Shadow Witch (49 page)

He had not been out since he returned, hiding in his room with the curtains drawn, afraid to even go to the nearby Quick Stop for beer. Every slammed car door in the parking lot made him jump, every voice outside made his heart race.

Now he slumped in the chair, one finger absent-mindedly digging into the small rip in the bottom cushion and staring at the television but not seeing it. In his mind, he carefully retraced his steps over the last week, and he couldn’t see how he’d left any clues to his whereabouts. The only person who knew he was there was the night clerk, and he didn’t pay close attention to Gundy’s face and Gundy had checked in under a false name and paid cash.

And they don’t have a security camera
. He leaned back and stared at the ceiling.
I just need to be careful, that’s all. Don’t make any stupid mistakes and be patient. Wait ’til my signs are ready, then go back out and look for Sammi
.

After his first encounter with a cop, Gundy had decided to take the officer’s advice and get magnetic signs made for the stolen van: Acme Services. That’s what they’d say. He found a shop on the outskirts of Hendersonville and ordered a matched pair, but after thinking about it overnight, Gundy phoned the next morning and requested a second set of signs for a different disguise.

On the table in front of him was the new fake ID badge he’d been making:

Michael Baxter

NC Dept. of Child Services

ID # 27901

Glued to the top corner of it was a new picture of himself that he’d taken at a photo booth, wearing his suit, bleached hair neatly combed and makeup covering the scar on his jaw. He picked up the white card and admired it for a moment.
This oughta do the trick
.
I’ll get it laminated when I pick up my signs. Put it on a lanyard and wear it with my suit and nobody’ll think I’m Duane Gundy. I’ll be Michael Baxter, government worker
.

Until then he had to wait, sitting in his musty hotel room, watching television and smoking. “Dammit Sammi, the things I have to do for you!” he shouted at the ceiling.

But once I get you back, we’ll go away somewhere, maybe out to California, where nobody knows us, and start over, just the two of us. We’ll be happier there, without Brenda gettin’ in the way like before
.

Hismouth twisted tightly for a moment as he thought about his dead wife, and he felt a twinge of sadness and regret. Then he shook his head firmly
. No. It’s better without her around, just me and Sammi
.

Yeah, just the two of us. Me and my Sweetness
.

* * *

Fred yawned, waiting on the couch for Nova to get out of the bathroom so they could go to bed. Sammi was already asleep in Fred’s room, and the air mattress was inflated, lying on the floor beside Fred’s closet.

Fred was surprised when her mother came down the stairs, wearing her nightgown and slippers. “You’re up late, Mom.”

“I wanted to talk to you before you went to bed.” She sat next to Fred and patted her gently on the knee. “That was really nice of you to include Sammi in your group tonight on the three moon world. She’s been bored out of her mind all day, and it made her happy to be with you guys.”

“I couldn’t very well leave her out, poor kid. I feel bad for her, just sitting inside all day with nothing to do.”

“Hopefully, it won’t be for much longer. Carl said they have a couple ofpolice cars regularly patrolling neighborhoods, looking for Mr. Gundy.”

“When I go see Momma Sue and Mrs. Malley tomorrow, I’m going to ask them if here’s anything that they can do to find him. They may know of a spell that could help.”

Lisa nodded and took a long breath through her nose. “Fred, you’re really good with Sammi. It makes me wish that I could have had another child, because I think you would’ve been a great older sister.”

“Are you kidding? I would have been a bossy tyrant if I’d had a younger sister or brother. We’d have fought all the time, and they’d probably hate my guts.”

“Maybe before, but...you’ve changed. You’ve mellowed a lot lately. You’re not a tyrant to Sammi at all. You’re sweet to her.”

“Well, that’s
Sammi
. It’s hard to be mean to her.”

“I think she brings out the best in you, Fred.”

“She brings out the best in
you
, Mom. And Dad, too. It makes me really glad that Sammi came here when she ran away instead of going someplace else. I don’t think she would be happy anywhere else.”

“No, and she’s going to be even happier once they catch Mr. Gundy.” She gave Fred a half-smile. “Thank you for being such a good big sister to Sammi. I think you’re finally getting your bossy impulses under control. You’re growing up.”

“Well, then it’s a good thing there’s another little girl here to take my place.”

“Honey.” She reached for Fred’s hand and wrapped both of hers around it. “No one could ever take your place. You are my daughter, and I will always love you with all of my heart.”

Fred felt her throat tighten and she tried to swallow. Then she heard the bathroom door open and she said, “It sounds like Nova’s done in there. Let’s go to bed.” She leaned over and quickly kissed her mother on the cheek, then went to join Nova.

* * *

Jamie made a doorway in Fred’s living room and stood aside as Fred, Sammi, and Nova stepped through from Momma Sue’s house.

“So, how did it go?” Jamie asked.

Fred kissed him and set her spiral notebook on the couch. “Momma Sue and Mrs. Malley showed us a couple more hexes we can use in case Mr. Gundy gets too close. Did you make a doorway for your grandparents yet?”

Jamie nodded. “I just got back from Granddaddy’s warehouse.”

“Did his friends have a good time in Rivershire?”

“Apparently. They want to go there again and take a couple of their friends with them. Granddaddy offered them half price for a return visit.”

“So, that’s what? Ten thousand dollars?”

“Plus twenty for the other couple.”

“Dang.” Nova wrinkled her brow. “In my next life, I’m coming back as a wizard. That’s where all the money’s at.”

“It’s all for the school,” Jamie said. “I can’t get rich off of my power. It’s part of the oath I took when I was eight years old.”

“Maybe you need to take a new oath.”

“Jamie doesn’t mind.” Sammi bobbed her head. “He wants to help people. Right, Jamie?”

Jamie shrugged. “It’s kind of a challenge, too, trying to see what I can accomplish. I mean,what
we
can accomplish. Granddaddy is part of this deal, too, just like the rest of you.”

“I’m not doing anything,” Nova said. “I’m useless.”

“No you’re not,” Jamie said. “You were a big help on Friday with Miss Duffy.”

“And you have more to do, still,” Fred said, “if we do what Momma Sue and Mrs. Malley suggested.”

Jamie raised his eyebrows. “With the town council?”

“Momma Sue and Mrs. Malley have a plan. Sit down and I’ll tell you all about it.”

* * *

Jamie waited with Fred and Nova by the front steps of the Rivershire courthouse while Momma Sue and Mrs. Malley walked through the glowing doorway he’d just made. It winked out behind the two old witches and Momma Sue looked around with her eyes narrowed critically. “So this is Rivershire?” The voodoo queen nodded. “Nice. We need to come back some time and do a little sightseeing’, Bella, so you can show me around your fine little town.”

“But not now.” Mrs. Malley started up the broad stone steps. “We have some business to attend to, first.”

Jamie hustled ahead of her and held the door for her and the rest of their group. Fred was last, and she paused and patted him gently on the face as she passed him. “You’re such a gentleman.”

“Thank you, madam.” He bowed and followed her inside, where they found the secretary seated at her desk. “Hello, Mrs. Stewart. Are the councilmen in today?”

“Yes, Master Jamie. They are in their chamber.”

“Thanks.” Jamie and his group turned right and continued down the marble-floored hallway without waiting.

Mrs. Stewart rose from her seat and extended her hand toward them. “But you cannot go in there now. They are in session.”

“Certainly we can,” Mrs. Malley said over her shoulder.

“But....” No one bothered to respond as they made their way to the last door on the left.

Nova’s face was tight as they walked, and she said in a tense voice, “I am
so
out of my comfort zone right now.”

“Relax, child,” Momma Sue said. “You are in good company.”

The two blue-uniformed guards standing in front of the ornate door crossed their ceremonial spears to block their entry, and one of them said, “Halt and state your business.”

Momma Sue walked up to them, gestured with one hand, and murmured something. Their eyes became blank for a moment and then a look of bewilderment passed over their faces. “Step aside, boys,” Momma Sue said and brushed their spears away with her arms.

Jamie opened the door and held it for them again, and they went inside. The councilmen were sitting around the polished rectangular table, and the mayor frowned when he saw them and demanded, “What is the meaning of this?”

“I’d like to have a word with you,” Jamie said and put his hands on his hips.

“Then you must make an appointment with our secretary. We are busy at the moment.”

“You shall see us
now
, you pompous bag of wind,” Mrs. Malley said and stepped forward. The mayor and the other councilmen’s eyes widened when they recognized her.

“M...Mrs. Malley?” the mayor spluttered. “What are you doing here? I heard that you were infirm and taken to bed.”

“Do I look infirm to you? I am spry as a deer, and feeling fine. You however, do not look well.”

The mayor’s face was white as chalk, his lips parted and his hands clutched across his chest. The other councilmen looked the same or worse.

Councilman Stennis moved his lips wordlessly for a moment before managing to say, “Who...what...uh, the young woman with red hair must be Fred the Witch, but....” He squinted at them. “Who are the others?”

Jamie introduced Nova and said, “She’s a witch, too, a special kind. She knows when you are lying, so don’t try to fool us. You already know Mrs. Malley, and her friend is Momma Sue, a voodoo queen, one of the most powerful witches from my world.”

Mrs. Malley walked closer to the table and the men seemed to shrink back in unison. She said, “We know that you are still meddling in the affairs of the Rivershire School, and we have come to put a stop to that once and for all.”

“With magic?” Councilman Whelan squeaked.

“No,” Momma Sue said, “with our good looks and womanly charms.” Then she threw back her head and cackled like a witch from a Hollywood movie. Jamie put his hand over his mouth to stifle a laugh.

“You will swear an oath that you cannot break,” Mrs. Malley said, “an oath that prohibits you from ever interfering with Master Jamie’s school.”

“Or any other project I may have for the community,” Jamie added. “I have more plans.”

Mayor Duncan raised one hand and shook it fervently. “Wait! You need to hear our side of the story first. We have a good reason for what we have been doing.” He looked at Jamie and cleared his throat. “We...my fellow councilmen and I, are concerned about the guidance and direction of this school because, well...you are an outsider, frankly. Even with all of your memories from the old sorcerer. How can we trust you to do what’s good for this town?”

Jamie locked eyes with the stout mayor and considered what he’d just said. After a long moment Jamie said, “That’s a fair concern. Would it make you feel better if I swore an oath, too? To only do what’s best for the people of Rivershire?”

Mayor Duncan looked at the other councilmen, most of whom reluctantly nodded their acceptance. “I think we can agree to that.”

“Good.” Momma Sue stepped closer and gestured at the seated men. “It’s time to get this done, so stand up, and do as you’re told.”

There was no denying the voodoo queen’s imperial command, her voice and manner too authoritative and compelling. They all rose and stood by their seats, fidgeting like guilty little boys.

“Now, here’s what we’re going to do,” she continued. “We are going to join hands and form a circle, all ten of us, with a witch or wizard in between each of you.” The looks in the councilmen’s eyes showed that they were uncomfortable with that, but were unwilling to argue.

Mrs. Malley pointed with one finger. “Nova, stand between these two men, and Fred, the next two, then Jamie. Sue and I will stand on either side of the mayor.”

Mayor Duncan’s face blanched again, but he complied and made room for the two old witches. When the circle around the table was complete, Momma Sue began to chant in a language Jamie didn’t recognize, and Mrs. Malley said to the men, “Now, repeat after me: I swear to never interfere with the affairs or ventures of Jamie Sikes, be it in Rivershire or elsewhere.” The men began to mutter and Mrs. Malley frowned. “I can’t hear you, Mayor.”

The mayor repeated the vow in a louder voice, and Mrs. Malley turned to Jamie, who swore his oath firmly and with conviction, pledging to only work for the best of the Rivershire community.

Then Momma Sue and Mrs. Malley closed their eyes and began to chant in unison. Jamie felt the familiar tingle in his hands, and they began to glow, softly at first. Then they flared like small suns, so brightly that he had to look away, and the tingle rushed up his arms and filled his body. Still the women chanted, and the room began to vibrate, and a low sound began to emanate from the walls and floor, peaking as a deep, bell-like tone that seemed to permeate everything before it trailed off to nothing.

When it became silent, Momma Sue suddenly threw up her hands and shouted“Done!”

The councilmen blinked and looked at each other nervously. Mayor Duncan said, “That...that’s it?”

“Yes,” Mrs. Malley answered. “You are forever magically bound to your vow. You cannot break it no matter how badly you wish to. You will find yourself incapacitated, and it will be a most unpleasant experience, I assure you.”

“And Master Jamie is bound to his vow, also?” the mayor asked.