Witch Swindled in Westerham

by Dionne Lister

  “Something I can’t discuss right now. Nothing bad, per se, but I’ve got a lot on my plate. Please, Lily?”

  I sighed. Guilt sucked. “Okay.”

  Beren looked at James. “I’d be happy to walk her home, if that’s okay with you? And Thompson and Bourke are on tailing detail tonight. She’ll be perfectly safe.”

  James narrowed his eyes at his friend, and William scowled. “Jesus, guys. He’s walking me home. We’ll be fine. What am I, seven?”

  William turned and stalked towards the car. James sighed. “No, but you’re still my little sister. Beren, if anything happens to her…”

  Beren clapped him on the shoulder. “I’ll protect her with my life.”

  That seemed to satisfy James. “Be careful.”

  “We will.” I gave him a quick hug. “See you later. Say hi to Mill for me.”

  “Will do.” He turned and followed William.

  Angelica smiled. “He’ll always be your big brother, Lily. I know it’s hard, but try and go easy on him. He’s had a tough time since your parents disappeared.”

  The sadness I tried to ignore flared, singeing my heart. “I know, but I’m not helpless. God knows I survived by myself in Sydney all the years he’s been here. I don’t need a parent anymore. Maybe I’m old enough to just need a brother. I’ll see you later. Are you going to be home tonight?”

  “Probably after midnight. Beren, maybe you could have dinner with Lily before you come back into headquarters?”

  “It would be my pleasure.” He looked at me and smiled. “Let’s go.”

  Well, if I had to have a babysitter, it may as well be a tall, attractive man who made me laugh. As we walked home, chatting and laughing, I couldn’t help thinking I wished William had volunteered to take me home. I knew I was an idiot, so I mentally slapped myself across the face. Not that anything would happen with either of these guys. There’s no way dating any of my brother’s friends was a good idea, and I was sure they’d agree.

  Once we got home, I checked out the fridge. “How do you feel about leftover spaghetti bolognaise? I can make a salad to go with it.”

  “Sounds good to me. I love anything I don’t have to cook myself.”

  “I’d say you’re such a guy, but James is a good cook. He and Millicent share cooking duties fifty-fifty.”

  “Ah, yes, but James is awesome.”

  “Hard to argue with that.” I smiled and got the lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers out of the fridge, then put the spaghetti in the microwave to reheat. While I made the salad, Beren set the table… with a spell. Angelica’s plates, knives, forks, and napkins appeared out of nowhere. “Someone’s going to have to teach me that some day.”

  “Isn’t Angelica teaching you?”

  “Yes, but we haven’t covered transporting things yet. We’re still working on travelling.” The microwave dinged. Before I could get the spaghetti out, it appeared in the middle of the table. “Show off.” I laughed and sat at the table. Beren joined me, and we spooned food onto our plates. “Which side of your family does your magic come from?”

  “Both. That’s why my magic is strong, same with William. When one parent is human, it can dilute the power—not all the time but in most cases. You and James are exceptions, probably because the magic is strong on your mother’s side.”

  “But I thought witches couldn’t tell humans they existed?”

  “They can’t, but if you fall in love with a non-witch, you can tell them if they agree to a kill spell.”

  “The type stupid Snezana asked me to agree to?”

  “Exactly.”

  “Wow, that’s harsh.”

  “It goes for friends too.”

  “But what if your friend or partner accidentally tells a non-witch when they’re drunk or something?”

  Beren shrugged. “Bad luck, I suppose. That’s why it’s best to stick to other witches when it comes to having friends and falling in love.” Was it my imagination or was he looking at me more intently? Knowing me, I was reading more into things than were there.

  “What about you and William? Do you guys date; are you married? Um, not to each other. Oh my God. I mean, you know, in general. Although, it would be fine if you were together.” I snort-laughed. Way to go, Lily.

  He laughed, and a bit of spaghetti flew out of his mouth and landed on the table. “Um, no. No way. He’s handsome and all, but he’s a bit grumpy for my taste. Plus, he’s had his heart broken, poor man, so he’s sworn off any relationship longer than a week. But seriously, the job takes up so much time that it’s hard to date. We obviously, you know, meet women sometimes. Short relationships mean non-witches aren’t off limits. You don’t have to explain much when it’s not serious. James and Millicent have lasted because they work together. They get the job and what it involves.”

  “But what if you fell in love by accident? It can happen, you know.” It’d never happened to me, but I’d seen it happen to friends, and when it ended, all hell broke loose.

  “I know what I like.” There was that intense hazel-eyed gaze again. “If I fall in love, it won’t be by accident.”

  Oh my. Was it hot in here? I resisted the urge to fan myself with my hand because that would have looked so dumb. Surely he didn’t like me like that. Did he? Not that I’d be against it, but it would be awkward with James, especially when we broke up. Man, I was crazy. We weren’t even close to dating, and I’d already envisaged the end of the non-existent relationship. Whoa there, Lily.

  I changed the subject so I could finish my meal without assuming myself into spontaneously combusting.

  After dinner, Beren magicked everything into the dishwasher. Score! “Thanks for dinner, Lily. I really enjoyed the food and the company.” He smiled.

  “Me too.”

  He leaned down and hugged me. Admittedly, my stomach did have a few butterflies while I was wrapped in his strong, warm arms, but it was best to pretend I didn’t enjoy it because nothing good could come from dating Beren… or William. Gah. William wasn’t here. I did not need to be thinking about him. I was starting to bore myself with my stupidity.

  “Night, Lily.” He stood back and waved.

  “Night.”

  And just like that, he was gone.

  Chapter 3

  The cold air burned my throat. I jogged through the cool morning, enjoying the tunes on my iPhone. Music was an awesome way to lessen the ache in my legs in the final kilometre of my eight-kilometre run. I looked behind me and waved.

  This morning Beren and William were on protect-Lily detail. They diligently kept fifty-metres behind me. Why didn’t they just run with me? It wasn’t like I didn’t know they were there. I felt like some important or famous person, but I didn’t have any of the cool things that went with it, like money, adoring fans, and the free stuff. Why did rich people get free stuff all the time? That just bugged me. They could afford to pay for it, for God’s sake. Yeah, I knew it was potential advertising to have your products seen on a famous person, but still, how did they live with themselves? Greedy bastards. I felt bad if someone tried to buy me a three-dollar coffee.

  The phone rang, cutting off my tunes. My earphones had a microphone, so I pressed answer. “Hello, Lily speaking,” I panted.

  “Are you okay? Have I got you at a bad time?”

  “No, just going for my morning run. Who’s this?”

  “Oh, sorry. It’s Olivia. Um, I’ve had a look at your website, and I love your style. I was wondering if you’d be available to photograph my engagement party?”

  Oh, that was a surprise. Yay! My first proper job. Yesterday didn’t count, since my brother technically got the job for me, and they hadn’t wanted me for my creative skills. “I’d love to! Just text me where and when, and I’ll be there. Also”—this was always the most awkward part of the conversation for me, which was stupid because no one, except for famous rich people, expected stuff for free—“I require 20-per cent payment upfront and the rest just before I send your edited photos
. If you fill in the online form and tick the package you’re after, that would be great.”

  “For sure. I’ll do that this morning. Thanks! I’m so excited, but, aye, a lot of planning goes into engagements. Now I’m scared to delve into the wedding planning, because it’s going to be so much worse.”

  “Elope.” I laughed and puffed at the same time.

  “Ha, yeah. You never know. It may just come to that. Are you going to be in later today?”

  “To Costa?”

  “Yes.”

  “Yep.”

  “I’ll see you later, then. Bye.”

  “Bye.”

  My driveway was in sight, so I sprinted the last hundred metres. My throat burned as I dragged as much air into my lungs as possible. I reached the driveway and stopped, then bent at the waist, resting my hands on my thighs. Exercise was invigorating and set me up for the rest of the day, but, man, did it hurt. Sometimes I questioned my sanity.

  The crunch of Beren and William’s sneakers on the gravel came from behind me. I straightened, moving my hands to my waist. “Morning.”

  Beren grinned. William gave me a chin tip but no smile. Really? Was that how he greeted everyone, or did he especially hate me? “Have you got a stone in your shoe, William?”

  His forehead scrunched in cute confusion. “Huh? No.”

  “Why the cranky face then? Are you pissed you have to follow me all over the place? It wouldn’t hurt you to smile once in a while.”

  Beren looked at his watch. “Hey, Lily! You ran a good time this morning. You’ve shaved a minute off last time. You set a pretty good pace.”

  Way to change the subject. Argh. For Beren’s sake, I’d drop it. “I try. I’m sure you guys weren’t pushing too hard, though.”

  Beren shrugged. “Maybe not as hard as we could, but it wasn’t a walk in the park.”

  “You may want to get showered and changed. I’m going to the café this morning. See you in the distance later.” I gave them a huge, exaggerated smile—yeah, I couldn’t help myself, always poking the bear—then went inside.

  After showering, I dressed in jeans, T-shirt, jumper and hiking boots—it may be late spring, but it was still cold. Top temp today was going to be sixteen Celsius. That was like winter in Sydney. Instead of my camera, I put one of Mum’s diaries into my handbag—the last one she’d finished before she disappeared. I’d read them all, but I was more interested in the recent ones. If what James said was true, and there were clues hidden in the pages, I wanted to start with the stuff that happened in the UK, since I could look into it here.

  In the downstairs hallway, I ran into Angelica, who was just coming out of the reception room. “Good morning, Lily. How was your run?”

  “Great, thanks. I’ll never tire of the countryside. I love Westerham.”

  She smiled. “I’m so glad you’re settling in. I have to go back to work soon, but I wanted to thank you again for yesterday. Many of the photos you took had some of what we needed. We’ve been able to identify five more of the clients she’s stolen from. And a couple of the screenshots and the paperwork from that file are going to help immensely in court, although we’re not really any closer to arresting Camilla. She’s been careful to make it look like it’s all her associate. She’ll plead ignorance and get a slap on the wrist if we take action now. Also, we need to know if her accomplice is a willing and knowing participant, or if she’s spelled him into it. Anyway, I just wanted you to know that you really have a valuable skill. Your mother would have been proud.”

  Pride and melancholy filled my heart to aching. What I wouldn’t give to have my mother here now. I sighed and gave Angelica a sad smile. “Thanks. I’m glad to hear I got something you could use, even if Camilla’s still in the clear.”

  “I’m going back now, but enjoy your day, dear, and stay out of trouble.”

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  Angelica stepped forward and disappeared. She must be good. Most witches I’d seen performing spells had to say something first. She must have it down to a fine art.

  It didn’t take long to walk to Costa, and the grey sky kindly kept its moisture to itself. A warm blast of air impregnated with the rich scents of coffee and cake whooshed into my face when I opened the door. Ahhhh. My happy place.

  Groundhog Day anyone? Camilla was ordering in her usual shitty way. “Don’t burn my coffee. And this change is sticky. Give me new change.”

  I snorted. The things some people did for attention. Oops, I think she heard me. She turned and scowled. Her dilated pupils were filled with a whirlpool of anger that I swear was trying to suck me in and disappear me forever. I couldn’t feel any tingles of power, so I should be safe. It was almost as if she was daring me to say something.

  “Morning.” I waggled my fingers in a silly wave.

  She growled, turned back to Olivia, and held out her hand for different change. Olivia obliged, then looked at me. “Next!”

  I grinned. “My usual, thanks.”

  “Regular skim cap with extra chocolate and a double-chocolate muffin coming right up.”

  I handed her the right money because I was an old hand at this now.

  She leaned forward and spoke quietly. “I might take my break soon and join you for five minutes. Is that okay?”

  “Yeah, sure. We can chat all things engagement party.”

  She rolled her eyes, but her grin told a different story. Ah, young love.

  Camilla ignored me while we waited, which was fine with me. Soon after she left, my order was done, and I was sitting at my favourite table by the front window. I slid my mum’s diary out of my bag and started on page one for the second time. I’d gone on a reading binge in order to finish all the diaries, but I’d been so eager to read through them that I’d already forgotten most of what was in there. Now it was time to comb through them and see if I could find any clues. There was still the chance James was wrong, but my mum was smart, and it totally sounded like something she would think of doing.

  This diary started 1st January, 2007. Each diary had a couple of years in it, as she didn’t write in it every day. Maybe that was a hint in itself? Or maybe some were things she just wanted to remember, and others were days with clues? I guessed if you were trying to hide a needle in a haystack, you needed a lot of straw. It wouldn’t do to be too obvious.

  Mum’s neat black cursive, with loopy, angled script, covered the page. Her neatness was something I hadn’t inherited. My writing was so messy; even I couldn’t decipher it most of the time. I may as well trust my memory for all the good my writing was, and that’s saying something.

  Enjoyed last night, New Year’s Eve, with the kids and Joe on holidays at the beach. I can’t believe another year’s gone so fast. What will this year bring? James and Lily are growing so fast. I know one day we won’t have these family holidays, so I’m enjoying it while I can. Lily collected seashells today, and we’re going to wash them and make something. I’m not sure what, but whatever it is, I hope I still have it in years to come, as a reminder of this wonderful time. And I hope Lily always has it and knows part of me is there with her. Is it wrong to be sad that the kids have to grow and leave? Being a parent is so bittersweet. Well, that’s it for today. Over and out. K.

  I blinked away the burn in my eyes. I remembered that holiday, and we had made something out of the shells. We’d stuck them onto a couple of small picture frames—one sat on Mum’s dressing table, and one sat on mine, until she never came home. Now I had them both, but they were in one of four boxes I’d kept when I’d moved. They were still in my garage at home. I wondered if Angelica could go and grab them for me. Or maybe I could ask James. Not that I thought there were clues in them. At the moment, the memories were more important.

  “Hey, Lily.”

  I shut the diary and looked up. “Hey, Olivia. Break time?”

  She nodded and sat. “I filled in the form on your site today. I picked package two, and I’ve paid the deposit.”

  “Awesome.
I haven’t checked my emails today. What date is the party?”

  “Not this Saturday, but the next. We’re having it at my parents’. It’s an afternoon thing.”

  “I’ll definitely be there. I know the planning sucks, but are you excited?”

  She grinned. “Totally. We’ve been dating for two years, and I can’t wait to get married. It feels right, you know?”

  I nodded, even if I didn’t really know. I’d been attracted to few men, dated some, but I couldn’t say I’d ever been in love. “What’s he like? Is he older than you?”

  “He’s five years older. Twenty-eight. Just a warning: he and my dad don’t get along too well. My dad puts up with him, but he says he isn’t good enough for me. Typical dad, huh?”

  Something else I wouldn’t know. Gah. I pushed away the sad and held onto the happy. This was a massive thing for her, and she should enjoy it as much as possible. “I’m sure your dad’s only like that because he loves you. He’ll probably come around once you’re married.”

  “I hope so.” She twisted a loose strand of curly hair around her finger. “Hey, you’re fairly new in town, so you probably don’t know a lot of people. Ernie and I are going to the wine bar, No. 17, on Friday night with a few friends. Would you like to come?”

  I wasn’t a super social person, but I was in a new place, and I should be trying new things. Plus, Olivia seemed really nice. “Yeah, sure. What time?”

  “Seven. That’s when everyone who works in London usually gets back.”

  “Does your fiancé work in London?”

  “No. He used to, but he started working locally a couple of years ago. Just around the time we met, actually. A few of his mates still work up there. Anyway, I’d better get back to it. Thanks again, and I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

  “For sure. Thanks for the invite.” I smiled. She waved and made her way back to her register.

  I finished my food and coffee and decided to go home. Reading my mum’s diary had taken the bouncy happy out of my day, and I had washing to do. I inhaled a quick breath. Yikes, tomorrow night was Friday night, and I didn’t like wine. Crap. Why had I agreed to go? And, I only had thirty hours or so to figure out what to wear.