Wicked Witches of the Midwest Mystery Box Set

by Amanda M. Lee

  “Pretty much.” I flashed a smile. “I think this should be a lesson that you should never doubt me again.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “I’m not done telling my story,” Aunt Tillie barked, causing everyone in the Explorer to focus on her once again. “That’s better.” Her smile was serene as she folded her hands in her lap. “Anyway, Hopper thought he was smart and called the police. He claimed that Melanie was a former patient and she’d developed an unnatural attachment to him. Because he recognized the signs that she was going off the rails, he ended their sessions, but she continued to follow him around.”

  “I’m guessing he conveniently left out the part about sleeping with her,” Landon offered.

  “Oh, he totally lied to the cops and doesn’t deny it,” Aunt Tillie said. “He said he had to protect himself. Given how Melanie has been acting, that doesn’t seem like such a bad idea. Anyway, the radio station hired security guards to protect him and he had a security system installed in his house.

  “Melanie apparently set off the security alarm multiple times and was arrested, but she violated countless restraining orders and refused to give up no matter how many warnings she was issued,” she continued. “About this time, Hopper had his own trouble with a few husbands and was looking to get out of Traverse City. He used Melanie as an excuse and moved to Hemlock Cove. The radio station set up a studio in his basement so he could record from there, and he had a fresh new crop of women to choose from.”

  “He simply moved his operation to a new location,” I complained bitterly. “I shouldn’t be surprised, but ... .”

  “He’s a total tool,” Thistle finished. “I’m more interested in Melanie than him. He got what was coming to him. I’m guessing Melanie is the one who delivered that fate.”

  “No matter how hard I pushed, he couldn’t remember the night he died,” Aunt Tillie said. “I don’t know if that’s because he can’t bear the thought or something else is going on. It hardly matters. Melanie is clearly crazy.

  “She followed Hopper to Hemlock Cove and she settled in before he realized she was here,” she continued. “She opened a new yoga studio and ingratiated herself with certain members of the community ... including several of Hopper’s patients. When Hopper confronted her, she said she would out him to his patients if he spilled the beans about her. They were essentially blackmailing each other.”

  It made sense. It was sickening, but it totally made sense. “At some point Melanie must have decided to move on,” I deduced. “She met Chief Terry. He was nice to her. She said she was impressed because he came out to check on her after a security breach. She was all fluttery because he did it himself and didn’t send an underling.”

  “Melanie probably transferred her stalking to Chief Terry, and he didn’t even know it,” Landon added. “She hid what she was until he was already hooked and then started exerting control over him. Because his stories so often revolve around Bay, she probably saw her as a rival.”

  “I’m not romantically involved with Chief Terry,” I pointed out.

  “No, but you are the love of his life in different ways.” Landon offered me a wan smile. “He adores you. There’s no way Melanie would be able to dislodge you from his life. The more she tried, the more Chief Terry dug his heels in. He probably reached his limit last night.”

  Sickness flooded me again. “Why wouldn’t she kill him if he refused to play along?”

  “Because she needs him to embrace the fantasy world she’s created,” Landon replied, pulling onto a rutted driveway that had seen better days. “I think we’re getting somewhere.”

  “She killed Hopper,” I pressed. “She stalked him. She thought she loved him, but ultimately she killed him.”

  “Only after she found someone to replace the fantasy,” Landon said, coming to a crawl and peering through the windshield. Slowly, a small cabin became clear. It was partially hidden by trees. “She’s still obsessed with Chief Terry. She can’t kill him because she needs a new obsession to move onto first.”

  “I hope that’s true.”

  “It is.” He squeezed my hand. “We’re here. I’m guessing this is where she lives.”

  “Then this is where she has Chief Terry.” I reached for the door handle. “I’ll get him. You guys wait here.”

  Landon gripped my hand tighter. “Don’t even think about it. We’re coming up with a plan. Nobody is running off half-cocked ... and I’m in charge of whatever plan we come up with.”

  “Oh, does that make you feel manly, Sparky?” Aunt Tillie drawled.

  “Why did we even bring her?” Landon’s temper was on full display. “She’s going to drive me crazy before this is all said and done.”

  “We need her,” I pointed out. “She’s the most powerful weapon in our arsenal.”

  “Not today,” Aunt Tillie countered, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips as she stared out the window.

  “What do you mean?” I followed her gaze, my heart giving a little jolt when two forms took shape in the shadows of the trees. “Are those ... ?”

  “Ghosts,” Aunt Tillie finished, positively giddy. “They’re ghosts and they’re trapped here. That means they’re angry.”

  “I bet they’re Melanie’s parents,” Clove supplied. “I can’t see them yet – Bay, you need to get on that – but it makes sense. She supposedly killed them, right? She probably buried them out here so the cops wouldn’t find the bodies.”

  Oddly, that made sense. “So, we have ghosts,” I said, concentrating in an effort to make the ghosts visible to everyone. “What do you want me to do with them?”

  Aunt Tillie rubbed her hands together, clearly relishing the adventure. “I told you I had a plan. You need to chill out and trust me.”

  Under normal circumstances I would find that was a terrible idea. We had too much to lose to ignore her instincts, though. “Fine. Lay it on me.”

  Twenty-Nine

  I didn’t like Aunt Tillie’s plan. I didn’t see where we had many other options, though.

  “Okay.”

  Landon turned apoplectic. “Okay? You’re just going to agree to that plan even though it puts you in danger?”

  “Do you have a better plan?”

  He nodded. “I’ll call the state police and let them go in. They can absorb the risk.”

  That sounded great in theory, but I knew it wouldn’t fly. “Landon, we have no proof Chief Terry is here. Heck, we have no proof Melanie is here.”

  “That’s her car.” He pointed toward the sedan next to the cabin. “I know because I ran her license plate earlier. She’s here.”

  “And what grounds do you have to call the state police?” I forced myself to be calm. “You have no proof she took Chief Terry. He could’ve voluntarily taken off on his own. You have no proof she killed Hopper. We’re working on a hunch.”

  “Well ... .” Landon broke off and rubbed his chin. “I hate that you’re right.”

  “We need her to admit what she’s done in front of all of us,” I supplied. “Besides, if you call the state police she might panic when she sees all the lights and hears the sirens. She’ll probably hunker down and choose to go out in a blaze of glory ... and maybe take Chief Terry with her.”

  “I know you’re right, but I don’t like this.” Landon flicked his gaze to the ghosts watching us from the edge of the driveway. “How do you know they’ll work with you?”

  “I’ll make them do it.” I sounded surer than I felt. “I’ll make her see them.”

  “I still don’t see why we have to hide,” Clove complained. “Wouldn’t it be better if Melanie saw she was outnumbered by real people instead of ghosts? She might be more likely to run if she thinks she has a chance to escape into the woods.”

  “And go where?” Aunt Tillie challenged. “Where is she going to go?”

  “I don’t know.” Clove jutted out her lower lip. “She might not care as long as she can escape to stalk another day.”
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br />   “It’s too late for that,” Thistle countered. “She’ll be hunted until her dying day at this point. She’ll realize that. She’s crazy, not stupid.”

  “And just so I understand, the plan is to make her think that you’re a ghost,” Landon pressed. “If she sees you with her parents, she’ll think the poisoning worked and she’s free and clear, right?”

  I nodded. “Yes. While she’s focused on me you can slip around back and into the house. Chief Terry is in there. Once you get him out we can reveal the truth.”

  Landon shook his head, unconvinced. “Bay, I don’t like this. She might have a weapon. She might try to shoot you or something. We know she’s fine stabbing someone.”

  “She won’t get close enough to stab me. If she tries, I’ll have the ghosts swarm her. As for a gun, there’s no reason to shoot a dead person. If this plan works the way it should nobody will get hurt ... including her.”

  “I don’t care about her.”

  “No one does. This is our best shot of getting Chief Terry out safely. I’m not going to risk him. I can’t.”

  “Okay.” Resigned, Landon rubbed his hands over my shoulders before pulling me in for a hug. “I’ll head to the back. You’ll know once I get Chief Terry out. If you get in trouble, don’t hesitate to send those ghosts to kill her. I’d rather come up with a convincing story to cover her death than risk something happening to you.”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  “Make sure you are.” He gave me a quick kiss. “Give me five minutes to get into position. I want you three to be hidden, but close,” he ordered Aunt Tillie, Clove and Thistle. “If she needs help ... .”

  “We won’t let anything happen to her,” Aunt Tillie reassured him. “I promise. This really is the best plan. You know it. Being away from Bay will be like torture to you, but rescuing Terry is the most important thing. You’re the key player here. You’re still in charge.”

  “Oh, now I know you’re placating me.” He rolled his eyes and shook his head. “If this goes south, I’ll change the play on the fly and come at her from behind. Don’t be surprised if that happens ... and don’t send those ghosts after me if you can help it.”

  “I won’t.”

  “Then let’s do this.” He gave me another kiss. “I love you.”

  “I love you.”

  “And I love myself,” Aunt Tillie drawled. “Get moving, Sparky. Terry is waiting to be rescued. Make sure he knows it was my idea when he finds out you’ve come riding to his aid. I can’t wait to collect on this favor.”

  I GAVE LANDON THE five minutes he requested. Aunt Tillie, Clove and Thistle dispersed to thick areas of foliage to hide, leaving me with the ghosts as my only company. I gave them each a long look as I gathered my courage and rubbed my sweaty palms against the knees of my jeans.

  “You guys raised a real winner,” I offered. “I can’t tell you what a fan I am of your daughter.”

  Neither of them spoke. Perhaps they were too beaten down by circumstances. It didn’t matter. I wasn’t here to make friends.

  “It’s time,” I said as I pushed away from the Explorer. It was far enough back on the driveway that I was hopeful Melanie wouldn’t see it. If she did, the plan would fall apart and I’d have to come up with another way to distract her. For now, I was sticking to what I had. “Here we go.”

  I took short steps as I walked toward the cabin, the ghosts falling into formation on either side. They seemed to understand what was about to happen and didn’t put up a fight, but they weren’t exactly excited by the turn of events.

  “Not big talkers, huh? I guess I can’t blame you.”

  I moved as close as I could to the cabin without making myself an easy target, and then I began to sway slightly. I’d seen enough ghosts to know this was a regular occurrence and mimicking what I knew made me feel stronger. Aunt Tillie cast a glamour before I set out from the Explorer that made me appear ethereal like the real ghosts. It wouldn’t survive upon close inspection, but I didn’t plan on allowing Melanie to get close enough to figure out the truth.

  “Melanie,” I called out, adopting a singsong voice that I hoped was creepy enough to give her pause. “Melanie.”

  I watched the cabin closely for movement, calling out her name twice more before a curtain finally shifted on the other side of the window.

  “You should come out,” I taunted. “We need to have a talk.”

  When the front door of the cabin finally opened, Landon’s worst fear came to fruition. Melanie didn’t look happy to see me as she stepped onto the dilapidated porch. She was also armed, a rifle clutched in her hands.

  “What are you doing here?” She was clearly baffled. “You should be dead.”

  “I am dead.”

  “So ... what? Are you saying you’re a ghost?”

  “You have a lot of ghosts.” I hoped against hope I could utilize my magic without it backfiring and let loose a tendril of color. It wrapped around the ghosts that stood behind me, illuminating them to the point Melanie could make them out. “It seems you’ve been a bad girl.”

  Melanie’s eyes went wide when she realized I wasn’t alone. “What the ... ?”

  “Your parents.” I hoped that was true. If I’d guessed wrong and Melanie had killed more people to bury out here, the whole plan would be for naught.

  “What are they doing here?” Melanie turned screechy as she clutched the gun tighter to her chest. “They’ve been gone for years.”

  “They’ve been dead for years,” I corrected. “They were never gone.”

  “But ... how?”

  “You killed them. They were your parents and you killed them. When a soul is hurt to the point it can’t cope — like what happens when a child kills a parent — it remains behind rather than crossing over.” That was basically a load of crap, but there was no way for Melanie to know that.

  “And that’s what happened to you?” Melanie’s fear gave way to intrigue. “You’re a ghost, and because of the way you died you’re trapped here?”

  “Pretty much,” I confirmed. I couldn’t see Aunt Tillie or my cousins because they were so well hidden. That didn’t stop me from looking out the corner of my eye for hints of movement. I should’ve been relieved that I didn’t see any, but I hated feeling alone. “You should be proud. You’ve managed to clear the way to Chief Terry, and all it took was poisoning me and killing Dr. Hopper.”

  Melanie balked. “What are you talking about? I didn’t kill Hopper.”

  For a moment I almost believed her. Then reality set in. “You’re right. That was the wrong word to use. Hopper got what was coming to him. He was a predator and you were protecting yourself when you ended him. That’s why you stole your file, right? You were simply protecting yourself.”

  “That’s right.” Melanie brightened considerably. “Do you have any idea what he did to me?”

  I nodded. “I’m a ghost. I can see everything now that I’ve passed.” That was a total lie. Melanie had no idea about the afterlife, though, so I figured she would believe almost anything. “I know what he did to you. I know what you did to them.” I gestured toward her dead parents. “You can’t escape your actions forever.”

  “Oh, yeah?” Melanie turned haughty. “Let me tell you a little something about my parents. They were cheap. They’d been putting money away for as long as I could remember — some retirement fund or something — and when I got in trouble they refused to help me.

  “More than that, my father had the audacity to tell me that opening a business in this economy was a bad idea and he thought bailing me out was an even worse idea,” she continued. “He said I should get a real job and learn some real skills. He didn’t consider yoga real anything. He refused to help ... so I had no choice but to help myself.”

  She was so entitled it made me want to punch her. I was supposed to be a ghost, so that wasn’t an option.

  “Hopper had no problem helping you spend that money,” I said. “Once it was gone, he lost interest.�
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  “He was supposed to love me.”

  “And the only thing he loved was himself.”

  “He had no right to treat me that way.” Melanie’s lower lip quivered. “I was a good girlfriend, a good partner. He just tossed me away the second the money was gone. Did he think I was simply going to allow that?”

  “Of course not.” I hoped my voice was soothing despite the fact that anger was bubbling close to the surface. “Hopper was a bad man. You have to know, you weren’t the only one he was seeing when you thought he was monogamous. He had affairs with multiple women ... in multiple towns and cities. That’s how he operated. You’re not to blame for his bad decisions.”

  “He should’ve loved me the way I deserved to be loved,” she sniffed.

  “Is that why you went after Chief Terry?” I was honestly curious. “It is, isn’t it? In him, you saw a man who would never disrespect a woman.”

  “He was nice,” Melanie said. “He listened when I talked. I could tell that he would love me forever ... if he would simply see the light and cut you out of his life. It’s funny, but it was the way he talked about you that caused me to fall in love with him. His refusal to let you go is what caused the problems.”

  “He’s too loyal for his own good.”

  “All he had to do was cut you out of his life. Then things would’ve been perfect.”

  “That’s what you told him to do last night, isn’t it? You insisted he break ties with my family. You wanted him all to yourself.”

  “It wasn’t a difficult request,” Melanie snapped. “You’re an adult. He’s not really your father. You don’t need him.”

  Her words made me angry. “I’ll always need him ... and love him. You can’t dictate to a person, order them to feel a certain way. Chief Terry’s greatest gift is his acceptance. You should’ve accepted him.”

  “Oh, don’t you worry about acceptance,” she drawled. “He’s going to accept me and what I have to offer if it’s the last thing he does. Thankfully for him, we’ll have a lot of time together to work things out.