by Cindy Stark
“Exactly. With knowledge comes power. Can’t be too careful in this town.”
Hazel relaxed a little. She supposed that was true. Stonebridge had a proven track record, and it wasn’t good where witches were concerned. “Okay, then. Now that we know about each other, what do you think?”
Glenys tapped a well-manicured finger against her lips as she studied Hazel for several moments. “I think you have formidable powers and a kind heart.”
Kind heart, maybe. “Formidable powers? Why do you say that?”
She shrugged. Just my impression. “What’s your lineage?”
Her lineage wasn’t something she was willing to discuss at this point. She kept her features passive. “Nothing special. My mom and two aunts are witches. I learned most everything I know from them and a little from my grandmother before she passed.”
Glenys quirked a brow. “Interesting that you learned spells and hexes only from them. That poses certain limitations. Any generational specialties?”
Hazel shook her head. “No hexes. We don’t believe in using our powers for anything negative. I’m more interested in helping and healing, and so far, what I’ve learned has served me well.”
The smile remained on Glenys’ face, but she sensed a shift in the atmosphere. “I would say you have a lot of untapped power then. I don’t mean to brag, but I’m good at detecting levels of intensity. Poor Belinda Atkins, for instance. She had the potential to become very powerful.”
A shiver raced over her. “But now she’s dead.”
“Yes.” Glenys’ features turned sympathetic. “Such a waste. She never was one to do what was best for her.”
“Best for her?” Hazel prodded. “Like what?”
“Like worrying more about protective spells than glamour ones. Stonebridge has some nasty entities that will do us harm if we’re not careful.”
Hazel’s pulse thundered, and she worked to keep her expression even. “I’ve heard whisperings of a secret society. Mr. Winthrop that passed recently. Timothy Franklin. One other person, but his name escapes me.”
Glenys snorted. “Trust me. There are others.” Her gaze grew troubled, and she tapped her pen repeatedly on her desk. “That Timothy Franklin though. I worry most about him.”
“Same. I picked up bad vibes from him the moment we first met.”
Glenys pointed her pen at Hazel. “See? There’s power behind those dark brown eyes of yours. You just need to learn to tap into it.”
Hazel wasn’t so sure about that, but she was thrilled at her luck in discovering Glenys and her wealth of information. She highly doubted Glenys had been this forthcoming with Peter. In fact, she’d bet her life on it. “I think Timothy tries to come across as a good guy, but he’s really not, is he?”
“Don’t let that friendly façade fool you. He’ll kill us all if we get in his way.” Uneasiness replaced Glenys’ confidence that had been present in the room since Hazel had arrived. “I can’t prove that it’s related, but Belinda recently discovered some very interesting information about him.”
This was what she’d come for. Hazel slid closer to the edge of her seat. “What was it?”
Glenys glanced out the wall of windows toward the interior of the bank. Hazel followed her gaze, but no one was close enough they could hear anything even if the door was open.
A knowing smirk lit Glenys’ face. “He’s a direct descendant of one of the four witches who escaped punishment that fateful night, my grandmother being another one of them. Lily Franklin.”
That must be the witch Timothy had referred to when Hazel had first visited the library and he’d helped her with information about the town’s history. The one he said he wasn’t a relative.
Glenys shook her head in disgust. “All that nonsense he spouts about his connection to John Henry Parrish is a lie. He might not claim it, but he has powerful blood pumping through his veins.”
Hazel swallowed. “You said your grandmother was one of the four?” One of Clarabelle’s cohorts? Along with Timothy’s grandmother?
A proud expression lit her face. “Oh yes, she—”
Glenys froze midsentence and widened her eyes.
“Blessed Mother. You are, too. Hardy. Clarabelle Foster Hardy. Tell me I’m wrong.” She held up a hand before Hazel could answer. “No, don’t bother. My intuition tells me I’m spot on, and it’s never wrong.”
Hazel struggled to inhale a breath. Their conversation had decimated the boundaries of her comfort zone. “Yes. Clarabelle is my ancestor.”
Fifteen
Glenys sank back into her chair and regarded Hazel with a mixture of suspicion and awe. “No wonder you have such potential. If you were taught the right spells, you’d surpass me.”
“No.” Hazel shook her head as fear crept over her. “I’m sure that’s not true.” If it was, that made her position quite precarious. For one, she had a feeling Glenys liked being the most powerful witch in Stonebridge. It had obviously served her well.
Glenys laughed and then grinned. “Oh, yes. You are exactly what we need to tip the scales.”
She didn’t like the sound of that. “The scales?”
“Of power. Timothy proclaims he hates witches, and maybe he does, but he still uses the magic in his blood to help him weed us out and destroy us. With us working together, he wouldn’t stand a chance.”
The urge to run overwhelmed her. “I…I don’t know. It’s not the type of thing I like to get involved in. I choose to use my powers to help people.”
Glenys snorted. “Who better to help than your own kind? Besides, just having you in Stonebridge enhances my powers. Can’t you feel it?”
She shook her head in bewilderment. At this point, she wasn’t sure of anything. “Maybe.”
Glenys straightened the papers on her desk. “Don’t you worry about any of that right now. The only thing I would advise is that you learn a few spells to protect yourself. If not offensive, then at least defensive.”
A shiver raced over her. “I have a concealment spell to keep me from being discovered.”
Glenys regarded her like one might a child. “Oh, darling. If you intend to stay here very long, you’re going to need something stronger than that. I’m surprised Timothy hasn’t already discovered you. I’d be happy to teach you a few of my favorites if you’d like. Or Cora could if you trust her more.”
Maybe Glenys was right. She didn’t have to use what she’d learned for negative purposes. Only to protect herself and her friends. “That’s very kind of you to offer. Let me think about it.” Though she didn’t believe she’d think about it for very long. However, she did want to consult Clarabelle’s spells first.
A genuine smile returned to her face. “Absolutely. You can let me know anytime. The offer stands.”
A sliver of guilt nipped her for misjudging Glenys. Many witches weren’t fond of sharing spells outside their families, yet she was willing. “Thank you.”
Another thought landed solidly in her mind. “If Belinda had something on Timothy, then do you think it’s possible he might have killed her?”
She released a heavy sigh. “He could very well be the killer. If I had to guess, that’s who I’d choose.”
Hazel hesitated for a wary second, and then decided to plow ahead with her questions. She and Glenys seemed to have established solid ground between them, so it seemed natural to want to be honest.
“Please don’t take offense to this, Glenys, but I have to ask. I’ve heard rumors that your boyfriend, Grant, had been involved with Belinda. Could that be true? I don’t know Grant at all. For your sake and Belinda’s, could he be capable of murder if cornered?”
Glenys burst out with a laugh, and Hazel blinked in surprise. “Oh, Blessed Mother, no. Grant has a lot of drive and ambition. You watch, that man will go places you and I could only dream of, but he has one of the kindest and loyal hearts I know. Trust me, Hazel. If he was cheating on me, I’d know.”
Charlie’s previous words brought an image
to her mind of Grant and Belinda together at the lake. Had Charlie lied? Hazel sensed that Glenys believed he was faithful, but Grant could have conned her, too.
Not wanting to belabor the point, Hazel forced a smile. “That’s good to know. I’d heard a few things and would worry if you were involved with that kind of a man.”
Glenys waved away her concern, seeming genuinely confident about her remarks. “Eventually, you’ll hear this anyway, so I’ll tell you now. Belinda was jealous of me. She resented that the other witches in town look up to me as a leader. She hated that I received more attention and respect than she did. I tried to help her, to tell her if she’d just improve her attitude and the way she’d treated others, then the rest of us would respect her more in return.
“Instead of heeding my advice, she grew angry, blamed her troubles on me, and threatened to make me pay.” Glenys snorted. “As if she could. She knew she couldn’t compete with my powers, so she went after Grant. She flirted with him relentlessly in public. I think she even broke up with her boyfriend, telling him she and Grant were in love.”
Hazel could attest to at least part of that. She knew Belinda was narcissistic in the worst way, so Glenys’ explanation made sense. “I feel bad that her life ended as it did, but yeah, she had a way of annoying many people.”
“Exactly.” Glenys gave her a sad but assured nod. “She wasn’t the best at hiding her witchcraft, either. If Timothy had caught wind of any of it, he’d take her out. Especially after what she’d found out about him. I worry that Cora might not be safe since she was so closely involved with her. But we’re all hoping people realize her attempts to help Belinda were based strictly on an employer-employee relationship.”
Hazel frowned, not liking that her friend might be in jeopardy because of her association with Belinda. She’d check in with her after she finished at the bank.
After that, Hazel had a lot to think about, including figuring out a way to help Peter discover this information without flat out telling him. If he learned on his own, that would put more credence in it plus keep Hazel’s heritage in the clear.
First, she needed to finish opening her new business bank account. She glanced down at the application in front of her.
Glenys pointed to a section halfway down the page. “Don’t worry about putting all your personal information on the top part. We can get that from your account. Just fill out the information regarding your business. That’s all I need.”
“Awesome.” Hazel quickly finished the form and passed it back to Glenys.
She scanned over it. “Perfect. If it’s missing anything, we’ll let you know. And if there’s anything else I can help with, spells or otherwise, please let me know.”
Hazel stood and shook her hand, receiving a warm rush of friendliness. “Thank you. This has been great.”
She’d expected to leave but, Glenys’ offer of help held her back. “Actually, there is one thing. I’m interested in purchasing Clarabelle’s house.”
Glenys’ face brightened. “Excellent idea. I know Clarabelle would love that.”
“You know her?” Hazel was interested in her experiences with her grandmother.
“Oh, yes. We’ve had several visits. Poor lady. She carries a lot of unrest in her. Death should be a peaceful time.”
Hazel nodded. “I wish I could help her.”
“I’m sure having you in the house would bring her much comfort. Maybe while you’re there, you can find her missing spell book.”
She widened her eyes. “Her spell book? Why would you think it’s still there after all this time?”
Glenys shrugged. “I feel it there. Or at least a talisman or other powerful object. But I haven’t been able to locate it. There are some spells in my grandmother’s book that seem incomplete. From what I can tell, she and your grandmother were the closest out of the four.”
“That’s very interesting.” She kept her expression passive and her pulse even. “I’d love to find it, too.”
“That house has been on the market for a while. I’m sure you can get a great deal. Why don’t you contact a realtor, negotiate the price, and then let me know when you’re ready for a loan. I can expedite it for you.”
It warmed her heart to be so accepted by the witches she’d met in Stonebridge. “Thank you so much. I will do exactly that.”
Hazel said her goodbyes and left Glenys’ office, surprised that she’d spent more than an hour inside. She’d pop in at Cora’s and then head to the teashop to give Gretta her lunch break.
As she neared the exit, the handsome and charming Mr. Brogan left his desk and met her at the front door and opened it for her. “We hope you’ll come back again.”
A tingle of appreciation for a chivalrous man spread through her. “I’m sure I will.” She walked out with a smile on her face.
Sixteen
After being reassured by Cora that she could protect herself, Hazel left the café. She glanced toward the police station, but then turned and headed toward her teashop instead.
She would have loved nothing more than to run straight to Peter’s office and tell him what she’d learned. Of course, it was mostly hearsay regarding Timothy, but she’d discovered that nuggets of truth could always be found in even the grandest stories.
Unfortunately, she couldn’t tell Peter that Glenys was a witch, nor that she was one. Still, there must be a way to lead Peter to the truth.
Hazel opened the door to her shop and allowed the calming essence of it to wash over her. She’d designed it that way on purpose so that her customers would want to return again and again. She hadn’t used magic, not in the way Glenys obviously had at the bank. Instead, Hazel had used gifts from the Blessed Mother to provide a soothing bath for the senses.
Smells of lavender and vanilla fragranced the air. Watercolors of outdoor gardens that she’d collected since college adorned the walls, and her favorite Zen music with accompanying Tibetan singing bowls enhanced the shopping experience. Customers were always welcome to have a cup of their favorite tea on the house, which contributed to their pleasure in the form of taste and smell.
The only sense she was missing was touch, unless they indulged in the feel of the lovely ceramic teacups and mugs. If nothing else, they were also a delight to look at.
Hazel spotted Gretta toward the far end of the shop chatting with Mrs. Lemon and Mrs. Tillens. Gretta paused her conversation and cast a quick glance at Hazel. She waved in response, letting her assistant know she could take her break at any time now.
Hazel stepped into the backroom and hung her purse and jacket on one of the pewter hooks she’d installed for that purpose. New boxes of herbs sat stacked along the back counter, and she needed to spend the afternoon crafting since their stock of Love Potion #29 had grown low. But snippets of her earlier conversation with Glenys wouldn’t stop flitting through her mind.
She needed to see Peter, to talk with him.
“Hey, beautiful.”
Hazel whirled at the sound of Peter’s voice. “Bl…blast it all. You scared the daylights out of me.” Not to mention, the fact that he’d showed up right as she was thinking of him was a little eerie.
He grinned. This wasn’t the first time he’d caught her in the backroom with her head in the clouds, and she knew he loved that he could sneak up on her. “I’ve been missing you ever since I left your house the other night. It’s hard to focus on the case.”
She wouldn’t tell him that she’d had fantastic dreams about him, too. But she’d enjoyed seeing them married, so happy together, and him kissing her. “I’ve missed you, too.” Though honestly, other things had occupied a lot of her thoughts this morning.
She deserted the boxes on the back counter and moved toward him. When she reached him, she slid her arms around his waist and absorbed the delicious sensations that rocketed through her. “Funny, but I was just thinking about you.”
He smiled, happiness reflecting in his green eyes. He pulled her against his solid chest, a pl
ace she dearly loved to be. “Maybe we have a psychic connection.” He lifted his brows in a teasing way.
She wanted to tell him that was entirely possible but decided against it for obvious reasons. “Maybe so.”
Gretta popped in to the backroom. “Heading out…oh, sorry.” She laughed.
Hazel’s cheeks heated. Gretta teased her every chance she got about being right about her and Peter’s budding relationship. “Have a good lunch.”
A teasing look flickered in her gaze. “I will, but probably not as fun as you’ll have while I’m gone.” She winked.
Hazel shook her head in mock disbelief. “Go before I fire you.”
Her threat only drew a bigger grin from Gretta. “Yes, boss.”
The second the outer door chimed indicating Gretta’s departure, Peter placed his lips on hers for a heated kiss. Hazel soaked up the pleasure for as long as she dared and then pushed him away.
“Control yourself,” she said with a chuckle. “I have customers out there.”
He pulled her in for one more kiss. “Just wanted to tell Gretta when I see her later that she was right.”
Hazel rolled her eyes but grinned. “That’s because you always have to be right.”
He placed a hand over his heart. “Wounded by the lady’s piercing words.”
“Whatever.” She took a quick peek out in the shop, checking to make sure the ladies weren’t ready to check out and then she turned back to Peter. “If you’re so good at reading my mind, then why was I thinking about you?”
He studied her for a long moment. She was sure he meant his action to be playful, but the deep connection unnerved her. “You wanted to tell me something.”
He had that right. “Tell you something?”
He nodded thoughtfully. “Something you learned.”
Maybe he could read her better than she’d thought. Or maybe she was too predictable for her own good. “Okay…actually, yes I do.”
She left his side and busied herself straightening the partially used containers of herbs on the shelf near him. “I heard something interesting. Not sure if it’s true, but it might be worth investigating.”
