Prelude to a Witch, Amanda Lee [ebook reader web txt] 📗

“That explains a few things. Who is Brian Kelly? Is he one of her enemies?”

“Yes,” I answered.

“He’s Bay’s enemy, which makes him Aunt Tillie’s enemy,” Landon replied.

“You have an enemy?” Hannah looked impressed. “Why is that?”

“Oh, well ... .” What could I say?

“Brian Kelly owned the newspaper before Bay did,” Landon volunteered. “His grandfather left it to him. There was a stipulation in his will that Bay be kept on as a reporter. Brian broke that stipulation and tried to fire her because he’s a douche. The town rallied behind Bay and she bought the newspaper after an advertising boycott.”

Hannah’s eyes sparkled in such a way that I knew she actually found joy in the story. “I thought small towns were boring, but apparently not.”

“Not Hemlock Cove,” I agreed as I hunkered down to look at Landon, who had shifted under the table to play with Peg. “Orange juice?”

“Yes, please.” He shot me a pleased grin. “I kind of want to talk about this dog idea at some point. I don’t need a dog, but I think you having one is a good idea.”

“A dog won’t stop Brian if he really wants to get me,” I replied. “But I’m willing to talk about a dog. I was considering one for your Christmas gift.”

“Maybe we should pick out a dog together and do something else for Christmas.” Landon, now serious, crawled out from under the table. “I still want you to be careful around Kelly. I know you think he’s a schmuck, but that doesn’t mean he’s not dangerous.”

“Who’s dangerous?” Aunt Tillie demanded as she strolled into the room from the opposite direction I would’ve expected her. On a normal morning she enjoyed sitting in the kitchen and annoying my mother and aunts as they prepared breakfast. One look at her outfit told me why she hadn’t gone that route this morning.

“Has Mom seen those leggings?” I demanded as I cocked my head to figure out what she was wearing. “Is that a ... ?” I couldn’t finish the question.

“Penis,” Landon supplied, making a face. “It’s from that David statue. I saw those leggings advertised online a few weeks ago and knew Aunt Tillie would end up with them.”

I was caught between amusement and horror. “Mom will not let you leave the house wearing those,” I said. “She’ll melt down.”

“Your mother is not the boss of me,” Aunt Tillie countered, and when she moved past me, I found that the butt crack of the leggings didn’t match up correctly on her small frame.

“Oh, no way.”

Landon tilted his head to see what I was looking at and burst out laughing.

“It’s not funny,” I groaned. “Mrs. Little will take one look at her in those leggings and then track down Chief Terry to arrest her for indecency.”

“Hey!” Aunt Tillie jabbed a finger in my direction. “This is art.”

“If you say so.” I’d listened to Aunt Tillie’s arguments enough to know that the more attention she got because of the leggings, the less likely she was to change her outfit. “Mom won’t like them.”

“Well, she can suck it up.” Aunt Tillie plopped down in her normal chair. She was without her combat helmet and whistle this morning, but I had no doubt they would join the ensemble before she left the house. “What’s the plan of attack today?”

The question caught me off guard. “What do you mean?”

“A teenager was murdered in our town, and in ritualistic fashion. We have to do something.”

I looked to Hannah, momentarily worried, and then shrugged. “We’re not investigators.”

Aunt Tillie snorted. “Right.”

“We’re not,” I insisted. “This is Landon’s case. Oh, and Hannah’s case.”

“They’re not witches,” Aunt Tillie pointed out. “Only witches can solve this case.”

My stomach constricted and I lowered my juice to the table, my appetite vacating in an instant. “Listen ... .”

“It’s okay,” Hannah said hurriedly, perhaps picking up on my distress. “I’d be interested in hearing a witch’s take on this case. I’ve looked over the photos of the dead girl and they’re ... troubling. I’m especially interested in the runes that were painted in blood on the trees. I can’t believe you thought to check the trees, Landon. That was good investigative work.”

Landon slid his eyes to me and I could tell what he was thinking. He didn’t want to take credit for my discovery. He also didn’t want Hannah becoming suspicious of me. Unfortunately, he didn’t get a chance to decide what he wanted to say in response because Aunt Tillie, as was her way, took control of the conversation.

“He didn’t find those runes. Bay did.” Aunt Tillie jerked her thumb at me. “She’s the master investigator on this one.”

“Bay?” Hannah’s eyebrows drew together as she regarded me. “I guess I didn’t understand the extent of your involvement.”

“It was a trick of the sun,” I lied. “It hit in just the right manner and I saw something on one of the trees. Landon called for the evidence technicians to use luminol on all the trees.”

“Yes, Landon is a virtual wonder,” Aunt Tillie drawled. “We’re all amazed at the way his brain works.”

I shot her a warning look. “Stop being you,” I hissed.

“Um, no.” She shook her head. “You have to understand, Agent Mary Kay, we’re often involved in Landon’s cases. We’re the reason he’s closed so many of them.”

I wanted to crawl in a hole and die.

“So, you work cases with your girlfriend regularly?” Hannah asked Landon.

“Bay is my fiancée, and she’s helped more times than I can count.” Landon’s tone was even. He didn’t look uncomfortable in the least. “You have to understand something. Hemlock Cove is not a normal town. Weird things happen all the time. Bay grew up here. She knows all the players. She’s been an invaluable source during my time here.”

Hannah didn’t look convinced. “She’s a civilian. She’s not supposed to be involved in cases. It’s against the rules.”

Terror rippled through me. Would she report Landon? I didn’t know her well, but she seemed a stickler when