Pretty Witches All in a Row (11 page)

Veronica was absolved from dish duty to start on homework and Nick started to stack the dirty plates in the sink. 

“Give you a hand?” Annaliese offered, bringing her plate to join him at the sink.

“I usually find it’s best to let them soak for an hour or ten.  In fact, sometimes the longer I let them sit, the less dishes there are in there the next time I look,” Nick kidded.  “Besides, you’re a guest; you shouldn’t be schlepping dishes, go have a seat.  You want some coffee or tea?”

“No thanks, I think if I have anything else you might have to roll me out to my car.”   

“It was the ice cream, wasn’t it?  I told you not to have the chocolate
and
the chocolate.  They never listen…”

“Show me a woman who can resist chocolate and… actually… I don’t think they exist.”

“Truer words were never spoken,” he agreed, turning around to lean against the counter.  “Oh hey, I wasn’t kidding about the questions I have for you… something came up earlier I wanted to ask you about.”  It was only a matter of time before his thoughts went back to the case, even in the presence of such lovely company. 

“Sure, fire away.”

“Do you remember those pictures I showed you of the star thing, the pentacle?  You said it was probably black salt.”

“Yes, I remember.”

“It turns out it was made out of dirt.  Does that mean anything to you?”

“Dirt.  What kind of dirt?” her brows drew together into a single dark line.

“Ah, I don’t know, run of the mill dirt?  The report didn’t specify, just that it was local dirt.  For all I know there are trace elements of something that can pick out the region it’s from more specifically, but I’m no geologist.”

“Well… I’ve heard of witches using graveyard dirt to help boost the power of a spell,” she considered aloud.  “But that means it probably wasn’t being used for protection then, or black salt would have been the better choice.”

“Is there any way to tell what kind of spell she was working on?”

“I’m afraid not.  Not from the pictures I’ve seen, maybe not even from checking out the place in person.  It looks like except for the pentacle there wasn’t anything else left out that might indicate what components she used.  Plus, a lot of spell components, herbs, oils, candles… can be used for multiple purposes.”

“Okay, thanks.”  He ruminated over the information for a few seconds.  “Oh, ah… I was meaning to ask you about where you were the night that Zoe died?  I spoke to Rose and she said that you were with her that night?”

“Ah… yes I think so.” 

“All night?” he raised a brow.

“Yes, all night… why?”  She caught his expression then and gave his shoulder a playful shove.  “What’s that look supposed to mean?”

“You know… she sort of intimated that…”

“Intimated what?”  She gave him a sidelong look.

“That the two of you were…” 

“Were what?”

“You know…”

“Obviously I don’t, maybe you’d better spell it out for me?” 

Nick gave a delicate cough.  “She intimated that the two of you were… lovers.”  The last word was given in a whisper.

Annaliese pressed her lips together to keep from laughing.  “Oh she did, did she?  And what is it you specifically wanted to know about that?”

“Is it true?”

“Does that have any bearing on your case?”

“It might…” 

“It might… really?”  Her head canted to one side as she stared back at him.

“Well okay, maybe it’s a question of a more personal nature.”

“I’d say it’s pretty personal.”

“So were you?  Lovers I mean?” he pressed.

“Would it bother you if we were?”

“Bother, no.”  He gave a shake of the head.  “But I guess a guy likes to know where he stands.”  Nick had the satisfaction of seeing her eyes widen slightly in surprise but not distress.  He was starting to move into dangerous territory, but for the moment he couldn’t bring himself to care.

“Where do you stand?” she asked, taking a half step closer to him. 

They drifted closer together, and Nick felt his eyes drawn to her lips.  Had he said before that she wasn’t beautiful?  What had he been thinking?  The woman standing in his kitchen, her lips parted in a breathless smile was every bit as desirable as any woman he’d taken into his arms before, and he felt the urge to do so now. 

“Hey Dad, can I have a little more ice cream?”  Veronica asked, passing through the other kitchen entrance on the way to the family room. 

Annaliese pulled back, a guilty expression on her face.  Nick closed his eyes, counting to five and cursing his daughter’s rotten timing.  “No, you may not have more ice cream, you had plenty.  I thought you were supposed to be working on homework?” he grumbled. 

“All I have left is reading and I wanted to watch my show first, it’s only a half hour one.”  Veronica snapped on the television, the smile playing over her lips telling him she knew exactly what she’d been interrupting. 

Nick was at a rare loss for words, and he gave Annaliese an apologetic smile.  “Alright, just the one show then.”  He turned back to Anna, his voice dropping in an attempt to regain some of that intimacy lost.  “Would you like to maybe…”

“Hey Dad, they’re talking about your case on the news.” 

That caught their attention, and they moved into the family room, eyes glued to the screen.  The newscaster stated that police were following several leads and had linked the two deaths, flashing pictures of both Zoe and Skye.

“They always say the same thing; you’re following several leads…” Annaliese commented.  “Does that mean you’ve got multiple suspects?”

“It means they got squat from my department and they’re making stuff up.  I don’t know how they got that the two cases are linked though; we were trying to keep a lid on that in the press releases.”  Nick frowned at the screen, listening as they talked on without giving much new information. 

“Oh shit…” Annaliese blanched as they showed her storefront, reporting that both women were known to be practicing witches who frequented that shop, but that they had been unable to reach the shop owner for comment.  “Sorry,” she flicked an apologetic look to Nick over the language.  “I should probably get back before all hell breaks loose down there.”

“You know what they say, no publicity is bad publicity,” he offered supportively. 

“We’ll see about that, won’t we?”  Annaliese smiled grimly before producing a very unladylike snort of disgust as the next interviewee came upon the screen, flashing his pearly whites with a sanctimonious smile.  “Ugh, that guy is a total ass.”   

“Who is, that guy?”  Nick asked, reading the name aloud from the screen.  “Reverend Noah Cahill, First Church of the Holy Spirit.” 

“You’ve never seen him before?  The guy’s got a two thousand dollar smile and a five dollar brain.  He’s one of those types who can find a bible quote to support any point of view that serves his purpose.  If you asked him to defend spousal abuse, he’d come up with some crap about women not being allowed to have dominion over men and suffering in silence or something.” 

Nick knew the type alright.  The kind of man who preached about the path to God, as long as it was his path; everyone else was doomed to burn in the fiery pits of hell.  He was charismatic, he’d give him that.  Reverend Cahill was young, early thirties maybe, with a full head of dark hair and a perfect set of very white teeth.  Clean cut and wholesome in appearance, handsome enough for a man he supposed, looking dapper in a dove gray suit. 

The young preacher was going on about young people today having to live with the consequences of their actions, hinting strongly that it was likely the victims’ own fault for getting killed for being involved with the occult.

“What a total pig…” Veronica muttered disgustedly, changing the channel.

“No wait, go back,” Nick called back, his eyes intent on the screen.  “Does anyone else here find it strange that the good Reverend is being interviewed on this subject?  I mean, why him?  Did he call the station and volunteer his point of view, or did they track him down for some reason?  Neither of the killings took place near his church or involved his parishioners… or did it?”

They all stared at the screen for a long moment while the news finished the segment and then Annaliese broke the silence.  “I’ve got to get going, I’m sure the girls at the shop are going crazy if there’s a crowd or camera crew out there.  Besides; emergency coven meeting tonight.” 

“Emergency coven meeting?  What for?”

“Gotta get the witches in a circle,” she smiled, affecting a southern twang.  “Thanks again for dinner, it was great.  It was nice talking to you Veronica; I hope you’ll stop in again sometime.”

“Totally,” Veronica nodded, smiling in return.  “It was nice talking to you too.”

“I’ll walk you out,” Nick volunteered, pulling his thoughts from the new direction the case had suddenly taken.  “Thanks for staying, I had a good time,” he smiled once they were alone in the hallway.

“I did too, thanks for allowing me to be a part of your barbecue tradition.”

“Tweren’t nothin’, Ma’am.”  Nick tipped an imaginary hat to her. 

Annaliese smiled at that, removing the borrowed cowboy hat and combing through her hair as she handed it back.   “You have a lovely daughter; smart, with a good heart.”

“Yeah, she’s a great kid.  But it’s nice to have a grown-up to hang out with sometimes too.”

“I don’t see why I have to be the grown-up when you don’t have to be,” Anna teased, pausing by the front door. 

“Touche, Madam.  You know, most people do actually consider me to be very grown up.  An authority figure even.” 

“Yes, but now I’ll always think of you as a guy in a cowboy hat with barbecue sauce on his face.” 

“I thought you said I got all of it off…”  Nick ducked back a few paces to try and catch his reflection in a picture on the wall. 

“Relax, you’re fine.” 

“You on the other hand…”  Nick reached out to straighten her scarf.  “You’re kind of a mess, do you know that?”   His lips twitched with amusement as she let him set her appearance to rights. 

“Am I?” 

“Yep.”  He stopped fussing, satisfied with the effect.  “It’s a good thing I like mess.”  Unable to resist, his fingers lightly brushed across her jaw as he released her.

Annaliese stared back at him for a long moment before she turned to go, pulling the door open.  “Thanks again.” 

“Anytime,” he called out, leaning forward when she stopped about halfway to her car and turned. 

“Oh… by the way, we’re just friends, Rose and I.  That night I had too much wine to drink and didn’t feel like driving home.  She’s got plenty of room… I stayed over.  That’s all.”

An answering smile lit his face after he registered what the heck she was talking about.  “Good to know,” he called out with a wave.  That was a signal, right?  It had been so long he wasn’t really sure.  Nick leaned against the doorway until her car disappeared from view, his thoughts staying on the pretty witch for another few minutes before returning to the family room where Veronica waited. 

“So…?” she smiled up at him expectantly.

Not about to give her what she wanted, he faced her with the sternest expression he could muster.  “It never once occurred to you that it might be a little dangerous to go down to Argent Flame?  One of those witches could be the murderer!”

A roll of the eyes was given.  “Oh come on, Daddy, didn’t you have the head witch over here for dinner tonight?  You’re gonna tell me you think she’s dangerous?”

“Maybe not her, but there’s no telling who might go into a store like that.”

“I went into a store like that!” she returned hotly.   

“Look, the fact of the matter is, someone is killing those girls.  The less time you spend with them, the easier I’ll sleep at night.”

“Okay, okay, I’m sorry, I’ll stay away until your investigation is over, deal?”

“Deal,” he nodded, glad the matter was settled.  “So…what do you think then?”

“What do I think of what?” 

“You know what I mean, what do you think of Annaliese?”  He tossed a balled up napkin at her from the table. 

“I think she’s nice.  I mean, is she a little out there with the whole magic thing?  Yeah, probably, but is she your killer?  I don’t think so.”

“But you definitely like her; you think she’s nice…?” Nick was thoughtful.

“You like her too, don’t you?”  It was more of a statement than a question.

“Yeah, I do,” he smiled, a little surprised by the admission.  It was inappropriate as hell, and Captain Quinn would likely have his balls in a sling if he found out he’d had her over for dinner, but yeah… he liked her.

“You know who wigged me out today, was that Ellie lady,” Veronica added, drawing him out of his reverie.

“Really?  Ellie?  She’s a sweet little old lady.”

“Yeah, but something about her… she’s a creeper.  She’s like one of those nice old ladies who invites you in out of the rain and then gives you poison candy and ends up making flutes out of your bones.”  She gave a shudder.

“No more cable TV for you.”  Nick patted her on the head, his brain kicking back into high gear. 

Drawing out his phone, he called Brady, knowing he’d answer right away.  The guy had no social life, no matter what stories he made up about his ‘girlfriend’.  “Hey,” he spoke as soon as he picked up.  “Get me everything you can about a Reverend Noah Cahill and the First Church of the Holy Spirit.  I want to find out what he has to do with our girls, and how he came to comment on the nightly news about the case.   While you’re at it, see if you can get me a list of his congregation and start running them too, look for any sign of mental issues or violent behavior.”

“You got it, boss,” Brady replied without question. 

“And call me if anything else comes up on Ellie Wentworth.”  He dropped a wink at Veronica.

Chapter Seven

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The words reverberated through her mind, indistinct; she couldn’t quite place the language or make out the intent.  The air grew oppressively hot, the scent of bitter herbs permeating the room.  Her breathing came in shallow gasps as an unreasoning panic seized her limbs. 
She was in grave danger…