I’ve figured the whole thing out, but what good is it going to do, now? I might die before I can tell anyone.
Marty now has the cold, metallic butt of his taser pressed against the side of my neck. I strain against Sarah, but she holds me still with steely determination.
“Do it, Marty!” she says. “I’ll give you ten million dollars. How’s that? Once the land deal goes through. Ten million dollars, instead of one million, like we’ve already agreed on for killing the wolf. Ten million dollars for killing her, Marty... think of it... how does that sound?”
The taser presses farther into my flesh. I feel it shaking, as Marty’s hand shakes. Where is Chris?
“Ten million dollars, Marty. You could retire to Mexico. You could leave this dump behind. You could—”
That’s enough! I will not tolerate listening to this malicious no good woman call my home a dump.
With a burst of tenacity, I pry my jaw open. Then I snap it closed, biting Sarah’s hand in the process. In shock, she draws her hand away from me.
“Ow!” she cries. Her abrupt movement knocks the taser from my neck.
“Hillcrest is not a dump!” I yell, now that Sarah’s hand is no longer covering my mouth. Then, while Sarah is still in a state of shock, I manage to swing my leg and kick her shin with my cowboy boot.
These boots may not be the best for biking, but they sure are great for kicking!
“Ow!” she says again.
“Serves you right!” I say, while jamming an elbow into Marty’s rib cage.
“Son of a—” blurts out Marty, just as I maneuver myself so that I can deliver a sharp kick into his gut.
He doubles over, dropping the taser. I swing my foot again and manage to punt the rectangular black taser across the grass.
Sarah’s redoubling her efforts to detain me, but she’s lost her edge. I’m throwing elbows and high kicks now in every direction. Some land in the air, and some land on flesh—Marty’s or Sarah’s, I’m not sure. I’m fighting as though my life depends on it, which, well, it does.
Suddenly, I’m aware that Sarah is falling to the ground.
Did I do that?
No, someone is on top of her. Ted McDougal!
Then I spot Chris, tackling Marty.
“Police!” shouts Chris, as he tackles Marty to the ground. Once he has Marty pinned, he calls out to me. “Penny, are you okay?”
“I’m all right,” I say. As I say it, I finally stop swinging my fists and kicking my legs. I’m all right. I’m alive.
Chris secures cuffs around Marty’s wrists. Marty is struggling to get up, but Chris holds him down with a booted foot. “Stay on the ground,” he says forcefully. “Penny, what happened?”
“I—I caught Sarah and Marty talking,” I say. “Sarah paid Marty one million dollars to kill a wolf. Marty delivered a lethal shock to an endangered animal.”
“What wolf?” asks Chris.
I hesitate. This is still a sore subject between us. I don’t quite know how to explain, without navigating us back into the werewolf waters that I know will drown us. Chris and I can’t see eye to eye when it comes to the existence of werewolves. I can’t ignore that fact.
But I can ensure that justice is served. I just have to be careful about what I say.
“A wolf that was in Raul’s room,” I say. “Marty knew that the shock he delivered would cause cardiac arrest. He did it anyways. Sarah paid him.”
I’m about to go on, but the sound of sirens approaching cuts me off.
Just then, I feel a soft, warm body press against my leg. “Turkey!” I say telepathically as I lean over to scoop up my cat.
“Penelope, I caught it all on video!” Turkey transmits, as he reaches up and nuzzles my chin with his cheek. “It’s on your phone—back behind that bush!”
“Turkey... how?” I ask silently.
Chris is distracted by the arrival of backup. I’m glad that I have a moment to communicate with my cat. “I left my phone on the grass, after I texted Chris,” I transmit to Turkey.
“You did,” Turkey responds. “I ran over to see if you were okay. I should have tried to help, but I was afraid.” He trembles.
“That’s okay,” I say, petting him.
“I pressed record. It’s all there—Sarah and Marty attacking you.”
“You’re brilliant!” I say. Still carrying Turkey, I rush over to the grassy area behind the shrub, and grab my phone. I see the video, all cued up to play.
Urgently, I rush it over to Chris. “This video will say it all,” I say. “I pressed record before I confronted Sarah and Marty. This is evidence, Chris. Evidence of attempted murder. Sarah and Marty attacked me.”
Chris accepts the phone. “Ted,” Chris calls out. “Radio chief and tell him we’re on the bravo side of the inn.”
Turkey is still trembling in my arms. “I’m sorry,” he says. “I panicked. I saw the taser, but I was afraid to try to help you. I should have—”
“Turkey, what you did was perfect,” I say silently, stroking his little head. “You did help me. Starting up the video on my phone was genius.”
“Genius? You really think so?” He purrs loudly.
I give him a kiss on the top of the forehead, and then turn my attention back to the situation unfolding around me. Chief Holcomb has arrived, along with Officer Braxton. The commotion has drawn in a crowd. Townspeople that were dancing and chatting around the bonfire are now crowding around us.
“Stand back!” Chris orders, as he slides my phone into his cargo pocket. “I need everybody to stand back, please.”
“Does this have something to do with that out-of-towner’s murder?” Someone calls out.
“As far as we know,” Chris says, “yes. This is related to the visitor’s death. The victim, Raul, was harboring a wolf in his hotel room. It has now come to light that the wolf may have also been killed.”
Yeah, I think to myself. Because the wolf and Raul are the same being. I bite my tongue.
Chris continues. “As many of you know, we are still searching for the person who killed Raul Rivera. We suspect that he has left Hillcrest, and a country-wide search has been initiated. Chances are, he won’t return to Hillcrest. If he does, rest assured, we will find him.”
I think of the way Zeke disappeared, like a mist fading under the light of bright sunshine. I don’t think he’ll be coming back to the Earth Realm any time soon.
McDougal and Chief Holcomb haul Sarah and Marty away. For a while, the crowd stays bunched up at the scene, murmuring questions amongst themselves. Chris and Officer Braxton bag up the taser gun, and then follow after the Chief. As he leaves, Chris promises to get my phone back to me once the evidence has been recorded.
I tell him to take his time.
I’ve had about enough of work for one night.
It’s time to celebrate.
Marley, Cora and Annie want the full scoop, so I fill them in over cups of the hot mulled cider and one of the caramel apples that I’ve been dreaming about.
An hour later, we’re all dancing in front of the bandstand. After a particularly slap-happy and tiring dance to YMCA, I begin to head off of the dance floor. I’m happy to be alive, happy to be celebrating with my friends, and happy that the case is finally solved.
As I look out through the lit up tent at all of the familiar, smiling faces, I feel incredibly grateful.
“Well, you look pleased about something,” says a deep voice to my right. I glance over.
It’s Max. He’s grinning too.
I smile back at him. “I’m pleased about everything,” I say.
“Good,” Max says, thoughtfully.
A slow song comes on, and he offers up his hand. Without thinking twice, I place my hand into his. A tingling zap of energy travels up my palm, over my shoulder, into my heart. It’s a pleasant feeling. I allow him to lead me out onto the dance floor. He holds me gently in his arms as we begin to sway to the music.
“You should be pleased,” M
ax says, low in my ear, as we dance. “You did very well tonight.”
“I did, didn’t I?” I say dreamily.
“Not many new witches could have handled a Lux wolf like you and your coven did tonight,” Max says. “I was watching, you know. I wanted to be there, in case you needed help.”
“You saw us cast the spell?” I ask.
He nods.
I meet his eyes with mine. His eyes are charcoal black. They’re deep, never-ending pools, filled with life and love—just the way my own were, when I looked in the mirror.
“You looked beautiful, you know,” Max says. “Working magic so fearlessly. You were bathed in moonlight. You were aglow with the power that was flowing through you. It was a sight to behold.”
I don’t know what to say to this, so I say nothing.
“You’re going to be a very powerful witch, you know,” Max murmurs.
“I am?” I say.
He nods again. “I’ve seen a great many witches progress through the cycles of ‘The Art and Science of Becoming a Witch’, you know. But no one has ever done it quite like you.”
“And that’s a... a good thing?” I ask.
“Very,” Max says.
We dance in silence for minutes on end. Max’s words have given me a sense of completion that even solving the case couldn’t give. I’m on the right path. I’m really going to be a witch.
The song is almost through; I can sense it.
I don’t want it to end, but I know that it’s about to. This sweet moment with Max is passing too quickly. I want to dance with him longer.
As if he senses this, he whispers in my ear. “You know, I was going to tell you something right before you bolted off to solve your case.”
“I know,” I say. “What was it?”
“You were saying that you were happy we’re friends. I’m happy about that too,” he says.
We rock back and forth.
He continues, “But Penny, I’d be remiss if I let you think that your friendship is all that I want. One day, I’d like to be more than a friend to you.”
Tension tingles between us. It’s delicious. I savor it for a moment before saying, “Thank you Max. Thank you for telling me that.”
He doesn’t press the issue. He doesn’t demand an answer from me. He continues to hold me gently.
I think I want to be more than Max’s friend, too. In fact, I know it.
I speak. “I just broke up with Chris,” I say, softly. “Now’s not the right time for...” My voice dies down. I lift my eyes to him. “Can you be patient?” I ask.
Max laughs.
“I’ve waited five hundred years to meet a woman like you, Penny Banks. I can wait five hundred more.”
**** The End ****
Dear Reader,
Thank you for diving into the fictional world of Hillcrest with me! I love writing about Penny and her coven of witch sisters. I hope that you enjoy reading about their magical adventures.
Have you read the prequel to this series? I offer it for free to all readers HERE. Learn all about how Penny inherited her copy of ASBW. You’ll also witness Penny and Turkey’s first telepathic communication (hint—Turkey is not a fan of Penny’s singing!).
You can also check out the first book in the series, “The Case of the Power Spell”. Find it HERE.
I would love to hear from you. Send along an email ([email protected]) and I’ll be sure to respond!
Lastly, if you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review HERE.
Thank you again for reading. I am so grateful.
Amorette
P.S. Want to read more? Check out the next book in the series, “The Case of the Desire Spell”. I’ll include a little sneak peek on the next page!
The Case of the Desire Spell
Chapter One
“Penelope,” my calico cat, Turkey, transmits to me telepathically.
“Shh!” I reply. “This is my favorite part.” My eyes are glued to the television set in front of me. Sherlock Holmes is about to outsmart the evil guy who kidnapped him. I mindlessly shovel another cheese puff into my mouth.
“Penelope, I really think you should see this,” Turkey insists.
On the screen, Holmes is speaking to his kidnapper: “The carriage turned right twice and then I smelled freshly baked bread. I knew I was on Knottingham Avenue.”
The cheese puff dissolves on my tongue. “Can it wait?” I ask my cat without looking over at him. “I really want to—”
“No, it can’t wait. Unless you want to lose your PI license, and be unemployed.”
“Hmm?” I’m about to pop another puff into my mouth, but Turkey’s words make me stop before it hits my lips. “What’s that about being unemployed?”
I finally look away from the television and over at him.
He’s sitting primly on a throw pillow. As usual, my laptop is out in front of him. Ever since he learned how to control the touchpad he’s spent hours a day cruising the web. I swear, he gains IQ points daily at an almost alarming rate.
“You have my attention,” I say. Then I pop my snack into my mouth and chew.
“Turn the show off, then,” Turkey says. He glances over at the screen.
“Do I have to?” I ask. I catch the whiny tone in my telepathic message and immediately regret it. I’ve been working on acting more mature lately, and right now I sound like a six-year-old, refusing to go to bed. Regardless of the fact that this is my favorite show and that I’ve had a long day, my cat has asked for my attention. I’d better give it.
I straighten up and reach for the remote. Reluctantly but with a certain air of bravado, I press the off button. Sherlock Holmes fades to black. As I sit up, crumbs cascade off of my chest. I brush off my tee-shirt brusquely. A whole cheese puff tumbles off of me. Wow, how did I miss that one?
“There,” I say, once I’m puff-free. “The show is off. You have my attention. What do you want to show me?”
Turkey uses two paws to swivel the laptop so that the screen is facing me. “Read this,” he transmits to me, grimly.
‘Attention! Are you a graduate of Speedy’s Online Private Investigator Program?’
Yes, yes I am, I think, after reading the words. I completed the coursework about five years ago, soon after I had to let go of my dream of becoming a cop.
Let me explain. I grew up in the small mountain town of Hillcrest, Colorado. I always knew I wanted to be a police officer. I left town briefly to get my criminal justice degree, and when I moved back I immediately joined the Hillcrest Police Academy. That’s where my life-plan-train went off of the rails.
I fell in love—hard—with my instructor, Captain Chris Wagner. One messy break-up (plus one accidental bullet wound) later I failed out of the academy. I was an emotional mess. Luckily, I found another way to fight crime: I became a licensed PI.
So what if my licensure program was known as the worst in the industry? So what if some people called it a complete joke, a scam, and a waste of money? It doesn’t matter where you go to school—it matters what you do with the information afterwards that counts, right?
Okay, some might argue with that. But it’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
I keep reading.
‘Did you graduate more than five years ago?’
Yes again.
‘If you answered yes to these two questions, your license is about to expire! To keep it current, you are required to take Speedy’s Online Private Investigator License Renewal Exam!’
I look over at my cat. “How did you find this?” I ask.
“I was going over some of your coursework,” Turkey says. “In the last module, your instructor stated that you had to renew your license every five years. So I checked on the website.”
“Have I ever told you how smart you are?” I ask, reaching out and giving his soft little head a pat. “Thank you. I’ll sign up for the quiz tomorrow morning, bright and early.” I reach for the remote, and then my bowl of cheese p
uffs.
It’s time to zone out again.
“Exam,” Turkey says. “It’s not a quiz, Penelope, it’s an exam.”
“I’m sure I’ll do fine,” I say.
I remember what my program was like. All of the quizzes were open book. Sure, I sometimes failed anyways, but if I really try I’m sure I’ll nail this renewal quiz—I mean exam. No problem.
“It is a problem,” Turkey says.
“Hey! Were you reading my mind?” I ask.
“I was feeling your mind,” Turkey says. “I’m your familiar, remember? I feel what you’re feeling, even when we’re not communicating telepathically. You have no secrets, Penelope. I’m an extension of you.”
Right. When I started practicing witchcraft, about four months ago, I had to say goodbye to privacy.
Oh, did I mention I’m studying to be a witch?
Yep. I am.
I inherited a book from an elderly woman in town. The old book, called ‘The Art and Science of Becoming a Witch’ (or ASBW as I like to call it), informed me that it was my destiny to become a witch. I only had one copy of the book, but I photocopied the pages and gave them out to my knitting-circle. Together, Cora, Marley, Annie, and I have been studying the book and learning spells.
We also learned that along with the book, we’d inherited responsibility of a portal. You see, a gnarly dirt mountain pass that leads into Hillcrest is actually a portal that leads to other magical realms. As the new witches of the Earth, or Terra Coven, we’re supposed to guard the portal.
My sense of responsibility for the portal is a big reason I’m so intent on learning to use my witchy powers, as quickly as possible. And as I learn to use my powers, so does Turkey. He started communicating with me telepathically, and he takes his role as my familiar very seriously.
Like now, for example. He’s looking at me with his intense, green and yellow eyes. His little furry chin is set square and his whiskers quiver.
The Case of the Banishing Spell Page 19
