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

it came to rules. Clove, the tattler of our group, reminded me of Hannah ... only less whiny, something I could never say in front of Clove because it would result in a meltdown.

“Then I guess it’s good Landon doesn’t invite Bay into cases,” Chief Terry announced as he joined us. I had never been so happy to see anybody in my life. “I invite Bay in. This is my town, after all.”

“Of course.” Hannah nodded once. “I wasn’t saying anything untoward about Ms. Winchester. I’m just curious about why a civilian is involved in murder cases.”

“This is in my town. I make the decisions on who is and isn’t involved in investigations in my town.” Chief Terry shot me a wink as he headed for the juice carafes. “I’ve known Bay her whole life. She spent a lot of time with me when she was a teenager.”

“Because she was interested in law enforcement?”

“Something like that.” Chief Terry poured a glass of orange juice. “Bay’s father was not in Hemlock Cove when she was younger. Tillie often had the girls and would involve them in ... games. I regularly got called to the scene of those games and had to instill a few life lessons. Bay developed an interest in law enforcement then.”

That was as good of a lie as I’d ever heard him tell. “It’s true,” I said. “I like to solve mysteries.”

“I guess that makes sense,” Hannah said. “You became a reporter, so naturally you like to put the pieces together.”

“Yes.” I forced a smile I didn’t feel. “I love puzzles.”

Landon slipped his arm around my waist and tugged me toward my chair. “My Bay is a genius at puzzling things out. I’m always glad when Terry involves her.”

“Well, if it’s okay to discuss the case in front of civilians, I spent a lot of time looking at the photographs of the scene last night,” Hannah said. “I was hoping to go out there this morning for a better look. There’s something about it that feels familiar.”

I was taken aback. “Seriously?”

She nodded. “I’m almost positive I saw something like those runes when I was on a case in Salem two years ago.”

“Salem, Massachusetts?”

“Yes.”

I slid my eyes to Aunt Tillie. She looked as interested in the new tidbit as I was.

“There are witches in Salem,” Landon noted as he sat next to me.

“This town’s decision to turn itself into a fake paranormal haven makes me think that somebody wants the populace to believe that witches are killing people,” Hannah said,

“I assume you don’t believe in witches,” I asked.

“I guess that depends on your definition.” Hannah said. “Wicca is a real religion and the practitioners are real people. Their religion is far removed from the stuff of Hollywood. They don’t capture children and sacrifice them to gods. That sort of witchcraft is nonsense.”

“I don’t know,” Aunt Tillie said dryly. “When they were younger, there were times I wanted to sacrifice Bay and her cousins, especially Thistle. There’s all different kinds of magic.”

“People find magic in small, everyday things,” Hannah said. “Some might look at Bay and Landon and assign magical qualities to the fact that they found each other and fell in love.”

“You don’t assign magical qualities to that?” I asked.

She shook her head. “I’m what would be considered ruthlessly pragmatic,” she said. “I don’t believe in soulmates. That idea is straight out of romance books. I don’t believe in destiny. Life is a series of actions and reactions.

“You and Landon, for example, found each other at a time when you were open to a relationship,” she continued. “It was about the timing, nothing more.”

I pressed my lips together and glanced at Landon, who was frowning. “Well, I believe in destiny.”

“As do I,” Landon interjected. “Bay is my soulmate and I believe we were always destined to find one another.”

“What if you hadn’t?” Hannah was serious. “What if you two had never crossed paths? Would you still be soulmates?”

Landon rested his hand on my knee under the table. “I think if you’re meant to find each other, you do. Bay and I were always meant to find one another.”

“It’s a sweet thought, but I can’t get behind it in practice.”

“That’s sad for you.” Landon squeezed my knee. “As for the scene, we can take you there.” He flicked his eyes to me. “It’s probably best if you go and smooth the way with your father.”

“Absolutely. I kind of want to get another look around the area.”

10

Ten

Dad, apparently hearing the vehicles pull up, met us in the driveway of the Dragonfly. He seemed confused when Chief Terry introduced Hannah.

“A profiler? Here?”

I slipped my arm through his, tugging him toward the inn. “I’ll tell you all about it and then I’ll meet you guys at the scene,” I said, casting a pointed look my fiancé.

Landon looked as if he wanted to argue the point, but he simply nodded.

I dragged Dad into the inn, waiting until the door was shut to speak. “I don’t have much time. She’s a profiler. She used to date Landon when they were at the academy. She’s starting to really bug me, but I have to pretend otherwise because it’s undignified not to like your fiancé’s former girlfriend simply because she speaks her mind.”

Dad chuckled. “That’s a lot to unpack. For the record, Landon often bugs me, but I don’t doubt for a second that he loves you. I’m certain he doesn’t harbor any feelings for this Hannah.”

“I’m not worried about that,” I said. “He’s as irritated with her as I am. I just need you to know that she might be hanging around. Don’t mention any of the witch stuff. She doesn’t believe in witches, but she’s sharing a roof with Aunt Tillie, so that’s going to lead to problems. I should probably get out there now.”

“Because you’re worried she’s hitting on Landon?”

“Because she doesn’t believe in witches and there’s clearly something otherworldly going on here.”

I cut through the inn and exited