What's a Witch to Do Part 18

FOR THE FIRST TIME in almost a week, I get a full night's sleep. I wake the next morning with two little girls and a cat nestled in bed with me feeling pretty darn good. My favorite way to start the morning. The mountain of French toast Adam cooks and we scarf down like Hoovers just makes the whole day that much brighter. I can even look at him without blus.h.i.+ng. Definite progress. We walk the girls to the bus stop and head to the store to resume the huge task of fixing the shop. I crank up the music and start removing all the statues from the shelves. It's gonna be hard for people to find merchandise, but I don't have a doubt it'll be perfect when it's done.

We're busy after the s.h.i.+pment of herbs arrived, then later when scared witches come in for them. More than one-h.e.l.l, more than five-hang around pretending to browse while not so covertly checking out the guy stretching and flexing as he drills holes in the wall. It is like a p.o.r.no for women: tight jeans, sweaty brow, power tools. I should sell tickets.

When things calm down, I check my e-mails. Four potion and five charm orders, one from George, and a couple from other co-op members asking to add items on the agenda. I open the letter from George last. The financial records of my suspects are ready. In the past three months, all but s.h.i.+rley have used their credit cards in Richmond. Cheyenne and Erica had charges at Alejandro's club, Cheyenne more than once. It is the most popular club in Richmond, so I'm not that surprised. At least Collins is off the hook.

Before I can begin making the orders, the bell rings in the shop, and I get up. Clay maneuvers through the mess and waves at Adam, who nods before returning to his noisy drilling. I'm gonna have a headache by noon. "It's official business," Clay says.

"Come on back." I usher him in and shut the curtain. "What's up?"

"I need a quote from you. We're running a story in tomorrow's paper about why there are dozens of occult carvings and paintings around town. People are a little freaked."

Great, that's all I need. "I don't know what to tell you."

"How about the truth, and then we'll brainstorm on the official story?" So we sit and I tell him. "I ... have no idea how to spin that. A demon?"

"Just say they're family crests for the Goode and Knight families. We put them up in honor of Founders' Week. You can quote me as saying anything. I'll back you up."

"Mona, people should know there's a dangerous monster running around."

"It doesn't want them, it wants me. I wouldn't have said a word, except half the d.a.m.n town felt the thing. Besides, you know you can't print the truth. It'll destroy your credibility."

"What if this thing starts killing?"

"Then other scary monsters with big guns will come, exterminate it, and arrest the person who summoned it. Speaking of, any news on that front?"

"I called a few of the names my friend at the paper gave me of Erica's acquaintances. The general consensus is she poisoned her husband, not that they have proof or seem to care. And they all know that Thomas guy and a few knew Alejandro. She was always flirty with both, but especially Thomas until about a year ago. He started seeing someone and cut the flirting, though she never gave any real indication that she cared."

"A jilted egomaniac is never a good thing. I'll ask her about it tonight."

"You're still going to the auction?" Clay asks, more than a little surprised.

"Of course. I have a date. Are you covering it?"

"I'll be there."

"I hear Bethany Harmon signed up," I say in sing-song. More than once I've caught him glancing at her and turning bright red. Must be genetic. "Bring your checkbook." The bell rings again, and I stand. "h.e.l.l, bring it anyway. I may need you to bid on me the way my week is going."

And the hits keep coming. As I walk to the front area, the Wh.o.r.e of Babylon with her low-cut jeans and off-the-shoulder s.h.i.+rt sans bra worms her way through the store toward Adam. "What a mess," she says, nose scrunched.

"And good morning to you too, Cheyenne," I say. "What can I help you with?"

"Nothing." She reaches Adam and smiles. He smiles back. "I was on my way to work and saw you in the window," she says, as if Clay and I aren't even on the planet. "Just ... wanted to thank you for last night."

Clay clears his throat. "I better get back to work," he says, kissing my cheek. "I'll see you tonight at the country club. Adam. Cheyenne." He gives me a pitying look before walking out.

Cheyenne sneers at me. "You're going to that thing? Why?" she asks snootily.

"I promised Doctor Sutcliffe I would. He was most insistent I attend."

Cue eye roll. "Whatever."

I have no desire to watch the coming farce. "Excuse me. I have work in the back." I step into the back room and shut the curtain, then stand right behind it. I said I didn't want to watch; hearing is another story.

"That hot doctor is really into her?" Cheyenne asks.

"So it would appear," Adam says with little enthusiasm.

"Huh, no accounting for taste."

"She can probably hear you, you know," he says in a low tone.

"So?" b.i.t.c.h. "She ruined our night with her minor drama, and you know she did it on purpose. Probably busted that pipe herself."

"It's an old house," he counters, "pipes burst."

"Whatever. Look, are you busy tonight? We can finish what we started."

"I promised Mona I'd watch the girls. Sorry."

"I can come over and help," she says.

"I don't think Mona would be comfortable with that." d.a.m.n straight. "Maybe Thursday, okay?" I can hear the smack of lips on lips and grimace. "I have to get back to work too."

"Fine," she says shortly. Seconds later I hear the bell on the door. The b.i.t.c.h is gone.

I toss the curtain back and step out. "Okay, we so need to find a way to nail that c-word."

"I am in total agreement," he says. "We should go finish the search at her house."

"Is that a good idea? We keep almost getting caught."

"Any better ideas?"

I think for a second. "Waterboarding? Worked in Salem." He shakes his head no. "Okay, then the house it is."

They do say the third time's a charm.

Continue investigation After Alice arrives an hour later, and after walking past the diner to make sure Cheyenne's there, we drive to her house and break in. Again. Adam takes the bedroom and I the office. I re-examine the books on black magic she has, but they are innocuous, with a watered-down version of the demon summoning spell in one. It wouldn't work since it's missing a bloodstone ingredient. I feel along the walls and floor for false panels but find none. Twenty minutes and nothing to show for it. Adam has since finished in the bedroom and has moved onto the living room where I join him. "Any luck?"

He lifts up the couch one handed as if it were made of marshmallow. "Anything under the couch?"

Yeah, I should probably take my eyes off him and check. "Just wrappers and dust."

He lowers the couch. "Bedroom was clear. This one too."

"I'll check the kitchen, you take the bathroom." As he walks to the bookcase, I rifle through her cabinets. Snack foods and empty boxes of snack foods. No goat heads or baby's blood in the fridge either. "Nothing here. This is a bust." There's nothing here I can nail her with. Waterboarding is looking more and more viable by the minute. I flop down on the couch. "Maybe it's time to confront her. Haul her in, be the bad cop to your good."

"We have no proof," Adam calls from the bathroom. He steps out a second later. "And if it isn't her, you might tip off the real person."

I groan. "This is so aggravating! Everywhere we turn, we hit a brick wall."

"Well, we've gone through this place top to bottom. We should get out of here."

"And do what? Go where?"

"We'll figure it out." He stretches out his hand to me and pulls me off the couch with a smile. G.o.ddess do I love that smile. "Come on."

Since we can't see each other with the invisibility amulets, we hold hands all the way back to the car. First time I've strolled down a street holding a man's hand. It's nice. From here on out, I won't roll my eyes when I see couples do this. We make it back to the car and replace the invisibility amulet with the psychic protection one. I already feel naked without it. I start the car but have no destination in mind. Back to the shop I guess; but if I do that, it's kind of like I've failed. Given up. That leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

"Careful. Your face might stick like that," Adam says of my scrunched face.

I force it back to normal. "Hardy har."

"I had a thought. Why don't we go to the barn where the demon was summoned? I might be able to pick up scent or find a clue the police missed. It's been over a day, but it's worth a shot. We probably should have done it yesterday, but I just thought of it now." He shakes his head. "I am not very good at this investigating c.r.a.p. Jason and Vivian usually handle that part. I just go and do as I'm told."

"Does that bother you? Being bossed around like that?" I ask.

"No," he says. "I'm his Beta, it's my job. It's why he picked me."

"You never wanted to rise up? Usurp the throne?" I ask dra-

matically.

"No thank you."

"Never even gave it a thought?"

"Not a once. I'm not like you and Jason. I have no desire to be a leader. It's not in my nature. I'm not that ambitious. Too much trouble anyway. I much prefer being in the background, helping when needed. It's just as important."

If not more so. "Well, Jason's lucky to have you." I pause for a second. "Me too for that matter. I ... I don't think I've thanked you for everything you've done for me. I doubt I would have made it this far without you."

"You're selling yourself short."

"I don't think so. You've been great, better than great. You're like my hero," I say with a chuckle. "So ... thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you."

"You're welcome, Mona," he says solemnly. "I'm happy to do it."

Before I can stop myself, I ruin this beautiful moment by blurting out, "Why?"

"Maybe someday I'll tell you," he says with a mischievous grin.

The few minutes to the barn are spent in silence except for a Shania Twain block on the radio. Normally I'd be belting right along with her, but not with a cute boy in the car. He's already seen my horrible dance skills, don't want to scare him with my singing too. There's a car I don't recognize already parked outside the barn when we arrive. Adam and I exchange a look and grab our respective weapons: charms and potion for me, and my .38 from the locked glove box for him. We exit the car, slowly approaching the barn. Though faint, my skin p.r.i.c.kles from the demon. Rap music booms inside mingled with a girl's giggles. Adam and I glance at each other again and put away our weapons. Demons do not giggle.

Off in the corner near the back lying on a sleeping bag, Jace Brown has his hand inside Amber Kermer's bra. They're too busy making out to notice us step in. Ah, young love. I loudly clear my throat and they jolt apart. "Sorry to interrupt."

The teens scramble for their clothes. "Oh s.h.i.+t," Jace mutters as he zips up his pants.

"Shouldn't y'all be in school?" I ask.

"Yeah, um," Amber says as she stands, "we were just-"

"Hasn't been that long, hon," I say. "But you two know better-this place is dangerous."

"I know. We saw all the Satan stuff on the floor," Jace says, collecting the sleeping bag. "I heard they were sacrificing virgins here or something."

"Don't think you two have to worry then," Adam says.

The mortified couple walk toward us heads hung. "Um, bye," Amber says. They practically run to their car.

Adam and I chuckle. "Youth is wasted on the young," he says.

"I was never that young," I say as I walk in.

Adam follows me. "What, you never ditched school to go make out in a barn?"

"No, I was too busy taking care of my h.e.l.lion sisters and being groomed to be Queen of the Witches." I scoff. "That and my teenage years weren't my best style wise. I hit the trifecta: zits, overweight, and braces all four years. I looked like a troll."

"Trust me, you weren't that bad," Adam says. "I thought you were kind of cute actually."

"Thank you for that wonderful lie," I say as I examine the reverse pentagram, minus a plank of wood in the center, with splotches of blood, yellow powder, and wax around. I step into it and the barbs of pure evil grow worse, like literal pinp.r.i.c.ks hard enough to draw blood. I'm standing on a portal to h.e.l.l. I get a little sick to my stomach and step out.

"It's not a lie," he says as he steps toward me. He grimaces. "G.o.d."

"You feel it too?"

"Yeah. And it reeks. Sulfur and blood mostly. Ugh."

"What about tacky perfume and cigarettes?"

He steps away. "This is where teenagers come to party, that's all I'm getting. Nothing specifically Cheyenne, sorry."

"What about the evidence the police collected? Think you'd have more luck there?"

"Probably, but no guarantees."

I check my watch. "I think we have time. Okay, police station it is."

"Great," he says with a sneer.

"Got a better idea?"