“Hey. If I have to think about it, you have to think about it.”
“Whatever.” Clove wasn’t happy when I’d returned to the Dandridge to collect her and Thistle. She whined about wanting to stay behind and prepare for her wedding. I told her that was fine, that I would just take Thistle, and then I threatened I didn’t want to hear a single word of complaint about being left out of our adventures. That was enough to change her mind. After all, we were just talking to ghosts. That was rarely dangerous.
“I still need to take a bath,” Clove noted. “I got this special bath bomb that’s supposed to make my skin as soft as dewy petals on a misty morning.”
Thistle slowly slid her eyes to Clove. “I kind of want to punch you for actually uttering that sentence. I mean ... come on.”
“You can’t punch me.” Clove extended a finger. “It’s my wedding day. If you punch me, I’ll send Aunt Tillie after you.”
“And what makes you think she would care?”
“Because of the dreams she sent us. She cares.”
“I didn’t realize you were aware of what she did,” I said as we arrived at the water’s edge. “I thought maybe you were still in the dark.”
“No. I knew when I woke up.”
“She asked me about it,” Thistle explained. “We were still talking about all the things she showed us when you called.”
“With your horrible bird story,” Clove added. “You know there are birds out here, right?”
“We don’t have to worry about the birds.” I was relatively certain that was true. “We’re here to call Adam’s ghost. Once we do that, you can head to The Overlook and start getting ready. I just didn’t want to be alone for this.”
“What are you going to do while we’re at the inn?” Thistle asked, suspicion wrinkling her forehead. “Why aren’t you coming with us?”
“I have to end this before the wedding.”
“And you think Adam will tell you that Lorna is the one,” Clove surmised. “Once he confirms it, you’re going to head off to confront her.”
“I don’t know if I would phrase it that way, but that’s basically it in a nutshell,” I agreed. “If all goes as planned, this will be behind us in about two hours.”
“From your lips to the Goddess’s ears.” Clove beamed as I focused on the water. “Let’s get this over with. This is my wedding day. I’m supposed to be the center of attention, not an evil witch with a bird fetish.”
“You’ll be the center of attention no matter what,” Thistle promised. “For the next few minutes, though, zip it.” She ran her fingers over her lips for emphasis. “This is a serious situation and we don’t need you spouting nonsense to distract us.”
Clove lowered her head. “That’s the meanest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“That’s not even in the top hundred.”
“Yes, but this is my wedding day. Everything is amplified. That means you’re dead to me.”
Thistle rolled her eyes until they landed on me. “Can you get this over with? I need to get back to the inn and start drinking.”
There was something soothing about their banter. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. I’m on it.” I raised my hands into the air, closing my eyes. I was getting better at calling ghosts.
When I first realized I could communicate with them I assumed they were in control of the interactions. That always left me feeling helpless, something I hated. Now, though, I understood I was in control. Sometimes I disliked the power at my disposal for entirely different reasons, but it was better this way.
When I opened my eyes, Adam’s ghost was floating in front of me. He looked pained, as if he’d put up a fight – and lost – when I called to him. I couldn’t help his discomfort. If all went as planned, he would be free to move on to the other side by the end of the day.
“I’m sorry I had to call you here like this,” I started.
“Is he here?” Clove stared around blankly.
“No, Clove, she’s talking to her imaginary friend,” Thistle sneered. “Good grief.”
Clove frowned. “It was just a simple question. There’s no reason to be snarky.”
“Hey, if I don’t have snark to fall back on you might as well kill me now.”
I admonished them both with a look and then focused on Adam. “I know you’ve been through an ordeal, but ... I need to talk to you. I freed you the other day. I’m not sure you remember. I made sure you could talk again.”
It wasn’t that I was expecting a “thank you” as much as I was trying to appeal to him. The look he shot me was anything but friendly.
“Saved me? Is that what you think you did?”
“Um ... yeah.”
“He doesn’t sound happy,” Clove noted.
Thistle pinched her flank. “Shh. Let Bay talk to her ghost so we can get out of here. I bet they’re drinking mimosas at the inn and we’re missing out.”
“I can’t drink,” Clove pointed out.
“That’s your problem.”
I ignored them both. I would’ve been better off doing this alone. “Your lips were sewn shut. I still don’t know how that happened. I helped you break those chains.”’
“You mean you forced me,” Adam countered. “You made me rip that thread out. I didn’t have a choice.”
I was taken aback by his vitriol. “I don’t understand. Are you saying you wanted to remain that way?”
“Of course not.” Adam’s expression was withering. “I didn’t want any of this to happen. You’re not some hero in this story. You made things worse.”
I was taken aback. “Um ... .”
“Well, that’s gratitude for you,” Thistle said brightly. “I don’t think he wanted you to free him from the shackles placed on him. Screw him. Let’s go to the inn and drink mimosas.”
That sounded preferable to what we had going on, but I was determined to get answers. “I need to know who killed you, Adam. I’m sure you don’t want to dwell on it, but it’s important. Once we have confirmation, we’ll take her down and I’ll send you on your way. It will be over relatively quickly.”
“Are you an idiot?” Fury flared in the depths of Adam’s ghostly eyes. “You can’t free me. I’m tied to her forever. She told me that … and I believe her.”
“I can free you. I don’t want to toot my own horn or anything, but I’m a necromancer.”
Thistle shot me a sarcastic thumbs-up. “Way not to toot your own horn.”
“I don’t care what you are,” Adam snapped. “You can’t help me. You’ve made things worse. She’s so angry now. Do you know what she’s going to do? Do you have any idea who’s next on her list? She won’t stop.”
“We’ll stop her.” I was firm. “You have nothing to worry about.”
“That’s easy for you to say.”
“I can protect you from her.” I was relatively assured of that. “Just tell me who did this. It was Lorna, right?”
“Ugh,” Adam growled. “I can’t answer your questions. Don’t you understand? She’s bound me to her. As long as she’s alive, I’m trapped in this limbo. She won’t have it any other way.”
“I can break that tie.”
“No, you can’t.”
“I can.”
“No!” He practically screamed. “There’s nothing you can do about this. It’s done. It’s ... over. I ... she’s calling me again.” He was grim. “She’s demanding I go to her. Do you understand that she can force me to tell her about this? She’ll know you’re on to her. She’ll kill you.”
“I’ll handle her,” I promised. “This is almost over.”
“It will never be over.” With those words, he winked out of existence, leaving me with nothing but more questions.
“Well, that was helpful, huh?” Thistle clapped my shoulder. “We should get out of here. I can practically taste that mimosa.”
Oddly enough, drinking was starting to feel like a feasible option.
Twenty-Five
The mimosas were ind
eed flowing freely when we arrived at the inn. The schmaltzy lovefest you would expect before a wedding was not.
“You’re late.” Mom’s expression was dark when it landed on me.
I was in no mood for her crap. “Why are you blaming this on me? There are three of us.”
“You’re the oldest. It’s your job to get the others moving.”
“Oh, well ... .”
“Leave her alone,” Thistle ordered as she accepted the mimosa her mother handed her. “She’s had a rough morning.”
“Oh, geez.” Mom rolled her eyes. “Are you going to whine like Landon about sleeping alone? I had to listen to him for twenty minutes this morning. It was ridiculous.”
“He wasn’t alone. He had Peg,” I pointed out. “And, no, I survived the night without him just fine.”
“Well, good for you.” She absently patted my arm before sidling over to Clove. “It’s your big day. Are you excited?”
“So excited.” Clove started talking about her dress ... and her hair ... and the luxurious bath bomb she had stashed in her purse. She’d already moved on from Masterson’s death and Adam’s ghost. I was not that lucky.
I paced the kitchen, ignoring the mimosas my mother and aunts tried thrusting into my hand. I couldn’t just let this go. We had hours until the sunset wedding. There was still time to work this out.
That’s when I had an idea. “Where’s Aunt Tillie?”
Mom’s forehead creased and her expression darkened. “She’s watching The View.”
“And being a pain,” Marnie added.
“When is she not a pain?” Thistle challenged. “Leave her in there. Mimosas are more fun without her.”
“She’s being a real pill,” Mom complained. “She’s got some weird vendetta against Hazel that I simply don’t understand. She needs to let whatever grudge she’s holding go. I can’t even remember why she dislikes her.”
“She hates her because Hazel wants to be in charge and everybody knows Aunt Tillie is in charge,” I answered, making my decision on the spot. “I’ll be back.”
“Where are you going?” There was an edge to Mom’s voice as it chased me. “You and Thistle are sharing maid of honor duties. There are things you are expected to do this afternoon.”
“I’ll be back.” I escaped through the kitchen and into the family living quarters. Sure enough, Aunt Tillie was in her usual spot on the couch, Peg tucked in beside her, and she was yelling at the television.
“That’s a load of crap,” she exclaimed. “I can’t believe they pay you idiots to spout your nonsense on television like this. I would be so much better.”
I was used to the show, so I barely reacted. “You need to get dressed.”
Slowly, Aunt Tillie tracked her eyes to me. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.” I was in no mood for her crap. “There’s something I have to do, and because I can’t do it alone you’re coming with me.”
Aunt Tillie didn’t move from her perch. “Last time I checked, you weren’t the boss of me. I’m the boss of you.”
“It involves taking on an evil witch.”
Aunt Tillie’s eyes narrowed. “Hazel?”
Now I was the one who couldn’t contain my eye roll. “No. She’s a minor inconvenience. I’m talking about abject evil.” I told her about Masterson’s death, leaving nothing out. When I finished, she looked intrigued.
“Well, that is ... hmm.” She stroked Peg’s head as the pig stretched out beside her, obviously in heaven. “How did the birds get into the house?”
“Nobody knows. I don’t even think that’s important. What’s important is that we have to end this before the wedding.”
“Why? Do you think Lorna is going to take out someone else before tomorrow? If so, I can see going after her now. If not, we can wait. Once Clove is married and officially on her honeymoon, we can clean up the mess.”
“I don’t think that’s going to be an option.”
“Why?”
“Because Adam’s ghost says he’s being controlled by the witch who killed him. He couldn’t even confirm it was Lorna. He made it sound as if he’ll have to tell her we’re on to her, which means she could send her evil feathered minions here.”
“Well, with a suspect list of one I don’t see that we need confirmation.”
“I still want confirmation.” I was firm on that. “I want to talk to her, lay everything out. If she denies it, we’ll be able to tell that she’s lying.”
“You think she’s going to admit it?”
“I think she wants to admit it,” I clarified. “If you can do as much damage as she has in a few days’ time, you want to take credit for it. She thinks she’s stronger than us.”
“You, maybe. She’s not stronger than me.”
I folded my arms over my chest and waited.
After holding my gaze for what felt like a really long time, she blew out a sigh and stood. “Fine. I’ll go with you. I’m in the mood for a fight anyway. Your mother confiscated my scooter.”
I would’ve been amused under different circumstances. “I can’t believe you allowed that.”
“I only allowed her to think she won. It’s in the basement. I’ll get it when I want it.”
That sounded about right. “So ... you’ll go with me?”
“I’ll go with you. This witch needs to be put in her place.”
“Then let’s do this. I’m ready to enjoy Clove’s big day.”
“I’m ready to bug the crap out of Hazel. Different priorities, same outcome.”
That was the only logical thing she was likely to say all day.
THE DRAPES WERE DRAWN TIGHT over the windows. Lorna didn’t answer the door when we knocked. Her car was in the driveway, though, and I was certain she was home.
“I say we kick in the door A-Team-style and give her what for,” Aunt Tillie announced. She was dressed for battle, combat helmet included, and her eyes were keen. She benefitted from a certain glow when a fight to the death was imminent.
“And I think we should knock again.” I shot her a pointed look and made to rap on the door. It opened a split-second before I made contact, revealing Dani’s curious face.
“Were you just knocking?” she asked. She looked confused.
“That would be us.” I shifted from one foot to the other, suddenly uncomfortable. I didn’t expect her to answer the door. “Is your mother here?”
“Yeah, she’s just getting up.” Dani pushed open the door so we could enter. “She’s in the kitchen. I’m actually glad you’re here. Maybe you can talk to her.”
“What’s wrong?” I was instantly alert, worry for Lorna’s children bubbling up. “Is your brother all right? You look okay.”
Dani arched a confused eyebrow. “I’m fine. My mother is the one falling apart. We’re supposed to make plans for Dad’s memorial service today, but she says she just wants to stay in bed. She thinks Nick and I should do it.”
“By yourselves?” I was almost as offended by that suggestion as I was by the fact that Lorna was killing people. Hurting others was one thing. Emotionally abandoning her children in this manner was another. “Where are you headed?”
Dani clutched the over-sized purse she carried tighter. “To the funeral home. Nick doesn’t want to go with me, so I guess I’m doing it myself.”
I felt sorry for her ... and yet relieved. Dani wouldn’t be in the house when we confronted her mother. “Where is Nick?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. He got a call from one of his friends earlier and seemed excited when he ran out. I don’t know where he went.”
“Excited happy or excited sad?”
“I don’t know. Just excited.”
I thought about the way Nick watched Masterson at the festival. I could guess which gossipy tidbit had garnered his attention. It was probably best that he was out of the house, too, even if he was being a ghoul.
“Well, I’ll talk to your mother.” I had zero expectations that Dani’s life wa
s suddenly going to improve, but I wanted to reassure her all the same. “I’ll see if I can get through to her.”
“That would be great.” Dani sidled through the door, accidentally brushing against Aunt Tillie in such a way that she lost some color. “I’m sorry, Miss Tillie. I didn’t mean to run into you. I know you hate being touched.”
I cast Aunt Tillie a disdainful look. She was forever terrorizing the teenagers of Hemlock Cove. It was her way. “She’s fine,” I offered. “It was an accident. Don’t worry about it.”
“I’ll give you a pass for today, but don’t let it happen again,” Aunt Tillie ordered. She offered Dani a wink before sliding in front of me. “As for your mother, we’ll handle her. We have everything under control.”
“I hope that’s true. I don’t think I can take much more of her.”
After Dani left, I took the lead. I was more familiar with the house than Aunt Tillie. Dani had said her mother was in the kitchen, and that’s where we found her.
Lorna looked rough. That was the only word I could use to describe her wan countenance. Her hair was greasy and piled in a messy bun. She wore the same pajamas she’d been in when I interviewed her for the article about Adam and there was a waxy texture to her face that didn’t look entirely healthy.
“What do you want?” She looked despondent when she realized who was darkening her doorstep. “I told you everything I could for the story. Talk to other people if you need more.”
“We’re here to talk to you ... and not for a story,” I countered. I gave the woman a wide berth as I circled the table and positioned myself opposite her. “Did you hear the news?”
Lorna’s face was blank. “What news? I haven’t had the television on. I’ve been ... busy.”
Aunt Tillie leaned over so she was close enough to sniff Lorna – something I didn’t think was safe – but I’d learned long ago that I had zero control over my tempestuous great-aunt. “It smells to me as if you’ve been busy drinking. And not the good stuff. That’s bargain-basement whiskey if ever I’ve smelled it.”
Lorna shot her a hateful look. “Well, if you don’t like it you can always leave. In fact, I’m going to insist that you leave. I don’t have the energy to put up with you right now. I’m expected at the funeral home to plan Adam’s service, so I can’t do ... whatever this is.”
Wicked Witches of the Midwest Mystery Box Set Page 82
