Witchin' USA (A Moonstone Bay Cozy Mystery Book 1)

by Amanda M. Lee

  Okay, that was definitely weird. I tilted my head to the side and fixed my gaze on Cordelia’s profile. “Do you have something you want to say to me?”

  Cordelia’s expression shifted from pragmatic to innocent. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She slid out of the booth and rested her hands on Sarah’s shoulders. “Listen, I understand you’re upset. There was a time when you and Mark were really close. But you can’t deny what he became over the years. That’s not fair to him or yourself.”

  “I’m not denying that he had difficulties,” Sarah argued. “He did. But we were working on them. He was going to beat it.”

  Cordelia made a sympathetic clucking sound with her tongue. “He couldn’t beat it. He was too far gone. You know that.”

  “But he was going to try.” Sarah’s eyes filled with tears. “He told me he was going to try. He wouldn’t just make that up.”

  “He made up stuff all the time,” Lilac argued. “He told me he was going to buy the hotel and that he buried money in the woods to cover the purchase. Are you saying that was true?”

  Sarah looked caught. “No. It’s just … why go after her?” She jerked her thumb in my direction. “Why is she so special?”

  “We’re all trying to figure that out,” Cordelia replied, tucking a strand of Sarah’s hair behind her ear. “Apparently she has magical powers that will suck every man in the area into her web. It’s definitely something to be concerned about.”

  Okay, that did it. “What is your deal?” I snapped, my temper getting the better of me. “I don’t understand why you’re attacking me. I don’t even know you.”

  Cordelia was back to looking innocent. “Who said I was attacking you?”

  “I do.” I raised my hand for emphasis. “You’ve said three passive-aggressive things in a row. You weren’t going out of your way to be friendly at the beginning, but you weren’t attacking me either. Now you’re attacking me.”

  “I am not.”

  “You are, too.”

  “I am not.”

  I looked to Lilac for help. “She is, right?”

  Lilac nodded without hesitation. “She’s totally upset. It’s because of something I said, though.”

  Wait … she knew why Cordelia was upset. When did this happen? “What did you say?”

  “What doesn’t she say?” Cordelia muttered, turning her eyes to the ceiling. “I’m not angry about anything. Can we give it a rest?”

  “Obviously not,” I shot back. “You’re saying weird things. It’s like you have the world’s weirdest case of Tourette’s.”

  Cordelia’s eyes filled with fire. “Excuse me?”

  Sarah grabbed Cordelia’s arm in solidarity. “See. She is crazy. She went after my brother. You see it now, right?”

  Cordelia offered Sarah a pitying look. “I’m not going to pretend I like her – she’s a big slut, after all – but she didn’t kill your brother out of malice. There’s absolutely no realistic reason she’d do that.”

  Sarah’s lips curved down. “But … .”

  “I am not a big a slut,” I argued, ignoring the fact that I’d been feeling exactly that way for the past two hours. “Why would you even say that?”

  “Oh, I can read between the lines,” Cordelia snapped. “You slept with Galen. You’d have to be a big slut to do that.”

  “Why would she have to be a slut to do that?” Lilac asked, genuinely confused. “You’ve been trying to do it since we were in high school. Does that make you a big slut, too? Or is it that she actually succeeded when you’ve done nothing but fail? That’s it, isn’t it?” Lilac’s expression sparked with triumph. “You’re a big, jealous hater. That’s what you’ve always been, Cordelia. That’s why you went after me when I snagged Jeff Haskins at the clambake senior year.”

  “You got naked to do it,” Cordelia barked. “Only a slut would do that.”

  “Who cares about who’s a slut?” Sarah challenged. “This one is a murderer.” She reached around Cordelia, taking me by surprise when she grabbed a handful of my hair. “Why did you kill my brother?”

  I instinctively slapped out at her hands. “I didn’t mean to do it. He took me by surprise.”

  “To be fair, she didn’t even realize she was a witch until it happened,” Lilac offered, raising a finger when Cordelia moved in her direction. “I will slap you silly if you try anything with me.”

  I had no idea how it happened, but I was in the middle of a girl fight. I couldn’t remember being in a girl fight – with actual hair pulling and other stuff – since elementary school.

  “This is really undignified.” I made a whimpering sound as I tried to pull away, which only made Sarah grip my hair tighter. “Let go!”

  “You killed my brother,” Sarah bellowed. “I want to make a citizen’s arrest.”

  “You’ve always been a slut, Lilac,” Cordelia charged. “I see you’re already turning your new best friend into one. That’s so … tacky.”

  “You’re tacky,” Lilac hissed. “You’re a tacky and jealous whore, and you’ve always been bad for the island’s reputation.”

  “That hurts.” I grabbed Sarah’s wrist, my temper flashing. “Let go or I’ll make you let go.”

  “I’m not afraid of you,” Sarah argued. “I’m making a citizen’s arrest and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

  “I said let go!” I screeched the words, something ripping free from inside of me at the same moment. After the fact, I would have trouble giving words to the feelings and emotion surrounding the event, but it was as if another being hiding inside of me broke out to wreak havoc on the bar. That was the only way I could describe it.

  My anger bubbled up and burst forth, a bright light flashing as Sarah screamed and jerked back her hand. Cordelia’s eyes widened to comical proportions as she fixed her full attention on me. Lilac happily clapped.

  “That was impressive,” Lilac said. “May would be so proud.”

  I had no idea if that were true, but I teetered to the side a bit as I tried to regain my focus. “What was that?”

  “That was you,” Cordelia muttered, shaking her head as she flicked a gaze toward a terrified Sarah. “I guess, in addition to being a big slut, you’re powerful, too. Well … this just bites.”

  “DOES SOMEONE WANT to tell me what’s going on?”

  Galen arrived ten minutes later, someone calling 911 to alert him to a chick fight at the beach tiki bar. He looked beyond frustrated when he strolled inside, his gaze bouncing between faces before focusing on me.

  “What happened to you?” He hurried to my side, tilting my chin so he could stare into my eyes. “She looks drunk. Have you guys been drinking? It’s not even noon, for crying out loud.”

  Lilac and Cordelia shook their heads in unison.

  “We haven’t been drinking,” Lilac replied. “Hadley is wiped out from using magic. She’s already feeling weird, so don’t make a big deal about it.”

  Galen was incredulous as he lowered himself so we were at eye level. “You used your magic again? I would’ve thought you’d be too wiped after last night.”

  I couldn’t believe he was bringing that up – and in front of Cordelia. She would think I was an even bigger slut than she already did.

  “Oh, that’s nice.” Cordelia made a face. “This really hasn’t been my day. In fact, it’s been an awful day. I’m sick to death of all you people.”

  “Right back at you,” Lilac shot back. “I’m thinking of forming a club of people who are sick to death of you.”

  “I’m going to make a citizen’s arrest of my own,” Cordelia warned. “I’m going to lock you up for being a public nuisance.”

  “I’m going to lock all of you up for being a nuisance,” Galen snapped, squeezing my knee before turning his furious countenance to Cordelia and Lilac. “What’s going on? And what happened to Hadley’s hair?”

  My hair? I instinctively reached up and ran three fingers through the gathered mess. Sarah really di
d a number on it when she decided to give it a good, hard tug.

  “Sarah pulled Hadley’s hair,” Lilac volunteered.

  Galen’s eyes widened. “Why?”

  “She murdered my brother,” Sarah barked, cradling her wrist. “She murdered him, and I want her arrested.”

  “I see.” Galen cast me one more worried look before crossing over to Sarah. He gently tugged at her hand so he could see the area she was trying to protect. “This looks burned.”

  “She did it!” Sarah looked like a crazy person as she pointed, as if we were in Salem and they were about to start hanging witches. “She burned me.”

  “Uh-huh.” Galen didn’t look all that worried. “Why did she do it?”

  “Because she’s evil,” Sarah replied.

  “That’s not why,” Lilac protested. “Sarah was pulling her hair and Hadley warned her to let go and then it was like something just kind of … I don’t know … whooshed through the room.”

  Galen cocked a curious eyebrow. “Whooshed?”

  “It was a magical wave,” Cordelia supplied, offering up a pretty smile for Galen’s benefit. “Whatever it was built inside of her and then vented. I can usually sense these things, but it happened quickly.”

  “Hmm.” Galen’s expression was thoughtful as he turned to me. “Do you feel sick? Wiped out?”

  “More shaky than anything,” I replied, staring at my quivering fingers. “It’s weird.”

  “Try this.” Galen grabbed an orange from the counter and handed it to me. “This should help even you out.”

  “An orange?” I accepted the fruit and stared at it. “Are oranges magical and nobody told me?”

  “No. They’re just good for you and should even out your blood sugar.” Galen patted my shoulder before turning back to Sarah. “Why did you pull her hair?”

  Sarah still seethed. “She killed my brother.”

  “Your brother tried to kill her first,” Galen argued. “She protected herself. You can’t blame her for what happened.”

  “Well, I do blame her,” Sarah sniffed. “I don’t believe my brother would go after a woman under any circumstances. He doesn’t even know this one. He was a drunk, not a killer.”

  “He was a drunk who would do anything for a dime,” Galen corrected. “As for you not believing he would do it, believe it. I was there right after it happened. I saw her bedroom. He was in the lighthouse for the express purpose of killing Hadley.”

  “Why were you near the lighthouse in the middle of the night?” Cordelia queried.

  “I was checking the property.”

  “For what?” Cordelia’s expression turned dark. “Were you checking to see if the inhabitant was wearing panties?”

  Galen furrowed his brow. “No. I … what do panties have to do with anything?”

  “Nothing,” I answered hurriedly, mortified to think our private business would be discussed in public … again. It was bad enough we would have to discuss it ourselves in a few hours. I so wasn’t looking forward to that.

  “Cordelia is jealous,” Lilac interjected.

  “I am not!” Cordelia’s hands landed on her narrow hips. “You take that back, you slut!”

  Lilac ignored her. “Cordelia was perfectly pleasant – er, well, at least for her – until she found out you and Hadley did the naked dance of our ancestors last night. Then she turned into a monster and got all passive aggressive. It’s so annoying.”

  “I can see that.” Galen’s expression twisted as he rubbed the back of his neck. “And she turned mean because … .”

  “She knows you and Hadley had sex last night.”

  “Oh, geez!” I slapped my hand to my forehead. “Did you have to bring it up in public? I told you that in private.”

  “You may have only known me for only a few days, but you should be well aware by this point that I’m not capable of being quiet,” Lilac argued pragmatically. “If you want something kept secret, you can’t tell me. It’s an island rule.”

  “She’s right,” Cordelia said, feigning brightness. “So, do you want to explain yourself, Galen?”

  “What I do in my private life is none of your business, Cordelia.” Galen’s voice was flat, firm even. I could feel his eyes on me, but refused to lock gazes with him. I was too embarrassed. “Hadley, maybe we should talk.”

  That sounded like the last thing I wanted to do. It was bad enough we’d slept together and I didn’t remember it. If I had to listen to him explain to me why it was a mistake I’d be mortified for the rest of my life. I already knew it was a mistake. I didn’t need him to refer to it that way.

  “Actually, um, I need a little air,” I said, struggling to refrain from touching him as I got to my feet and skirted around his muscular frame. “I don’t feel well, and I need a few minutes without people staring at me.”

  “Okay, but … .” Galen forced my eyes briefly to him by making a small throat-clearing sound. “We need to talk. If you need air, I get it. Don’t wander away. I’ll be out there in a few minutes.”

  That sounded absolutely terrible. I didn’t let him know what I was thinking, instead faking enthusiasm as I nodded. “Sounds good. I’ll be right outside.”

  I would definitely be outside. Right outside of Cordelia’s tiki bar? Not a chance. I needed to make an escape, and Galen’s distraction would give me just enough time to do it.

  “Take your time.”

  22

  Twenty-Two

  I had no intention of waiting outside for Galen. Leaving Lilac behind could be considered rude, but I knew she’d understand. I needed to get away from it all, which was funny because I now lived on an island that people visited to “get away from it all.”

  I lucked out while walking the beach, spotting Booker’s bus in the main parking lot. I hurried in that direction, searching the area before following the sound of pounding and discovering him on top of the visitor center’s roof.

  “What are you doing?”

  Booker shifted so he could stare down at me. The visitor’s center was only one story, but he looked very far away when our eyes locked. “What are you doing? I heard you got into a chick fight at Cordelia’s place, by the way. Nice job.” He flashed a sarcastic thumbs-up that caused my stomach to twist.

  “How could you possibly know that?” I didn’t bother to hide my frustration. “It happened, like, thirty minutes ago.”

  “Yeah, but Todd Hamilton was in the bar when it went down. He said there were bras flying everywhere.” Booker’s smile was mischievous. “Sorry I missed it.”

  “No bras were flying.” I wrinkled my nose, irritation bubbling up. “Speaking of that, I need to borrow your bus.”

  Whatever Booker expected me to say, it wasn’t that. “I’m sorry?” His expression remained neutral for the most part, but I didn’t miss the way his eyebrows edged up. “What does my bus have to do with bras?”

  “Absolutely nothing, but I was tired of waiting for an appropriate transition,” I replied. “I need to get out of here for a little bit and you’re the only person I know who has a vehicle.”

  “Yes, and it’s a vehicle I need.”

  “I’m not going to wreck it.”

  Booker didn’t look convinced. “Do you know how to drive?”

  “Of course.”

  “Sometimes I’m surprised you can walk, so I’m not sure I believe that.”

  He was either trying to get under my skin or hide the fact that he was a bit sexist. I had no idea which. “Can I borrow your bus or not?”

  “Well … .” Booker broke off, rubbing his chin as he debated. “Why can’t you borrow Galen’s truck?”

  Because I’m hiding from Galen. I couldn’t say that, though. It would open the door to questions I was not inclined to answer. “Because I found you first.”

  “Aren’t I lucky.” Booker made a face. “Where are you going?”

  “Where do you think I’m going? I only know about one place away from this stupid city. I have no intention of g
oing on an adventure, so … I’m going there.”

  Booker remained unconvinced. “Maybe you could call him and ask him to come to you. He has a truck.”

  He did, but since I made the decision to escape on a whim that seemed counterintuitive. “Fine.” I threw my hands in the air. “I’m sorry I asked.” I moved to stomp away, but Booker stopped me with a whistle before I traveled far.

  He was on his feet, and I watched as he dug in his pocket before tossing his key ring in my direction. “I’m not doing this because of your little meltdown. I want you to know that.”

  “Then why are you doing it?”

  “Because I think you and Wesley need to talk alone for both of you to be comfortable with your newfound relationship. I think it will be good for you.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” Booker winked, his mischievous smile back. “Just for the record, you might want to fix your hair. It looks as if you’ve taken a hard tumble, and I’m sure the gossip will have made it out to the farm before you get there. I would hate for Wesley to assume Galen did that.”

  “Ugh.” I twisted my features into a hateful scowl. “How do you people know things so fast on this island? Is there a magical gossip trail I know nothing about?”

  Booker nodded, catching me off guard.

  “There is?”

  “It’s all the females on the island,” Booker explained. “They can’t stop yapping.”

  Now I knew he was being sexist. “We’re going to talk about that assumption when I get back.” I waved the keys for emphasis. “Thank you for this.”

  “Don’t mention it … and don’t take all day,” Booker ordered. “I have things to do, too.”

  “I won’t be long. I just … I have some questions.”

  “Of course you do. You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t.”

  I wasn’t so sure I was human any longer, but that was hardly something to focus on given the time constraints. “I won’t be long.”