by Tonya Kappes
My heart started to race. Was Big the killer? All of this seemed unusual.
I moved my hand around some more to see if I could quickly find anything else. Why hadn’t Mick said anything about Big being a major part of his past? What was Mick trying to cover up?
Did Big know that Mick had asked me to join them tonight? Then it occurred to me when Mick and I had seen each other at headquarters that Mick said that Big insisted he come to meet him. That he had something very important to tell him.
My imagination took over. All I could see was Big grabbing Mick by the throat and dangling him in the air as he strangled the life out of Mick.
Then suddenly I remembered the words Mick said before we’d been interrupted by Burt.
“I could use the backup.”
I slammed the locker shut and pushed it back into the closet. I grabbed the photos and album and the phone. I put the phone back on the charger on my way out the door and didn’t bother taking the stairs or the elevator. I put my finger next to my nose and blinked, praying I wasn’t too late.
“Find what you needed?” Mrs. Cartmell asked as I darted past her.
“More than I needed!” I yelled and dove into Vinnie as he opened the door for me and he took off before I could shut it.
I glanced back at Mrs. Cartmell. She had stood up and put her hands on her hips. The confusion was written on her face about what she’d just seen. I pointed at her and looked down my finger for good aim. Slowly I circled my finger at her body as it got smaller and smaller and snapped, sending her a spell that made her even forget she talked to me.
Chapter Seventeen
“Take me to The Derby as fast as you can,” I instructed Vinnie from the driver’s seat. There was no time to waste. Mick was in danger and I was sure of it.
I thumbed through the album and saw plenty of pictures of Mick, Angela and Big. All chummy and friendly like.
“I found out that Marjorie and Mick did have more than a working relationship.” Vinnie was supposed to give me information that I didn’t know. “She was killed in the line of duty when Mick was in charge. It was his first assignment as the leader of the group, unfortunately, Marjorie was killed in the line of fire where another member was supposed to be before Mick could get to her to back her up.”
“Yeah, I knew that but I wasn’t sure how involved Mick was with her until I found these photos.” I gripped both of them. One in each hand. Mick looked happy. A real genuine smile on his face that I wished I’d seen on him. His blue eyes were brighter and his face had a sunny outlook. “Pull up the stats on Big Stevenson and his time in the Army.”
“Officer Big Stevenson was in charge of planning and directing military operations, overseeing combat activities, and served as combat leader. He was in charge of tanks and other armored assault vehicles, artillery systems, special operations, or infantry units,” Vinnie said.
“He was in charge of the assault vehicles and special operations?” I asked more for me than for Vinnie to repeat it.
“There is more, Maggie,” Vinnie continued. “Officer Stevenson was discharged without honor after the incident with Marjorie. What are you thinking, Maggie?” Vinnie asked and turned off the interstate toward Old Louisville.
“I’m thinking that Big has been jealous of Mick long before they joined the Army because of Angela Fritz. When he was discharged, his jealousy turned to rage because Mick was not discharged. This makes me think that Dr. Artie is right.” I bit my lip and looked out the window at The Derby when we pulled up. “I can’t help but think that Big is the one who just exploded without warning.”
“Be careful, Maggie.” I heard Vinnie say as I got out of the car after I had grabbed the photo of the happy couples at the Army ball. I stuck it in my back pocket on my way into the bar.
I glanced around at the tables and chairs inside The Derby. It was busy for a weeknight. The dark wood with mahogany wainscoting went halfway up the wall and gave the bar the artistic feel Old Louisville was known for. The rest of the walls were painted a muted green giving a warm feeling. The stage in the back of the bar already had a bunch of people standing in front of it as if they were waiting for a band to take the stage. Not one of them didn’t have tattoos all over their arms and faces—really all visible skin covered.
Buck stood behind the bar and looking down the shelves that were lined with bottles and bottles of liquor, including delicious Kentucky bourbons.
“What’s going on?” I asked Buck and curled up on my toes. It was going to be hard to find Mick and Big in this crowd. My necklace warmed against my chest. I put my hand up to it to acknowledge I’d gotten the message and that Big, Robert or whoever he was tonight wasn’t going to take me down.
“The Grind,” Buck said and poured a pale ale from the spout. “They decided to do a sound check and someone put it out there on social media.” He nodded and pushed the beer toward me. “Try it. New brew.”
“Great for business. And thanks.” I grabbed the glass and held it up in the air to honor him. He waited for my reaction as I took a drink. “Delicious.”
“Brewed right here in Louisville.” He nodded. “Not bad.”
I glanced over the tops of the heads of the crowd again for another look.
“Your buddy is over there playing darts.” He lifted his chin in the direction of the dart boards that were near the stage in the front corner of the bar. “He’s with that rodeo guy from the Cowboy Channel. Girls are going ga-ga over him.”
“Thanks.” I lifted the glass one more time before I took the plunge and melted into the crowd just as The Grind ripped their first cord on the electric guitar.
Arms flew up with their rock and roll fingers thrashing in the air, their heads followed. I dipped and ducked my way over to the dart boards where Mick and Big were whopping it up. My disdain for Big, Robert whoever the big lug pretended to be, was running amok.
“Hey, there.” Mick smiled and took a step toward me.
“Who do you think you are?” I grabbed Big’s arm before I even recognized Mick. “Big Stevenson. Robert Gazda. Whoever you think you are.” I dragged the photo out of my pocket and stalked to the dark board, jabbing a dart right through his heart and making the picture stick.
“What is wrong with you, Maggie?” Mick’s big blue eyes grew the size of half-dollars.
“Do you think we don’t know what you did?” I motioned between me and Mick, speaking directly at Big. “You have been jealous of Mick Jasper since high school and you think that you can just pretend like you showed up here to see Angela Fritz when you are really here to avenge your hatred—not only letting Mick take the blame for Marjorie Steepleton’s death when you were the one who was supposed to be in front of her when she got killed in the line of duty. Not Mick. And you are AWOL. You killed the women and now Angela Fritz. Arrest him Mick.”
“What the hell?” Big eased up to me. “Mick you better keep your piece on a leash,” he warned with a snarled lip.
“Whoa,” Mick stepped up and in between Big and me.
“What are you going to do, Robert? Kill me now?” I laughed.
“Maggie, stop this.” Mick’s voice was stern and bold. “You don’t know what you are talking about.”
“Oh, I know. I know that he is a killer.” I jabbed my finger over Mick’s shoulder. “I know that you and Angela had a little fling before you left for the Army and I know that Big here is jealous of you. People kill over jealousy and scorned love.”
“That’s it.” Robert stepped up and took his hand to push Mick out of the way.
“Is it?” I asked and whipped my head side-to-side before I stuck a flat palm toward him, stopping him dead in his tracks.
His legs walked in place, stomping on the floor of the bar with each step. He looked down. His hands fisted and he tried harder to move forward. He glared at me with a contorted angry face.
I kept a steady hand square in front of me not letting him get another inch toward me.
“Maggie?”
Mick looked between my hand and Big.
“This is messed up.” Big stopped fighting his own legs and I dropped my hand. “She’s a freak.” He grabbed a jacket off the chair before he downed what was left of his beer.
Mick shook his head and put a finger up to me as he grabbed his phone and quickly dialed someone.
“Yeah. He’s gone. He’s angry.” Mick curled his lips in a huff. He stared at me like I was the freak Big claimed I was. “I don’t know what all that was about, but you’ve ruined it now.”
“Ruined what?” I asked.
“Big isn’t the killer, but you’re right, he is AWOL and this was a plan for them to pick him up tonight.” Anger plagued his face. “Now the plan is blown up.”
I ran my hand over my necklace and thought about Big.
“No I haven’t.” I grabbed Mick by the hand and dragged him through, under and around the jumping crowd as The Grind jammed on stage.
Vinnie was waiting outside with his doors already open.
“Good evening, Maggie. Agent Jasper.” Vinnie slammed the door and squealed. “I’ve got him on the run down the street toward Central Park. He’s on foot and he’s pretty burly so he shouldn’t get far. Agent Jasper, you can call your people and have them meet you near the amphitheater in the park because that’s where Maggie will have him waiting for them.”
“I don’t know what is going on, but let me out.” Mick jerked the handle of Vinnie’s passenger door.
“It’s okay, Mick.” I tried to assure him, but I could see he was trying to keep his hands from shaking and desperately trying to get out of the car. “Don’t fight it. I’ll explain it all.”
He shoved his legs straight and dug his feet deep into the floor board as though he was trying to get away.
“Maggie, I’m not sure why you did what you did in there, but I’m feeling this wasn’t a good way to let Agent Jasper know that you are a witch.” Vinnie just let it all out there.
I wasn’t sure what to do. It was the first time I’d actually done magic in front of a mortal that was going to remember it.
“Whhi. . . .whhiii?” Mick gulped. “This is a joke. This is some sort of joke.”
“Agent Jasper, I assure you this isn’t a joke. Maggie, are you okay?” Vinnie asked bringing me to the present.
“Yes. Vinnie, I need you to make sure that Robert Gazda is nicely wrapped up as if Mick had done it and please call Burt to let him know where he will be in Mick’s voice of course.” I gripped the wheel. I stared ahead. “Mick, I know this all seems strange to you right now, but I promise if you stay calm and not blow up when Vinnie lets you out of the car, I’ll explain it all.”
“You are a witch?” Mick backed away as far as he could with his back up against the door and he was facing me. “Witches are real?”
“Oh, Vinnie. I need you to erase Robert’s mind of me stopping him with my palm back at the bar. He needs to have all memory of me erased, even going to the bar.” I had to cover my tracks with Robert.
“Are you going to erase my mind?” Mick asked.
“I can’t. I’ve tried.” I shrugged.
“You’ve tried?” His voice vibrated with anxiety.
“Yep.” I looked over at him. “You’re safe from any spells.”
“Spells?” Mick looked green around the gills. “I think I’m going to be sick. You stay away from me,” he warned through gritted teeth.
“Please do not get sick inside of me, Agent Jasper.” Vinnie skidded to a stop and popped Mick’s door open, dumping him right on the curb next to a handcuffed Robert.
“Mick,” I called from inside the car out the open door. “I’m telling you, if you try to tell anyone about what you’ve just seen, no one will remember but you. Then they will really force Dr. Artie to admit you to some mental institution.”
“Wait.” Mick got up and leaned inside the car. As he asked his questions, he looked around Vinnie as if things were coming into focus. “How did you know about Big being in the army? He changed his image. He shaved his head and got all of those tattoos. He even bulked up and decided to come a cowboy and change his name so the government couldn’t find him. And Marjorie? How did you know about her? All of those documents are classified and sealed.”
“I sorta got Sherry’s clearance and looked it up on the SKUL computers.” It was time to come clean with all of it. The flash of blue lights appeared in my rear-view. “I’m begging you. Please don’t tell a word of this to anyone.”
“I can’t believe you. This is not real.” Mick shook his head. “You stay right here and don’t you move,” he warned me as if I were the perpetrator. The look in his eye scared me. It was as if I was the enemy.
“I’m sorry, Mick.” I tried to swallow the lump in my throat. “I can’t do that.”
Vinnie took off leaving Mick and Robert next to the curb. The echoes of sirens got closer and closer.
“Let’s go home,” I said to Vinnie as a tear trickled down my cheek.
Chapter Eighteen
All night long I tossed and turned getting zero sleep. The idea that Mick Jasper knew about who I really was made me sick to my stomach. I knew it was going to affect our relationship, but I also knew that he couldn’t tell anyone. Especially Burt.
My Life’s Journey helping out SKUL wouldn’t be affected by the fact that Mick knew my secret. It was my Life’s Journey and no mortal could keep me from it. Not even hunky Mick Jasper.
Getting out of bed and heading to The Brew to work before I made an appearance at SKUL was going to be difficult to get through. Even using magic to get me dressed wasn’t fun and my jeans and black sweater matched my somber mood.
“I’m assuming you had a heck of a night.” Auntie Meme greeted me when I walked into the kitchen.
“I look that good?” I asked with a thinly veiled smile.
“Let’s just say that your mood is reflected in how you walked in. I’m used to my perky niece.” She dragged a finger along my chin. “Mick Jasper?”
“How did you know?” I asked.
She snapped her finger turning the pots of boiling water into the specials for the day and curled her finger to follow her into the diner.
“You sit and I’ll serve our coffee this morning,” she instructed me and I did exactly what she said. Coffee was exactly what I needed.
“You forget that I’m your guardian of your Life’s Journey so I kinda get all the notes on what’s going on with that.” She pushed the steaming cup of coffee in front of me and the bowl of creamers.
“I knew he’d have to know eventually.” I uncurled the foil off the tops of the creamers and put two in my coffee. “I just thought I’d be telling him on my terms, not in a have-to situation.”
“Sometimes things are better unplanned.” She pointed to the door.
I rotated the stool I was sitting on and looked. Mick Jasper was standing at the door, looking in.
“Now is the time to explain to him. He will understand.” Auntie Meme eased herself through the swinging door and disappeared into the kitchen.
With some trepidation, I got up and walked to the door. My mind reeled with what I was going to say but nothing seemed to stick in the whirlwind of thoughts. All escaping me when I unlocked the door.
All I could say was hi.
“I’ve been up all night and I sure could use a cup of your auntie Meme’s coffee.” His stare was bold and he assessed me frankly.
“We’ve got plenty.” I figured I was just going to have to let him take the lead on where the conversation took us. I already knew the truth and it was going to be up to him to let me know what he wanted to know.
“First question, book club?” he asked. Something in his manner smoothed my frayed nerves.
“Ah, the book club.” I tried not to smile as I remembered all the tricks they’d played on him. “They are actually a group of elders from different covens that make up a Spell Circle.”
“Spell Circle?” His chin tucked to his chest and glared at me u
nder his brows.
“Yes. They meet once a week to make sure all is right with the covens.” I only said what I needed to say.
“The AC Cobra?” He pointed to Vinnie who was parked in his normal spot at the curb.
“My familiar.” My words greeted him. His chest visibly puffed out when he sucked in a deep calming breath.
“Why don’t you have a cat like Sabrina the Teenage Witch?” he asked with a straight face.
“Mortals have their own idea about familiars. But a familiar can be anything that fits the witch’s personality. Mine so happens to be Vinnie.” I looked out the door at Vinnie. His lights blinked. “My necklace,” I ran my fingers across the red stone dangling around my neck, “is a direct link to him and my mom or Auntie Meme if need be. Like Rails and Nails.”
I told him about the last job we’d done and how my mom was the one who could talk to animals because it was her Life’s Journey to be one with nature, including all of Mother Nature’s creatures.
“Life’s Journey?” he asked and gave me the space to fill him in.
“All witches have what is called a Life’s Journey. It’s not something that a witch picks.” I refilled his coffee because I knew for what I was about to tell him, he was going to need stay focused. “The day you first came to the diner, I knew there was something about you that was meant to be in my life. That night, Lilith and I were playing a little game we love called Truth or Spell. The loser tells the other what spell they need to put on someone and who that someone is. She picked you that night.”
He straightened himself up and stared at me.
“When the cat spell didn’t work on you and bounced to your informant, I knew something was wrong. I even tried to erase your memory, but that didn’t work either.” I bit the edge of my lip to stop from talking. I wanted to give him space to process what I’d told him or even to ask a question.
“Why didn’t the spells work on me?” he asked.
