Witchin' Around the Clock

by Amanda M. Lee

  “I don’t think I can keep this a secret,” Aunt Tillie admitted. “It’s not a little thing, like you guys risking your lives or breaking into a business to look for clues and potentially being sent to the big house, where you’ll be molested by prison queens for cigarettes. This is a big deal.”

  “Why?” My temper was bubbling close to the surface, something I knew wasn’t good but I couldn’t stop myself from reacting with fury. “She’s going to be married in a few days.”

  “Besides, this belief you guys have that we need to be married before procreating is antiquated,” Thistle added. “I think those are probably ideal circumstances, but there’s no such thing as ideal circumstances in life. Clove and Sam will be happy. More importantly, they’ll be good parents. You need to leave them alone.”

  “I don’t think I can.” Aunt Tillie shifted slightly and I could tell she was about to bolt through the back door. I had no doubt what she would do if she escaped.

  “You can’t tell them.” I was insistent. “You’ll ruin everything.”

  “I don’t see that I have much choice,” Aunt Tillie shot back. “You can’t expect me to keep this secret from them. It’s not fair.”

  “You’re keeping your mouth shut.” Thistle took a menacing step in her direction. “If I have to curse your tongue myself, you’ll keep this to yourself.”

  “Oh, well, that’s a bold threat,” Aunt Tillie said. “I think you’ll have to catch me first.” With those words, she nipped through the hallway and disappeared.

  For a moment — one interminably long beat — Thistle and I just stood there. Then, as if propelled by the same force, we tore toward the door. Clove gave chase, too, but with her swollen feet she couldn’t keep up. Thistle and I were already way ahead of her when we hit the street.

  “Which way?” I asked, jerking my head left and right.

  Thistle pointed. “There.” Aunt Tillie was already on her scooter halfway down the alley. She glanced over her shoulder to see if we were giving chase and she grinned when she saw us.

  “You can’t stop me,” she called out. “I have to do what I have to do.”

  “Like Hecate you do,” I muttered.

  The scooter was both a blessing and a curse for Aunt Tillie. She could ride faster than we could run, but the street was littered with people and she wasn’t coordinated enough to smoothly navigate through the throngs without constantly having to stop and readjust.

  Still, she managed to make it to the other side of the crowd. She was heading toward the part of town where the blacksmith shop was located when Thistle got fed up.

  “Enough is enough.” She narrowed her eyes and started muttering curses.

  I didn’t realize what she was doing until it was too late to stop her. “Wait ... .”

  Thistle let loose a barrage of magic that caught up to Aunt Tillie with enough force to cause the scooter to careen sideways. Aunt Tillie couldn’t control her velocity and pitched forward.

  For one horrifying moment all I could picture was Aunt Tillie’s head meeting the concrete. Would there be broken bones? Would the head injury actually be enough to kill her? Had we just traded Clove’s secret for Aunt Tillie’s quality of life?

  And then Landon came out of nowhere and caught her before she hit the ground.

  I wasn’t sure where he’d been — although the blacksmith shop was right behind him and Chief Terry and Todd Bennett were watching the scene with something akin to awe — but he timed it exactly right to make sure Aunt Tillie incurred minimum damage.

  “There now. You need to be careful,” he admonished.

  Aunt Tillie’s eyes were wide when they landed on him, but they narrowed when she turned them to us. “Oh, you two are in so much trouble.”

  We were out of breath when we closed the distance.

  “You’re going to keep it to yourself,” I argued, grabbing her wrist to make sure she didn’t flee a second time. “It’s important.”

  “I already told you I can’t keep a secret like that,” Aunt Tillie argued. “They’re my nieces. They have a right to know.”

  “Oh, geez.” Landon rubbed his forehead. “I take it you big mouths were talking about Clove’s secret and she overheard. I told you this would blow up in your faces.”

  “Nobody wants to hear ‘I told you so’ at a time like this, Landon,” I shot back. “She came in through the back. We didn’t hear her. How were we supposed to know?”

  “You should’ve been careful all the same.”

  Realization washed over Aunt Tillie’s face and she became enraged. “Wait ... he knows before me?” Her cheeks flushed with color. “That is just the most insulting thing I’ve ever heard. Why would you tell him?”

  “Because I can trust that he’ll keep his mouth shut,” I replied without hesitation.

  “Do I even want to know what you guys are talking about?” Chief Terry asked.

  I shook my head. “No. I can unequivocally say that you don’t.”

  “I agree on that,” Landon offered. “You’re better being ignorant.”

  “I always think that.” Chief Terry gestured for Todd to return to the hollowed-out shell that used to be the blacksmith shop. “Let’s take another look around.”

  Todd nodded. “Sure. That sounds like a plan.”

  I waited until I was certain they were out of earshot to speak again. “You can’t tattle on us. You’ll ruin absolutely everything if you do.”

  “I don’t know.” Aunt Tillie chewed her bottom lip. “I’m not sure this is a secret I can keep.”

  “You have to hear us out.” I refused to back down. “Once we tell you why it needs to be a secret, you’ll agree with us. I know you will.”

  Aunt Tillie didn’t look convinced, but she nodded. “I guess it can’t hurt to let you make your case. I should warn you, though, my mind is already made up.”

  Thirteen

  Clove finally caught up with us at the small park across the way. Most of the activity focused on the downtown area was at the far end of Main Street, so we were relatively assured of being able to talk without anyone eavesdropping.

  “Listen,” I lectured Aunt Tillie. “we’re not trying to keep a secret just for the sake of keeping a secret. This is a stressful time for Clove. The last thing she needs is our mothers flying off the cauldron handle and adding to it.”

  Aunt Tillie folded her arms across her chest. “That’s the lamest argument I’ve ever heard. You can do better.”

  “We don’t have to do better,” Thistle countered. “It’s Clove’s secret. She has a right to decide when it comes out.”

  “Better, but still lame.”

  I frowned. “What good will come from telling them before the wedding?” I challenged, appealing to her practical side. “It will only get them worked up.”

  “They’ll get worked up anyway,” Aunt Tillie pointed out. “I distinctly remember them warning you about getting pregnant before marriage. It was one of the few threats they issued.”

  “I’m pretty sure they have no right to issue those threats,” Landon offered, speaking for the first time since we’d left the blacksmith shop. He’d opted to come with us, although I figured it was in more of a supervisory position than anything else. “What does marriage have to do with being a good mother?”

  “I didn’t say that marriage is important to being a good mother,” Aunt Tillie clarified. “But she’s an adult. She knows where babies come from. The whole point of stressing the importance of birth control to them was because we didn’t ever want them to feel they had to get married.”

  Clove stirred. “Is that what you think? Sam and I were engaged before I found out I was pregnant. By a long shot.”

  “Fair enough. But that’s what other people will say.”

  “Since when do we care what other people think?” Thistle challenged. “For the entirety of our lives you’ve insisted that we think for ourselves and not follow the crowd. I mean ... you’re riding a scooter around and wearing a
cape while terrorizing people, for crying out loud.”

  Annoyance flashed deep in her eyes as Aunt Tillie balked. “That’s a smart look.”

  Thistle frowned. “No, it’s not.”

  I held up my hand before this conversation could get away from us. “Aunt Tillie, only bad things can come of you opening your mouth now. Clove is going to tell them after the wedding but before she leaves for her honeymoon. That will give them time to cool down. Things will be fine by the time she gets back.”

  “Please don’t tell them.” Clove’s eyes filled with tears and she looked pathetic as she beseeched Aunt Tillie. “I’m begging you. It’s important to me that I be the one to tell them. I know you don’t understand that, but ... it really is important to me.”

  “Ugh.” Aunt Tillie growled. Given the way her shoulders slouched in resignation, though, I knew we’d won. “Fine. I won’t say anything. I still think this is a bad idea. They won’t be nearly as worked up as you think.”

  “That would be a nice surprise,” I acknowledged. “I’m not sure I believe it, though. Still ... thank you. We need you on our side for this.”

  “Oh, I didn’t say I was on your side,” Aunt Tillie countered. “I said I wouldn’t tell them. You’re on your own when it comes to keeping this secret. I have bigger things to worry about ... like Margaret and Hazel. You’re just lucky that I can’t afford to have my attention split in a third direction.”

  “We feel extremely lucky,” I reassured her. “You’re the best aunt in the world.”

  “You’re totally the best,” Clove enthused.

  Aunt Tillie’s expectant eyes landed on Thistle.

  “You’re all right,” Thistle replied after a beat. “You still tick me off.”

  “I feel the same way about you,” Aunt Tillie shot back. “By the way, you’re totally on my list for that little stunt you pulled with the curse and the scooter. I will find time to dole out some retribution for that.”

  Thistle made a face. “I can’t wait.”

  ONCE THINGS WERE SETTLED WITH Aunt Tillie and she’d scootered off in the direction of the witches to continue her campaign of terror, Thistle and Clove returned to Hypnotic, which they’d left open and unlocked. That left Landon and me to ourselves.

  “Why are you back here?” I asked. “Did the arson investigator come up with anything new?”

  “This is just standard stuff. It’s normal for him to come back because once the debris has settled he can find new evidence.”

  “Like what?”

  He arched an amused eyebrow. “Do I look like an arson investigator to you?”

  “I thought you knew everything.”

  “Cute.” He poked my side. “You know that Aunt Tillie could’ve been injured by that move you guys pulled? I don’t think you should do that again.”

  I didn’t necessarily want to blame Thistle, but that’s exactly what I did. “It wasn’t my curse.”

  “I know, but be more careful next time. Believe it or not, you’ll miss her when she’s gone, and you would never forgive yourself if you were the reason she was hurt.”

  “I’ll see what I can manage.” I rolled my neck. He wasn’t wrong. The horror I felt when I saw her fall was still fresh. “What are you guys up to next?”

  “I don’t know. I’m a little out of the loop right now. What are you going to do?”

  “Visit Lorna.”

  Landon made a sound halfway between resignation and exasperation. “I thought we agreed you would wait for me before approaching her.”

  That’s not how I remembered things. “I said I wouldn’t go after the birds. I’m just going to question her ... and work at the same time. When someone dies, I like to do a story that’s a tribute to his or her life. I need to talk to Lorna for Adam’s story.”

  “Are you going to ask her about the affairs? What about Masterson?”

  Both good questions. “I don’t know yet. I’ll have to play it by ear, gauge her mood.”

  “I would prefer you not get into too much trouble, Bay. I don’t like this one ... and for a multitude of reasons. That bird thing is weird and I can’t help but think you dreamt about the birds because they’re somehow important.”

  “I agree they’re important. That doesn’t mean Lorna is controlling them.”

  “No? She was the only one on that bench.”

  “Yeah, but someone else could’ve sent the birds after her. I mean ... have you considered that maybe Lisa is the one putting on the act?”

  “I haven’t talked to Lisa yet. I’m sure that will be on the agenda for today. Since you’ve already talked to her she’ll be expecting us, too. That means she’ll have time to come up with a story.”

  “She already told me her story.”

  “And you seemed to believe her at the time.”

  That was true. Quite frankly, I couldn’t decide how I felt about all the players. “I know but ... there are a variety of different things that could be happening here. I’m not saying I believe it, but what if Lisa decided that she was fed up with waiting for Adam to divorce Lorna and she snapped?”

  “And ... what? Do you think she killed Adam in a fit of rage, covered it up with a fire, and is now after Lorna?”

  “It’s possible, right?”

  He tilted his head, considering. “I guess it’s possible,” he conceded after a moment. “I’m not sure I believe it. I need to interview her myself before I form an opinion.”

  “I think that’s a good idea. While you’re doing that, I’ll interview Lorna.”

  “What if she’s the guilty party? What if she killed Adam and she’s some sort of dark witch?”

  The suggestion was enough to take me aback. “I’ve never sensed magic when I’ve been near her.”

  “Do you always?”

  “No, but ... .” I heaved out a sigh. I had no idea how all of this was going to play out. “I think the only thing we can both be sure of is that we have to dig. That’s all I’m going to do today. I’ll be careful. I promise.”

  “I want you to text me when you leave, just so I’m not worrying. I know you don’t like feeling as if I’m hovering but I can’t help but worry. Something about this one feels off ... and that’s saying something given the other stuff we’ve faced.”

  “I like facing things with you.” I squeezed his hand. “I promise to call. I’ll be fine. I know how to take care of myself.”

  “I have faith in you. I always have. That doesn’t mean I can just shut off the worry. That’s not who I am.”

  On that we would have to compromise. He couldn’t shut off his worry and my curiosity couldn’t be contained. It would forever be an issue. Thankfully it wasn’t something we couldn’t handle. We had that going for us.

  “It’ll be fine.” I was sure of that. “I simply need some time alone with her. I think I’ll be able to figure things out better after that.”

  “Fair enough. I still want a text.”

  “You’ll get one.”

  A DISHEVELED LORNA answered the door.

  I instantly felt like an intruder. “I’m sorry. Did I wake you?”

  She looked as if she’d been on a bender. I really couldn’t blame her given everything that had happened.

  “Bay?” Her eyebrows drew together and it took her a moment to recognize me. “What are you doing here?”

  “I came to see you.” That wasn’t a lie. Sure, I had ulterior motives, but at the heart of my visit was the desperate need to check on Lorna. “I was hoping to do a nice article on Adam. You know, talk about the things he did for Hemlock Cove, mention that he was a good family man.”

  If that wasn’t an opening, I didn’t know how else to pry open a door for her to walk through and start spilling her guts.

  “Oh, that sounds nice.” Vacantly, Lorna left the door open and disappeared inside the house.

  I watched the empty spot where she’d been standing for a moment, confused, and then followed.

  The house was dark, all the drapes
drawn. The lights were on, but they seemed dim. I found Lorna in the kitchen. She was brewing a pot of tea. It was obvious she hadn’t yet showered and was still muddled from sleep.

  “How are you doing?” Even though there was a possibility she was evil, I felt sorry for her. “Did you sleep at all?”

  “I tried.” Lorna’s smile was tight when she turned back to me. “I was exhausted, but I managed to conk out for only about an hour and then I was wide awake. I tried to take some sleep medication — probably too much if you want to know the truth — but it didn’t really work for me. Now I feel listless and draggy, too exhausted to function, and yet I can’t sleep. It’s a vicious little cycle.”

  “Sit down,” I instructed, moving to the stove. “I’ll handle the tea.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t mind.”

  “No, you should definitely sit down.”

  Lorna followed my instructions, plunking herself in one of the chairs. She didn’t look comfortable when I joined her, the dark circles under her eyes proving to be so big I thought I might be able to hide inside them.

  “Where are Nick and Dani?” I asked. The house was silent.

  “They’re both asleep. They were up late, couldn’t fall asleep, but then they finally passed out. I’m going to let them sleep as long as they want. It’s better for them than sitting here and wallowing. Besides, they keep asking questions and I’m not sure how to answer them.”

  “What sort of questions?”

  “They want to know who killed their father,” she replied simply. “I don’t have an answer for them. I’m not even sure what I should tell them. It’s all such a mess. Such a huge, huge mess.”

  If I expected a better opening than this one, I wasn’t going to get it. I either had to be bold and tell her I knew about the affair or talk about absolutely nothing. I decided being bold was the best course of action.

  “So ... I talked to Lisa Newman.”

  I expected Lorna to tell me I didn’t understand the situation or at least swear violently under her breath at mention of the woman. Instead, she merely sighed.