Witches in Wonderland

by J. D. Winters

  She nodded. “That’s what I figured,” she muttered, and we started toward the house.

  It was beginning to be obvious even from the outside that something was going on. There were curtains fluttering out the windows. Odd sounds came from the building itself. The house was creaking and moans seemed to be coming from it. My mouth went very dry. Was there something supernatural happening here?

  Well, why not? The place was full of ghosts, after all. And I certainly wished I hadn’t come. I felt the earth tilting a bit and tried to think clearly. I needed to establish some foundational verities here—guidelines to sanity.

  I’d just had that thought when the front door swung open and a huge man came running out toward us. I gasped, frozen with shock. It was the man from my dream and he was coming fast.

  Too fast for me to jump out of the way. He was coming right at me. I started to yell, but he kept coming. He was going to hit me!

  And then he ran… right through me. I fell to the ground, trying to pull in a full breath, trying to calm my wildly beating heart, and looked for Rennie. She was still walking toward the house as though nothing had happened.

  “Rennie!” I called to her, jumping up and looking in the direction the man had run in. I couldn’t see him or any indication of where he’d gone. “Rennie, did you see that?”

  She came back and helped dust me off. “See what? You fall? No. Did you trip or what?”

  I shook my head, not ready to tell her that a ghost had run through me like water down a waterfall. Maybe I was hallucinating. I looked around suspiciously, wondering if anyone else had seen it. But it was still dark and there wasn’t anyone in sight.

  I started toward the house again. Rennie was talking but I wasn’t listening. I was breathless with the anxiety that another ghost might come at me, and at the same time I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that the same man who’d appeared in my dream had now run over me. What the heck was going on, anyway?

  “Uh, Rennie,” I said as we mounted the stairs to the front door. “Listen. Why are you here? What are you doing wandering around in the night?” Nothing was making sense. “Shouldn’t you be home in bed?”

  She grabbed my hand and leaned close. “Yes. But I got up to get the mayor a bottle of water and I noticed Gordon hadn’t come home yet. I’d left him here waiting to talk to Kenny when I left. But he’d never come home. That upset me. I mean, we’ve had some incidents with him, drugs and such, and he’d promised. That scared me. So I snuck out and came here to see what was keeping him so long. And that’s when I found….” She drew in a sharp breath and looked toward the front door with apprehension. “Okay, you’ll see.”

  Yeah, just what I wanted. An encounter with a murdered person. I hadn’t liked Kenny much, but I didn’t want something like this to happen to him. If only I could run home and get under the covers myself. This day was already shaping up as one of the worst of my life. Short as the current one might be.

  “Here goes nothing,” I muttered as I followed her into the house.

  She led me through the entry, into the central foyer, which opened to doorways all around. There in the middle of the space was a body, centered in the heart of the wood inlaid pentagram. I began to pant quietly. I was terrified of what we were going to see as we came closer.

  “Come on. See for yourself.”

  Rennie stood over the body, her hands on her hips. “Look at him. Isn’t that one of the regular kitchen knives stuck in his chest? The ones in that big block of wood on the counter? I guess we’d better check if that’s what it is. But we can easily do that.”

  I was having a hard time breathing, but I tried to speak.

  “Is it…is it…?”

  “Kenny?” She seemed so calm now—no evidence of her recent near-hysteria at all. “Yes, it is. And I’m pretty sure he’s dead. What do you think?”

  I thought she was right. He was definitely dead. It looked like he’d been that way for awhile now. The blood…there wasn’t all that much of it but what there was…let’s just say it didn’t look very fresh.

  I shrank back. For some reason, this was really getting to me. “I’ll take your word for it,” I said, then turned and headed for the kitchen.

  “Where are you going?” She ran after me. “Are you going to call Shane?”

  That was my intention, but once I got to the kitchen and leaned on the counter and caught my breath, I had second thoughts.

  “Wait,” I said, holding a hand up to Rennie. “Let’s just go over this, okay? I want to be sure of what we’re doing here.”

  Rennie shrugged carelessly. “We’re reporting a murder. That’s pretty straightforward, isn’t it?”

  If it was so straightforward, why had she balked until she had me here for backup? I shook my head and took a deep breath. I wasn’t ready to commit to this yet. I needed to know more.

  “What time did you leave this place last night?” I asked her.

  She blinked at me impatiently. “I don’t know. I guess it was about eleven when I got home.”

  “So you were here about an hour after I left.”

  “I guess.”

  I was frowning, trying to think this through. I kept thinking of how Derek had said he might go back to the Haunted House to plan a murder. I knew he was only joking. Of course. But wasn’t it strange that the very thing he’d mentioned had happened?

  “Who was still here when you left?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. There were people all over the place.”

  “Such as?”

  She sighed. “Okay. Let me try to recreate the scene at the time I left. Kenny was upstairs, on the third floor. He and Mario Rosetti, the cameraman, had spent an hour setting up cameras to take time lapse or something and then they were shooting some footage, very hush hush. He didn’t allow anyone else but Mario up there and we were all being told to keep quiet so as not to disturb the ghosts.”

  She gave a gurgle that might have been an attempt at a little laugh.

  “I guess they actually thought they were going to be able to catch a few ghosts on film. Or tape. Anyway, they were up there and some other members of the crew were playing poker on the dining room table, mostly arguing from what I could see. Or whatever. I’m not all that clear on it. I was talking to Gordon most of the time. He was upset. He didn’t really want to be here after what happened on the landing but I was sort of making him do it. I thought it would be a great experience for him. He needs work.”

  “I thought he was working as a waiter at The Castle.”

  She shook her head. “Old news. He quit. He quits everything and that’s a problem.”

  “But now he’ll be working as a…what did you call it? Production Assistant.”

  “Kinda sorta. But Kenny was threatening to not pay him and that was making Gordon crazy. He really needs money for some reason that he won’t tell me. But I convinced him to give it a try and he was waiting to talk to Kenny when I left for home.”

  “Okay. Who else was still here when you left?”

  “Um…” She thought for a minute. “Let’s see. Clarissa Woo had taken Shane off to get coffee or something and they weren’t back yet. A bit earlier, Derek had an argument with Kenny and stormed off in a huff.”

  “Earlier?”

  “Yeah. Just a bit after you left, if I’ve got the time line straight.”

  So that was when he came over and tried his apology routine on me. The question was, where did he go from there?

  “You didn’t see Derek again later?”

  “Not before I left, no. But another pair of the film people were here with a couple of girls they’d picked up in town. They left at the same time I did. So I guess it was just Gordon and Mario and the four playing poker. Oh, and Lilah.”

  “Are you sure Derek wasn’t here?”

  “Derek?” She thought a minute. “He might have been back by then, but I didn’t notice him.”

  I licked my lips and summoned up the courage to ask o
ne special question. “Was my…did you see Gran Ana here?”

  She stared at me, shaking her head. “Your grandmother? Oh please tell me you don’t mean it. She couldn’t have been here. I would have noticed.” She put a hand to her forehead. “I would have been chewed out for one thing. And possibly fired as well. Maybe banished from the haven. No, she wasn’t here. I would have felt the presence of the Force.”

  “Cute,” I said, rolling my eyes. I took a deep breath. “How about Oliver?”

  “That raven that follows you around? No. Didn’t see him.”

  It was truly amazing how sneaky Oliver could be. People didn’t notice him most of the time.

  “So Clarissa and Shane were still gone when you left?”

  She nodded. “As far as I know. Of course, they could have snuck by me and gone straight to her room.” She bit her lip and looked at me sideways, obviously regretting that she’d said that.

  But I let it go. I thought for a minute. “Did you check the bedrooms just now? Do we know exactly who is here?”

  She shook her head, her eyes big. “I came in through the kitchen and did search half of the first floor rooms. I was looking for Gordon and I didn’t think he would still be here, but I had to check. And then I saw the body and called you.”

  She called me. Her simple faith in my interest and ability to respond were somewhat touching, really. She was the one entrenched in local government. I was nobody. Still, she was right. I cared. And I was slowly going over the list of who was here, trying to make sense of it all.

  That seemed to do it as far as obvious suspects went. I looked around the kitchen and my gaze fell on the wooden block that held the sharp knives. Sure enough, one was missing. I had to close my eyes and steady myself as I realized where it probably was now. That was a knife my mother had probably used. Who knew? Maybe I had as well. My stomach rolled over and I had to turn on the faucet in the sink to get cold water to throw on my face.

  I looked out the kitchen window. A purple morning light was beginning to fill the sky but it was still gloomy. I saw the neighbor walking his dog again. He was obviously lingering in front of the house, wondering what was going on.

  Was he a suspect too? Oh, why not.

  And what about that huge horrible ghost? Did ghosts stab people in the chest? And how was it that he seemed to be free to run off? I thought all of them had been secured to this house. That shouldn’t be possible. I thought about asking Rennie, then decided against it. I wasn’t ready to talk about that ghost to anyone yet.

  “Okay,” I said, pulling out my cell phone, deciding that decisive action would be best. “I’ll call Shane.”

  She nodded and left the room.

  “Hi,” I said when he answered, sounding bleary. “Can you get over here? We need your help.”

  He yawned. I could hear it clearly. “Who’s ‘we’?” he asked, sounding groggy.

  “Rennie and I.”

  “Oh no. The gruesome twosome.”

  “Shane, this is serious. There’s a murder at my old house. You’ve got to get over here.”

  Immediately, he was wide-awake. “What? Okay. I’ll be there in a few minutes.” Then he paused. “Is the murderer still there?”

  “I…I don’t know. We don’t know who did it.”

  “Okay, then it’s dangerous for you to be there. Go home, Haley. Right now.”

  I put a hand over my mouth as though to stop a scream, then pulled it back again. “No.”

  He sighed. “I didn’t think you would, but it was worth a try. See you soon.”

  He hung up but I stared at the phone. Home. Was that the place where I lived now…or the place where I’d lived back in the days I couldn’t even remember? Emotions tugged at me either way.

  So many thoughts were swirling around in my head. Number one, he hadn’t asked if it was Clarissa. That could either mean he didn’t immediately think of her…or that he had her there with him. But I didn’t believe that. Not really.

  Number two, was I going to be able to talk to the ghost who claimed she was my Aunt Tina and find out if she had seen anything, heard anything? How was I going to get her alone to see what she could contribute without seeming to be talking to myself?

  Number three, who was that ghost who had haunted my dream and then knocked me over? He seemed to get around, didn’t he? First my dreams, then my old house. So what was that all about? And could a ghost commit murder? Could he at least be the one who’d somehow set things in motion? He seemed angry enough for it.

  And finally—where was Gordon? Why hadn’t he gone home? I wasn’t counting him as a suspect, rather as a potential second victim. That gave me an instant headache.

  All those thoughts consumed me so completely that when I noticed the lights of the sheriffs’ cars coming down the street, I was surprised they had arrived so quickly. And where was Rennie? I hadn’t seen her since I’d made the call.

  Seconds later, Shane was there, frowning at me fiercely. Then he turned to check out the body. I hung back. The forensic team got to work right away, while the deputies began to search the house and clear the rooms. It wasn’t long before Shane called out a warning.

  “I’ve got another one up here,” he called down from the second floor landing. “Need a medic.”

  Chapter 8

  The paramedic grabbed his equipment and raced up the stairs. I stood below watching, my heart in my throat, wondering who it could be. Maybe I should have gone up there myself to make sure someone else wasn’t hurt and needed help.

  But then, maybe not. Better to leave these things to the professionals. I went back into the kitchen to splash more cold water on my face, then went back out to the foyer in case I was needed in some way. Not that I was much use to anyone. The officers seemed to have things under control.

  Shane came down and I asked him guardedly, “Who was it?”

  He looked at me strangely. “Clarissa,” he said shortly. “She was knocked unconscious. On the floor. She seems to be okay, though. And she’s beginning to try to do something about the ghosts.”

  I stared at him. “Oh yeah? Like what?”

  He shrugged. “She thinks they’re running wild because of all this. She’s trying to get in touch with the Ghost Keeper.”

  “Ah.” Then this probably wasn’t the time to try to talk to my aunt. “Does she know what happened?”

  He shrugged and looked away. That made me frown.

  “Does anyone know what happened?” I said, more in frustration than actually expecting an answer. “Is there anyone else up there? I thought there was a whole pack of movie makers staying here.”

  “There was, but owing to one thing or another, they seem to have drifted away to stay in other places. The only ones left, besides Clarissa and Kenny, are Derek and the cameraman, Mario. They were both sleeping off the effects of a late night with intoxicating substances.”

  “They’re passed out?”

  “They’re slowly coming to, with much groaning and sobbing.”

  “Sobbing?” I echoed in surprise.

  He nodded. “Show biz people. What can I say?”

  “So they’re no use then.”

  “In figuring out who done it? No, I’d say they weren’t awake when it happened. I gave them reasons to wake up and get moving.”

  I hid my smile. “What did you do? Pull their covers off?”

  He gave me a significant look. “Don’t worry. They’re out of bed and coming down.” He hesitated, then added, “Oh yeah. There’s also someone named Lilah who’s in the shower. She ought to be down soon too.”

  “And Clarissa? Was she awake when it happened?”

  I could see that he was reluctant to tell me, but after a moment, he moved closer and spoke softly, very close.

  “She’s not completely coherent. She says a force came through the house and knocked her across the room. She didn’t know about Kenny Sands being stabbed to death until I told her about it. She seems pretty shaken up by the whole thing.”


  A force came through, huh? Now I was wondering if that force looked like the ghost who had tried to bowl me over—twice. Funny thing—he’d run right through me. But Carissa might be made of stronger stuff.

  He leaned even closer. “And that information is private and not for general consumption. Got it?”

  He was going all Sheriff on me again. I glared at him.

  “Don’t worry. I don’t gossip.”

  “Are you kidding? You’re best friend is Rennie, the gossip queen. Just don’t tell her any of this.”

  My chin rose. I wasn’t trying to be bratty, but his tone was getting to me. “Is that an order?”

  “Yes,” he said curtly. He gave me the eagle stare he’s so good at. “Wait for me in the kitchen. I still need to talk to you.” And he was gone, back up the stairs again, back into the fray. And I was relegated to the kitchen.

  People had told me that Shane and I were a couple—romantically speaking-- back before I left town to go to college. But then there was the car in the lake thing and the drowning. A few years had gone by before I found myself awake and back here again. Only, since I didn’t remember any of it, I didn’t remember Shane either. And that seemed to bother him--a lot.

  My grandmother had something to do with me coming back here, but I wasn’t sure what. She and Shane were training me now, preparing for the coming fight with demons someday. But whether or not that had anything to do with my accident, I just didn’t know. It would be nice to know more about who I was and why I was needed here. There was a hollow feeling in my heart that almost seemed to be strangling me sometimes. I needed to know more.

  I’m supposedly a witch. Just learning. Don’t know for sure I’ll ever get good enough at this stuff to call myself that.

  The thing about Shane is, he’s a hunter. Hunters hunt—mostly demons, but still…. There’s no ambivalence with it. They are born to kill. That can be their saving grace…or their path to complete damnation. It depends on how they use their power, and whether they help more than they hurt. So far, I definitely considered Shane a good guy, but with hunters, there was always the possibility that they could run into a situation that turned them bitter and violent. I’d heard that it happened and I believed it. At this point, I couldn’t imagine it happening with Shane, but with hunters, you always had to be on guard. Sometimes their innate nature, the instincts they’d practiced for centuries, came to the fore, and then it was head for the hills time.