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  When the game was over—Mike’s favorite team had won—I brought up the subject of him leaving school.

  “There’s nothing to discuss.” Mike put an end to the conversation before it had even started. “I’ve made my decision. I need to try new things. Maybe do some traveling while I’m still young.”

  “Have you thought about what will happen when you’re done seeing the world?” Joe asked him. “You won’t be able to get a job.”

  Mike shrugged and stared at the floor. “I don’t know. I can always go back to school after that. Or I could join the military.”

  I looked into his troubled eyes. “What happened, Mike? Whatever it is, you can tell us.”

  “There’s nothing wrong.” He shut down right away.

  “Son,” Joe began, but stopped when Mike got up and walked into his bedroom, closing the door behind him.

  I turned off the lights in the rest of the house as we got ready for bed. Joe locked the doors. “Now what?”

  “I don’t know yet. This could take some time,” I warned.

  We went into the bedroom together. I was worried about the growing gulf between us. I couldn’t believe that I wasn’t able to reach him after being married for thirty years. There had to be a way.

  I put the amulet around my neck. It felt cool against my skin. I didn’t know why I’d suddenly decided to wear it, but it felt right.

  “Can you talk about the new evidence you found in Olivia’s death?” I asked him.

  “It wasn’t much.” He took off his T-shirt. “There was some blood at the house. It matched a sample we found at the crime scene that didn’t belong to Olivia. Forensics will try to match it.”

  “So that might connect her killer to the house break-in.”

  “Maybe. We’ve combed through the house. I think the mess that was left behind was intentional. The killer probably took something and this is his or her way to throw us off the trail. We found an opening in the wall behind the washing machine that looked like something had been stored there. We don’t know what yet. Any ideas?”

  CHAPTER 13

  Whispers hidden here forever,

  Hide what I demand.

  Invisible until I tell thee,

  Found by no human hand.

  “I’m sure Olivia had her secrets that even I wasn’t privy to.” I got into bed and hugged the blanket tightly to me. “I didn’t tell her everything either.”

  Joe pulled on a pair of shorts and got into bed. “I’ve known you most of my life, Molly. I know something’s up with you. I wish you’d tell me so I don’t have to go around worrying about it all the time.”

  “I’m completely blown away by Olivia’s death.” No truer words were ever spoken. “I can’t shake the feeling that I could’ve done something to prevent it.”

  He put his strong arms around me. “I’m sorry, sweetie. I wish I could change all that for you, but her death had nothing to do with you. Olivia was always . . . a free spirit. You have to make peace with that.”

  “I’m trying.” Tears spilled down my cheeks.

  “You’d tell me if there was anything else I should know, right? You’re not holding back on me, are you?”

  “No.” I sniffed and wiped away the tears.

  He kissed me and turned off the bedside lamp. “Good night, Molly. Don’t worry. Lisbet and I will find whoever did this to Olivia. Try to get some sleep.” I turned off my light too and lay in bed for a long time, staring at the dark ceiling.

  I hated that Joe and I were butting heads, especially now. He’d never come so close to learning about magic. Nothing we’d been through had prepared me to deal with this problem.

  I thought I must be naïve not to have ever confronted this situation that so many families had faced with magic and nonmagic members of their family. Somehow, I’d always managed to lead a quiet life as a witch. The Grand Council mostly left me alone, and I had led my life in a peaceful bubble.

  Suddenly, I was thrust into the political deep waters of being a witch. I didn’t like it, but what choice did I have but to fight back?

  The next morning Joe grabbed a cup of coffee in a travel mug and headed out the door.

  Mike was sullen and angry. He grabbed an energy drink and said he was going to play basketball with some friends.

  I was left alone at the house with Isabelle, who cuddled and purred on my lap. She loved my mother’s amulet and couldn’t believe I hadn’t worn it before. I had to admit that it made me feel stronger in this turbulent time.

  It didn’t help me decide what I should do about the problems that faced me—finding Olivia’s killer, dealing with Brian Fuller—not to mention my waning abilities. But there wasn’t an amulet capable of that kind of power. I was going to have to struggle through what was happening and hope the answers were going to come to me.

  Elsie called to ask if I was going to the shop that morning. I realized it would be good to talk this over with her. I agreed to meet her there and got dressed.

  It was good to be at the shop an hour later. Elsie was already there. Her daughter had dropped her off on the way to work.

  She met me at the door with a deep frown between her green eyes. She was holding Barnabas, her large orange tabby, in her arms. Harper was meowing at her feet.

  “What’s wrong with the cats?” I closed the door behind me.

  “I’m not sure. Barnabas acted strange all night. I got here, and Harper is just as crazy. I keep asking them what’s wrong. They say they don’t know.”

  I was surprised that Isabelle hadn’t mentioned anything to me before I’d left. The cats were usually in sync, as were Elsie, Olivia and I.

  We sat at the table together, and Elsie was able to put Barnabas on the floor.

  “What do you think it is?” she asked. “I’ve never known him to act this way.”

  I told her about meeting Brian at the restaurant and his veiled threat against Mike and Joe. “But Isabelle wasn’t acting odd at all. I don’t know what to think.”

  Elsie pursed her lips. Her lipstick was slightly smeared—it was hard for her to find her lips sometimes. “What are you going to do about it?”

  “I don’t know yet. He said he didn’t kill Olivia or steal the spell book. I tried to call Cassandra, but she didn’t answer. The key has got to be getting this to the council. Brian can answer their questions. I don’t think he’ll answer ours.”

  “Maybe we should bolster our protection spells here, Molly. Then we could go to each of our houses together and do the same. These are dangerous times.”

  I agreed. At least it was something we could do to feel safer. I was tired of doing nothing—or the wrong thing—as we had on the tourist boat yesterday and in the restaurant last night. Maybe we weren’t powerful witches, but we still had some magic.

  We opened the trapdoor to the cave, and both cats ran down the stairs. Harper was obviously starting to get over Olivia’s loss. He would never be another witch’s familiar, but he could enjoy his life here, surrounded by magic.

  As I closed my eyes, Elsie and I did what we could to bolster the spells we’d put on the cave for secrecy and protection. I could still feel Olivia’s magic. It was fading but still wrapped up with ours.

  We would have been much stronger if Dorothy had been there too, but there was no point in going there. When all of this was settled, we’d have to look for another witch.

  We went back upstairs. Elsie was quickly ready to go, a green fascinator with a big pink flower on her head.

  “Should we bring Olivia’s staff?” she asked. “I have my sword with me. I think it has more magic now than I do. I went to whip up a little breakfast this morning and started my dishwasher instead. It’s ridiculous, really.”

  I smiled at her outraged tone. I put my hand on the tiny cauldron around my neck. I could feel the magic stored there fr
om years of wearing it, but it wasn’t as strong as the magic in my mother’s amulet.

  “We can’t use Olivia’s staff since we’re not air witches or blood relatives. The power was only there for her. Let’s get this over with. The sooner we update our protection, the better.”

  We drove back to my house and got out, looking around carefully. Elsie drew her sword, and I smiled at the picture she made with it.

  “What is it?” she hissed. “Do you see someone?”

  “I hope I wouldn’t be smiling if I had. I was thinking how unique you look wearing that hat and carrying a sword.”

  “Now is not the time for fantasy,” she informed me in sharp tones. “We must look to our safety. I wish you were a fire witch too. I’d feel a lot more secure if you had a sword in your hand instead of that tiny cauldron and an amulet around your neck.”

  I agreed with her. I would’ve felt a lot safer with a sword too. Even Olivia’s staff would’ve been enough to hit someone if my magic failed.

  We walked up to the house and stood outside the front door. Both of us shut our eyes to better experience the emanations coming from inside.

  “I don’t feel anything different, do you?” Elsie asked.

  “No. Let’s go in and work the protection spell so we can go to your house. All of this is making me nervous.”

  I opened the door, and we crept inside.

  The living room and kitchen were a complete mess. Pots and pans were thrown everywhere. Cushions on the sofa were ripped apart. Flour and sugar were spread all over both rooms.

  “I guess the cats were right.” Elsie held her sword out before her. “I’m sorry, Molly.”

  “I hope he didn’t hurt Isabelle.” I started calling for her, trying to feel her presence in the house. There was nothing.Elsie roamed the house, calling for Isabelle too. “Where would she be likely to hide?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve never seen her hide from anything.” I wanted to drop to the floor and cry. “We’re out of our league. We have to agree to some kind of truce with Brian.”

  Cassandra appeared in the middle of the mess. “Wow. Someone tore this place apart.”

  “We can do without you stating the obvious,” I snapped at her.

  “Sorry. Who did this?”

  “We think it was Brian Fuller, the witch who may have killed Olivia and stolen our spell book.” Elsie put a hand up to cover her mouth, but it was too late.

  Cassandra’s eyes narrowed on my face. “You told me you still had your spell book.”

  “Well, I lied.” I was tired of playing whatever game this was. “I think this man killed Olivia and took our spell book. Now he’s threatening my family. If the council is ever going to help with anything, now would be the time!”

  “I don’t think Brian Fuller did this, ladies,” Cassandra said. “I can’t tell you any more than that, not until we can completely assess the situation.”

  “Great!” Elsie stared her down. “What are we supposed to do?”

  “Don’t get involved. There is a rogue witch who could be a serious threat to the council. We can’t involve ourselves in petty feuds between witches.”

  I laughed as I picked up a broken vase that Joe had given me for my birthday. I’d seen it at an antique show in Charleston while we were on vacation. He’d secretly gone back and contacted the owner to have it sent to me.

  “A serious threat to the council?” I asked. “This is a serious threat to us right now. The council has a lot of power. We need you to determine who killed Olivia. We aren’t equipped to take care of this. Forgive me if I think our need is greater than yours.”

  Cassandra apologized and smiled. “That was insensitive of me. Of course what you’re going through right now is very bad. But imagine if there were no council of witches. That would be far worse.”

  Elsie used the tip of her sword to push her fascinator back on her head. “Really? Because I’ve never known the council to do anything worthwhile. Maybe I’m mistaken.”

  “The Grand Council of Witches protects us all from threats we wouldn’t be able to handle individually.” Cassandra’s tone was icy.

  “What is the council going to do to protect us from this threat?” I demanded.

  “They sent me. And I have a message. No way, no how, are you to try and stop this witch by yourselves. The council will deal with the problem, when the time is right.”

  “And we’re talking about the rogue witch, not the man who killed our friend, right?” If I sounded snarky, it was because I was scared. I was more afraid of Brian than I was of the council.

  “Is there anything you came to tell us that will actually help?” Elsie asked.

  “Yes.” Cassandra smiled. “Keep your wits about you, and be patient. You’ll be able to persevere—with our help.”

  “Is that it?” I was wondering when she’d run out of trite phrases.

  Cassandra studied her cuticles. “I think so.”

  Elsie and I exchanged angry glances across the room.

  “We need something more.” I wasn’t sure what I was asking for, but my anger and fear demanded something else from the council.

  “Oh. Isabelle is fine. She’s in the garage. She was a smart lady to hide there before the rogue witch came to look around.”

  “What was he or she looking for here?” I asked Cassandra.

  “The rogue witch is after objects of power—like your spell book. The objects don’t have to be very powerful, but enough of them will build up the witch’s strength.”

  Elsie shook her head. “Would you please make sense, dear? What does this rogue witch want to do? Challenge the council?”

  Cassandra’s smile faded. “She wants to live forever.” She started to say something else and glanced at the door. “I have to go. I’ll keep in touch.”

  Before we could say anything else, Joe and Lisbet burst into the house.

  “What happened here?” Joe took in the scene of our ransacked home with disbelief.

  Elsie used her sword to spear an apple that had been thrown onto a chair from the fruit bowl on the counter. “It’s a long story.”

  CHAPTER 14

  Heart of my heart,

  I call to thee.

  Come to me in the night,

  And set me free.

  Of course, Joe had to call the police. A special unit of investigators who were assigned to breaking-and-entering cases was brought in. They started going through the house as I went to get Isabelle out of the garage.

  According to Isabelle, Cassandra had it all wrong. She’d woken up in the garage after I was gone. She felt sure she’d been drugged or spelled while the witch paid us a visit.

  I sat and held her, stroking her soft fur as she complained about the state of the garage and how cats weren’t meant to live outside homes. She didn’t think her fur was ever going to be clean again.

  I promised her a bath and all the salmon she could eat. I felt her pain since she was my familiar. We were sharing the anxiety and fear we both felt.

  Elsie sat beside me, holding my hand. She’d put her sword away, though it was too late for it not to become a topic of conversation between me and Joe.

  He didn’t say anything to me for at least half an hour. He stayed huddled with police officers in one corner as they’d waited for the investigators. After they arrived, he’d gone over the house with them. Lisbet had also stayed, leaning against a wall, talking on her cell phone.

  Joe came over to me then and introduced an investigator. “This is Lieutenant Matt Smith. He’s the head of the Breaking and Entering squad. Matt, this is my wife, Molly, and her friend Elsie.”

  Lieutenant Smith shook hands with both of us and sat down on the sofa.

  “So you two were the first on the scene. Did you see anyone leaving?”

  “No,” I answered, a lit
tle harshly. I was so tired of people asking me questions and not giving me answers. “We weren’t expecting to find the house this way so we probably didn’t pay enough attention.”

  “I didn’t see anyone either,” Elsie said.

  Lieutenant Smith smiled. “I’m sorry this happened to you, Mrs. Renard. I understand you had a friend who was murdered recently.”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you think this break-in could have anything to do with your friend’s house being broken into?” His inquisitive blue eyes watched me closely.

  “I don’t know. I don’t see why it would.” I sneaked a peek at Joe. What was he thinking?

  “It seems as though someone was looking for something here, just as they were at Olivia Dunst’s home. Any thoughts on what that was?”

  “No. I don’t know what someone would be looking for here, or at my friend’s house.”

  “You were attacked yesterday by a man on the riverboat that you thought had dated your deceased friend.” Lieutenant Smith read from his notes. “Do you think those events could be intertwined?”

  “Not as far as I know.” How much longer is this going to continue?

  He closed his notebook and smiled again. “I’m sorry to have to ask you these questions, Mrs. Renard. We think there may be a pattern developing. We don’t want anyone else to get hurt, do we?”

  He was talking to me like I was a simpleton. I couldn’t defend myself without giving something away.

  I looked at Joe for help. He turned his head away. What did he think was going on? “No, of course not. If that’s all, I’d like to call our insurance agent.”

  “That’s it. Thanks for your time.” He handed me his card. “If anything else comes to mind, please give me a call. I’d be happy to talk with you about any of it.”

  The emphasis on the word any made me uncomfortable. What else did he think I had to say? Maybe I was just being paranoid.

  Mike came home at that moment, and a whole other round of questions and answers ensued. It was all I could do to keep my equilibrium and not scream at all of them.

  Perhaps Cassandra was right, and this was the rogue witch, looking for items of power to use against the council. Items had been disappearing in the community. The bulletin board at Smuggler’s Arcane was full of them.