Looking for Mr. Good Witch (9 page)

Merry Meet we join together,

Wind and rain, friends forever.

Portia talked about how wonderful it was to see such a large crowd gathered in the park. She talked about the power of the full moon and hoped we all had important ideas in mind for our spells.

She was only the center of attention for a few moments before there was another large blast of sparks and flames. Cassandra was there, raised above us by a flaming platform.

She was dressed in black silk that caught the moonlight, which shimmered in the material. Her hair danced around her, caressed by unseen wind currents.

Even if you didn't like her—as many there didn't—you had to admit it was an incredible entrance.

“Hear me, sisters! I bring you warning of a terrible threat that has come to the Wilmington area. Someone is killing our young men, leaving behind little of their bodies. Protect yourselves. Use stronger spells. So far the deaths have only been male witches, but this could change. The Grand Council
of Witches is here for you. We are investigating these deaths and hope to have the culprit taken shortly.”

There was a moment of stark silence that followed her announcement. It immediately ended with dozens of questions about the threat against us. All the witches were frightened and unsure if their protection spells were strong enough to handle the danger.

“Farewell. Blessed Be!” Cassandra left without answering a single query. She disappeared in the same flame that had brought her.

“What a waste of a perfectly good dress,” Olivia said. “I'm sure that wasn't off the rack either.”

After all the excitement was over, Olivia and I headed back to our picnic table. Brian, Dorothy and Elsie joined us soon after.

“Can you believe that about witches being killed?” Elsie asked.

“Cassandra told us about it at the shop, remember?” I replied.

“That's right. I knew I'd heard it somewhere.”

Brian brought his food—store-bought chicken and potato salad—to our table and took a seat beside Dorothy. “I just want to apologize to all of you for losing it while we were blessing the houses. My parents make me crazy. And I didn't mean to do anything to your daughter, Elsie.”

She smiled and patted his hand. “I understand. Family can be excruciating. Have some of this macaroni salad I made. I even baked fresh bread and cookies.”

“Cookies!” Dorothy squealed. “I love eating dessert first, like Bill Clinton.”

We all laughed at that as we passed around the food. Other witches stopped at our table to share blessings and food with us. It was a beautiful night on the river.

I would have enjoyed it more without the rune on my palm. The constant itching and burning was annoying. It made me
long for some aloe to ease it, even though that would be defeating the purpose.

“I think the deaths of these witches are part of the same case Joe is working on,” I said. “When he and Suzanne were at the house for lunch today, they got confirmation of a death in Southport being linked to the other killings.”

Elsie blinked as she bit into a cucumber. “Joe and his ex-wife were having lunch at your house today?”

“They were waiting to hear about the murder.” I picked up one of Elsie's delicious chocolate fudge cookies.

“Were they already there when you got home?” Dorothy nibbled the edge off a cherry tart. “Awkward.”

“It wasn't awkward at all,” I told her, even though it had been. “They're partners. Partners eat lunch together.”

“But usually partners aren't people who were formerly married,” Olivia added. “Don't tell me that doesn't bother you, Molly.”

“You're looking at this the wrong way,” I said.

“I agree with Molly,” Brian added. “Just because Joe is at her house with his ex-wife doesn't mean something ugly is going on. They're working together. Men can work with a woman without thinking of her as a sexual object.”

Elsie and Olivia burst out laughing.

“Not in
my
experience,” Olivia said.

“Certainly not in my late husband's experience,” Elsie said.

“Forget I brought it up,” I finally said. “We should be focusing our moon energy on finding our spell book anyway.”

“I have a new locator spell if you want to try it,” Brian offered.

We agreed, and held hands around the table, concentrating on our spell book. Olivia hovered near us to feel like she was part of the coven. We each held a silver coin to draw moon energy to our cause.

After a few minutes, we sat back and released our hands.

“I hope one of us will have a dream later that shows where the spell book is hidden,” Brian said. “That's the way this works. If you have a place where you can sleep in the moonlight, it will be even stronger.”

“Good evening, ladies. Brian.”

I looked up, surprised to see Abdon Fuller standing beside us. He was Brian's grandfather and one of the most powerful witches on the council.

“Granddad.” Brian tried to get to his feet but was hampered by the picnic table. “I didn't expect to see you here tonight.”

“Isn't
that
the truth?” Elsie muttered before swallowing a gulp of sweet tea.

It was a surprise for us too. I'd seen him at various large witch functions a few times since I was a child, but I had never talked to him. I'd never seen him so close.

He didn't resemble Brian at all. He had blunt features, a crooked nose and a twisted mouth. He had a large scar on one cheek that gave him a pirate look. I wondered why such a powerful witch would keep a scar like that when he could easily remove it.

“Mr. Fuller.” Dorothy scooted off the bench to allow Brian to get up. She stuck out her trembling hand to Abdon.

He looked the other way. “Brian, if I may have a word alone with you.”

“I know what you have to say, Granddad. Mom and Dad already said it.”

Abdon lifted one corner of his lip in an attempt to smile. It only made him appear to snarl. “I'm sure you'd rather not hear what I have to say in front of your new
friends
.”

The way he said “friends” sounded like the way someone else would say “trash.” Elsie tried to get to her feet. I was glad the picnic table still held her hostage. Abdon Fuller would laugh at a witch with her limited abilities.

Brian glanced at us. “All right. But I'll be back.” He bent
his head and kissed Dorothy full on the mouth. “Don't go anywhere.”

The look of disgust on Abdon's face was apparent even in the dim light. He turned his back and began to walk away. Brian caught up with him, and the two disappeared into the darkness.

“I've never met anyone ruder than that man,” Olivia said.

“I thought about turning his head into a watermelon,” Elsie said. “I couldn't get up from this stupid bench. He was lucky tonight.”

I smiled but hid it behind my hand. Elsie was lucky she couldn't confront him. It could have meant serious consequences for her—and for the rest of us, as we wouldn't have stood still and watched her be abused.

“Are you sure you want to get involved with this messed-up family?” Olivia asked Dorothy.

“A person doesn't get to choose her family,” Dorothy replied. “I was just lucky that I could be with the three of you. Brian wasn't so lucky.”

Brian came back a few minutes later. He was oddly quiet the rest of the time we were there. We didn't leave the park until after midnight. There was very little food to pack up by then. I was happy not to take anything home.

“It was a good celebration.” Elsie yawned. “I'm ready to go to bed now.”

Brian said good night. I sensed an awful sadness and finality in his tone. He didn't kiss Dorothy good-bye. I hoped he'd be all right.

The burning and itching in my palm went away as soon as we left the park. It had to mean that the Bone Man's wife was a witch and that she had been at the celebration. But which of possibly hundreds of witches was she? Was she new to the area or had she lived here for a long time? Maybe I'd known her forever without realizing who she was.

We got back to Elsie's house quickly, since there was no traffic on the streets. I was ready to get out and help her.

She put her hand on my arm to stop me. “Tell us right now what happened with the Bone Man's deal, Molly, before we get in too deep.”

“I'll have to use an enchanted bubble.” I gave in to the inevitable. I'd hidden the problem with Joe for a long time. It would be good to share it with my friends.

“How will that work with me?” Olivia asked.

None of us had the answer. She was the first ghost we'd ever tried to share with.

“Let's just do it and see what happens,” Dorothy said. “I mean, when you're ready. I don't know how to make an enchanted bubble.”

“It's a good time for you to learn,” Elsie decided. “The spell is pretty easy. I think I did my first bubble when I was eight or nine.”

I waited to see if she was going to do the bubble. Elsie glanced at me. I knew she either couldn't remember or didn't feel up to it.

“All right.” I bent my head and muttered the incantation.

Shield us now from hurt and fear,

Keep the silence round us here.

Words of anger, words of pain,

Never to be heard again.

“Cool!” Dorothy said. “It's like the whole car is surrounded by gray slime.”

I opened my eyes. She was right about the whole car being involved. Olivia was in the car, too, so it included her.

“And that's how we make an enchanted bubble,” I said. “Once you're inside the bubble, no one can hear you outside—including the council. How long it will last depends on how much magic you put into it. I've seen them last for a day before, but usually you only conjure one for a short conversation. Anything more draws attention.”

“Well, let's get to it before the bubble is gone,” Elsie said. “Tell us, Molly.”

I explained about finding it necessary to tell Joe about magic. There was a group gasp at that. “I didn't have any choice. I was afraid he might be killed. I decided that I would rather lose his memories than lose him.”

“Quite a risk, and a debatable question,” Elsie declared. “So he's kept it to himself?”

“Except for one night right before we were going to sleep. But that was a while ago. Nothing happened.”

“And then you started seeing the Bone Man,” Olivia reminded me. “How can you be sure it wasn't just a council trick to get you to admit it?”

“Again, nothing has happened. The Bone Man offered to tell me how to use the magic in this amulet in exchange for finding his wife. I changed the trade. He promised to protect Joe and Mike from the council.”

Elsie slapped her hand to her forehead. “You've got to be kidding me! One little demonstration of water magic and you were willing to risk your family's lives? I can't believe it, Molly.”

“You weren't there,” I argued. “I don't know what kind of magic he has, but I don't know a water witch who can raise the ocean at will, do you?”

Everyone had to admit that it didn't seem like a parlor trick.

“So what happens now?” Dorothy asked.

“I find the Bone Man's wife for him, and take her to Oak Island. He protects Joe and Mike in case Joe makes a mistake. Mike doesn't know. The Bone Man has never gone back on a pledge to one of us. His deals are always true. I have no reason to think this won't be the same.”

Elsie tapped her chin. “How do you plan to convince the Bone Man's wife to go back to him? If she lives around here, it's not like she doesn't know where he is. It must be a conscious effort on her part to stay away from him.”

“That's true, Molly,” Olivia agreed. “And is the Bone Man protecting Joe right now—or is he waiting until you fulfill your end of the bargain?”

I shrugged, tired and uncertain. “I don't know. I didn't think to ask him that. I don't want to go back out there right now. I'll warn Joe to be extra careful for a while. I guess I'll look for the Bone Man's wife and deal with her not wanting to go back when I get there.”

The enchanted bubble began slipping away. It took only another moment before we could clearly see Elsie's porch light and the big moon above us.

Elsie shook herself and began getting out of the car. “A discussion for another day. Good night, sisters. Blessed Be.”

After Elsie was inside the house,, Dorothy drove me home. Joe's black SUV wasn't in the drive. I knew he must be working late on the case.

“Good night, Molly,” Dorothy said. “Do you need help getting things inside?”

“No. I'm fine. How did you like your first full moon celebration?”

“It was wonderful—except for the part about Brian's grandfather. What makes his family so angry and rude?”

“Wealth, I suppose,” Olivia said. “And an impeccable lineage.”

I squeezed her hand. “Try not to worry about it. It's all up to Brian. He'll have to decide how he wants to live his life. I'll see you both tomorrow.”

“I'll look up that rune tonight, Molly,” Olivia said. “I'll let you know what I find in the morning.”

They waved to me and were gone. Tired but not sleepy, I looked up at the moon. I decided to go out into the garden for a while and enjoy the moonlight.

After everything from the celebration was put away or in the dishwasher, I changed into my nightgown and went out. I spent a lot of time out here, regardless of the season. Most witches are renewed when they are close to nature.

The moon was reflected in the surface of the water in my birdbath. I noticed that it bounced from the water to my amulet. The colors danced in the center of it. I took it off to peer inside, always wondering if it was a trick of the light that made it look so alive. It had to be a stone of some sort, my rational mind argued. But I was sure it was something different, something I couldn't define.

Like the Bone Man.

What was he? He wasn't a witch. He didn't fit as any of the supernatural creatures that I'd met—including werewolves and a cranky old vampire who lived on First Street.

I knew Georgia, the Selkie. I had also met a mermaid or two. Georgia was pleasant and very nearly human. Mermaids, on the other hand, were not human at all. They were also extremely rude and could be dangerous. I'd known a witch who'd almost lost her hand to one.

I sat in my chair near the birdbath and let the magic moonlight bathe me. There was a small altar, between my chair and the other two, which had been blessed. We'd used it for many years.

I put the amulet on the altar. For a moment, nothing happened. Then the moon caught it and a thousand lights flared from it, like from a diamond. The lights moved and swayed. Mesmerized, I watched them.

It was as though I fell into a trance watching them. I saw the dead witches who had been killed in the past few months. I clearly envisioned their faces and even the places where they had been killed. It was amazing and frightening at the same time.

The front door closed, and I snapped out of it. Joe called my name. I grabbed my amulet, thanked the moon for being so gracious and went inside.

“There you are.” Joe smiled as he put his gun and badge away. “How was your party?”

“It was very nice. Anything new on the murder front?”

He sank into a chair in the TV room. “Almost too much to take in. There are eleven official deaths now that are part of the investigation, including the one in Southport. A new one took place near the river last night. The killer is moving pretty fast.”

“Can I get you something? Are you hungry?”

“No. They brought in pizza at the station since we were all working late.”

I sat in a chair opposite him. “Can you tell me what makes them think these killings are related?”

“Sure. There's too much similarity between the deaths. There are no wounds anywhere on the body. The victims look as though they drowned, but there is no water in the lungs. Cause of death is still undetermined. Each victim has been found with seaweed and sand on their clothes and in his hair.”

I thought about what he'd said. “Since each of them came from a town near the water, I suppose you'd expect something like that.”

“But not on our victim that was found near the river, and not a few of the others who were found near lakes and rivers. Yes, they were all in coastal towns, but the seaweed and sand is from the ocean.”

“Maybe the murderer killed them at the ocean and then left them near the other bodies of water.”

“Maybe. But what about what killed them?” He glanced at me significantly.

I knew he was wondering if I had any ideas from a witch's point of view.

What could I say without going into the enchanted bubble? “I have heard a rumor that all the victims were of the same
religion
.”

“Same religion?” He nodded. “Oh. Okay. I get it. Do you think the killer might be of that religious persuasion too?”

“I don't know. I've heard it's hard to sneak up on someone who follows that religion, but it can be done by someone
also
of that religion.”

“I'll keep that in mind.” He ran his hand through his hair. “Have you heard if people from that religion are doing their own investigation into the deaths?”

“I'm sure they're looking into it. They'd definitely act if they found out who the killer is.”

“Okay. I'll see how that works into our investigation.” He yawned. “Suzanne got her voucher to stay at a hotel. She
already picked up her stuff. It's weird working with her again.”

“
Again?
”

“Maybe I didn't tell you that we were partners when she was here in Wilmington.”

“You mean when you were married? I don't think so.”
I'd have remembered that.

“Well, it's kind of a strange story. We met on the job. A lot of people said it wasn't a good idea for the two of us to get together. We got married anyway, and they wouldn't let us work together—it's a rule. I guess they were right. She moved right after we got divorced. She was a good officer. She's a good detective too.”

What's strange about it?
I waited for the punch line. It never came.

“Great.” I got to my feet. “I think I'm going to bed. Are you staying up?”

“For a while.” He stood and kissed me good night before turning on the TV.

“See you in the morning.”

I climbed into bed. The conversation we'd had may have been stilted, but I had gotten the idea and so had he.

It was clear to me that the killer was a water witch.

It made sense. A water witch would choose to kill, or do anything else important, close to water, where she was most powerful. Considering how the deaths laid out geographically, I considered that she had begun her spree in Savannah and would probably head up the coast until whatever motivated her to begin killing had ended.

There was no way to know how many victims that could include.

But why? Why would a witch kill another witch? It was completely against our beliefs to take life of any kind.

I thought the sand and seaweed might be a cover for how the real deaths occurred, possibly to throw off investigators
from the Council of Witches. It would be easy to fool the police. They would never consider magic as a weapon.

I thought of a few ways I might be able to help. It was important that the council figure out who was doing this to save Joe from getting caught in the middle. As terrible as it sounded, sending Cassandra out to warn everyone that they could be in danger might be as close as the council got to being part of the investigation.

They needed a nudge in the right direction. It looked as though I might have to be that nudge.