A Witch of a Time

by Amanda M. Lee

  “Not yet,” I said.

  Arlene pushed past Chief Terry so she could get closer to Annie. “Oh, there’s my precious girl.”

  Annie pulled back when she saw her. “Who are you?”

  Chief Terry and I exchanged a look.

  “I’m your grandmother,” Arlene said. “And this is your father.”

  Annie shifted her face so she could look Denham up and down. She didn’t immediately say anything.

  “If you’re such a good grandmother, how come your granddaughter doesn’t know you?” I asked. Aunt Tillie had said that Annie didn’t know her grandparents. I didn’t realize that meant she’d never met them.

  “That’s a pretty good question,” Landon said.

  “Belinda wouldn’t allow us visitation,” Arlene said, straightening. “She’s a horrible person.”

  “My mommy isn’t bad,” Annie snapped.

  “Of course she isn’t,” Marcus murmured, tightening his arms around her.

  “Don’t you say my mommy is bad,” Annie said.

  “Young lady, you’re going to have to learn that you don’t talk back to your elders,” Arlene said. “I understand you haven’t been raised with a firm hand, but all of that is about to change.”

  Annie was confused. “Aunt Tillie says that you only have to respect adults if they don’t say anything stupid,” she said. “You’re saying something stupid.”

  I couldn’t help but wonder what other pearls of wisdom Aunt Tillie had been bestowing upon Annie. That was a question for another time, though.

  “Stupid isn’t a nice word,” Arlene replied.

  “It’s not,” I agreed. “In this case, though, it’s the right word.”

  “Thistle,” Chief Terry warned. “Mrs. Denham, I think it would be a good idea if you and your son came down to the station for some questions.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me,” Chief Terry said. “We have a few questions for you and your son. You probably don’t want to answer them here … in front of your granddaughter.”

  “I have nothing to hide,” Arlene sniffed, crossing her arms over her chest obstinately.

  “Okay then,” Chief Terry said, not backing down. “First off, Jonathan, when did you first arrive in Hemlock Cove?”

  Denham balked at the question. “What does that matter?”

  “It’s just a question. I need you to answer it.”

  Denham looked at his mother for support. She nodded in his direction. “The first time I stepped foot in this … town … was a few hours ago.”

  “Hmm. I see. How did you find out about Annie’s situation?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “We couldn’t find you,” Chief Terry said. “We had to call your parents. You had no working phone number of record. I’m just wondering when you found out that Annie had been discovered?”

  “I … it was the other day,” Denham said, flustered. “I don’t remember exactly what day it was.”

  “Do you remember where you were when you got the call?”

  Denham straightened. “I was at the mall by my mother’s house.”

  “That’s pretty interesting,” Landon said. “Because we ran your phone records this evening. Actually, we had to track back the numbers that called your mother’s phone and go from there. After we found one from a burner phone that called on a regular basis, we tracked the sale to a store in Minnesota, and you were the man we saw on store security video. We tracked the GPS on that phone, and it was in Traverse City when the call was made about Annie’s discovery.”

  Denham’s mouth dropped open. “You can’t track a burner phone.”

  Landon drew a piece of paper from his pocket and unfolded it. He handed it over to Denham. “That’s you, right?”

  Arlene made a face. “What did you do?”

  “Nothing,” Denham said. “They’re framing me.”

  “There were two sets of tracks out at the accident scene,” Chief Terry said. “It appears that someone drove directly at Belinda’s vehicle and tried to force it off the road, even clipping the front bumper to force her off into the ravine.”

  “Well, my rental car is out in the parking lot,” Denham said. “You can check it. There’s no damage.”

  “We already checked it,” Landon said.

  Denham smiled triumphantly.

  “The problem is, you secured that rental car yesterday afternoon,” Landon said. “The car you rented six days ago in Traverse City is another story. We contacted the owner of that facility – and he wasn’t thrilled to be woken up in the middle of the night, let me tell you – and he said the car you turned in two days ago had some front-end damage.

  “The owner said you claimed someone backed into the car when it was parked and you had no idea who did it,” Landon continued. “Can you explain that?”

  “I … I have no idea what happened to that car,” Denham said. “Someone hit it and ran.”

  “And, can you explain what you were doing in this area before then?” Landon asked, his face serious.

  “I was here on vacation.”

  “Why did you tell us you were at the mall by your mother’s house?” Chief Terry asked.

  They were tag-teaming him, and it was a sight to behold.

  “I … you’re trying to frame me,” Denham said.

  “Did he hurt my mommy?” Annie asked, her lower lip trembling.

  “Of course he didn’t,” Arlene said. “Your mommy is the bad one.”

  “Stop telling her that,” I snapped.

  “Even if you take my son into custody, that doesn’t mean I’m guilty,” Arlene said, straightening.

  “Mom?” Denham was worried.

  “I’m still this girl’s only relative who is capable of taking care of her.”

  “I wouldn’t say that,” Aunt Tillie said, appearing in Belinda’s doorway. She wasn’t alone. The woman standing behind her, who only an hour ago looked like she was minutes from death, now appeared like she was ready for action. Well, kind of. She was still pale, and she looked confused.

  “I’m capable of taking care of her,” Belinda said, leaning against the doorway for support as she cradled her ribs.

  “Mommy!” Annie jumped off of Marcus’ lap and raced toward her mother.

  Bay stilled her approach worriedly. “Your mommy is sore. Be gentle with her.”

  Annie nodded solemnly as she carefully gave Belinda a desperate hug.

  “I was so worried about you,” Belinda said, petting her daughter’s head. “I woke up in the car and you were gone. I couldn’t get out.”

  “She found us,” I explained. “I’m sorry it took us so long to find you.”

  “Don’t be sorry,” Belinda said, her eyes swimming with tears. “You saved my baby.” She glanced up, her gaze landing on Denham for the first time. “What is he doing here?”

  “He’s being taken into custody,” Chief Terry said. “We’re going to need to talk to you, too. I need to know what you remember about the accident.”

  “I don’t know what I can tell you,” Belinda said. “I just know that a black car was heading right at us and I tried to swerve to avoid it. I blacked out, and when I woke up, Annie was missing. I tried to get out of the car, but I kept passing out.”

  “Yes, well, it just so happens that Mr. Denham rented a black car when he arrived in the area almost a week ago,” Chief Terry said. “He’s being taken into custody on attempted murder charges. Do you know why he would try to kill you?”

  “I was going after child support,” Belinda said. “I left him off the birth certificate because I didn’t want anything to do with him, but he kept showing up. I figured, if he was going to keep hounding us, I should get the money he owed us.

  “When I filed the paperwork, he started threatening me,” she continued. “I realized what I’d done, and I decided to run. He was being … scary.”

  Chief Terry nodded. “Did he threaten you?”

  “Yes. He kept saying he was
going to kill me and take Annie.”

  “Did you know he was in the area?” Landon asked.

  “No,” Belinda said. “I thought we were safe. I had no idea he’d come here. I don’t even know how he found me.”

  “That will be a question he has to answer down at the station,” Chief Terry said, pulling his handcuffs from his belt.

  “Mom!” Denham was panicked.

  “You’re such a stupid moron,” Arlene grumbled. “I have no idea how I raised such an idiot.”

  “It must be karma,” Aunt Tillie said.

  Arlene wasn’t done yet. “That woman is not fit enough to take care of a child,” she said. “It’s going to be weeks before she’s recovered. How is she going to take care of Annie?”

  “She won’t be alone,” Winnie said, appearing from the other side of the nurse’s station. I hadn’t even realized she was over there and listening to everything. “She’ll be staying at The Overlook while she convalesces. That will allow her to rest, and have plenty of free childcare.”

  Annie looked excited at the prospect. “Does that mean I can help Aunt Tillie in her garden?”

  “No,” Landon said.

  Annie frowned. “But I want to learn more about the oregano.”

  Landon wagged his finger in Annie’s face. “No, you don’t. You can help Thistle in the store, though.”

  “And you can come with me to the stables,” Marcus said.

  “Can I ride a horse?” Annie asked, excited.

  “You can ride ten of them,” Marcus said.

  “But what about the oregano? It needs to be cut back so it won’t be all seeds.”

  Landon scowled.

  “Don’t worry,” Aunt Tillie said. “We still have our wine business.”

  “No, you don’t,” Landon said.

  “You’re starting to test the limits of my endurance,” Aunt Tillie said.

  “Wait a second. You can’t just hand my granddaughter over to these people,” Arlene said. “I brought a lawyer.”

  “Yeah, well we brought a judge,” Marnie said as she joined the crowd. I couldn’t help but notice that a tired looking Judge Crawford was with her. He still had pie crumbs on his face.

  “I’ve been made aware of the situation,” he said. “Since the mother is on her way to recovery, and the Winchesters have graciously opened up their home to her, I see no reason to remove this child from her mother’s custody.”

  “Except that Belinda can’t hold down a job,” Arlene said.

  Belinda’s face colored under the accusation. “That’s because you called every one of my employers and told them lies about me.”

  “Well, you don’t have to worry about that,” Winnie said. “We’ve been considering adding another person at the inn to help with the day-to-day operations. I think Belinda will fit right in.” She smiled at Annie. “And that will give us the opportunity to see Annie as often as we want.”

  Annie clapped her hands together excitedly.

  “You can’t do this,” Arlene said. “I … this isn’t what I want.”

  “Oh, honey, we don’t give a flying fart what you want,” Aunt Tillie said, holding her hand out to Annie. “Come on, Basil. I think some breakfast is in order.”

  Belinda furrowed her brow. “Basil?”

  I sighed. “It’s a long story.”

  “With a happy ending,” Annie said, laughing delightedly. She held out her other hand to me. “Are you coming? You’re going to need a big breakfast if you want to sell wine with me and Aunt Tillie this afternoon.”

  “That’s right,” Aunt Tillie said. “We need to teach her to dance, don’t we?”

  Annie giggled.

  I took Annie’s hand. “I’m not dancing.”

  “You have to,” Annie said. “That’s how you sell stuff. We need to get a new plow for Aunt Tillie, missy.”

  I gave in. “Fine.”

  “What new plow?” Landon asked.

  Everyone ignored him.

  “I’d better not come back out to that inn and find any selling going on,” Landon barked at our backs.

  No one listened.

  “Sometimes I feel like I talk and everyone just pretends my lips aren’t moving,” he grumbled.

  “That’s because you’re full of hot air,” Annie said.

  Landon narrowed his eyes. “Who told you that?”

  “Oh, we all told her that,” Aunt Tillie said, chortling as she dragged Annie and me down the hall. “We all told her that.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. It was a happy ending for everyone, after all. Well, except for Landon.

  “Don’t worry,” Aunt Tillie said, reading my mind. “He’ll be fine.”

  “How can you be sure?”

  “I put a little something extra in the wine bottle I left in his truck,” she said. “He’s going to be thanking me for weeks after he drinks it.”

  “Why? Does it taste like bacon?”

  Aunt Tillie’s eyes were sparkling. “You’ll have to wait to find out.”

  I wanted to question her further, but I let it go. I was too tired to put up a fight. It had been a long few days, and a job well done. I was going to leave Aunt Tillie to her fun.

  “Oh, and don’t think I’ve forgotten about you,” Aunt Tillie said. “Your punishment starts tomorrow.”

  And, then again, the woman is evil incarnate. “Oh, come on!”

  On a Witch and a Prayer

  A Wicked Witches of the

  Midwest Short

  Amanda M. Lee

  One

  “Michaels, I have something to give to you before you go.”

  I glanced up from my desk, internally sighing as my boss, Steve Newton, sidled up to me with a file clutched in his beefy hands. “I’m leaving for my weekend.”

  “I know, Landon,” Newton said, his eyes narrowing as they regarded me. “I’m not asking you to put off your weekend.”

  “That’s good,” I said. “Nothing in the free world could stop me from putting this place in my rearview mirror in exactly five minutes.”

  “Let me guess, you’re spending the weekend holed up in Hemlock Cove with a certain blonde?”

  I shrugged, nonplussed. “Do you have a problem with that?”

  “Of course not,” Newton said, gesturing toward the framed photograph on my desk. The blonde in the photograph had a huge grin, sparkling blue eyes, and she leaned in close to me, as though I whispered something to her. I loved that photo, and if I remembered that day correctly, I had been whispering something dirty to her – and that was exactly why I was in such a hurry to get to Hemlock Cove. “If I could spend the weekend in bed with that, I would, too.”

  I scowled. “We do more than spend the weekend in bed.”

  Newton waited.

  “We eat, too.”

  Newton’s guffaw was loud and hearty. “You know, when you first started working here, I thought you were a bachelor for life. From what the other guys said, you didn’t have any inclination to spend more than one night with the same woman.

  “Now you spend every night you can with the same woman,” he continued. “People are starting to talk.”

  “People should keep their mouths shut,” I said, irked. “Bay is not their concern. She’s my concern.”

  “Are you concerned about her?”

  “I’m always concerned about her,” I grumbled. “She collects trouble like other women do shoes and handbags.”

  Newton smirked. “I’ve noticed. Her name pops up in more files than I’m comfortable with.”

  I shifted uncomfortably, the idea of my boss focusing on Bay causing my stomach to roll. “It’s not her fault. She’s a good person. She just has an uncanny ability to uncover … .”

  “Crime?”

  Unfortunately, that was exactly right. “It’s not always her,” I said, shifting to a different tactic. “Her family stumbles across trouble more than she does.” That wasn’t a lie. Of course, Bay was usually in the thick of it with her family, but I
decided to ignore that little tidbit.

  “I’ve read about her family, too,” Newton said. “I especially like that aunt of hers … what’s her name … Tillie? I’d love to meet her someday. She sounds like a real piece of work.”

  “You don’t want to meet her,” I said, picturing Aunt Tillie’s combat helmet. “Trust me.”

  “Why? Is she mean?”

  “She’s … crotchety.”

  “What’s wrong? Doesn’t she like you? Did you finally find a woman who doesn’t puddle at your feet and fall under your spell?”

  Because Bay’s family was witches … yes, real witches … mention of spells set my teeth on edge. “She likes me.” Sometimes, I added silently. “She’s … set in her ways.”

  “I still want to meet her,” Newton said. “She sounds like a real pip.”

  “She has her moments,” I said, trying to get the conversation back on track. “Did you have something you wanted to give me?”

  “Yeah,” Newton said, nodding his head. “We’ve got a new mandate from the higher-ups. They want us to start going through some of the cold cases.”

  “Great,” I groaned, my shoulders sagging. “That’s not a waste of manpower.”

  “I agree,” Newton said. “I don’t make the decisions, though.” He handed the file over to me. “I figured this one was right up your alley.”

  “And why is that?”

  “Because the woman in question went missing from Hemlock Cove.”

  I stilled, unsure. “Seriously? How long ago?”

  “It’s been more than twenty years,” Newton said. “I honestly don’t know whether you’re going to find anything. Odds are, you won’t. Still, you have close ties with the community. I’m sure the chief there will be willing to give you what the town has, and maybe your girlfriend’s family even knew the victim.”

  “And you want this solved this weekend?” Irritation bubbled up, and I fought the urge to snap. That wouldn’t get me anywhere. I knew that. Still, the happy fantasies of starry walks and breakfast in bed were starting to diminish in the back of my mind. So much for a lazy weekend with Bay, where clothing was going to be optional and her smile was the only thing I wanted to see for the next three days.