by Tonya Kappes
“Then we better hurry up!” Flora looked down at her bare wrist.
“How long has it been?” Mom asked as she got up and put the bunny back in the box.
“They’ve wasted at least an hour here, trying to put the blame on each other.” I grabbed the box and headed to the basement door.
“Young lady!” Mom’s voice stopped me. “What do you think you are doing? There are some traditions that aren’t updated or have new inventions.”
“Fine.” I set the box down and ran my hand up and down my body. The others followed before the chant started.
“Boom, cha, ka, la, ka. Boom, cha, ka, la, ka.” Auntie Meme, Mom, Lilith, and the Spell Circle chanted after donning the traditional pointy hats on top of their heads. “Boom, cha, ka, la, ka. Boom, cha, ka, la, ka.” Auntie Meme and Lilith had gotten into a good groove and I joined them.
The black cloak was tied tightly around my neck as the sides flew behind me when I picked Georgette’s box back up. The basement door opened. The twinkling lights on the ceiling and railing illuminated the way with each step we took into the darkness. At the end of the steps, the cobblestone hallway was too narrow for all of us to walk side-by-side. We formed a single-file line with me leading the way with the box in my hand.
“Boom, cha, ka, la, ka. Boom, cha, ka, la, ka.” The chant level lowered to a whisper as we walked deeper and deeper into the depths of the basement. The twinkling lights were long gone and gas-lit lanterns hung on the wall to light the rest of the way.
Where the cobblestone stopped, there was a big, heavy wooden door with a circular stained-glass window that took up most of the center of the door. The stained glass held three stars that represented the Coven crest.
I tucked the box under my arm and used my other hand to tap on each star.
“The first star represents family. The second star represents honor to the Coven. The third star represents honor to thyself.” It was part of the ritual that had to be performed before you could go into the sacred room.
I fisted my hand and placed it above the black hardware giving two-short knocks and dragged my knuckles down the wood for one long knock. The door swept open on its own and opened up into the red room where the one hundred candles burned from the large gold chandelier that hung in the center of the room. Little puffs of smoke dotting off the wicks of the candles. The Coven crest was also on a rug that was strategically placed in the middle of the room. A large black cauldron sat in the middle of the rug.
Lilith’s cape swung around and curled around her body. The only part of her that was showing was her face. The candles illuminated her olive skin, casting a mysterious shadow down her face.
She motioned for me to bring the box with the bunny in it to the center of the room. The low chant behind me stayed low but picked up speed. I put the box down where Lilith had pointed and took a step back in place.
The chant continued as Lilith picked up Georgette and plucked a few of her hairs, tossing them into the bubbling cauldron. She held the bunny over the cauldron and tapped each one of the bunny’s toenails, clipping them, letting them fall into the cauldron, sending the frothy mix in a swirling motion.
She placed the bunny back in the box and raised her arms in the air. The cape swung behind her shoulders. She plucked a strand of her own hair, making it strong and straight like a stick. She stirred the cauldron three times and said, “Bound ye thee, unbound ye thou. Keep your memory away, now go.”
She lifted the stick into the air and held it over the bunny in the box. The residue of the mix on the stick dripped down the stick and like a tear, it dropped down into the box.
A screech escaped the bunny. Lilith stepped back and we all watched with anticipation at what was going to happen. We didn’t have to wait long because soon after the bunny screeched, it started to take on the form of a human and before long, Georgette was back to her mortal self.
“Veruck!” Lilith threw her finger at Georgette.
In an instant, Georgette was gone.
Chapter Twelve
“Don’t let her in!” Auntie Meme yelled through the pass through of the kitchen window into the diner.
“I’m going to let her in.” I started to walk toward the front door. It was way too early to listen to anyone fight and fuss. “After what you put me through last night, I’m exhausted.”
“You and I both know that your mother isn’t at home working on those decorations. And this morning, like you, I’m in no mood to listen to Gladys Hubbard.” Auntie shook a finger at me.
“Good morning, Mrs. Hubbard.” I flung the door open wide.
“Good morning? Good morning?” She scoffed and walked past me into the kitchen. “It’s not been a good morning. I’m still the butt of all the gossip on Belgravia Court.”
I grabbed the container caddy from underneath the counter and started on the left side of the diner.
“I’m not going to do it!” Mrs. Hubbard yelled right before the sound of pots smacking against each other echoed out of the kitchen and into the dining room.
“Then I’m boycotting and you can do this all on your own!” The swinging door between the kitchen and the dining room swung open, smacking the wall. Auntie Meme stomped out. Her cheeks redder than normal along with a quicker step. “I’m done!”
Auntie Meme plopped down on a stool. Her upper lip flinched.
“Coffee?” I picked up the coffee pot and flipped over the white cup in front of her before she could answer me.
There was no time to refill the condiments on the table. I snapped my wrist and the tables and diner were ready for the morning rush.
I poured myself a cup of coffee and sat down next to Auntie Meme.
“This is good coffee.” She stared straight ahead.
“It is.” The hot liquid’s steam floated up and around my nose. I let the smell wake up my brain as I took a deep sniff. “It’s very good.” I took a sip and set the cup back down in front of me. I drummed my fingers on the counter. “So, you want to tell me about what went on in there?”
“I told you not to let her in. I had to get the cake made before she got here. When you let her in, I wasn’t ready and I didn’t want to hear her trying to tell me what to do.” She motioned for me to refill her cup. “When she stomped in, she started fussing about her nephew and how he told her that he was with you and Lilith the night he was drunk.” Auntie lifted the cup to her mouth and took a drink. “I knew it wasn’t true. You have Mick and that nephew of hers isn’t Lilith’s type.”
“I don’t have Mick.” It was apparent that with all the women Mick dated, none of them were like me. We were only partners. “We are friends. As for Brian, he deserved what Lilith did to him.”
“What do you mean?” Auntie asked. “Are you telling me that you did have something to do with that boy?”
“I didn’t.” I knew it was best to keep my mouth shut. This was Lilith’s problem. I had my own issues to deal with. “But if you don’t get in there, there won’t be any food for the customers.”
The sounds of beating, banging of pots and running water came from the kitchen.
“Is that real bacon I smell?” My nose lifted and wrinkled trying to wrap my brain around the smell.
Since Auntie used mostly magic to create the tasty food, we created smells to smell like a real diner. Everything about The Brew was magic.
“Pish posh.” Auntie spat and curled her nose. “I told her that she was in charge of the menu today and she was the one who was going to cook.”
“Really cook?” I asked with fear of her answer.
“Yep.” Auntie dragged her chin up and down.
Joe knocked on the diner door. He had the stack of diner rugs propped up on his shoulder and a laundry bag strapped across him.
I got up and walked over to the door.
“Good morning.” I held the door for him.
“Mornin’,” he said in a flat voice as his eyes focused on Auntie Meme. “What’s wrong, good lookin’?”<
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His main focus was to get over to her and see why she was sitting out in the diner when she never ever sat out here.
“I’m taking a day off.” She grabbed the remote control and flipped the TV on. “Now, put them rugs in the kitchen like you always do and make no fuss over that crazy woman in there cooking.”
Joe looked at me as if I could explain Auntie’s words and I shrugged. He knew I had no control over her. He focused on the swinging door as though he was scared to see what was on the other side. He dropped the laundry bag from around his body on the floor. He ventured ahead.
There were some murmurs that were followed up by laughter. Auntie Meme perked up. Her eyes narrowed before she propped herself up on her elbows to look into the kitchen window to see what was going on in her kitchen.
I tucked in my lips to keep from chuckling and walked over to the laundry bag to get out the aprons and put them away before the breakfast crowd got here, which was any minute.
“Have a good day.” Joe rushed back through the swinging door with a giddy-up in his step.
“What?” Auntie Meme rolled around on the stool. “You aren’t staying?”
“Nah. I’ve got work to get done since I’ve got a date with Gladys after she gets off work.” Joe’s face lit up in a smile.
“A what?” Auntie Meme gasped.
“I couldn’t wait forever for you.” He shoved the diner door open and scurried out.
Auntie Meme wasn’t happy. She stared ahead. I wasn’t sure if she was in shock or just plumb mad. My phone chirped a text and the noise seemed to make her snap out of the daze she was in.
She smacked her palms on the counter, firmly using them to stand.
“I’ve had enough.” Her lips tightened. “I’m going to take back my diner and my life.”
“Umm. . .” I looked at my text. “Can you take back your life without me today? I’ve got a meeting.”
Burt had texted and asked me to come in and talk about the case.
“Something ain’t right with this world. Joe has lost his marbles. You can’t work at the diner. Your mom has lost her oomph for decorating. I have to call a special meeting of the Spell Circle.” She shook her head and shoved through the swinging door.
“Get out! Get out of my diner and take those stupid cakes with you!” Moments later Auntie Meme’s scream was followed up by Mrs. Hubbard huffing it through the diner and Auntie running after her waving a pan above her head. “Tell your nephew that he better watch it or I’ll do more to him than Lilith did!”
My head dropped along with my stomach.
“You.” She pointed the pan at me. “You go too!”
Chapter Thirteen
“Good morning, Patsy.” I greeted the receptionist at the undercover SKUL headquarters with a coffee and one of Mrs. Hubbard’s mini-cakes.
Before Auntie actually let me leave The Brew, she forced me to take any and all that remained of the cakes Mrs. Hubbard had been making or that Auntie had made before Mrs. Hubbard had shown up. She said that she didn’t care if Mrs. Hubbard saw Mom do magic with her own eyes, Mom was on her own for the Belgravia Court Historic Homes Christmas Tour and it was her own fault for trying to decorate outside of her realm.
I wasn’t about to fuss with Auntie so I just nodded.
“For me?” Pasty asked as she drew back.
“Come on, Patsy.” I had to make peace with the woman somehow if I was going to continue to work here. “I’m on the payroll. Granted, I’m not as important as most of the agents around here, but I do work here and we might as well get along.”
She stood up and opened the bag. The smell was divine. I sure was going to miss Mrs. Hubbard’s cakes.
“Alright.” She pulled the mini-cake out of the bag. “Is this from your family’s diner?”
“It is. Well, that’s no longer on the menu. But they are delicious.” I took one of the to-go coffee cups out of the cardboard coffee caddy and set it on her desk.
“Mmmm.” She slowly chewed and clearly enjoyed the cake. She asked with a muffle of food in her mouth, “Why did you pull these from the menu?”
“Long story, but they are being replaced with something better.” I smiled with a little trepidation in my gut.
I had no idea what Auntie had planned for the day or the food. I’d never seen anyone get to her like Mrs. Hubbard. Today, Mrs. Hubbard really threw Auntie for a loop.
“Have a good day.” I grabbed the coffee caddy and headed on down the hall to the secret elevator door.
“Wow, someone made a new friend.” Mick turned the corner just as the elevator doors opened. “Patsy and you are going to be best friends if you keep bringing her food from the diner.”
“I had to make peace with her somehow.” We stepped in and I pushed the button to the basement.
“What are you doing here so early?” Mick asked.
“I’m not sure. Burt asked me to come to a meeting.” I lifted the coffee container. “I did bring you a coffee and a mini-cake.”
“He asked to see me too.” Mick took a coffee. “Thanks, Maggie,” Mick said, but the tone of his voice told me he was lost in his head probably wondering why I was being called to the meeting when Burt had only asked for my opinion on the files.
“How was your night?” I asked knowing he’d probably been up all night since Burt had officially taken his badge.
“You know. I tossed and turned.” He picked a mini-cake.
“I’m sure we will get this solved in no time.” I stepped out of the elevator doors and we walked down to Burt’s office where I could see through the glass wall that he and Sherry were waiting for us.
“I hope so. I told Big that I’d have dinner with him tonight after he insisted because he’s got something very important to tell me. We are going to The Derby first for a drink.” He put his arm on mine and stopped me right before we went into the room. “Say, Maggie, why don’t you go with me to meet up with Big.”
“Oh, I don’t know, Mick.” I wasn’t sure if I could handle much more of Big Stevenson.
“I really could use some backup,” he said.
“Back up?” I asked before Burt opened the door to his office.
Mick pinched his lips and offered a thin smile.
“Good morning, you two.” Burt looked between Mick and me. “I’m getting used to seeing both of you together.”
“Good morning, sir.” I ducked my head and walked straight past them, setting the coffees and bag of goodies on Burt’s desk. “My auntie Meme sends her regards.”
“Thank your auntie for us.” Burt rubbed his hands together and picked a coffee as did Sherry. “I called you all here today because as you both know,” he gestured to me and Sherry, “Mick has been given a leave of absence. I’m still allowing him to use his office and do some office work, but as far as undercover work, I’ve pulled all cases.”
Mick stood in the back of the room. His presence was so large that I was well aware he was there.
“In any case, I’ve asked him to give me list of women he’s dated in the past because there are no leads to the killer or ties between the victims but him. I fear these women are in danger.” Burt took a mini-cake out of the bag and took a big bite.
“How are we going to help out, sir?” I asked.
“I’d like for you and Sherry to call or call on each of the women.” He stopped talking when his office door opened.
“I’m sorry, Burt.” A man that looked to be in his sixties with forehead creases, crow’s feet and thinning hair wearing a three-piece suit said, “I’m looking for Mick.”
Burt pointed to the back of the room since the man hadn’t opened the door wide enough to notice Mick was in the room.
“Mick, you are late.” The man tapped his watch.
“This is ridiculous, Artie,” Mick gave the man a hostile glare. “I’m fine. I don’t need a shrink to tell me anything that I don’t already know. Besides, I thought you went into research on agents who have lost their minds.”
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“Mick, you agreed. That was part of why Burt has let you keep your desk job.” Artie Littleman was the SKUL psychiatrist.
“I agreed to talk to a doctor. Not Artie.” Mick pointed at the new arrival. “What good is he going to do me for a couple of months? He’s retiring at the end of the year.”
“You can go with Artie or you can go on home and not be informed at all,” Burt said in a stern voice.
“Whatever.” Mick stalked to the door following Artie and slammed it behind him.
“He’s losing it, sir.” There was a frightful look in Sherry’s eyes. “In all my years of being his partner, I’ve never seen him this on edge.”
“He has to get help and he has no choice. Now back to the plan.” Burt walked around the desk.
“Help for what?” I asked.
As far as I could tell, Mick Jasper was a wonderful agent and nothing that Vinnie had given me alluded to anything different.
“What did you think of the files?” Sherry diverted from my line of questioning to her questioning me.
It was my cue that what Burt was talking about was none of my business. . .yet.
“Well, nothing really stood out to my untrained civilian eye.” I made sure that I kept my witchy reality a secret. “Only the obvious. Mick Jasper. Which does make me believe that the killer is choosing the victims based on Mick and he’s not making any secrets or trying to cover it up.”
I had no idea where that train of thought had come from, but I did know that I hadn’t used any witchy means to get it.
“Are you saying that the killer wants to be found?” Burt asked.
“Ridiculous.” Sherry tsked.
“No it’s not.” Burt rubbed his chin. “The killer is only out to hurt Mick. He is willing to kill however many women that are related to Mick to not only make Mick look like the killer, but to also hurt Mick emotionally.”
“That’s right, sir.” I nodded hoping something else would come to me. “Which is why it’s important that we contact those women you asked Mick to give us the names of. Me and Sherry can divide them up and either go see them or call them.”