Birdie ignored me and continued. “Look at your aunt Fiona. Can you tell me what her cape and position represents?”
The fact that you’re all three wacko? But it was easier to just play along. I stared at Fiona. Her ritual cape was green. Green was the color of money, grass, luck, and fertility. Gramps needed none of those things. Green. A mixture of blue and yellow make green. Half and half.
“Balance,” I said. With that one word, the early lessons taught to me in this very kitchen, in the garden, in the woods behind the property, all flooded back to me.
"And she's standing at the north end of the kitchen. She represents the north wind."
"Very good." A tiny smile tugged at my grandmother's lips. "Now look at Lolly."
Her cape was yellow. The color of the sun. Sunrise. Sunset. With each day, a new cycle begins. Each month marches toward a new season. Each season toward a new year. A new year brings change. That had to be it.
"Change," I said.
"And?" prompted Fiona. Lolly was on Fiona's left.
"And she represents the east wind," I said. Fiona clapped.
Good. Now I was cooking and hopefully, I could get out of here soon and meet my cousin for a drink. A strong one.
Birdie's was easy. I turned to her. "Red is for strength and your wind is south."
"And what about you, Anastasia?" Birdie asked.
Okay, think. Blue. Blue is true. Blue is truth. But that didn’t make sense in this spell. The sky is blue. The moon can be blue. Tranquility. The ocean is blue. Waves. Water. Water cleanses. Cleansing leads to healing.
“Healing. Blue is for the healing ritual.” Wait a minute. I flicked my eyes to Birdie. “You want me at the center of the healing spell for Gramps? No, Birdie.” What if there was something to this magic and I screwed it up? I could make things worse. Gramps could wake up with a second tongue or something. “I don’t want that responsibility.”
Birdie dismissed my protests. "One link in a chain, my dear. You are the youngest and strongest among us. It is your purpose today. Now we begin."
The apothecary table that rooted the kitchen was covered with a black silk cloth. A pewter chalice filled with liquid sat in the center surrounded by three large fluorite crystals, powerful cellular cleansers. Alternating with the stones were piles of dried herbs—mint, mugwort, and sage. All used for healing. Birdie placed an athame in front of the chalice. A double-edged ritual blade used in spellcasting.
The three of them closed their eyes and took a deep breath in unison.
I did the same, but most likely for a different reason.
Then Birdie's voice boomed. "We call on the Wise Ones to assist in healing the sick. And the spirits to carry our spell to Oscar's door." They all bowed their heads, so I did too.
"To the Goddess of Green, Airmid, enchant these herbs of health."
Each sister grabbed a pile of herbs and crumbled them into the chalice.
"And Bran, God of Regeneration, charge these stones with renewed energy."
They each clasped a stone in their hand.
"And to Brighid, Triple Goddess of fire, water, and hearth." Birdie pointed to me and nodded to the knife, indicating that I should pick it up.
I reached for the tarnished silver handle and lifted my eyes for direction on what to do with it.
But rather than Birdie, my gaze locked on a face outside the back door.
I yelped and dropped the knife and Birdie said, “What is it?”
“I saw someone. There’s someone at the back door,” I said.
“Oh for Pete’s sake,” she mumbled and turned around.
I careened my neck to see if I could make out any features, but it was dark.
Birdie swung the door wide and said, “Yes Leo, what can I do for you?”
Leo? Oh great. Officer McHottie pants was back and I was wearing a freaking Druid’s cape. The room didn’t have a trap door or an easy exit, but there was always the option of doing a swan dive on top of the dagger. Or I could just let nature take its course and die of embarrassment.
"Good evening, Mrs. Geraghty, I need to ask you a few questions if this is a convenient time," Leo said, peeking over her shoulder.
Don’t let him in. Don’t let him in. Please Birdie, hear my telepathic message and Don’t. Let. Him. In.
She let him in. And they wonder why I don’t think I’m any good at witchcraft.
“Well, Leo, what is it? You’re interrupting our session,” Birdie said. She blew out the candles that lit the altar and flipped a switch.
Jeez, he was even sexier in the light. He had a Mediterranean look about him, with waves of hair like thick chocolate and hazel eyes that could lure any woman down a dangerous path.
Leo scanned the accessories scattered across the table. I watched his gaze trail from the herbs to the fluorite crystals to the chalice. His eyes locked on the athame and finally, they rested on me.
I pretended to buff my nails.
“Yes, I can see that you’re very busy here and I won’t take too much of your time. I just have a few questions.” I felt his eyes still on me as he said this and I looked up.
“For my granddaughter?” Birdie asked. Her voice had an edge to it.
Leo tilted his head toward Birdie. “No, I…I’m sorry,” He turned back to me. “You’re Stacy, right?” he bent down slightly as he asked the question and I realized the hood was covering half my face.
I slipped it off and said, “You remembered.” Then I flashed my most seductive smile.
Leo gave a crooked grin. “It’s not every day I meet a woman upside down.”
I put my smile away and Fiona patted my shoulder.
Birdie cleared her throat and Leo swung back to her. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Geraghty. I have a few questions to ask you and I wondered if you might come down to the station with me so I can get them answered.”
I stepped forward then. “What? No. No way. What’s this about?”
Leo said to me, “I’m afraid that’s between me and your grandmother.” Then to Birdie, “Would you come with me to the station so we can talk about this a little more?”
"Absolutely not!" Now I was pissed. Who did this guy think he was?
"It's fine," said Birdie.
"Stacy," Fiona said gently, "your grandmother knows what's best."
"No. It isn't fine." I angled towards Leo and crossed my arms. That's when I realized I was the only one still wearing a cape. Birdie, Fiona, and Lolly had discarded theirs.
I unbuttoned it and tried to shimmy free, but I tripped over the fabric and stumbled into Leo. He helped me right myself and I wrenched away from him.
Leo flung a stern look at me. I glared back.
“What is this about?”
Leo sighed and scratched his chin.
"Are you going to charge her with a crime?" I asked.
He ignored my question. “Mrs. Geraghty, did you visit Oscar Sheridan this afternoon?”
Uh-oh. “Don’t answer that, Birdie.”
“Why? I have nothing to hide,” Birdie said. Then to Leo, she said, “Yes I did.”
I jumped in then, because, frankly, I wasn’t certain what happened at the hospital and because Birdie had a tendency to run off at the mouth like a rain gutter. “Birdie, wait. Don’t say anything else. Look, Detective, I'm sure you realize that my family has suffered quite a shock from the disturbing news of my grandfather’s illness, and my grandmother is quite tired.”
“No, I’m not,” Birdie said.
Leo shifted his stance and directed his words at me. “Look, I just need to ask your grandmother a few questions, that's all. She isn’t the only one I’ve questioned, but I need her version of the events of both yesterday evening at dinner and now this evening at the hospital. Your grandfather’s illness is suspicious to the doctors. They’re running several tests to determine if it’s natural or…otherwise.”
“Oh, dear,” Fiona said.
“What are you saying?” A lump crawled up my throat. She woul
dn’t really try to hurt Gramps. Would she? No, no, no. Birdie was a lot of things. But she was not a murderer.
I hadn’t realized Leo was still talking. “…and his girlfriend isn’t too pleased about your grandmother injecting him with her herbs while he was asleep.”
In that moment, the world fell from under me. Birdie had failed to mention that little tidbit. That knowledge might have been very helpful before we let the policeman in the kitchen. My words came slow. “You didn’t.”
All she did was shrug.
“I think it would be better for everyone if your grandmother came down to the station to give a statement.”
I racked my brain searching for the name of an attorney while Leo waited for a response.
Birdie rose from her chair and said, "We go."
“Wait. No, Birdie, wait a second. We need to call someone. Who’s your attorney?”
“Don’t be absurd. I’ve done nothing wrong and besides, I abide by Celtic law,” she said. She was already gathering her things.
“What the hell does that mean?” I shouted. Leo held the door open as Birdie stepped out. I grabbed my jacket and said, “I'm going with you, then.”
"This isn't a taxi ride," Leo said.
“Then arrest me,” I shot back.
“You can meet us there.” The screen door slapped behind them.
I turned to Fiona. "What just happened?"
The booze was wearing off Aunt Lolly and she shrieked at the slam of the door and tossed a towel over her head.
I wanted to crawl under there with her.
Chapter 5
The wind wrestled with my coat as I punched my arms through the sleeves, jogging along the path to the driveway. I lost the grip on my keys and when I stooped to pick them up, I noticed something odd. Seemed all the neighbors decided to step out for a breath of fresh air. At the same time. Coach Malloy was leaning against his front porch, a cup of coffee in hand, watching the night sky. Gladys Sharp was sweeping her walkway. Bea and Stan Plough were watering their dead flowers.
Dammit. Did they see Birdie get hauled away? Or did they hear the news on their scanners?
I waved as I hopped into the Jeep and squealed out of the driveway down Lunar Lane. I made a sharp right onto Crescent and a left on White Hope Road. The station was across from the county courthouse, a block from Main Street. I couldn't find a spot in the parking lot so I slid next to a meter and hopped out of the car. I checked my pockets. No money. Reached in the Jeep for my wallet. No wallet. Perfect. I just broke six laws getting there. I threw my keys on the seat and slammed the door.
The moon hung low in the sky like a silver pendant as I debated whether to call my cousin. It was just after nine. Cinnamon would most likely be knee deep in customers. Better to stop by there when they were done with Birdie.
I pushed through the station door and spotted Gus Dorsey. He was wearing an Amethyst police uniform that his belt was trying desperately to hold onto. I had heard that he joined the force a few years back, which surprised me since he was voted most likely to join the circus in high school. He had a stun gun in his holster where a firearm should have been and a basset-hound look on his face.
"Hi, Stacy. How’s your cousin?" Gus was a year younger than my cousin and had been in love with her all his life. Cinnamon refused to date any man with smaller thighs than hers so it was never a mutual attraction.
“Fine, Gus. I need to talk to you.”
The entryway of the station house was divided in half by a short, wooden wall, a swinging gate the only barrier between Deputy Dog and me. However, in front of me sat a dispatcher who raised a finger to let me know she’d be with me in a minute. She seemed to be fielding a call about a UFO sighting.
"That big, eh? Hovered right outside your window, you say? Was it round? Uh-huh," she said. She was in her sixties, plump, bouffant hairdo, and press-on nails. Her reading glasses were attached to a thin chain that was lost in the cleavage of her pink sweater.
I looked back to where Gus was standing, but he had vanished.
"Okeydokey. Say, did you get Violet's invitation? Yep... Yep... I know. Her kids look more like that neighbor than her husband." She cackled and a snort escaped.
"Excuse me?" I said in a firm tone. I leaned over the desk.
Yet again, she held up one, expertly pressed-on nail longer than a carving knife.
"Oh, sure, yeah, that could be...Uh-huh..."
I tapped my foot to keep myself from planting it in her ass.
She sent me an unapologetic look and continued her conversation. "You, know, I don't doubt it. I think I've seen one myself... Oh sure...”
Then she had the nerve to spin and put her foot up on the half wall, leaning back.
“…over there on Ruby Road one night. Big as the moon...yepper…"
There was a bell on her desk that said ring for service so I did. Repeatedly.
DING! DING! DING! DING! DING!
She sighed with disgust. “Hold on a minute, Martha.”
"Stop that now. Can't you see I'm on the phone? Where’s your manners?" she snapped, dangling the receiver.
"Is that a citizen complaint?"
I could hear Martha bust out laughing on the other end. Miss Press-On spat into the receiver. "Did you hear that, Martha? As if you would make an O-ffic-ial complaint.” Pause. “I know. Can you believe the nerve?"
In a small town, stories take on a life of their own. Needless to say, there are several versions still floating around Amethyst regarding what happened next. In my defense, my grandfather was ill, my grandmother had just been taken in for questioning related to his illness, and I hadn’t had sex in a long time. But I would like to go on record stating that I have never struck a woman twice my age.
I pounced on the desk and yanked the phone from her chubby hand. She jerked in surprise and with her foot still on the rail, the shift in weight sent the chair wobbling. She shrieked as I put the receiver to my ear and said, sweet as sugar, "Hello? Martha? Yeah, Maybelle here will have to call you back.” Then I slammed the phone down.
I filled my lungs with air. “Now, I would like some assistance, please.”
Her bottom lip quivered, but the chair was coming to a halt. “L-Leo! Gus!” she shouted over her shoulder. She didn't take her eyes off me.
Gus strolled up to the desk then, took one look at me, and bolted.
"Gus, you little weasel. Get back here," I shouted.
Miss Bouffant swiveled her head from side to side, not sure what the protocol was in dealing with an irate citizen and wussy cop.
"I'm going in," I said to her.
She nodded.
I swung through the little gate and ran around the corner full throttle. Unfortunately, I didn't get very far because I smashed into Leo. Whose strength and stature I could now attest to because I bounced off him like a bullet off Superman's chest.
"Jeez. Are you hurt?" He asked, bending down to help me up for what seemed like the hundredth time. I accepted the help and dusted off my jeans.
"Thank you." I stepped away from him. "Now where is my grandmother?"
"She's in the interrogation room. Come on," Leo said, hand on my back, guiding me through a long corridor.
This guy had nerve. He carts off my grandmother and then thinks he can put his hands on me? His very strong, capable hands. "I really don't need your help,” I said.
Leo dropped his arm.
"Have a seat," Leo said. He opened a door to a tiny room with a huge window. Birdie was on the other side of the glass.
“Wait a second, I want to go in there with her,” I said.
“Sorry. Can’t do it.”
“Well, she needs an attorney, at least. She has a right to an attorney.”
“For what?” He shrugged. “She didn’t do anything criminal. I know she’s into all that new age, natural healing crap, she was just trying to help.”
“You haven’t lived here that long, have you?”
He smiled. “We just need to f
ill out a report to make the hospital administrator happy.”
“But she needs someone in there to, to…” To keep her big fat mouth shut was what I was going to say but I thought better of it.
“Stacy, you’re worrying for nothing. She’ll be out of here in twenty minutes.” Leo said. "She can't see you and the speaker is broken, but you can observe what's going on. I'll be right back."
I walked up to the glass and watched my grandmother’s face. No expression. Then she cocked her head and stared right at me. She smiled and winked.
Gus entered the room and sat down across from her, a pen and notepad in his arms. I could see his lips moving and he laughed periodically as he scribbled on the paper. Birdie smiled politely, completely uninterested in whatever he was babbling about.
The door opened and Leo walked back into the room. “What’s your pleasure?” He asked.
He had two cups of coffee. “No thank you,” I said.
“Come on,” he said. “I have Columbian roast and hazelnut. You look like a hazelnut.”
“I have no idea what that means,” I said.
Leo was puzzled. “I just thought--“
“You just thought what? That you could stand there and flash a sexy smile while that dipstick interrogates my grandmother?”
“You think I have a sexy smile?” He grinned wide and posed in profile view. “Wait, wait- how about from this angle?” He turned to the other side and curtsied. I couldn’t help but laugh.
My shoulders relaxed a bit. Maybe I was worried for nothing. Gus had known Birdie all his life. She was in good hands even if she did let her mouth run. I accepted the hazelnut coffee, sat down on a cold metal chair and sighed. “I’m sorry. This has been quite a day,” I said.
“I bet,” he said.
“It’s not every day you have to pick up your grandmother from the police station.”
I didn’t tell him about the time six years ago when Birdie decided to bring the Summer Solstice celebration, which involves dancing naked under the full moon, to Main Street. Or about my high school graduation when Birdie wanted to get me a car, but she couldn’t afford one, so she ‘borrowed’ a Corvette from the dealership. Still don’t know how she got it started.
“So how long are you in town?” Leo asked.
Witch Way To Amethyst: The Prequel (A Stacy Justice Mystery Book 0) Page 3