Wicked Witches of the Midwest Mystery Box Set Read online

  “What makes you say that?”

  “You’re a good person. That means you want to be good to Chief Terry. You love him. You’ll get over it.”

  “Maybe I don’t want to get over it,” I grumbled as I pressed my face into the hollow between his chin and neck. “Maybe, just this once, I want to pull an Aunt Tillie and get my way no matter what.”

  “You’re not Aunt Tillie.”

  “I could be.”

  “You’re not.”

  “Now I think you’re arguing just to argue.”

  “I was going to say the same about you.” He pressed a firm kiss to my forehead. “Either way, I want to talk about the necromancy stuff.” He muted the television, although he left Santa Clarita Diet running in the background. “What do you know about what you can do?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, what do you know about what you can do?” he repeated. “When we met, you could talk to ghosts. You could see them. No one else could see them, but when Clove and Thistle spent enough time around you they could hear them. I got used to that.”

  “You know as much as I do.”

  “Yeah. I’ve been giving it some thought.”

  That didn’t sound good. “You’re worried.”

  “I’m ... trying to be cautious,” he clarified, choosing his words carefully. “The most important thing to me is keeping you safe. I don’t have a problem with what you can do. I think it’s going to be helpful with investigations, and because you’re always knee-deep in stuff you shouldn’t stick your nose in, that’s another layer of protection.

  “The thing is, you were good at hiding what you could do before things shifted,” he continued. “I knew your secret, but that’s because we couldn’t have a strong relationship otherwise. Chief Terry knows, but he’s trustworthy. You had to develop the perfect way to protect yourself. There was a lot of trial and error. You had a system. We need a new system.”

  He was so earnest, so serious, I couldn’t disregard his feelings. Instead, I propped myself on my elbow and stared hard into his eyes. “What do you think I should do?”

  “Well, for starters, I think you’re going to get a handle on this and control it in such a way that exposure won’t happen,” he said. “I think you’re strong ... and smart ... and powerful.”

  “Oh, geez!”

  “Don’t roll your eyes. I mean that.”

  “What aren’t you saying?”

  “Your emotions are at the surface because you’re afraid you can’t control this,” Landon replied without hesitation. “You’re doubting yourself.”

  “I can’t help it,” I admitted. “I’m afraid. It’s not just me I could hurt if this comes out. I could hurt my family ... and you ... and Chief Terry.”

  “You won’t. I have faith.”

  “Fine.” I growled as I pressed my cheek against his chest. “I’m going to control everything. I’m going to turn myself into a super witch and everything will be perfect.”

  “You are a super witch.”

  “I don’t feel super.”

  “Well, that’s why we’re going to work on this together.” He ran his hand over my hair. “Starting now. We haven’t seen Hopper since this afternoon. I’m guessing that means you haven’t called him. I want you to try now.”

  “Try what?”

  “Calling him.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I want to see if you can do it on purpose. After that, I want to see if you can make it so I can’t see him when you’re talking. I think it’s neat to talk to him, but the most important thing to worry about right now is control. So, one step at a time. Call him.”

  I shook my head as I considered his request. “Fine. If he never leaves again once I call him, I’ll blame you.”

  “I’m fine with that.”

  “You might feel differently if he watches us in the bedroom.”

  “I’m fine performing in front of others.”

  He didn’t mean it, but that was hardly fueling his worry. “Okay.” I forced myself to a sitting position and rubbed my forehead. “Here we go.”

  Landon rubbed soothing circles on my back as I screwed my eyes shut and tapped into the magic bubbling under the surface. It was there, coiled and ready. In recent weeks I’d felt it growing … and was terrified at the power I touched whenever I gathered the courage to engage.

  “Mike, it’s time to have a conversation.”

  Nothing sizzled, so I knew it didn’t work.

  “Mike, we need to speak to you.”

  Still nothing. My irritation ratcheted up a notch.

  “Mike!”

  This time the magic fired and something of a flash moved through me — I was certain Landon couldn’t see it, but I felt it — and when I opened my eyes I found Hopper’s ghostly countenance staring at me.

  “You bellowed?” he asked dryly.

  When I risked a glance at Landon I found him staring. “Can you see him?”

  He nodded. “I can. I also ... felt something. I don’t know how to explain it.”

  “You felt something?”

  “When you focused. I felt it. It was like my body was reacting to a loud noise, except I didn’t hear a loud noise.”

  Huh. “I felt a flash.”

  “That’s a good way to describe it.”

  “I guess I’m going to have to make sure other people can’t feel the flash.”

  “That’s probably a good idea, but it’s not the most important thing right now,” Landon countered. “I was watching you, waiting for something to happen. Most others wouldn’t be in the same situation.”

  “Good point.” I licked my lips as I regarded Hopper. “Where did you go? You disappeared once we left your house. Did you go somewhere specific?”

  “Actually, I sort of faded away,” Mike replied, making a big show of settling his lanky frame in one of the chairs across the way. He was a ghost who didn’t need to sit, but he seemed big on retaining his mannerisms from life. I’d seen similar ghostly responses before, but his control was interesting. “I didn’t go anywhere.”

  “Did you wake up on your own?” Landon asked.

  “No. I was gone and then suddenly back when I heard Bay calling.”

  “Well, that’s interesting.” Landon rolled his neck as he stared at the ghost. “How does it usually work with ghosts, Bay? I mean ... do they fade in and out of existence like Mike did?”

  “Yeah. It’s harder for new ghosts to control their surroundings. In fact, when they first wake up, they’re weak. They grow stronger with time. It’s different for every ghost, but Mike is stronger than most new ghosts I’ve run across. He managed to hang out a lot longer than any other new ghost I’ve come into contact with.”

  “Did you do that voluntarily, Mike?”

  Hopper shrugged. “I don’t feel as if I have control over much of anything, if you want to know the truth.”

  “Which means Bay kept you here,” Landon mused. “She called you, even though she’s not sure how. She kept you here. She’s the one providing the power.”

  “I think I would know if I was providing power,” I argued.

  “I think you’re too freaked to focus on that part of it yet.” Landon shifted so he was sitting. “Okay, so we’ve ascertained that Bay can call you to her when she wants. Now I want to see if she can hide you.”

  “Hide me?” Hopper made a face. “What fun is that? That means I’ll only be able to talk to her.”

  “And Aunt Tillie,” I added. “She can see and talk to ghosts, too.”

  “Ah, that’s interesting.” Hopper brightened considerably. “I’ve only talked to her once or twice, and she was always eager to get away from me. She said she thought psychiatrists were quacks. I explained I was a therapist, not a psychiatrist, but she didn’t see a difference. I think she would make a fascinating case study.”

  “And if I can’t get rid of you later I’m going to suggest that you spend the evening haunting her,” I said. “For n
ow, Landon merely wants to see if I can control who sees you. That will come in handy if I need to see a ghost in front of the wrong person.”

  “Like Margaret Little?”

  I bobbed my head. “Exactly. She would crap kittens if she realized I was calling ghosts.”

  “You have such a wonderful way with vivid language, Sweetie,” Landon teased. “Crapping kittens is really the most sought-after crapping ability.”

  I shot him a look. “You’re feeling full of yourself tonight.”

  “Merely trying to lighten the mood.” He kept his hand on my back. “See if you can make Mike disappear for me but stay for you.”

  I pursed my lips and nodded. “Okay.” I closed my eyes again, sucked in a breath and searched for the flash I knew was hidden inside me. It took me a few seconds to find it, but when I did I seemed to instinctively know what to do. I tugged on one of the strings trailing behind the flash, focused hard on the outcome I wanted, and when I opened my eyes I found the chair where Hopper had been sitting empty. “Huh.”

  “He’s gone,” Landon noted.

  “Yeah. I can’t see him either.”

  “Well, that’s not exactly a bad thing. That means that in a pinch you can send a ghost away to avoid detection. It would be easier if you could make it so only you can see the ghost, but small steps. I ... .” He didn’t get a chance to finish because the front door of the guesthouse burst open.

  Landon’s instincts kicked into gear and he moved to shove me behind him so he could serve as a sort of shield, but it wasn’t necessary. The intruders were family ... but that didn’t mean I was happy to see them.

  “Clove.” I shot her a dirty look. “You don’t live here any longer. You’re supposed to knock when entering.”

  My cousin Clove, her long dark hair wild and flowing around her shoulders, pulled up short at my greeting. “Oh, right.” She turned on her heel and marched out the door, dragging her fiancé Sam Cornell with her. “I’ll be right back.”

  “Oh, you don’t have to knock now,” I called after her.

  “No, no. Etiquette demands I knock.” She shut the door and applied three hard raps. “It’s Clove. I have news. Can I come in?”

  I exchanged a look with Landon and found him amused. “This isn’t funny.”

  “It’s kind of funny,” he countered, clearing his throat. “Come in.”

  Clove’s smile was so wide it almost swallowed her entire face when she crossed the threshold a second time. “Hello, Landon. Bay! I’m so happy to see you this fine evening.”

  I rolled my eyes. “And we’re thrilled to see you. It’s a pip of an evening, isn’t it?”

  “It definitely is,” Clove agreed. This time the smile she offered was legitimate. “So ... I have some news.”

  Given the buildup, only one thing popped into my head. “Are you pregnant?”

  She scowled. “No, but I’m not going to wear these pants again if you think that’s a possibility.”

  I had no idea what else she could be so excited about. “Then ... what is it?”

  “We’ve set a date.”

  “For what?”

  “The wedding. Duh!”

  “Oh.” I caught up quickly. “That’s great.” I meant it. Clove was so excited for her wedding she practically floated around in a bubble most of the time. “When is the big day?”

  “June eleventh.”

  I stilled. “That’s so soon.”

  “Not that soon,” Clove countered. “It’s four months away. That gives us plenty of time to plan.”

  “Right.” For some reason, I thought she would wait a bit longer. That seemed ridiculous in hindsight. Clove and Sam had been engaged for months. Clove was excited to get married, more excited than anyone I’d ever met. Of course she wanted it to be sooner rather than later. “Why’d you pick the eleventh?”

  “It’s a Saturday and we wanted to get married in the summer. I thought about waiting until August, but it’s always so humid then.”

  “Well, June eleventh.” I rolled my neck. “I think that’s a good day. We’ll have to start making plans, having regular meetings with everyone. Four months seems like a long time, but it’s really not that far out.”

  “No. It’s soon, and it will come faster than you think. I’m so excited.” Clove clapped her hands as she hopped up and down. “I can’t believe I’m going to be a married lady in a few months. It’s unbelievable.”

  I returned her smile. “It is unbelievable.”

  “And clearly a cause for concern for your cousin,” Hopper announced, popping into existence behind Clove and causing her to squeal as she scrambled to get away from him. “This is very interesting. Why aren’t you excited about your cousin’s big day, Bay?”

  “What is that?” Sam asked, shoving Clove behind him as he worked to protect her. His face had gone ashen. “Is that a ... ghost?” That seemed a strange question from him because he’d been known to see a spirit or two since joining us in Hemlock Cove. His mother was a witch, and she passed the ability on to him. Of course, he wasn’t expecting a ghost. The idea of seeing one could jar anybody.

  I nodded as I pursed my lips. “It’s Dr. Hopper. He was murdered last night.”

  “The radio guy?” Clove peered out from behind Sam, her curiosity overruling her fear. “He has a lot of insight into relationships and stuff, right?”

  “So he says.”

  “I’m a professional,” Hopper agreed, beaming at Clove. “You’ll make a lovely bride.”

  “I know.” Clove, over her fear, planted herself on the arm of the chair in which Hopper sat. “Why do you think Bay isn’t happy for me?”

  “I didn’t say she wasn’t happy for you,” Hopper clarified. “I said she seemed concerned. She’s a bit conflicted. I think that’s the best word to describe her feelings. I’m not sure why, but I look forward to getting to the bottom of the mystery.”

  I ran my tongue over my lips as I spared a glance for Landon. “I definitely need to figure a way to make him invisible to others.”

  Landon smirked. “You’ll figure it out.”

  Clove ignored our conversation. “So, do you do pre-marital workshops? I think it might do Sam and me some good to go over a few things before the big day. I mean, we already live together and everything, so there are no surprises. I was reading in Bride magazine that you should always have pre-marital counseling.”

  “Oh, good grief!” Sam wrinkled his nose. “You want us to get counseling from a ghost?”

  “He’s Dr. Lovelorn,” Clove argued. “They wouldn’t let him on the radio if he didn’t know what he was talking about.”

  Sam pinned me with a dark look. “Did you hear that? I’m going to get counseling from a ghost.”

  “Don’t blame me.” I was defiant. “I’m suddenly doubly magical and have no idea how to fix anything. You’re on your own.”

  “Well, great.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “This is going to go badly. I can just feel it.”

  He wasn’t the only one.

  Six

  I slept hard.

  Despite the excitement of the previous evening — and Clove’s insistence on Dr. Lovelorn (she preferred referring to him by his radio name) examining her relationship with Sam — we managed to turn in before midnight. Landon had to force Clove out of the guesthouse, ultimately suggesting they take Hopper with them. Sam wasn’t happy about the turn of events, but we were free, so I considered it a win.

  We tumbled into bed, curled together, and I was out minutes after my head hit the pillow. When I woke, it was with clear eyes and a new resolve.

  “What are you thinking?” Landon asked, running his fingers through my hair to order the chaos.

  “I’m thinking that you were right.”

  “I’m always right.”

  I smirked. “About my new powers.”

  “I was definitely right about that. We’ll work together to get things under control. You got a good start last night.”

  “Yeah.�
� I shifted so I could stare into his deep blue eyes. “Why are you so calm about this?”

  “Because you’re magical and I’ve known that almost from the start. Sure, that very first day I thought you were simply a cute woman with a big mouth. But I knew you were different even then. There was something otherworldly about you, which is why I couldn’t stay away.”

  “That’s kind of schmaltzy.”

  “I’m a schmaltzy guy.”

  I chuckled when he tickled my ribs before giving me a long hug. “I think I’ll be able to figure things out.”

  “I know you’ll figure it out. You might not believe this, but you’re a pretty good witch.”

  “Yeah, well, I think I need to talk to the big witch if I expect to work things out sooner rather than later.”

  Landon’s fingers, which were moving in a lazy circular pattern over the back of my neck, stilled. “You want to talk to Aunt Tillie about this?” He seemed surprised. “I thought you turned her down when she offered to help you before.”

  “I turned her down because she wanted me to practice my new abilities on Mrs. Little. She thought that would be a safe place to start, to say nothing about the possibility of Mrs. Little being locked up when people accused her of being crazy because she was seeing ghosts.”

  “Ah.”

  “This time I’m going to tell her how things are going to be. I’m going to be the boss.” When Landon didn’t immediately comment, I lifted my chin to study his face. He appeared calm, but his lips were pressed together, and I didn’t miss the hint of mirth in his eyes. “What?”

  “While I admire your attitude this morning, I think you’ll be disappointed if you walk into the inn and start ordering Aunt Tillie around. She won’t do what you want if you bark orders.”

  That was rich coming from the king of barking orders. “I’m not going to bark orders. I’m going to ask nicely.”

  “I think you should try bribing her.”

  My eyebrows flew up my forehead. “What?”

  “I’m serious. Aunt Tillie seems to work best when there’s something in it for her.”

  “There is something in it for her. She’ll be helping a family member.”

  “She’ll want more than that.”