Flip the Witch Switch

by Amanda M. Lee

  I could’ve run, scampered to another part of the guesthouse, but it was warm in the bed and I had no inclination to go anywhere else. “Stop!” I ordered after a few minutes.

  “Only if you admit that Chief Terry dating your mother is the best possible outcome for you.”

  “That may be true,” I hedged. I’d given it a lot of thought the past few weeks and I’d come to the same conclusion. There was a catch, though. “Just because this makes me happy doesn’t mean it’s not the best thing for him and her.”

  “I happen to agree.”

  “You do?”

  “I do.” He propped himself on his elbow and stared down at me. “I think Chief Terry wants to be part of this family. Despite all his bold words and the faces he makes when talk of witchcraft comes up, he loves you guys.”

  “But ... do you think he really wants to be with my mother?”

  Landon tilted his head to the side, considering. “I think that he fell in love with you, Clove and Thistle first. No, don’t argue.” He lifted a finger to silence me. “He fell in love with the idea of being a surrogate father to you girls and the affection for your mother came later. I do think he cares about her a great deal. Love is one of those things that happens in its own time. This will be no different.”

  “But you think it’s going to happen?”

  His smile was mischievous. “Yes, Little Miss Busybody, I think it’s going to happen. I think it’s going to be a bumpy road, but it’s definitely going to happen.”

  His answer pleased me. “Good.” I wiggled my toes. “I wonder where he’s taking her on their date tonight.”

  “If he’s smart it’s somewhere outside of Hemlock Cove. I’m not sure he’s that smart.”

  “Why outside of Hemlock Cove?”

  “Because it will be like trying to date inside of a fishbowl if he does it here. That can’t possibly be comfortable.”

  I hadn’t even considered that. “Well ... I’m sure it will be fine.”

  “I’m sure it will be, too.”

  His hands moved to my waist and I shot him a sidelong look. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  “I’m spending quality time with my favorite girl.” He looked aggrieved. “Why would you possibly think I was up to anything else?”

  “Because I know you.” And, because I did, I recognized he was merely feeling playful rather than lusty. “I’ve been thinking about the camp.” I decided to change the subject. “Do you think it’s possible someone has been living out there for a long time?”

  Landon stopped his tickling ministrations and shook his head. “I don’t know. I’ve been thinking about that.” He flopped down on the mattress. “That area is remote. I mean ... I really like it because it’s remote. I think it would be cool to live there. The highway isn’t ungodly far away, but that dirt road would need to be paved to live out there during the winter because otherwise it would be too difficult to navigate after a big snowstorm.”

  I furrowed my brow. “You want to live out there?”

  “That’s not what I’m saying. It’s just ... the road isn’t easy to access in the winter. If someone was living out there during the winter, then that means they probably didn’t leave. They would’ve left footprints, and I have to think the people who live in that area year-round would’ve noticed.”

  “Only if they bothered to visit the camp. Why would they do that in the middle of winter?”

  “Fair point. There are houses around the lake, though.”

  “Expensive houses,” I pointed out. “And there are only a few of them. There are a couple older homes farther back in the woods. The people who live there would’ve been more likely to see someone.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Because those more expensive homes are occupied by people who have money to travel ... and they can’t get out of here fast enough before winter hits.”

  “Ah. Snowbirds.” Landon stroked his stubbled chin. “That makes sense. Those are summer houses.”

  “And probably fall, too. The fall color change is a big deal up here. That’s usually in October, and then the rich people are out of here until May or so.”

  “You’re saying that the people in those houses might just be coming back right now.”

  “I haven’t given it that much thought, but yeah.”

  “So ... maybe no one was staying at the camp. Maybe someone broke into one of those homes and was staying there and dumped the body at the camp because it was convenient. I’m sure whoever hid the body thought no one would ever find it. It was a fluke that we were even out there and the body shifted the way it did.”

  He had a point, but still ... . “Wouldn’t most of those houses have security systems?”

  “I would guess that’s true. That doesn’t mean there’s not a way around those systems.”

  “Does that mean you’re heading out there to check on the houses today?”

  “I am. I have to check with Chief Terry to find out when the Bishops are arriving. I want to be there for the interview with them.”

  “This must be horrible for them,” I said. “I mean ... part of them probably wondered if she was dead if they were worried enough to file a missing person report. A bigger part was probably hopeful she was alive somewhere, maybe doing something stupid but still alive, and they would see her again.”

  “I don’t know what to expect from them,” Landon admitted. “Thanks to the medical examiner calling, we didn’t get a chance to form our own first impressions. I’m not a big fan of how that went down.”

  “Are you going to talk to his superior?”

  “I generally don’t like doing that, but I don’t see where I have much choice.” His fingers were light as they trailed up and down my arm. “I haven’t dealt with that guy more than a few times since I started spending time here. I can guarantee I’m going to request he never be assigned to my cases again.”

  “That should go over well.”

  “I don’t really care what he thinks.” Landon licked his lips as he slid his eyes to me. “I do care what you think, though.”

  A chuckle escaped. “Is this the part where you try to charm me into giving you a little morning thrill?”

  “I’m always open for a morning thrill, but I was actually thinking about something else.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I want you to be present for our interview with the Bishops.”

  Whatever I was expecting, it wasn’t that. “What?” My voice came out a little squeakier than I intended. “What do you mean?”

  “I want you to sit in on the interview,” he repeated, not missing a beat. “I think you might have unique insight into this case because you’re familiar with the area ... and I would prefer knowing if Hannah’s ghost is hanging around. She’d most likely show up if her parents were present, right?”

  There were so many things about that statement that threw me I didn’t know where to start. “I’m not all that familiar with the area. I haven’t spent much time there since I was a teenager.”

  ‘You’re more familiar than I am.”

  “That’s not saying much.”

  He waited.

  “Fine. I’m familiar with the area and I’ll give some thought to how I think someone could’ve survived up there over the winter. If we’re talking about an individual who knows anything about survival, he or she could easily make one of those cabins work through the cold months. We have deer ... and smaller game like rabbits and pheasants. There are a lot of turkeys up here.”

  “So, our killer would’ve needed a gun,” Landon mused.

  “Not necessarily,” I countered. “People bow hunt all the time ... and actually manage to kill things. There’s an actual bow hunting season. Don’t forget that.”

  “What I mean is that our killer probably would’ve had access to a weapon if he or she was staying in the area,” Landon clarified. “There were no obvious marks on Hannah’s body to indicate she was murdered with a weapon.�
�

  “Oh.” I realized what he was saying. “She could’ve been strangled, though, right? She could’ve been bashed over the head ... or shot up with something. Her neck could’ve been broken. All of those things wouldn’t necessarily leave a mark that we could see.”

  “That’s a good point.” He slid his arm around my waist and tugged me to him. “There’s a lot to think about with the logistics out there. I’m guessing it’s going to take some time.”

  “And you want me to help you?”

  “I always want you to help me.”

  That was a big, fat lie. Not too long ago he fought my efforts to get involved in cases. That led to arguments. Lately, though, he’d been eager to hear my thoughts on things. I had no doubt it was because my necromancer powers made it easier to protect myself, which was ultimately a load off his broad shoulders.

  “I didn’t see Hannah’s ghost at the camp yesterday,” I pointed out. “If she’s hanging around, she’s doing it on the down low.”

  “That might be because she’s feeling shy. You said ghosts feel shy.”

  “Sometimes. Maybe she hasn’t been dead all that long and hasn’t learned how to control her new reality. I’ve seen that happen.”

  “But?”

  “But ... I get the feeling she was in that water for more than a day or two. She’s been missing two months. I don’t know that I believe she was out there the entire time, but she’s definitely been out there for a few days.

  “If she was killed at the camp, I think that’s where her ghost would choose to set up shop,” I continued. “The thing is, maybe she wasn’t killed at the camp. Maybe she wasn’t killed at all. Maybe she died of natural causes and someone panicked and decided to hide her body in the pool. You said yourself that’s a possibility.”

  “I did,” he agreed. “I think it’s definitely a possibility. I mean ... think about it. Maybe she was hanging around with a rough crowd. They decided to break into one of the mega-mansions out here and party all winter. Maybe she overdosed or drank too much and hit her head. Maybe those she was with panicked and stumbled across the camp when trying to figure out a way to hide her body.”

  “I guess that makes sense.” I rested my chin on his chest. “Are you sure you want me with you for the interview?”

  “I do if there’s a possibility Hannah’s ghost will make an appearance,” Landon replied. “She might be sticking close to her parents for all we know. She could’ve been hiding yesterday and opt to be bolder today. I don’t want you questioning Hannah in front of her parents if she is there, but I do want you around.”

  “I’m not new. I know about questioning ghosts.”

  “I know you do.” He pushed his lips out. “Give me a kiss.”

  He was adorably hard to resist in the morning. He also knew it, which somehow only added to his charm.

  “What if I don’t want to kiss you?”

  “Then I’ll sit here like this until you do.” He puckered his lips like a fish, causing me to laugh.

  “Fine. I’ll give you a kiss.” I adjusted myself so I was higher and could meet his lips. Before I got a chance to kiss him, my bedroom door flew open, causing me to instinctively jerk away from Landon and ready myself for battle.

  Instead of a monster, I found my mother standing there. Her arms were piled with clothes and she looked as if she was about to melt down.

  “Mom!” I whined as I double-checked to make sure I was wearing pajamas. Thankfully I’d covered myself before falling asleep the previous evening. Otherwise things would’ve gotten embarrassing.

  “I need your help.” Mom didn’t bother greeting us as she threw the piles of clothing on the end of the bed. “I have absolutely nothing to wear.”

  “For what?” Landon asked. He was shirtless and clutched the sheet to his chest, which I found amusing.

  “For my date tonight,” Mom replied, lobbing a dark look in his direction. “What do you think I’m worried about?”

  “I honestly have no idea,” Landon replied, sneaking a gaze toward the clock on the nightstand.

  “It’s barely seven,” I noted. “Why are you thinking about this now?”

  “And in our bedroom?” Landon added.

  Mom ignored him. “I’ve been thinking about it for days. I need something nice to wear on my date tonight. At first I thought I would wear my black dress, you know the one I’m talking about, right?”

  I automatically nodded. “Your funeral dress.”

  “It’s not a funeral dress.” She made a face. “Just because I happen to wear it to funerals does not mean that it’s a funeral dress.”

  “I’ve never seen you wear it to anything other than funerals,” I pointed out, grabbing a black sweater from the top of the pile and frowning. “This is scratchy. You can’t wear this.”

  “Why not?”

  “Well, first of all, it’s ugly and old and I think there are holes in the elbows here where moths have been getting busy. Yup.” I wiggled my fingers through the holes. “Second, it’s scratchy. If he moves in to give you a kiss at the end of your date, he’s going to be turned off because the sweater is essentially a big sign that reads ‘do not touch me unless you want to be scratched’ and that can’t possibly be a good way to end a date.”

  Mom’s glare was withering. “Really, Bay, do you think I’m going to kiss him on the first date?”

  The question threw me for a loop ... in more ways than one. “I hadn’t really considered it until right now. It’s weird to think about. If you do kiss him, are you going to use your tongue?”

  Mom’s face mottled red. “I can’t believe I thought coming down here and asking for your advice was a good idea.” She started collecting her clothes. “This was a horrible idea.”

  “I agree,” Landon supplied. “Next time you should call ahead and make sure we’re dressed.”

  I elbowed him in the ribs and focused on Mom. “I think you’re making yourself crazy about this when it doesn’t really matter. Just pick out an outfit you’re comfortable in. If you’re comfortable then Chief Terry will be comfortable and the date won’t be a disaster.”

  “Who said the date will be a disaster?” Mom’s eyes were wild as she clutched the clothes tightly to her chest. “Have you been talking about this with your cousins? Do you all think this is going to be a disaster?”

  “No one thinks it’ll be a disaster,” I said hurriedly. “We all think it’s going to be great.” That was a slight exaggeration, but mostly the truth. “There’s no reason to freak out. Everything will be fine.” I used my most soothing tone.

  “Oh, what do you know?” Mom snapped. “You spend all your time with Landon. You two never really dated. You simply decided to be together and that was it. You don’t know anything about dating.”

  She turned on her heel and flounced toward the door. “And I’ll have you know, this dress is a family heirloom,” she said before disappearing. “Terry would be lucky to see me in it.”

  “Of course he would,” Landon said.

  Mom didn’t hear him. She was already gone.

  I slid my eyes to him, my lips involuntarily curving. “This is going to turn crazy, isn’t it?”

  “With your family? Definitely. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.”

  Seven

  Due to Mom’s meltdown, Landon and I decided to eat breakfast at the diner in town. We had a bit of time to burn because Art and Evelyn Bishop weren’t supposed to arrive until around ten — it was a three-hour drive from Grand Rapids — and Landon’s favorite meal of the day was breakfast ... followed closely by dinner and then lunch and then whatever snacks he could wedge in. He was a very food-oriented individual, which made him popular at the inn.

  “I don’t know that they’ll be able to tell us anything useful,” Landon noted as he dunked a slice of bacon in the yolk of an egg. “We need any information we can get, but right now we have nothing.”

  I watched him with keen interest. “Doesn’t it bother you that you’re eat
ing Peg?”

  He frowned. “I’m not eating Peg. Stop saying that.”

  “You could be eating her,” I argued. “I mean ... Mom wanted to give her to a farm that was going to turn her into bacon. You might not be eating Peg, but you could be eating her brother.”

  “Just ... knock that off.” He was adamant as he bit into the bacon again, but this time he made a face. He didn’t look nearly as happy as he did only seconds before when not thinking about the possibility.

  “I think I’m going to give up pork products,” I admitted, causing him to jerk his head in my direction. “I don’t foresee becoming a vegetarian — I mean, I’ll still eat beef, chicken and seafood — but I think pork is off the menu.”

  His mouth dropped open. “You’re giving up bacon?”

  I had news for him: I was never as attached to bacon as he was. I was more of a sausage person. Of course, that would be off the table, too. “I’m considering it. They have vegetarian bacon substitutes.”

  “Do you know what those taste like?”

  “No.” I was intrigued. “Do you?”

  “Yeah. I had a girlfriend who was a vegetarian and she made facon in the morning. That’s what it’s called, by the way. Facon. Fake bacon. It tastes like crispy ass.”

  I had to press my lips together to keep from laughing at his outrage. “You had a vegetarian ex-girlfriend?”

  He scowled. “Don’t even. All ex-girlfriends pale in comparison to you. You’re the queen of my heart and dominatrix of my soul. You’re the heavens, the stars and the best of all worlds.”

  “That sounds a little rehearsed.”

  “Only because I say it to myself every single day … and mean it with my whole heart.”

  He was too cute to stay angry with. Besides, he rarely brought up ex-girlfriends. I was under the impression he had very few serious relationships in his past. I was happiest when not hearing about them.

  “Well, I’m not saying you have to give up bacon,” I said, turning back to the original statement. “It’s just weird for me to eat it with Peg running around at the inn. Besides, I don’t eat that many pork products anyway.”