mom shot back. “I get to decide who eats what, and you get liver this evening.”

  “I don’t like liver.”

  “Tough.” Mom watched as Marnie slid the plate in front of Aunt Tillie and then folded her arms across her chest, practically daring Aunt Tillie to reach for a taco.

  Rather than acknowledge my mother’s power over her, Aunt Tillie shifted her attention to me. “Can you believe this?”

  I held her gaze for a moment and then reached for a burrito. “I’m going to stay out of this one.”

  “That’s wise,” Mom intoned, her gaze never leaving Aunt Tillie. “Eat it.”

  Landon was taken aback as he sat next to me. “Wow. That’s an evil face. I’ve never seen her make that expression before.”

  “That’s her ‘You’re going to do what I say whether you like it or not’ face,” I offered.

  “No, I’ve seen that face. It’s frightening, but this is way worse.”

  “She has two of those faces,” Chief Terry volunteered as he settled next to me. “One is vastly more terrifying.”

  “Have you seen this one before?” Landon appeared to be mesmerized by my mother. “I mean ... if I had to see that face when I was trying to sleep I’d have nightmares.”

  “Thank you, Landon,” Mom hissed.

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Eat your burrito, Landon,” Mom ordered.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Lando
n shuddered and then smiled at me. “I hope you didn’t inherit that face,” he whispered.

  “Why? Will that make you want to call off the wedding?” I asked.

  “Nothing will make me want to call off the wedding, but I need to be prepared. That face is just ... wow. You know that doll that everyone wants to kill in those movies?”

  “Chucky,” I said.

  “Yeah. Your mother reminds me of that doll right now.”

  I had to swallow my laugh. My mother remained rooted to her spot, glaring at Aunt Tillie. They were locked in a battle of wills and I was curious which of them would come out the winner.

  “Did you find anything during your search?” Hannah asked, wisely changing the subject. Her plate was heaped with quesadilla pieces and tacos. “I didn’t get an update, so I assumed that you didn’t find anything.”

  “You assumed right.” Landon’s expression slipped. “We have nothing to show for our efforts. I mean ... absolutely nothing.”

  “I’m sorry.” Hannah looked genuinely contrite. “I’m still trying to piece together a picture of our perpetrator. I don’t have much to go on, but Hemlock Cove is a fascinating town.”

  “Fascinating?” Landon flicked a quick look toward me but kept his face impassive. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, the entire identity of this town shifted when it became Hemlock Cove. Before, it was a struggling small town with no industrial base. Now it’s a thriving tourist destination with paranormal undertones.”

  “You mean the witch stuff. I thought this place was nuts when I first visited. Now I’m used to it.”

  “The witch stuff is smart,” Hannah said. “I’ve been to Salem. They’ve based their entire economy on a tragedy from hundreds of years ago. They’ve modernized it over the years, but the witch history drives their economy. Now it’s known as a Halloween town year-round, and that allows them to thrive.

  “Hemlock Cove did the same thing, but didn’t have a tragic history to build on,” she continued. “I don’t know who came up with the idea of populating a small Michigan town with witches, but whoever it was should receive an award.”

  “Actually, that was a conversation that spanned a full year,” Mom offered as she sat down. She was still watching Aunt Tillie to make sure she didn’t try to steal a taco but seemed engaged in the conversation. “We knew we had to save Hemlock Cove. Some of the other communities around us had based their economies on leaf tours and lake visits. We don’t have a water feature besides the cove out by the lighthouse — well, other than Hollow Creek, which isn’t really a draw — so we needed to do something to stand out.”

  “I was part of those discussions,” Chief Terry said. “I thought those suggesting the witch theme were crazy, but when things started to come together, I saw how it would work. We needed a gimmick, and that’s what we ended up with.”

  “I’ve read up on the town,” Hannah said. “There were a few hiccups at first, but things caught on quickly. This town is uniquely situated for small inns and bed and breakfasts.”

  “We are,” Chief Terry agreed.

  “Also, this family has taken on mythic proportions in some online forums,” she added.

  I froze, my taco halfway to my mouth. I should’ve known she would broach the subject again.

  “Mythic proportions?” Mom’s forehead wrinkled. “What does that mean?”

  “I think she means our dinner theater,” I volunteered weakly.

  “Oh, the dinner theater here is revered,” Hannah agreed. “Your former guests rave about it online.”

  “What dinner theater?” Aunt Tillie demanded, her hand snaking around the plate of liver and heading for the burritos. “We don’t do dinner theater.”

  Thwack!

  Mom pulled a wooden spoon out from Goddess knows where and viciously smacked Aunt Tillie’s hand.

  “Ow!” Aunt Tillie pulled back her hand and cradled it, glaring murderous holes into my mother. “What was that?”

  “It’s liver or nothing,” Mom insisted. “If you’re going to insist on wearing those leggings, then you’ll eat what we see fit.”

  “Tomorrow it’s split pea soup,” Marnie warned.

  “Oh, I hate split pea soup,” Aunt Tillie moaned. “It looks like green diarrhea.”

  “And thank you for that,” Landon drawled. “You’re going to ruin my appetite. Oh, wait, it’s still good. I’ll just stay away from the green salsa.”

  “This would be an example of the dinner theater,” Hannah explained. “People love it. They think it’s an act and don’t realize it’s authentic.”

  “That’s because they don’t want to admit that my supposedly sweet-as-pie nieces are really torturers of the highest order,” Aunt Tillie muttered. “I’m not eating this liver!” Her voice echoed throughout the room, causing me to look up.

  My heart did a long, slow roll when I saw the movement in the window at the far end of the room. “Crap.” My mouth went dry.

  “What’s wrong?” Landon was almost completely focused on his dinner. “Don’t eat the green salsa if you’ve still got what Aunt Tillie said in your head. Save it for later.”

  I kept my gaze on the window, frowning when the shades began to grow in number. What started out as two had grown to five in the blink of an eye.

  “Your family’s history is amazing,” Hannah continued, oblivious to what was happening behind her. “You’ve owned this property for years and people online swear this is the most magical place in town.”

  Landon stiffened next to me. “What do you mean?”

  “Something about the bluff,” Hannah replied, making a face and glancing over her shoulder, probably to see what I was staring at. “What is it, Bay? Is something wrong?”

  Landon finally tore himself from his feast and moved his hands to my face. “Sweetie, you’re really pale. Are you sick?”

  “I’ll have her food.” Aunt Tillie reached for my plate.

  Thwack!

  “I said no,” Mom barked. “You’re eating the liver or giving me those leggings. Those are your only two choices.”

  “You’re not the boss of me,” Aunt Tillie railed. “You can’t decide what I eat.”

  “I’m the cook, so I most definitely can.”

  The number of shades in the window had grown too large to count. I was about to suggest that we get Hannah out of the room when the lights flickered, followed by a huge bolt of lightning outside. The low roll of thunder followed less than a second later.

  Hannah practically jumped out of her seat. “Wow. That storm came out of nowhere.”

  Did it? Did the shades bring it?

  Another flash of lightning lit the room, and as the thunder rolled, the power went out.

  I jumped to my feet.

  “It’s okay,” Mom intoned. “The generator will kick on in a minute.”

  “Oh, that’s good.” Hannah sounded relieved.

  I sensed the shades moving even though the darkness wouldn’t allow me to see them.

  “Stop,” I ordered when the shadows began encroaching on Hannah.

  The shades froze.

  “Stop what?” Hannah asked, confused.

  Next to me, Landon’s hand landed on my hip. “What is it?” he asked in a low voice. “Is it them?”

  “What’s happening down there?” Hannah asked. “I can’t make out what you’re saying.”

  “You’re not supposed to be here,” I warned the shades. I felt them filling the room. Whatever was going on, whatever spell they were under, the darkness made them bolder. “You can’t be here.”

  “Are you talking to me?” Hannah sounded upset. “I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable. Honestly, I find this town fascinating.”

  “She’s not talking to you,” Landon said.

  “The lights should be back on any second.” Mom’s voice was laced with nerves. “Bay ... .”

  She didn’t get a chance to finish what she was going to say. The lights flared to life at the exact moment the shade
s attacked. I didn’t have time to react.

  The nearest two, the ones I’d seen every time they appeared in the glass, had their ghostly hands on me a split-second before the lights flared. They threw me into the wall on the opposite side of the room with enough force that my bones rattled.

  “Bay!” Landon raced to me, his face flushed.

  The blow knocked the wind out of me, but the return of the lights had the shades retreating. They were gone in an instant.

  “What was that?” Hannah asked, her eyes wide. “Is that more of your dinner theater?”

  “Yes,” Mom automatically answered as she scurried from her spot at the table to kneel next to me. “We’re nothing if not diligent about our theater.”

  “Bay.” Landon drew my eyes to him. “Are you okay?”

  I nodded because I still hadn’t caught my breath.

  “Apparently Bay is the one spoiling for attention this evening,” Aunt Tillie said around a mouth full of food. She’d snagged my plate when the room went dark. “It’s because Clove isn’t here. She would be the kvetch if she were here.”

  “What are you doing?” Mom demanded when she realized Aunt Tillie was eating. “What did I say?”

  Thwack!

  “Stop that!” Aunt Tillie was irate. “I’ll put you all on my list if you don’t stop that right now!”

  Landon ignored the hoopla behind him and kept his eyes on me. “Shades?” he asked under his breath.

  I nodded.

  “Bay, this is serious,” he whispered. “We have to deal with them as a group whether you like it or not. We need the entire team.”

  14

  Fourteen

  “Tell me what hurts.”

  Landon gave the appearance of calm as he looked me over, but it was obvious he felt anything but calm. There was a storm brewing in the depths of his eyes and he looked as if he wanted to fight.

  “I’m okay.” I grunted as I tried to stand. His arms were around me almost instantly. “I’m not hurt ... mostly.”

  His expression was dubious. “I’m getting you home.” He lifted me from the floor, his gaze immediately snapping to the door at the sound of footsteps. If I thought he was in a bad mood before, it was nothing compared to the expression on his face when Aunt Willa appeared. “What are you doing here?” he snarled.