The Wizard Returns: Book Three of the Wizard Born Series (5 page)

“Talk about an issue!”

“Right.” She lowered her voice, trying to sound like Jamie. “Sorry Fred. Can’t go out with you. A sorcerer is trying to kill me, and he’ll probably try to kill you too...and maybe your parents. And my parents, too. Maybe Rollie and his parents. Maybe everybody.”

Melanie laughed and put one hand to her face.

“So anyway,” Fred continued, “Kyle asked me out, and I went, ’cause it was him or nothing.” Fred blew out a disgusted breath and frowned. “Shoulda stuck with nothing. Kyle was kinda bleah, too. My mom didn’t like him either. She
loves
Jamie, though.”

“Michael was worse than just bleah, he’s wasn’t very thoughtful or considerate or anything. He forgot my birthday, and the few times we went out to eat, he wanted to sit near the television and watch sports.”

“I hate that. I make Jamie sit with his back to the TV.”

“But Bryce, he’s thoughtful and sweet, and he’s always a gentleman and treats me like a lady and everything.”

“Not to mention, cute.”

“Yeah.” Melanie’s face flushed, and the car coughed again, shaking the dreamy expression from her face. The rain began coming down harder, pelting the roof noisily. “Come on.” She patted the dash again. “We’re almost there.” She shot Fred a worried look. “Bryce told me he used to think I was just a stuck-up cheerleader, and that’s why he never asked me out. And I used to think he was a stuck-up rich kid....” She shook her head, her golden blonde ponytail swishing across her back. “You know, we’d never have found out otherwise if you hadn’t gotten kidnapped by those two witches. All that time he and I spent together trying to find you...it was wonderful.”

“So now you know you’re not a couple of stuck ups.” Fred nodded. “Speaking of witches, do you have time to help me with something this afternoon?”

The car sputtered and slowed again as they pulled into Fred’s subdivision and Melanie winced. “Sure, if we make it there.”

“I’m going through the magic books we brought back from Rita and Cassandra’s house, looking for the most useful spells. I’m typing those into the computer, and I’m going to print them out and make my own book, a greatest hits, sorta. I have to do it in the afternoons ’cause my dad hogs the computer when he gets home from work.” Fred frowned. “He’s on this genealogy kick now, researching our family history and stuff.”

“Sure. I’ll help. What do you want me to do?”

“You can type while I read the ingredients aloud. It’ll go much faster that way.”

The car coughed one final time and died, rolling to a stop a hundred yards from Fred’s house. “Uh oh,” Melanie said. She turned the key in the ignition again, but it wouldn’t start. The rain was pouring off the windshield and splattering the roof with a vengeance.

“Do you have an umbrella?”

Melanie shook her head. “We’re going to have to make a run for it.”

“Oh, great.”

They grabbed their book bags from the back seat, jumped out and took off for Fred’s house, covering their heads with their bags as they ran, squealing like little girls.

* * *

Evelyn set the cup of coffee in front of her twin sister and joined her at the kitchen table. “Did you volunteer today?”

“Of course,” Connie said, removing her glasses and letting them hang from the thin silver chain around her neck. “Every Tuesday. I still wish you’d try it.”

“I wasn’t a reading specialist like you. I don’t think I’d make a very good tutor.”

“It’s not that hard, really. Teaching adults is easier than teaching children, in some ways.”

“Like how?”

“They don’t complain about having to take naps.”

Evelyn laughed so hard that she had to put down her coffee to keep from spilling it.

“No, really, Evelyn. I think you’d enjoy it.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Connie picked up a sourdough bagel from the plate that sat between them and turned it on its edge, setting a sharp knife to it. “Do you have any cream cheese?”

“I should.” Evelyn stood and turned to go the refrigerator, but stopped when she heard Connie cry out. Evelyn looked to see her sister grimacing and holding her hand to her mouth. “Are you okay?”

“I cut myself.”

“Let me see.”

Connie showed her injured finger to Evelyn. A small gash near the tip was oozing blood.

Evelyn pulled a tissue from the box on the counter and handed it to her. “Press this on it for a minute.” Evelyn went back to the kitchen, opened a cabinet drawer, and pulled out a small clear tube filled with greenish-yellow gel. She took it with her to the table and pulled a chair next to Connie. “Let me see it again.”

Evelyn removed the cap as Connie offered her the wounded finger. Evelyn squeezed a dab of the goo on the cut and smeared it in, then they both watched it intently. “Is that some of Fred’s healing jelly?” Connie asked.

“Yes.” The bleeding stopped immediately, then the edges of the wound began to knit together before their eyes, new skin growing in fast motion. Within minutes, nothing remained of the injury but a thin pink line.

Connie probed it with her index finger and smiled. “Amazing. I love that stuff.”

“Me, too, Connie. We all do.”

* * *

Carl found Rachel reading the paper at the kitchen table when he got home. “Hi, honey,” he said, draping his jacket and tie over the back of a chair. “Jamie back yet?”

“No,” she said without looking up. “He’s still at work.” She gestured at the paper spread before her. “Did you hear about those two hikers who were killed by a bear?”

“Where?”

“On the Appalachian Trail, near Spivey Gap. It was a young couple.” She looked up at Carl. “They were partially eaten.”

“That’s awful. Are they sure it wasn’t a mountain lion? I think there are still a few around.”

“They think it’s a bear. Apparently, mountain lions usually avoid people.”

Carl leaned over Rachel’s back and looked at the article. “It’s still early for bears to come out of hibernation, I think. They usually sleep through February.”

Rachel tapped the paper with one fingertip. “It says here that bears will come out early and look for food from time to time, especially if they didn’t put on enough fat in the fall. Plus, it’s been a mild winter. Some scientists think that global warming is messing up the bears’ hibernation patterns. But bears usually only maul people, not eat them.”

“Must’ve been really hungry.” Carl stood up straight and put his hands on the back of Rachel’s chair. “Who found the bodies?”

“Another group of hikers.” Rachel turned in her seat and looked up at him. “I’m glad it wasn’t me. I couldn’t imagine doing that.”

“Me too. I’ve seen some nasty business during my time as a detective, but never anything like that.”

Chapter 5

Rachel knocked on Lisa’s front door early Friday night and only had to wait a moment before it opened.

“Hey, Lisa. Is Carl here?”

“He’s in the basement with Larry, watching some game on TV. Wanna come in?”

Rachel stepped inside as Lisa held the door for her. “What are you up to?”

“Nothing. Absolutely nothing.” They looked at each other wordlessly, standing in the middle of Lisa’s living room, until Lisa said, “Are you bored, too?”

“Oh, gosh yes.”

“Want some wine?”

“Thought you’d never ask.”

Lisa disappeared into her kitchen and came back with an opened bottle and two long-stemmed glasses. “I was just about to have some myself. Things are kinda quiet around here right now.”

“It seems so lonely at my house with Jamie gone most of the time.” She sat beside Lisa on the deep gold sofa and watched as her friend poured their drinks. “Did Fred ride to the game with Jamie?”

“Of course. Melanie had to go early ’cause she’s cheering.”

“Lisa?” Rachel sighed as Lisa handed her the wine glass. “What are we going to do when our kids graduate? If we’re like this now, I mean....”

“Maybe we can make friends with that new family that moved in down the street. They have a little girl, I think. I saw her playing in the front yard with her mom.” Lisa chuckled. “She’s got red sparkly shoes like Fred used to wear. Remember?”

Rachel smiled at the thought and Lisa continued, “So maybe we can
borrow
their kid when we get lonely.” Lisa raised her eyebrows as if she’d just said something reasonable.

“Lisa, the parents will think we’re weirdos, or worse.”

“No, shoot.” Lisa flapped one hand. “They’ll just think we’re the nice little old ladies down the street.”

“Speaking of old, I found two more gray hairs last night.”

“No! You didn’t!” Lisa leaned closer and studied Rachel’s head like a chimp looking for lice, ready to groom her best friend.

“I pulled them out. Hurt like crazy.”

“Oh, sugar, my scalp stings all the time from snatching out gray hairs. I think I’m gonna have to start coloring my hair before I go bald.” Lisa laughed and swallowed a big gulp of wine. “But seriously, we can find a neighborhood kid or two to fill the void, don’t you think? We can even put up posters or something. Advertise.” She giggled. “We’ll put a picture of Jamie’s clubhouse on it, for bait.” She swept one hand through the air. “Wanted: cute kids to entertain two lonely old ladies. Playhouse and snacks included.”

“Maybe we could just adopt one, instead. We could co-adopt, if there’s such a thing.”

“That’s it!” Then Lisa’s brow furrowed. “Only she’ll have to have some magic in her if she wants to fit in around here.”

* * *

Jamie watched Rollie streak down the basketball court for another easy layup. Rollie’s parents, sitting a few rows closer to the action, were the first on their feet, Rollie’s father pumping the air triumphantly with both fists.

Bryce whooped and stood while Fred, sitting next to Jamie on the bleachers, clapped and grinned. Bryce cupped his hands to his mouth and yelled, “Rol-lie, Rol-lie, Rol-lie.” He turned and gestured at Jamie. “Come on, get up and yell with me.”

But Jamie didn’t. He narrowed his eyes, feeling the magic tingle deep inside his body, and studied Rollie as he slapped hands with his teammates and backpedaled to set up for defense.

“That’s fifteen points now,” Bryce said. “New high for Rollie. He’s on a roll now. They can’t stop him. He’s too fast.
Way
too fast.”

“Yeah,” Jamie muttered. “Way too fast.”

Jamie and his friends occupied their favorite corner booth again at Lanny’s Pizza. Fred, Melanie, and Tanisha went to the bathroom together and left the boys to hold down the fort.

Rollie’s grin was bright enough to light up the entire restaurant. “I’m goin’ now, baby. Goin’ to the
top
. Coach thinks he can get me a scholarship for sure.”

“I saw the guy taping the game,” Bryce said. “He was set up high in the bleachers.”

“He’s from the Video Productions class, and he’s making a highlight film of me.” Rollie tapped his chest with his thumb. “Well, me and Eddie Womack. Coach is trying to help him out, too.”

“But he’s not as fast as you,” Bryce said with a nod.

“Nobody is, baby. I’m the fastest on the team now. Probably the fastest in the county. That guard for West Henderson, he was supposed to be quick, but I torched him, man. Just burned him up!”

“Maybe you should run track, dude. Hundred meters. You could rule. You might even get a scholarship.” Bryce turned to Jamie. “What do you think? He could kick butt as a sprinter, huh?”

“Yeah. Kick butt.” Jamie cleared his throat and leaned forward in his seat. “Rollie, I don’t remember you being this fast. I mean, you were always quick, but something’s different about you now.”

“I know. It’s amazing, isn’t it? Seems like...like when I need another gear, I just click something and it’s there. If I need to go faster, I can. I press the button and the afterburners come on.” Rollie grinned again.

“Do you ever feel anything...different...when you do?”

Rollie shrugged. “I feel awesome.”

“I bet.”
I feel something
, Jamie thought.
The tingle, and I don’t think it’s from Fred. Something is going on
.

* * *

It was warm enough to sit in the gazebo with only a light sweater on. The brilliant late-February sun cast sharp shadows, as if shapes had been cut from dark cloth and laid on the ground.

Rachel watched as Lisa put her phone down on the little wooden table between their rockers, next to her cup of coffee. Lisa had just called Adele, Rollie’s mother. “Can she come over?”

“She’ll be here in a few minutes,” Lisa said. “Garrett is off playing basketball and Rollie’s over at Tanisha’s.”

“And Jamie’s running with Bryce.”

“Where’s Carl?”

“He’s fishing with John Paul.”

“In Thibodaux?”

“Umm hmm,” Rachel said, sipping her coffee. “Jamie made a doorway for him. Carl and John Paul have become pretty good friends, lately.”

“It’s too bad John Paul is still a bachelor. He’s kinda handsome, don’t you think? Why isn’t he married at his age, anyway? Isn’t he still in his thirties?”

“I think he was married at one time. Carl doesn’t know what happened with that. It’s not his style to ask.”

“Then we’ll just have to get John Paul over here for dinner again and get the juicy details out of him, won’t we?”

Rachel lowered her eyebrows at her grinning friend.

“Don’t you want to know?” Lisa said.

“Well...yeah, since he and Carl are friends and all.”

Lisa’s face grew thoughtful. “That’s so strange, when you think about it. Carl’s fishing with a buddy six hundred miles away, and he’ll be home by dinner, probably.”

“He’d better be. I’m making salmon tonight. Where’s Larry?”

“He’s on the computer, doing his genealogy thing. I won’t see anything but the back of his red head for the rest of the day.”

“Where’s Fred?”

“She’s thrift shopping with Melanie.”

“Did Melanie drive?”

“Her car’s still in the shop. I let them take mine.” Lisa stared at the camellia bushes that lined the far side of Rachel’s yard. “You know, I really like that girl. She’s seems like a nice person, and she’s got a good head on her shoulders. I’m glad she and Bryce came to church with us today.”