Ofelia bit back a gasp when Maggie’s eyes momentary flashed an odd orange color. When the woman blinked and they returned to normal, Ofelia wondered if she’d imagined the phenomenon. Given the way the woman was acting, however, Ofelia had her doubts.
“Your father killed the girls, but you knew about it,” Ofelia surmised. “You covered for him.”
“Not exactly. You see, my brother procured those girls for my father. He covered for him. I merely stumbled upon the truth when I was following my brother one night.”
“I don’t understand.”
“It’s not that difficult to grasp. My father liked young girls. He was more than willing to pay them for their time. My brother was jealous because my father kept seducing the girls he had crushes on, so they made up a game and killed the girls together once my father was finished.”
Ofelia felt sick to her stomach. “Your brother was a teenager at the time.”
“Fifteen,” Maggie confirmed. “He was my father’s pride and joy. I was considered the spare of the family. I barely got any attention, was basically a shadow and nothing more. Michael got everything ... and I was jealous.
“At the same time, Michael and I were close,” she continued, leaning back in her chair. She gave off an air of comfort, as if she didn’t have a care in the world. Ofelia knew better. The woman was readying herself to strike. “We were twins. I ... loved him. He didn’t have time for me, though, once he started playing games with Father. That’s why I started following him.”
Ofelia rested her hands on top of the table as she debated how she wanted to proceed. “You loved your brother,” she said finally, grasping at the limited human emotion Maggie had put on display. “I’m guessing you guys had what most would consider an inappropriate relationship.”
“We were close,” Maggie countered. “We ... shared everything. It started when we were in the womb together and continued to other things when we got older.”
“That wasn’t really a denial.”
“I don’t care to deny anything. My relationship with my brother was my own. It doesn’t really concern you.”
“Fair enough.” In truth, Ofelia didn’t want to hear about the twisted twin love affair she was certain warped both children. “Tell me about the girls in the wall. You said your father killed them.”
“Only after my brother had his fun with them and they threatened to squeal,” Maggie replied. “Honestly, my father couldn’t stop himself from going after those girls. I didn’t really care as long as he stayed away from my friends — that wasn’t always the case, but we came to an understanding — and he promised to keep trouble away from the house. I believed him.
“Then Michael started spending more and more time out of the house and he claimed to be spending time with Father,” she continued, her voice flat. “At first I thought he was lying to me. I thought he had a girlfriend he didn’t want me to know about. He always hid those things from me because he said I had a bad temper.”
Something occurred to Ofelia, a theory that made her mind sizzle with possibility, but she kept her mouth shut and allowed Maggie to keep talking.
“Anyway, I was suspicious,” she explained. “My father always thought I was slow because I was a girl, but I was smarter than him and my brother put together. I started following Michael. I had a certain ... ability, I guess you could say. I could turn myself practically invisible. Even those looking directly at me saw nothing but a shadow.”
Ofelia swallowed hard. That explained the shadow Bernie saw all those years before.
“I’ve always loved my brother and back then it was even worse. I wasn’t happy about what I found when I followed him. I promise you that. He was hanging with the street kids, flirting with them. He was acting as if we were the same ... even though there was never any possibility of us ever being the same.”
“Your brother enticed the girls,” Ofelia said in an attempt to move the conversation along. “He suckered them into thinking he was interested, brought them back to your father’s apartment in the building next door, and then introduced them to ... a game of sorts.”
Maggie smiled and nodded. “Yes. You understand.”
“I understand,” Ofelia confirmed. “All three of you were sick. This was a game you played together.”
“No. It was my father and Michael. I was innocent.”
“No, you weren’t.” Ofelia refused to let Maggie play the victim. If that was the woman’s intent with her visit, she was about to have a rude awakening. “Your brother seduced the girls. Your father used and abused them. You killed them after the fact.”
Maggie’s mouth dropped open in mock outrage. “I did not! How can you even say that?”
“Because it’s written all over your face ... and in your head ... and across your very guts. You can’t hide what you are.”
“And what’s that?”
“A sociopath.” Things started coalescing in Ofelia’s mind. “You and Michael were teenagers, but your father saw you as evil equals, especially since you had a bit of magic at your fingertips. You all played this game together. You all got something out of it together.”
“You’re right ... and you’re wrong.” Maggie didn’t appear bothered that Ofelia had figured things out. That was worrisome for the witch, but she held it together and waited. There was nothing she could do until Maggie made her move. “My father didn’t kill them. I thought maybe you would believe that after your visit to the cemetery last night but ... apparently not. I should’ve seen that coming.”
“You used the hex bags to kill them.”
Maggie didn’t deny it, instead merely shrugging.
“You’re the one who raised your father from the dead,” Ofelia pressed.
“You’re not the only witch.” Maggie’s grin was evil. “As for killing those girls, you can get as outraged as you want, but I did society a favor. They were nothing but drains. They seduced my father and brother. They made a mockery of our family ... and for what? Pieces of jewelry. That’s what. They earned everything that happened to them.”
And that’s when the final piece slipped into place for Ofelia. “Your father bought them off with the rings. He probably didn’t even realize they were dead. He and your brother had sex with them — which was bad enough — but then he threw those rings at them as payment.”
“This went on months and months,” Maggie confirmed. “It was absolutely disgusting the way those girls came back. Some didn’t even keep the rings. They sold them. Others just wanted more. I decided to give them more.”
“You killed them without your father and brother knowing.”
“Actually, my brother eventually found out.” Maggie smiled at the memory. “I was stashing the bodies in an empty office on the third floor of the building because I didn’t know what to do with them and the smell got ... overwhelming. I tried to cover it up with incense and sage, but he caught me one day.
“I told him it was his fault,” she continued. “If he hadn’t ignored me when I needed him most, none of this would’ve ever happened. He said he was going to turn me in, but I knew that wasn’t true. If he did, then I would’ve had no choice but to tell the police what he and my father were doing. That would’ve caused everything my father worked so hard for to crumble and Michael couldn’t take that.”
“So he helped you wall off the bodies,” Ofelia surmised. “He put them in your father’s apartment because they were less likely to be discovered there. Even if your father rented out the rest of the space, the bodies were well hidden.”
“And there was no way my father would ever give up that apartment,” Maggie added. “That was his sanctuary away from my mother. Talk about nuts. She used to walk around the house talking to herself for hours at a time. She accused my father of all manner of things. Sure, some of it was true, but most of it was nonsense she made up in her head.”
“Your mother was mentally ill?” That added another wrinkle to the story. The illness could’ve easily been passed
on to Maggie. It made sense.
“My mother needed to be locked up for her own protection at a certain point. We were never to speak of it.”
“Uh-huh.” Ofelia shook her head, bile rising in her throat. “So, your mother was locked up and you were killing people and letting your brother help you hide the bodies. You guys had quite the racket going ... until Katrina hit.”
“Basically,” Maggie agreed. “We could’ve kept on indefinitely if it weren’t for that storm. My father got so worked up he had a heart attack, the sort that kept him in the hospital for more than a month. He needed special rehab, which meant we stayed in Virginia while he got better. He said it was important and refused to allow us to return home together.”
“And when you did finally return, you found your father had a new lease on life,” Ofelia said. They’d already figured out the rest of this without even realizing they were on the right track. “Your father decided he wanted to be a better person because he saw his life flashing in front of his eyes and realized he would go to hell if it existed. He didn’t want to take that risk.”
“Absolutely.” Maggie perfunctorily bobbed her head, pleased. “Perhaps I misjudged you. You’re smarter than you look.”
“He managed to somehow keep his appetite suppressed, although I’m curious how he managed that because it seems virtually impossible.”
“Drugs to dampen his libido.”
“Ah.” Ofelia exhaled heavily. “He kept it together until his death and then something happened that threw your life into upheaval. What was it? I’m guessing it had something to do with your brother.”
“The second my father died and left him in charge of his estate Michael started right up again,” Maggie volunteered. “He headed straight for the street girls. It was a fetish ... or a sickness. This time it was just him, though. He didn’t have to share his conquests with Father ... and he was enjoying himself far too much.”
“So you decided to teach him a lesson.”
“I did. You should’ve seen his face when your boyfriend showed up to tell us about the body that was found in Father’s old apartment. I thought he was going to soil his own pants.”
“But that wasn’t the only body that was found,” Ofelia pointed out. “There were others.”
“There were. I didn’t expect the others to be discovered. I think that was my mistake. I should’ve anticipated that. The thing is, according to Daisy, the only reason those bodies were found was because of you.
“I questioned her about what happened in that apartment.” Maggie’s expression turned dark, menacing. “She was whining and carrying on, but she wasn’t so out of it she missed the fact that you had magical hands. Of course, she thought she imagined it because she was supposed to be passed out, but I knew what she really saw. I knew what you were.”
“Because you’re a witch, too.”
“I am. I’m a more powerful witch than you are.”
Ofelia didn’t buy that for a second. “I think you’re mistaken on that front.”
“I guess we’ll find out. That’s why I’m here, after all. Once I saw you with Detective Sully, I knew this wasn’t over. I gave you my brother. I practically dangled him in front of your faces. You wouldn’t settle for Michael’s death as an ending, though. I realized that right away.”
“Why did you kill your brother?”
“Because he knew.” Maggie studied her fingertips for a beat. “He knew that I’d brought my father back. He had his suspicions months ago but after last night ... he knew. Father showed up, burned badly, and I couldn’t hide what I’d done from Michael.
“He threatened to turn me in to the cops again, and this time I could tell he meant it,” she continued. “He was going to blame all those deaths on me, get me arrested, and then keep living his life as if nothing had happened. He was going to forget me.”
“And you couldn’t allow that.”
“No. I definitely couldn’t allow that.”
“Did you kill him, or was it your father?”
“I guess you could say it was a joint effort. Father was weak after the attack at the mausoleum, but he’s bound to me. He has no choice but to do my bidding. I ordered him to kill Michael, and he did. Then we transported his body back here. It was supposed to look like a suicide.”
“Your brother’s neck was snapped,” Ofelia pointed out. “There was no rope or suicide attempt. It was obviously murder.”
“Yes, well, that was another miscalculation.” Maggie waved her hand. “I should’ve come up with a better plan. Father gets too excited sometimes. He loses control. It’s as if the urges he somehow managed to tamp down in life can’t be controlled in death.”
“You’ve taken away his reason for behaving,” Ofelia pointed out. “He only started walking the straight and narrow because he was afraid to go to hell. He’s bypassed death at this point. He has no reason to behave.”
“Huh.” Maggie looked genuinely thoughtful. “I hadn’t thought of that. You might be right, though.”
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure I’m right.”
“Well, that’s something to consider going forward. I already have a spot cleared for my brother in the mausoleum, although he doesn’t know that yet. I’m going to bring him back, too. I’ll wait until things die down, but it shouldn’t be long. Unlike before, though, he’ll be bound to me. He won’t be able to break from my will this time.”
Ofelia felt sick to her stomach. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure this is the end of the line for you.” She was done playing games. She’d heard everything she needed to hear. “There is going to be no ‘going forward.’ Well, unless you have plans for world domination that you can carry out from a jail cell.”
Maggie snorted, her disdain obvious. “You think you’re going to arrest me, do you? I have news for you. That’s not going to happen. I mean ... you don’t even have a cop to do the deed.”
Something about the way she phrased the sentence set Ofelia’s teeth on edge. “Excuse me?” She straightened in her chair, glancing around. “Where is your father?”
“What makes you think I brought him?”
“Because you don’t do anything without him. He’s your sole form of protection other than the shadow you take on. That’s strictly camouflage, though.”
“That’s true ... to a certain extent. I don’t need him to take you on, though.” Her smile was predatory. “Your boyfriend is another matter. I really did want to find a way to navigate an exit for him because he’s so hot. It doesn’t look like that’s going to be possible, though.”
Ofelia’s heart hammered like a war drum. “You sent your father after Sully.”
“And Daisy. Neither of them can survive. Once we take out the three of you, we’ll be in the clear. The other cops will blame my brother and move on.”
Ofelia pressed her hands to the tabletop. “Is your father with Sully right now?”
“Oh, look at that.” Maggie was tickled. “You’re upset. You want to run to the rescue and save your boyfriend. That is so ... cute.”
Her smile disappeared in an instant. “Let me tell you something. Offering your loyalty to a man will do nothing but come back to bite you. You might think you care about him, but he’s a man. They hurt you whenever they get the chance. You’re better off without him.”
Ofelia was at the end of her rope. “We’re done here.” She started to move toward the door, every intention of racing to the adjacent building to save Sully at the forefront of her brain.
Maggie had other plans, though. “I can’t let you leave.” She raised her hands in dramatic fashion.
Ofelia was expecting the attack. She tossed up a shield spell that was strong enough to have Maggie’s weak magic bouncing off. Her eyes were fiery pits of hate when they landed on Maggie. “You shouldn’t have done that.”
Maggie swallowed hard. “I told you I’m more powerful than you.”
“You did tell me that.” Ofelia was calm. “It’s not true, though. You’re nowhere near as
powerful as I am.”
Maggie’s smug expression faltered. “I won’t let you ruin this for me.”
“You don’t have a choice.” Ofelia extended her hand, magic growing with every inch of movement, and slammed it into the center of Maggie’s chest. The delusional woman only had a brief moment to realize what was happening — her eyes going wide — and then she flew backward and slammed into the wall.
Oscar, who was just on the other side of the door, rushed through the opening when he heard the ruckus. His mouth dropped open when he caught sight of Maggie’s broken body on the floor. “Is she ... ?”
“Yes.” Ofelia was grim as she turned to stalk out of the room. “Watch the kitten. He’s hiding under the plants over there. He’s afraid. Don’t lose him.”
Oscar was dumbfounded. “I don’t understand. Where are you going?”
“The ghoul is in the other building ... with Zach.”
“Oh.” Oscar rubbed his chin. “Are you going to kill the ghoul, too?”
“Yes.”
“Should I call someone about this body?”
“No. I’ll handle it when I’m done.”
Oscar looked as if he wanted to say more, but the fierce look on his daughter’s face told him it wasn’t the right time. “Well ... good luck. I’ll take care of your cat.”
“Thank you.” Ofelia stomped toward the bar. “I won’t be gone long.”
“I’m looking forward to you coming back.” Oscar shifted from one foot to the other, seemingly nervous. “You should probably name the cat at some point. He’s going to get a complex not having a name.”
“I’ll get right on that as soon as I finish with the ghoul.”
“Good enough.”
Twenty
“Stop!” Sully was beyond annoyed as he tried to extricate himself from Daisy. Suddenly, it was like she had eight arms ... and all of them wanted to grab him in inappropriate places. “I don’t want you touching me.”
Daisy pulled back, annoyance evident. “Since when don’t men want women to touch them?”
Witch Confidential Page 19
