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

“Yes, but Chief Davenport is the father of your heart.”

“I love them both.” I would never say otherwise. “In some ways I’m closer to Chief Terry.”

“He loves you dearly.” Hannah’s smile turned enigmatic. “He’s also determined to cover for the fact that there’s real magic in this town.”

All of the oxygen whooshed out of my lungs and I had to tamp down my panic. “W-what?”

“You look surprised.” Hannah’s chuckle was light. “I’m a pragmatic woman, Bay, but I’m not so pragmatic that I’m incapable of believing in the fantastical.”

I chose my words carefully. “What is it you think you believe?”

“I believe that there’s real magic hidden under the fake witch stuff in Hemlock Cove. I also believe your family is at the heart of that. It’s okay if you don’t want to admit it. I can’t imagine being in your position.”

I fervently wished Aunt Tillie would interrupt us, something I never thought I would wish for. “We’re just a normal family.”

“You’re not, but that’s none of my business. If you choose to trust me going forward, I’ll be grateful. If you don’t, I’ll understand. I’m here to solve a murder, and I would be lying if I said the blood runes on the trees don’t give me reason for concern.”

“I researched the case you mentioned in Salem,” I said. “Did you know there was another case twenty years before that?”

She nodded. “I did. Unfortunately, the evidence in the older case wasn’t filed correctly and has since been lost. There are only two vague reports. The case from two years ago has a lot of the hallmarks of this case. However, it’s difficult for me to believe that someone came from Salem to Hemlock Cove to commit ritual murder.”

“Then what do you believe?” I asked.

“I believe there’s something significant about the runes,” she replied. “It’s some sort of magical ritual. The similarities are because someone is looking for a specific outcome. We need to figure out what that outcome is.”

“Yeah.” I blew out a sigh. “I don’t know what the runes signify.”

“Is that what you’re doing here? Researching the runes.”

“Oh, um ... .” I watched as Hannah took the book from my lap and flipped it to the page where I’d placed a pen to keep my place.

“Shades?”

“I’m thinking of writing a book,” I lied.

She immediately dismissed the lie. “You think this has something to do with evil ghosts.”

Despite her interest in magic – which she’d hidden pretty well during our ride to the scene hours earlier – she obviously didn’t understand what we were dealing with. Still, I liked her a great deal more than I did at breakfast. She was a woman trying to find her place in the world. That didn’t make her evil.

“I’m just reading,” I said. Despite her amiable nature, I didn’t feel comfortable admitting the truth about my family. “It’s nothing more than that.”

Hannah nodded and handed the book back. She looked tired when she got to her feet. “You don’t trust me. It’s okay. I’ve given you no reason to trust me.”

“I’m just reading,” I insisted.

“Then I’ll leave you to your reading. If you find anything important, I’m sure you’ll tell Landon. He obviously knows the truth about you.”

My stomach did an uncomfortable flip. “The only truth about me is that I love him and my family is nuts.”

“Keep protecting yourself, Bay. Your instincts are good. But I’m not the enemy. When you do know something, I’m sure we’ll all be able to work together to figure it out. Until then, I’ll keep doing what I do best and assume you’ll do the same.” She didn’t wait for an answer before heading for the door. “Good luck,” she called out before disappearing.

I started rubbing my forehead. Things had just gotten more complicated, and I wasn’t sure that was even possible.

13

Thirteen

I worked all afternoon in the library, which is where Landon found me when he showed up for dinner.

“Have you been home at all?” He tipped up my chin and kissed me before settling on the couch next to me.

I shook my head. “There’s a lot of information here on shades.”

“And?” He looked hopeful.

“And none of the information is the same. I mean ... none of it. Nobody seems to agree on why they are what they are, or why they can do what they can do. Speaking of the things they can do, it varies and is all over the place. Some think they’re enslaved ghosts. Others think they’re different entirely.”

“Okay, so what do we do?”

“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