Witch Way To Amethyst: The Prequel (A Stacy Justice Mystery Book 0)

by Barbra Annino

  “Wait, what note?”

  I didn’t want to give him the details until I could think on it more. What had it said? HOME AGAIN? “Just a scribble on the mirror. Probably something left behind by a previous guest.”

  Either he was playing a game, lying to me, or it wasn’t Chance who wrote on the mirror.

  I opened the door and Thor darted for the grass as I stepped onto the porch.

  Chance joined me, reached for my hand and said, "Call me if you need anything."

  I nodded. He kissed my cheek.

  Another song came on the radio then and Chance smiled. "Remember this song?"

  Don’t run back inside, darlin’ you know just what I’m here for. So you’re scared and you’re thinking that maybe we ‘ain't that young anymore.

  “Thunder Road.”

  Chance stroked my hair. He leaned in and whispered in my ear, "We made love to this song. Our first time."

  Then he put his mouth over mine and kissed me, long and deep.

  I can't say I fought too hard but I did have enough sense to pull away first.

  When I did, Leo was standing in front of us holding a pizza box.

  Chapter 28

  I broke free from Chance and smoothed my hair back.

  "Leo, hi," I said.

  Chance and Leo stared at each other like two roosters gearing up for a cockfight.

  "This is Chance. He's fixing the cottage roof. He's an old friend."

  Chance flashed me a wounded look.

  Neither of them made an attempt to shake hands.

  "Chance, this is Leo."

  "I know who he is." Chance tilted his chin to Leo, his hands shoved in his pockets. "Hey."

  "Hello," said Leo, now staring at me.

  Thor came over and lifted his leg on the porch railing. I was hoping neither of them would do the same.

  The ginormous dog pranced inside and that seemed to break the trance.

  "You like pepperoni, Chance?" Leo handed him the box and walked away.

  "Leo, wait a second." I trotted after him.

  "I gotta go, too," said Chance and headed for the truck. He left the pizza on the porch swing.

  I turned around. "Oh. Okay. What about your shirt?" I said.

  Leo turned back. "His shirt?"

  "Keep it," Chance said. He climbed into his truck and shut the door.

  I jogged after Leo whose legs were a lot longer than mine. "Wait a second."

  He kept walking down the path. "You don't owe me an explanation, Stacy. It was just a date. No big deal."

  "But I want to explain." I talked fast, spilling the story about the thugs.

  Leo stopped when he reached his car on the street. He turned to me and held up a hand. "Look, I didn't have high expectations."

  Whew, that was a relief.

  Hey, wait a minute. What did that mean?

  "Whoa." I held up my index finger. "This is just a misunderstanding," I said, my tongue sharp.

  Chance backed out of the driveway, spitting up mud and soggy leaves in his wake.

  "I'm just saying it's too much." Leo got in the car.

  "What's too much?" I asked.

  He shut the door. “All of it.”

  I tapped the hood. "You're right, Leo." I crossed my arms and stepped back from the car. "You couldn't handle me."

  Leo pulled the car off the curb and said. "Wrong. I couldn't share you." He stared at me for several beats. I realized my mouth was open as he drove away.

  I slogged back to the porch, picked up the pizza and went inside.

  There were napkins in the kitchen, so that’s where I headed. The radio was still playing the song as I shared lukewarm pepperoni pizza with my borrowed dog on a couch that wasn’t mine. Needless to say, this was not at all how I anticipated the evening to play out.

  The DJ came over the airwaves offering the only human companionship I was getting that night. "You've just been listening to the Rock Block hour. That was The Boss with Thunder Road.”

  I sat up.

  Thunder Road. The lyrics started playing in my head. Hey, that’s me and I want you only. Don't turn me home again. I just can't face myself alone again.

  The messages in the mirror. I want you. Home again.

  I stood up slowly, Birdie's words rushing at me. Recognize the signs.

  Okay, how did I feel? Not too bad. No dizziness, no chills. No stomach pains.

  I went to the bathroom to get the penny I collected from the side of the road. I pulled it from my jean pocket and glanced in the mirror.

  That's when I noticed the red and black plaid. The shirt that Chance lent me seemed awfully familiar.

  I ran to the kitchen, flung the drawer open and pulled out the scrap of fabric that Thor had ripped from whoever broke into the cottage.

  It matched the shirt.

  That's when the nausea started.

  My stomach roiled as I held that scrap of fabric. Why hadn't I felt it before? I was wearing the shirt now.

  I ripped it off and turned it around.

  There was a chunk missing from the back on the bottom. I held the cloth to it.

  Except for what Thor digested, it was a match.

  I sunk to the floor and dropped the shirt and the piece of fabric. The nausea subsided but my heart ached.

  Chance broke into the cottage. But why? Was he looking for something? Trying to scare me? Why would he do that? I put my head in my hands, not sure who to trust anymore.

  The shirt was crumpled on the floor. He must not have realized that Thor took a bite out of it or he wouldn't have loaned it to me.

  Call me crazy, but I think I'd notice if Cujo tried to eat the shirt off my back.

  Thor came over and nuzzled my hand.

  But there was something curious. "Hey, buddy. How come you let him in tonight?"

  Thor thumped his tail and flopped on my lap.

  Moonlight decided to join the party then, nuzzling Thor's paw.

  I handed out some scratches and belly rubs before hoisting myself off the floor. A robe hung on a hook in the bathroom and I donned that then poured a glass of wine. Moonlight jumped on my shoulder and we curved around the counter and sat at the desk. I lined up the pennies and grabbed a notebook.

  The coins clinked like wind chimes as I arranged them in chronological order. There were six total. The first one was the year I was born. That was easy enough. Then there was the one found on the roadside. Earlier. When I was in high school. Dad had already died. Chance and I were together.

  Two were from the early seventies. The war? Wildcat? Or was it something to do with Pearl?

  Another one with a date I couldn’t make out.

  I sipped the wine and flipped over the other coin. The one that was in my iced tea when Chance and I ate at the Palace. Again, the year I was born.

  The year Chance was born.

  Is that why he wanted me to stay out of this? He was at dinner that day, according to Birdie. Did Chance try to hurt my grandfather?

  Thor harrumphed, reminding me that I had work to do. I called Shea Parker to see what he may have found out about Gretchen.

  “The car is a rental. Lucky for you I have a buddy there who owed me a favor. He said the name on the license was Gretchen Swanson.”

  “Did you get the license number?”

  “Sure did. Last known address was a hospital in North Carolina.”

  “A hospital?”

  “A mental health center.”

  That gave me pause. “Was she a patient?”

  “Well here’s where it gets tricky. There was a patient there by that name, but she died five years ago.”

  “What?”

  “Yep. I don’t know what this woman is up to, but you better be careful.”

  “What’s the name of the hospital?”

  “Sunnyvale Sanctuary just outside of Durham. On Penny Lane.”

  Penny Lane. Follow the pennies.

  I thanked Parker and was about to hang up when I thought of something els
e. “You think you can find out if a Dr. Gates ever worked there?”

  Chapter 29

  Mrs. Plough greeted me in her own special way.

  “Get out of here.”

  “Pleasure to see you again, Mrs. Plough.” Kill her with kindness. That was the plan.

  “What do you want?”

  A house to fall on you. “I need to speak with your husband again, please.”

  “Can’t you understand I don’t want you here?”

  “Can’t you understand I don’t care?”

  Her face snarled at me. “You’re all alike. Crazy as loons.”

  She was about to slam the door, but I pushed her back and barreled through the doorframe.

  “I’m calling the police. They should lock you up along with your grandmother.”

  “That’s quite enough, Bea,” said Mr. Plough behind her. He ushered her aside gently and turned to face me. “Stacy, what can I do for you?”

  “I have a few more questions for you, Mr. Plough.”

  He ushered me into his study, leaving his wife with an angry look on her face. I was tempted to flip her the bird. Instead, I flashed the widest smile I could muster. That made her more mad and I couldn’t help but grin.

  Mr. Plough sat behind his desk. “Don’t pay any attention to Bea, Stacy.”

  That was like telling a mouse to ignore the hawk circling his field. But I shoved it aside anyway.

  “I have a question about my grandfather’s legal documents.”

  “Very well.” He clasped his hands.

  “You said my mother was listed as power of attorney as well as Chance.”

  “That’s correct.”

  “When was Chance added?”

  Mr. Plough tapped his forefinger to his chin. “Some time ago. I can’t recall the exact date.”

  “But you said it was altered only recently.”

  “That’s correct. It was your mother who was recently added.”

  That didn’t make any sense. “My mother has been gone for years, Mr. Plough. That can’t be right.”

  The old man turned to rummage through a large wooden cabinet. A minute or two passed before he retrieved the file. He settled back into his chair and flipped the folder open. His fingers were crooked from arthritis as he turned page after page. Finally, he handed me a slip of paper. “It was my understanding that she’s been in town recently.”

  I took the crisp page and glanced down. There was her name, in black and white. Her. Name. “Did you notarize this?” I asked.

  “No. I wasn’t the one who drew up the paperwork. Oscar brought it to me last week. Ask that I keep a copy in his file.”

  My head stung behind my right eye and a vision of my mother flashed in my mind. Sobs. A hand on her shoulder.

  It was gone in an instant, but my head was still spinning from the news. My mother had been here? In Amethyst? My stomach was churning with a mixture of excitement, confusion, and anger. Why hadn’t she tried to contact me? Or Birdie? It made no sense. On the one hand, I was happy that she was alive. That she had made it home. Because the truth was, up until that moment, I had my doubts. There was no telling what had happened to her. She had disappeared without a trace and I never knew if she was still breathing. I hadn’t felt her connection in so long.

  Another thought slammed into my skull. Why hadn’t Gramps told me? Why hadn’t Pearl? What possible reason could they have to keep me from my own mother? But the worse thought of all was this: Maybe she didn’t want to see me. Maybe she blamed me for my father’s accident. Just like I blamed myself.

  I hurried out of the Plough home, avoiding Bea on my exit, and was nearly to the curb when I heard someone yell.

  "There she is!"

  I spun around. Wild Women.

  Terrific.

  "Stacy," the little brunette said. Melanie was it? "We're going to the Black Opal to complete our final task."

  "Yep," said Trish. "Then we report back to you." She pointed at me.

  I shook my head. "Oh no, ladies. I am not the She…whatever it is," I said with a wave of my hand.

  "She Woman Head Heathen," they chimed in unison, giggling. It sounded like the party had started before they left the guest house.

  "Right. That's not me."

  "No, but you are the..." Melanie took out a piece of paper and handed it to Trish to read.

  "The Celtic Goddess Imperial."

  I couldn’t wait to find out whose idea that was.

  "Ladies, you have been grossly misinformed," I said.

  Trish jingled car keys in her hand. "Maybe we weren't supposed to say anything. Like, maybe it was a secret mission." She frowned at Melanie.

  A secret mission didn't sound half bad. There was something I needed to take care of at the Black Opal anyway. Something that had been bothering me about a couple of the visions. These two just might come in handy. Plus, I didn't want them driving. Double plus, I had no car.

  I walked over to them. "Okay, Wild Women. Listen up. You have deduced the course thus far. Now, I shall drive you to the next destination on the roster where you shall complete your mission forthrightly." I stuck my palm out.

  "Why are you talking like that?" Trish said, handing me her car keys.

  I mentally slapped her. "Get in the car."

  I parked across the street from the Opal and the three of us headed to the door.

  "So what are we supposed to do?" said Melanie. She hiccupped.

  "Just wait for my signal," I said.

  The ladies nodded and we all walked in.

  The Opal was packed with people. Many of them in costume for Samhain. Many of them intoxicated. Cin was dressed as a pirate wench. She wore a patch over one eye, her dark hair fell in loose curls, a tight black skirt amplified her generous booty and her short legs were stuffed into leather boots.

  She tipped her chin toward me and asked Trish and Melanie what they were drinking.

  I scanned the room and spotted Monique. Cin and she have an understanding that basically states Cinnamon will take nobody's crap but anybody's money.

  Monique moseyed over to me, teetering on platform heels. She plopped her plastic boobs on the bar and said, "You look like shit."

  Now I admit I have had better days. But I did manage to squeeze in a shower, a blow dry, mascara and lip gloss. However, my wardrobe was seriously depleted so it was either a worn-out Snoopy tee shirt and my high school gym shorts or black slacks and a halter top. I went with the latter.

  Did I make the right choice? Debatable.

  Monique was shoe-horned into a Marilyn Monroe dress, life-threatening cleavage spilling over the top of it. She wore a rhinestone choker with matching earrings and enough Channel No. Five to marinate a horse. Her makeup was slathered on with a putty knife and I could have made my own Monique mask out of the excess.

  I said, "Aren't you supposed to leave the makeup when you graduate from clown college?"

  She smirked. "Did I see Leo's car parked in front of your house?"

  "I can't imagine you can see anything through fifty-six layers of mascara."

  "You're just jealous." She waved her double Ds in my face.

  I considered sticking a pin in one but was afraid it would erupt and blind me. "Can I help you with something? Get you a drink? A bottle of turpentine for your face?"

  "I warned you not to go out with Leo," she said, poking me.

  "Did you just poke me?"

  She smiled. There was red lipstick on her teeth. "Don't make me take him from you like I did Tony." The bitch poked me again.

  I gave her a hard stare. "You better put that finger away before I confiscate it."

  It hit me then, as I hoped it would. A pain shot through my head as she touched me once again. And then that image fizzled into view, full size this time. Tony sleeping on a couch I didn’t recognize, fully clothed head to toe. Monique frowning, then laughing. It was clear to me at that moment just what it meant. I smiled.

  Chapter 30

  I took a step
toward Monique. She planted her hands on her hips, defiantly.

  "You sneaky little rodent," I said. "You never had Tony. Did you?"

  Monique stepped back, confusion clouding her face.

  I advanced.

  "Y-you know what happened," she stammered, twisting her purse strap.

  I nodded. "I do now. And when I tell Cinnamon you better pray to the god of plastic surgery or whoever it is you worship that she doesn't mow you down with her car."

  "Tell Cinnamon what?" She seemed nervous now. Her brow began to sweat.

  "That Tony never slept with you. That he was so drunk he didn't remember what happened so you filled his head with a bullshit story, knowing he would confess to her."

  "That's not true." She shook her head and backed away further.

  I stepped forward. "It is true. And if you don't admit it I swear I'll break your arm." I grabbed her elbow and marched her to the back room.

  "Ow, stop it. That hurts, Stacy.” Her face was a mixture of confusion and fear. She was probably trying to figure out how I discovered her little secret.

  I swung her around and pinned her up against the wall. "Talk."

  "Are you crazy?"

  "It runs in the family."

  "Stacy, really. This is absurd.” She gave a weak smile.

  “I’ll get the turpentine, I swear to god, Monique.”

  "Okay, okay.”

  I crossed my arms and she licked her lips and sighed.

  “I thought your cousin was the violent one,” she said, straightening her dress.

  “I’ve picked up some pointers from her.”

  I stared at Monique with raised eyebrows. We were standing near the wall that divided the bar. Monique was against the brick and I was facing her.

  "I made it up, okay," she said finally. Then the tears came. "Tony was drinking at the Elk’s Lodge. He was upset because your cousin had left him all because of a stupid argument. She didn’t answer her phone, just totally abandoned him for like, three days.” She stabbed the air with her finger. “You know, she’s the one you should be mad at. She should have treated her man better.”

  “Hey, every day Tony wakes up without a bullet in his leg is a good day. Especially after your stunt.” Although she did have a tiny point. “Go on.”