Relatively Familiar (Accidental Familiar Book 2)

by Belinda White

  A quick click and a file opened, listing about fifteen different website accounts, complete with login IDs and passwords. I considered calling Arc, but he had made his choice last night to stay with Lily. Not that I blamed him. Even with the locks and quickie wards we’d done here, our room could probably be breached by a persistent girl scout selling cookies. Lily’s home had kept out Opal.

  Now that was safety. Though I wondered what protection she had against fire. I mean, just because someone couldn’t get in didn’t mean they couldn’t smoke out the ones inside, right? But then again, from what little I knew of the Minehearts and Lily, they’d probably taken care of that risk too.

  When this was all said and done, I’d have to ask them to do the same for the farmhouse. A witch couldn’t be too careful in these troubling times. Heck, no one could. They would probably make more money if they gave up their legal trade and focused on home security.

  Then again, people would have to embrace magic and come to terms with its existence. That wasn’t likely to happen anytime soon.

  I glanced down the list and found an online journal. That looked like a good one to start with. In under a minute, I was logged into Sonya’s account. Bingo. Within the account were a multitude of files, but one stood out from the rest. It was just titled Ledger.

  Another click and a list about a page long appeared. There were three columns. The headers included: name, secret, and payment required.

  It was eye-opening. Thirty people were listed. Some of the secrets weren’t all that impressive, but then, neither were the payments she wanted out of them. One was as simple as an invitation to a party. The secret for that one was that the woman had lied on her job application by overstating her education.

  I pulled a notebook over and started writing down the more interesting of them. As far as I could tell, there were three main suspects. They were the only ones with secrets that seemed to be worth killing for.

  What was it the television cop shows always said about motive? Love, money, or revenge, right? Taking the risk of killing someone just so your neighbor doesn’t find out you were the one letting your dog poop in their yard just didn’t feel right. Too much risk for just having to deal with an angry neighbor . . . and pick up a little doggie doo.

  The three I had, though, were real possibilities. A prim and proper grade school librarian who had a sexy peep show on the internet bringing her in an extra income. A local businessman who had been involved in a hit-and-run that resulted in serious injury—the victim was still in a coma in the hospital. And last, a mother with three children. Her secret? Her youngest wasn’t her husband’s child.

  I could see any of those three being willing to kill Sonya to keep their secret from getting out. That wasn’t the problem.

  The problem was that I couldn’t see them taking the next step and trying to blame it on Arc. What possible motive could they have had for that?

  Regardless, they were definitely worth checking out. With any luck, I could do it all in one day. Then, after making sure the computer didn’t hold any other secrets, we’d make sure it got to where it belonged.

  The police. That should help to strengthen their belief that maybe, just maybe, Arc wasn’t the killer after all.

  WITH A PLAN FOR THE day, I took a quick shower and got dressed in black jeans and a black sweatshirt. What Ruby called my cat burglar outfit. Not that being dressed all in black would help me out in broad daylight, but still, the outfit made me feel just a little bit badass.

  I needed that today.

  My only hesitation was in leaving the computer here while I went. It was now a pretty important piece of evidence that might go a long way in proving Arc’s innocence. And who was to say that the council might not break in while the room was empty and take it? As convinced as they were—except maybe Opal now—they might be tempted to destroy evidence that countered that belief.

  Especially if the council sneak thief happened to be Patricia Bluespring.

  Better to take it with me. It wasn’t hot enough that being locked in the car’s trunk should damage it. I stepped out into the warm spring sunshine and almost dropped the bag.

  Right there, parked directly in front of my hotel room door, was Opie’s car. And Opie was there too, leaning on the hood, staring at my room, and now me.

  I was speechless. And no, that wasn’t like me.

  “Hey,” he said. “Is this a bad time?”

  I shook my head. Part of me wanted nothing more than to set the bag down and pounce on him. But another part was still hurting a little too badly from his sudden and thorough disappearance after my magic act.

  “I can spare a few minutes. You want to go inside?”

  He smiled and nodded. Then stood up and hefted the white bag that had been sitting by him. “I brought breakfast.”

  I recognized that bag. He’d brought Flour Pot donuts. Maybe there was hope for the two of us yet.

  “What about the coffee?” Or better yet, latte, but right now, I wasn’t going to be choosy.

  “Sorry, I drank mine on the way, and I didn’t think a latte would survive the drive and still be drinkable. I did see a coffee pot in the hotel office.”

  It wouldn’t be Flour Pot coffee, but it would have to do. We walked down together and grabbed a cup each and then made our way back to the room.

  Once inside, his eyes widened. “You know, this isn’t half bad. I’ll admit, the outside had me worried.”

  “Yeah. Best kept secret in town. The Lodge is actually worth twice the price they charge to stay here. Opal would give a lot to have some of this furniture in that shop of hers.”

  His hand ran over one of the nightstands, and he smiled. “Something like this would totally dress up my bedroom too.”

  I put my coffee cup down on the tiny table and sat in one of its two chairs. After a second’s hesitation, Opie did the same.

  Grabbing a donut, I started munching. It had been a while since I’d stuffed myself with pot roast. Besides, no way was I losing this one. He was going to go first. He’s the one who left.

  “I’ve been a jerk, haven’t I?”

  I licked the excess sugar off my lips and considered for a minute. “I’d like to say yes, but I don’t really think that’s true. Even though it feels a little bit like you were.” I hesitated and my voice lowered. “I had to have scared the hell out of you that day, but the truth is, after it was all over with? I was pretty damned scared myself. I could have used you there.”

  He winced. “I know. It wasn’t cool, me dissing you like that. It’s just . . . all those years you and Ruby talked about being witches and magic and stuff, and I just thought—okay, they’re eccentric. I never really believed it was all real. Then I saw that light when you guys set up that ward on the farmhouse, and I thought—okay, so this is kind of cool.”

  Opie swallowed, his fingers tracing the outside of the napkin his untouched donut sat on. His eyes never once looked into mine. For Opie, the untouched donut kind of said it all.

  “What happened that day at Opal’s shop? That wasn’t so cool.”

  Now it was my turn to swallow. He was right. I’d let my anger get the better of me. I’d have killed Naomi Hill if Opal hadn’t stopped me. And we both knew it.

  “I know. Remember me and Ruby talking about how she had magic, and I didn’t?”

  He barked out a laugh. “Yeah, well, that was a lie.” He sounded hurt.

  “No, it wasn’t. That night you came to Ruby and me in the park? That was the night I . . .” Just how much did I want to involve Opie in all of this? He was a sheriff’s deputy after all. But then again, he was also my best friend who wasn’t blood related. “That was the night I got my familiar. And my magic.”

  His eyes finally met mine. “You really didn’t have magic before then?”

  I shook my head. “Not an ounce, really. I’d always thought Ruby got it all when she came out two minutes ahead of me. I think that’s part of why I fainted that night. Doing magic for the
first time is more than a little scary.” Especially with the kind of power I’d wielded that night.

  “All your life you had no magic, and now, suddenly, you have this kind of power?”

  “Yeah. But as you could see, I don’t really have any control over it. Not yet. I’m looking for a way to break the familiar spell. Then I can go back to being magic-less Amie.” And maybe you’ll like me again. But I kept that last part to myself.

  “Is that what you really want?”

  I shrugged. “If it’s either that or become the crazy witch I was back at Opal’s shop, then yes. That’s what I want.”

  “Is it that hard to break the spell?”

  “Without hurting the familiar, it would seem so.” And hurting the familiar wasn’t an option in my case.

  He blew out a breath. “Okay, so right now you’re in limbo. I get that.” He glanced around the hotel room. “Is there a reason why you’re spending your limbo here rather than at home?”

  “I’m working a job.”

  His eyes flashed back to me. “What kind of job?”

  Either way I answered, he wouldn’t be happy. He didn’t like either of my new lines of work. One I wasn’t even qualified to practice yet.

  “It’s an investigation.” He started to speak, but I put a finger on his lips. My touch seemed to shock him, and I’d admit I felt a little electrical current pass between us too. But the important thing was it stopped him from talking. Now if I could just remember what it was I was going to say.

  Oh yeah, the investigation thing. “It’s not a paid job, so it’s legal for me to be asking questions and doing my thing.” I paused. “It’s another family thing.” Even if I hadn’t known that when it started.

  Opie groaned. “Oh Lord, I turn my back on you gals for a few days, and you manage to find even more trouble. What is it now? Who’s in trouble?”

  Funny, but I didn’t think he’d be all that receptive to the fact that I was trying to clear my brother’s name. Especially since Opie and I had been friends practically all our lives, and no brother had ever put in an appearance. Until now.

  “It’s a long story, but I’m looking into the Sonya Ignacio murder.”

  His face instantly went blank even as his back straightened in the chair across from me. “They know who did that. Archimedes Mineheart. And I don’t want you going anywhere near that man. He’s a very bad man, Amie.”

  Which of course was when the not so bad very bad man decided to show up.

  Bad timing must run in the family.

  Chapter 10

  AT THE FARMHOUSE, I would have been alerted to the company by the sound of tires on gravel. Here at the hotel, I wasn’t afforded that warning. Cars were coming and going all the time. I blame that for what happened next.

  The door opened and there stood Arc in all his glory, wearing just a pair of shorts. Most likely he’d made the journey as a cat, but then again, maybe not. He was getting bolder about taking risks of being seen, and that had me worried.

  Especially since the first thing Opie did when he walked in was tackle him to the ground. Once he had him face down on the floor, he pulled out his cell phone. Luckily, I got it out of his hand before he could speed dial his dad. Not that his dad would have any kind of jurisdiction here, but he would for sure know who to call that did.

  “Amie, give me my phone. Or call nine-one-one yourself.” Opie was sweating, and I could see a little tinge of red showing through his pants. He must have torn something loose doing that flying tackle.

  “Opie, get off him. You’re bleeding.”

  As I’d expected, Opie totally ignored me. “Archimedes Mineheart, I am hereby arresting you on suspicion of—”

  “Oh, for the God and Goddess’s sake, Opie, get off that poor boy.”

  Opie’s head snapped around to find my mom standing in the doorway. She came in and firmly shut the door behind her. “Arc didn’t kill that girl any more than I did. Now get up.”

  He wasn’t happy about it, but what could he do? We outnumbered him two to one. Three to one if you counted the witch he was currently sitting on.

  Standing up, he winced and glanced down at his leg. It had to hurt.

  “Lie down on the bed and let me take a look at that leg. That’s where you got shot, isn’t it?” Mom, bless her heart, was going into full-on mother mode.

  Opie looked at her and then at me, but with quick glances. Arc was always in his sight, at least in his peripheral vision. “Would someone mind telling me just what the . . . heck is going on here? This man”—he pointed at Arc—“is wanted for murder. He’s dangerous.”

  “Oh, he is not, dear,” Mom said. “Dangerous, I mean. Yes, he’s wanted for questioning in Sonya’s death, but he isn’t guilty, and we’re doing our best to prove that.” Then she got that steely, no-nonsense look in her eyes. “Now, lie down so I can take a look at your leg.”

  “I’m not lying down while he’s still just standing there free.”

  I glanced at Arc. He looked concerned and was rubbing his elbow. Most likely he’d have a major carpet burn out of all this. Served him right for taking chances. Maybe now he’d be more careful about showing himself around town. One slip in view of the council and we’d all be in deep ca-ca.

  “Oh, for goodness’ sake,” I said. “Arc, sit down over on your bed where Opie can see you and be between you and the door. I think that’ll make him happy.”

  “His bed?” Opie’s voice sounded more than a little strangled.

  “Well, my budget didn’t have the means to support separate rooms, so yes, his bed.”

  “Don’t worry, Opie, Amie and Arc aren’t in any kind of dating relationship. In fact, they’re family.”

  Opie watched Arc walk around him, giving him plenty of room, and then sit on the other bed. Once Arc was down, Opie stretched out with his back to the headboard so that Mom could pull up his pants leg far enough to see the damage. At least, she tried.

  “You’ll have to take the pants off, dear.”

  He looked at her and then me. “Not happening, Ms. Ravenswind.”

  “Oh, for the love of Pete,” I said. I grabbed Arc’s hand and pulled him into the small bathroom with me. “Call us when you’re done.”

  Mom was the best healer of all us Ravenswinds, so it didn’t take long. Within ten minutes, we were back in the main hotel room. Good thing, too. The tiny bathroom really wasn’t meant to hold two people at a time. Especially when one of them was a little freaked out. And it wasn’t me this time.

  By the time we all rejoined, both Arc and Opie were a little calmer. I’d tried to talk Arc down, and it was kind of obvious that Mom had helped Opie with a touch of magic. He seemed a lot more mellow now.

  At least he wasn’t trying to tackle Arc anymore. That was a big improvement right there.

  “How are you doing?” I asked Opie. I felt bad that he’d gotten hurt. Most likely his primary mission in taking Arc down was to protect me. He was like that. My own personal knight in dented armor.

  He gave me a lopsided smile. “Better. Those pills your mom gave me really work fast.”

  Mom and I shared a quick glance. Yeah sure, it was the pills. But if it helped him to think so, that was okay by us.

  “It wasn’t too bad. I was able to fix him up pretty good,” Mom said. “He should be fine as long as he doesn’t make any sudden movements for a while. Wounds like that take time to heal. You’re on medical leave for a reason, Opie.”

  He was on medical leave? That made sense. Now that I thought about it, this wasn’t his normal day off.

  “How long are you off work?” I felt guilty about asking, but a little help with the investigation from someone who actually knew what they were doing would be great. If he would agree to help out a really bad man like Arc. Maybe I’d get lucky and he’d do it for me.

  “I go back one week from today.” Then he made a face. “To desk duty until I’m fully released by the medical staff. Hopefully that will be real soon. I hate desk work.
”

  Most cops did, it seemed.

  I glanced over at Arc. “Are you still going to stay at . . . your friends?” No sense giving Opie too much information until we saw whether or not he was going to join our side.

  Arc nodded. “I just came for my bag and stuff.” He looked deep into my eyes. “I really appreciate all you’ve done for me, Amie. If it hadn’t been for you, I’d be in the council’s hands right now. Thanks.”

  Then he grabbed the few toiletries he had out, shoved them into his bag, and he and Mom left. Back to just the two of us. Me and my best pal Opie.

  After locking the door, I laid down beside Opie on the bed. He scooted down from the headboard so that we were lying side by side. I put one hand over onto his rock-solid chest.

  “I’ve missed you.”

  “Ditto.”

  We laid in silence like that for a while, just reveling in the fact that we were together again. You might not think a few days would hurt as much as it had. But then, you didn’t know me and Opie. In a lot of ways, we were closer than family. He chose to be with me, whereas my family just kind of got stuck with me. That meant something.

  “I can’t believe I’m going to ask this, but why are you so sure Archimedes is innocent?”

  I took a deep breath. He might not like the answer, but he deserved the truth. All of it. “I had Ruby do a truth spell on him. Trust me, it works better than one of your lie detector tests. And he said he didn’t do it.” I rubbed my hand over his chest, soaking in the sheer strength of the man. “Plus, how stupid would you have to be to kill a woman and then put her in your bed? Arc said there wasn’t a noticeable amount of blood anywhere in his apartment that he could see. Why kill her and bring her home for the police to find? And speaking of that, how did the cops even know to come barreling in like that? With a trinity of witches’ council members, no less. Answer: the killer tipped them off.”

  Opie grunted. “Okay, I’ll give you that.” Another minute of silence. I was considering unbuttoning his shirt to get at his skin, when he spoke again. “I’m not going to be able to talk you out of this, am I?”