The Midsummer Murders

by Jill Nojack

  “I can only afford this place because I get help from Metro housing. It takes a long time to get a voucher for a move to a new city approved.”

  “Leave that to me, dear. I know how to make things happen. I think we may also be able to find you a full time work situation thre to show how serious you are about providing for Marcus’s needs. Would you be interested in that?”

  “I’ll do anything for my baby. Just tell me what to do.”

  Natalie stood up and looked at her watch. Five thirty. She was cutting it fine to get back for dinner on time. Marcus would wonder where she was if she didn’t leave now. “I’ll be in contact later this week. And please don’t discuss it with the boy. We don’t want to disappoint him if it doesn’t pan out.”

  “Would he be disappointed?” Jasmine asked, her face betraying insecurity. “I mean, after all the times I’ve messed up, and all the drinkin’ and druggin’ he had to put up with until they pulled him out of the house, I know he knows he’s better off right where he is.” She sat down heavily and put her head in her hands, shaking it back and forth.

  Natalie nearly went to her, but ended up snapping instead, irritated at her own soppy impulse. “Of course he wants to be with you. Why do you think I’m going to these lengths to make sure that happens? Just maintain control as you’ve been doing, and it will all be fine.”

  She tried not to think about what happened if Jasmine did stay in control, which now seemed inevitable with the extra help Natalie had provided. She would lose the boy, she knew that, but he wasn’t hers to begin with. No, it was all for the best. Nothing to be done for it but to go forward.

  ***

  Based on the smells coming down the hall when Natalie entered the house, she knew she’d be getting one of Marcus’s favorite meals for dinner that night—spaghetti smothered in sauce with garlic bread lightly fried in a skillet on the side. He was quite the cook, and the fragrance of simmering tomatoes, garlic, and herbs made her mouth water.

  She didn’t look forward to depending on her own lackluster cooking abilities for her meals again; he’d spoiled her. Despite the magic she could work with herbs, none of it enhanced what happened in her kitchen. Perhaps she could convince William to cook for her without her having to agree to marry him to earn the favor.

  However, William wasn’t the cook that Marcus was. His meals had all been prepared for him by his wealthy family’s staff when he was young and mortal. He was only now learning the skills a modern bachelor needed. Marcus, on the other hand, had learned how to cook in self defense because his mother had no longer been capable of giving the basics of homemaking her attention by the time he was eight or so. What sort of life was that, she wondered, being the parent in the family before the age of ten? Not much of one. It was astounding that the boy had turned out so well.

  From the kitchen arch, she watched him at the stove for a while as he stirred the pasta with a book in his hand. Probably something just for fun. Like physics.

  “It smells delicious,” she said after a moment, moving to the refrigerator to pull out a pitcher of iced herbal tea. “Did you have an enjoyable visit with your mother?”

  “Really good,” he replied, putting his book aside on the counter and smiling. “I think she liked Twink. Why wouldn’t she, right? But they got along good.”

  “And your mother, she’s doing well?” She got glasses from the cupboard and filled them, setting them in place on the table before returning the pitcher to the fridge.

  “She’s still clean, yeah,” he said, after a pause. His shoulders tensed a little as he lifted up a strand of pasta on a fork and tested it, then continued, “This is a really long time for her. She’s like the mom I used to have when I was little. She was a great mom then.” He looked both happy and sad at the same time. Natalie found that to be true of his appearance often; the boy’s sensitive face had been shaped by years of cautious, wistful optimism.

  He put the pasta and sauce into serving bowls while she set the table. Yes, she would miss this. The easy domesticity of it. She’d grown to look forward to his daily company. She sighed. Too loudly.

  “You okay, gram?”

  “I’m fine. Long day. I’m used to being on my feet, but it required more walking than I would normally do.”

  “How’d it go?” he asked as they sat down to their waiting plates.

  “I admit I do miss nursing. But I won’t be there long, as I explained.”

  “You did. I bet most kids don’t have a grandmother who’s a spy.”

  “Or the high priestess of a coven for that matter.” They both grinned. “But I’ve always been a woman of many talents.”

  Once they were sitting, Marcus’s book now put aside, he cut his spaghetti into manageable pieces and Natalie twirled hers around her fork, letting loose with a whispered, “great green golliwogs!” or “poisoned pepper pots!” when the strands of pasta refused to cooperate with her on the way to her mouth.

  After a particularly tricky maneuver, but before the recently corralled strands of pasta met their fates, Marcus asked, “So, what do you think of these crows that are all over downtown?”

  It was an odd question. Why would one ever think about crows at all unless they were blocking entry to the shop? She also never thought about the pigeons that, until recently, had often done the same. She completed her task with the fork before she answered.

  After swallowing, she said, “They’re annoying, if that’s what you mean.”

  “No, that’s not what I meant, I mean...”

  He was picking at his food, not meeting her eyes. That was also odd, given his healthy appetite.

  “Go on, spit it out. My dinner’s getting cold. Something is bothering you.”

  “It’s just, do you think they could have...or somehow be...” He looked up at her, and she read fear in his eyes.

  Her tone softened. “Go on. I’m listening.”

  “Well, could they have something to do with a spell? Maybe not good magic?”

  “Why do you ask? Did something happen?”

  “Sort of. They...they act like maybe they’re not just crows. They sort of show up all the time. Like they’re following someone.”

  “Following you?” Natalie’s back stiffened.

  “No. They’re—” His eyes went to his plate again, and his shoulders drooped. “I think they’re following Twink.”

  “Have they attacked her or tried to harm her?”

  His head shook back and forth as his eyes widened. “No, not yet, at least. They just don’t leave her alone. And haven’t you noticed how they get out of the way the minute she tells them to? But for anybody else—”

  “If she screamed at me with that high-pitched trill of hers, I’d get out of the way, too. But I think there’s more you want to tell me?”

  “Yeah, but you’ll be right up in her face if you think there’s something weird going on. I know how you are, Gram. And I don’t want her to be mad at me because I’m worried about her.”

  “I can’t promise to restrain myself. Even without the facts, I’ll have to go straight to the girl anyway. I’m in charge of the safety and responsible behavior of my witches. If she’s in trouble, or if she’s done something that could harm this community, I have no choice but to get involved.”

  “Just don’t assume the worst, okay?” He was noticeably torn about what he should do.

  “Me? Assume the worst? Monstrous marinated meatballs! You clearly don’t know me very well.” She did her best to wrestle her face into an innocent expression.

  His laughter rolled through the room, and she joined him willingly. She didn’t like seeing him upset. When her low, dry chortles ended, she said, “I’ll do my best, dear.” She dragged her right pointer finger across her heart in an X. “I promise. Hope to die. Or whatever nonsense children say these days to prove they’re serious.”

  He was more relaxed now. She knew he trusted her, but she also knew that if he had to decide between her and Twink, he’d keep Twink’s
secrets first. As it should be, she supposed. He had to be very worried to risk his girlfriend’s ire.

  “The thing is, it’s more than the crows responding to what she says. They show up where she’s at. Almost all the time. It’s creeping her out. She said it’s like they’re stalking her, and I think she’s right.” He picked at his food with his fork for a moment, then continued. “One of them followed us to the Sanders place when we babysat the triplets the other night. And they’re almost always outside the shop when Twink’s working or at home in the apartment. And when they dive-bombed Mindy Li the other day, they showed up at the exact same time that Twink did.” He paused, looked up, searching her eyes for her reaction when he said, “And then, I know it sounds crazy, but...when we were leaving Boston, a flock of crows showed up when we were about halfway home and followed us all the way back. I mean, it was the same crows, Gram, that are always around the shop...” He trailed off, but it sounded like there was more he wanted to say.

  “Go on,” she encouraged.

  “Then when I dropped Twink off at her cousin’s apartment, they followed us into the alley and settled in on the back fence with some of them going out to the bench in front. It’s like they’re watching the place all the time. Like feathery sentries or something.”

  She didn’t want to unsettle him further, so she didn’t allow her forehead to furrow or the frown she felt on the inside show on her lips. “Did you notice when this started? Did Twink say or do anything unusual that would indicate something had changed for her?”

  “It didn’t start that long ago. A week, maybe.”

  “Nothing’s been bothering her?”

  “I don’t know.” He shook his head. “I think maybe there’s something—I keep telling her she doesn’t have to be, ‘cause I can’t even see a girl who isn’t her, but...she gets jealous when Mindy Li’s around.”

  “The girl who works in that new consignment shop?”

  “That’s her. She works at Ling’s Things for her mother. She’s been nice to both of us, but Twink sees it as Mindy only being nice to me.”

  “I can see where that might unsettle the girl.”

  “Yeah, but Gram—”

  She cut him off. “Yes, I know. She has nothing to worry about. I’ve seen the two of you together. I’m not that dense about things romantic.”

  Marcus’s face went blank.

  Her eyes narrowed. “What is it now?”

  He shrugged. “Well, about being dense about romance, you know—”

  “Fine. Point made. Let me put it another way. You are so utterly, obviously besotted with the girl that anyone, even someone as emotionally attuned as a rotting tree stump, such as myself, can see it. Even your mother—” She stopped the sentence abruptly, catching herself before she gave away that she had just talked to Jasmine, —“must have seen it today when the two of you visited.”

  “Yeah, that’s true. She got it. On our way out, she said she was glad I have people I love who love me since she can’t be there for me. That’s such a big change. When she was drinking, she would have resented me having other people in my life because she needed so much taking care of.”

  “I’m glad. I’m also glad that you’re taking care of Twink by telling me about this. But if I find out she’s been messing around with spells she has no business meddling with, I’m not sure she’ll react well to the steps I’ll have to take. However, I’ll do my best to keep her from knowing you were the one who tipped me off.”

  “You think she’s fooling with magic she shouldn’t be?”

  “She’s a teenager who’s recently discovered she has a super power. It’s difficult to wait until you have the maturity, knowledge, and self control to explore its boundaries. That’s one reason every young witch needs to be mentored. I had my grandmother. Not that I played within her rules all the time, mind you. But she caught me when I didn’t, and I’m glad she did. The last thing the Taylor family needed was another scandal like the one my paternal grandfather visited on us; his bringing his dead wife back by sacrificing the living one did not make us popular in this town. And I was heading into dark territory with my own explorations at one point. Having magic that can peer through the boundaries of life and death is heady stuff. Fortunately, Twink’s skill are more generic than mine. But that doesn’t mean she can’t get herself into trouble. And with Twink’s passionate nature, the combination of jealousy and magic could lead to undesirable consequences, ones I’m sure she wouldn’t intend.”

  “So, what are you gonna do?”

  “Leave it to me. The less you know, the better. Finish your dinner.” She gestured him back to his meal with one hand as she probed in her bright red purse with the other. “I have calls to make.” When she found her phone, she headed for the hallway.

  She made sure he was out of earshot before she tapped Cassie’s contact. “I need your help. It involves your friend Daria.”

  11

  “Hey girl!” Daria said, opening the back door with a smile for her best friend that was nearly as bright as the late morning sun. “Wassup?”

  Cassie heyed back, then said, “Do you mind if Nat comes in for a while? We need to talk to you about Twink while she’s busy in the shop.”

  Daria’s eyes moved to Natalie, whose foot tapped the ground rapidly where she stood behind Cassie’s left shoulder.

  “Sure. I just pressed coffee if you want some.”

  Natalie crowded Cassie, almost pushing her aside as she said, “No time for that. We’ve got to get into the girl’s room and find out what she’s been up to.”

  Natalie headed for the stairs, saying, “It’s the front bedroom, isn’t it?” as she passed.

  “Umm, yeah, but you’ve got no business up there that I know of.” Daria darted in front to block the stairs.

  Cassie backed her up. “Nat! You said you would ask, not barge right in and start demanding things.”

  “If the girl is brewing up spells to steal the free will of other creatures, then I’ll barge in where I please.”

  “Nat!”

  Natalie’s shoulders rose and fell as she breathed out an exasperated sigh. “Fine. Coffee sounds marvelous. I’ll have mine black.” She moved toward the settee in the downstairs parlor. “No objections to my seating myself?”

  When they all had a mug of coffee in their hands and were sitting in a loose triangle around the parlor coffee table, Natalie leaned in slightly toward Daria and said, “I believe Twink has been experimenting with magical forces which she isn’t mature enough to understand. I need to make sure she isn’t.”

  “So ask her about it,” Daria said, reasonably.

  “I can’t.” I promised someone that I would keep my investigation under wraps. The only option I have is stealth because of the confidence I need to keep. If there’s nothing to it, then I’ll never mention it again.”

  Daria leaned back hard against the couch, and her head rocked once from side to side. “And that means it’s okay to violate my baby cuz’s privacy?”

  “With you not being a witch, I wouldn’t expect you to understand, but—”

  Cassie interrupted her. “Nat, you’ll just get yourself in deeper. Let me explain.”

  “Feel free to try, dear.” Natalie stiffened to sit up straighter, pretending to be the prim and proper old woman her appearance suggested. “And if that doesn’t work, enchantment is always an option.” She looked pointedly at Daria.

  “Omigoddess! Nat, just hang on for two seconds.” She turned to address Daria. “She didn’t mean that. She’s just concerned for Twink. Really. You get used to it.”

  She ignored the “humph” from Natalie’s perch on the settee.

  “Look, Daria, it’s like...well, drugs, I guess, when you think about it. There’re drugs that most adults use for recreation that never get them into trouble. Like alcohol in moderation. So who cares if they’re doing it, right? But kids...that’s different. If I told you Twink was drinking and going to raves and using Ecstasy, you’d be
up in her room in a heartbeat, tearing the place apart.”

  “Yeah. But she’s not. Twink has more sense.”

  “See, but magic—it’s kind of like a drug sometimes. I mean, you start off with this small stuff and it’s not a problem. You find out that there’s this force inside of you, and you use it to make your life a little bit easier, and it’s cool. It’s so cool, that after a while you want more of it.” Words were tumbling out of her mouth faster now, and she could feel a flush rushing into her cheeks and down her back. She was on a roll. “And then you find out it’s not just what’s inside you that you can use—a strong witch can draw from the forces of nature that are out there all the time, just waiting to be tapped into. With the right rituals, they lend you some of their magic juju, and the things that extra juice can help you do—”

  “Cass?” Daria interrupted, looking down to Cassie’s side where her left hand was clenching and unclenching. “Should your fingertips be glowing like that?”

  Cassie looked, and it broke her focus. “Oh wow. That’s embarrassing.” She took a deep breath. Her skin cooled, and the glow faded. “But that’s kind of what I’m talking about, too. I depend a lot on Gilly and Nat to help me keep my energies under control now that I’m pregnant. Hormones and magic are a powerful combination. If I can forget to pull myself back, imagine what it would be like to be a teenager with all those hormones rushing around all the time and all of that power at your disposal.”

  “I hear ya. But I’ve never seen Twink do anything big. She makes us teas with pinches of herbs, she does these long cleansing rituals, she floats things around sometimes. And she can make houseplants grow crazy fast. And she always lights the candles for me from across the room. And one time, just once, I came in and she was floating like a quarter inch off the ground, but she dropped right back to the floor the minute she saw me and got upset because she couldn’t do it again. And there’s whatever she does with you guys. But you’re there for that. Seriously, does any of that sound dangerous?”