“Your favorite witch,” Sawyer said sarcastically. “When are you going?”
“Right now.”
“Any sordid details?” Jenny flipped her hair. “Did the self-proclaimed queen bee say what she wants?”
Honora jerked up in her chair, her eyes wide. Her heart rose to her throat. “No, but it does say that I need to come immediately, alone, and that it’s about my mother.” A nervous shudder went up Honora’s spine. Beatrice wanted her to come alone, which unfortunately meant she’d have to leave her sisters in the dark for right now. Finally, the council was going to address the biggest question in her life: What happened to Elspeth Mayhem?
It was late in the afternoon when Honora arrived at the meeting, and a guard immediately escorted her to a chamber deep in the bowels of the council building. Behind a long wooden table, Beatrice was seated in the front of the room, flanked by two other stern-faced council members. They were wearing long black robes with white collars normally saved for formal proceedings. Honora’s heart leapt when she saw Harper sitting at a side table with a large ledger and quill positioned in front of her for taking the meeting minutes. She gave Honora a small smile and a nod. A lone chair sat in front of the group. The guard took his position to the side and watched her.
“Have a seat, Ms. Mayhem,” Beatrice said and waited for Honora to join them before proceeding. “I have requested your presence because it has come to my attention that you’re involved in an investigation of Jonathan Rainer and that you located him in the North Woods. Is that correct?” A pair of horn-rimmed glasses perched on the tip of Beatrice’s nose.
Honora shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “Yes, and you also probably know that Wizard Rainer is dead. His body is in the morgue. It’s a police matter now, but I’m told it’s just a formality, and the case is considered an unfortunate accident.” Her spine stiffened. Under the glaring eye of the council, a cold sweat broke out all over her body. Lying to the council could get her private investigator license revoked, but she had to take the risk, since the traitor could be anyone. And Beatrice was not her first choice in confidants.
“That’s what I’ve been told. But that isn’t why you’re here. You’re here because the Council of Everland would like to obtain your services.” Beatrice didn’t even bat an eye.
“What? You want to hire me?” To say Honora was shocked would be an understatement. “I thought you were going to punish me or arrest me or blame me for something. But hire me? Have you lost your mind? You hate me, or did you forget?” Honora blurted out.
Harper’s eyes widened, and one of the council members cleared his throat. Beatrice turned to him. “I told you she was volatile, unpredictable, and had little respect for rules or authority.” She shifted her attention back to Honora. “But the one thing you did accomplish was finding Wizard Rainer when we could not. I can admit that you’re an effective investigator. And we need results. I’m willing to look beyond our differences and put them aside. Everland needs you.” Beatrice attempted a thin smile. Harper scribbled notes across the parchment.
“What exactly do you want me to do?” Honora arched her brow. Her instincts pulsed with suspicion.
“We know that Jonathan Rainer was in hiding from his wife. And we know that she is not his wife but a ghoul posing as her, but what we don’t know is whom the ghoul is working for or if there are more Otherworlders in our world. Your job will be to find out. The wall has been breached. We suspect the Travelers Program is to blame. There is a traitor among us. You must find him or her and rid Everland of this parasite.”
The room grew deathly quiet. The council didn’t know much more than she did. Honora’s stomach sank. They must be seriously desperate if they were coming to her. She didn’t know if she should be flattered or terrified. Both, perhaps.
Then her eyes narrowed. The Travelers Program.
Beatrice sensed her hesitation and continued her pitch. “Working for the council at a time of national security is your civic duty, and I would expect any upstanding witch to comply, but I understand you have a business and are a professional, so though I personally don’t agree, the council has decided that you will be paid handsomely for your efforts. But only if you succeed, of course.”
Money? Did they really think I’m that shallow? Honora remained calm and quiet. There was no way she was going to tell them that Jonathan was still alive. Not until she knew more. Sawyer would freak out if he knew she was about to take a job with the council. But truth be told, she needed their information if she was going to get any farther in the case.
“If you want me to work for you, then you’re going to tell me more about the wall and how this investigation involves my mother, or I’m not doing anything. You’re going to tell me everything about the Travelers Program. I want the truth, or no deal.” Honora crossed her arms over her chest, taking a defiant pose.
One of the council members leaned over and whispered in Beatrice’s ear. She took a moment to think and then responded, “Your candor is appreciated. That’s a fair request.”
Beatrice actually agreed to her terms. Now that was unexpected.
The councilwoman cleared her throat. “We’ll start by reviewing the witching wall and the Travelers Program that your mother, Elspeth Mayhem, was a participant in. The Travelers Program was developed for a select few witches and wizards to travel outside of Everland to explore the Otherworld. Once in a decade, the archway is opened for the pilgrims to move between the two realms. I know that this recent pilgrimage must have been difficult for you and your sisters. It must have been a terrible shock when your mother didn’t return,” Beatrice said with a smug tilt of her head.
Honora stared icily at the councilwoman. The memory of Elspeth not returning flooded her thoughts. “Shock only made worse by the council’s refusal to tell my sisters and me what happened to her. We only had the report given by the other travelers. You wouldn’t let us speak to them, since the program is a secret. But I suppose things have changed. The report said that no one had heard from our mother in the last few weeks prior to the scheduled return time. All communications stopped,” Honora said. “What happened?”
“Twelve pilgrims were on the other side, but only ten of them returned.”
Putting all emotions aside and reviewing the information clinically, the fact struck Honora as interesting. “Our mother and one other traveler didn’t make it back, but somehow a ghoul pretending to be someone else did. Which means she took the identity of one of them and then shifted into Jane Rainer. Which means, technically, you lost three travelers on this journey. How often have travelers not returned?” she asked.
“Over the decades, a few witches and wizards have chosen to stay in the Otherworld. Some have even died on the other side. Unfortunate accidents occur, and illness has taken some. Life happens. I don’t know the specifics of your mother’s trip. The data is incomplete.” Beatrice averted her eyes to a parchment lying before her.
“Do you suspect that something happened to my mother?” Honora asked. She bit the inside of her cheek. The answer to the question terrified her, but she had to know. “Do you think the ghoul could have gotten to her?” Honora shifted in her chair, her hands clutching the armrest.
“There’s a possibility that your mother found out about the ghoul’s mission. We don’t know for sure. I hate to say this, but there’s also the possibility that the travelers who didn’t return are working with the ghoul and whoever controls it.” Beatrice took a sip of water from a glass in front of her.
Honora paused, trying to make sense of what the councilwoman had just said. Is she suggesting my mother was actually involved and working with the ghoul? Anger flared up inside her, and she snapped. Honora launched herself out of the chair and across the table at Beatrice, getting a handful of robe before the guard grabbed her and pulled her back. “How dare you accuse my mother of being a traitor! You ask me to help you, and then you insult my family!”
Beatrice straightened her robe and settled he
rself. “Like I said, we must be sure. Everyone is a suspect. You must be prepared for whatever you find. The truth is the only thing that’s going to save us, no matter how painful the truth might be.”
Honora yanked herself free from the guard’s grasp and returned to her seat. “I understand, but I don’t believe for a minute that my mother was involved.”
“Then this is the perfect way for you to clear her good name.”
“Why don’t you just arrest Ghoul Jane and bring her in for questioning?” Honora focused back on the case. “Allowing her to live among us is risky, even a little stupid,” she jabbed.
“Because we need more information on the entire operation. Even using our best truth potions, we aren’t guaranteed to get the whole picture, especially if the ghoul has someone working on the inside. We need more, and we need you to find it. The ghoul remains free until then, so I suggest you work quickly.”
Honora could see their reasoning. “I’m going to need details on everything the council knows, especially the other travelers. You can deliver it to my office as soon as possible.” She stood to go, but Beatrice stopped her. “One more thing, Ms. Mayhem. You’ll be paired up with a Hex Division operative. I hope that won’t be a problem.”
Honora shook her head. “I don’t see the point. As you said, I’ve done more on my own than Hex Division has with all of the council’s resources. Your Hexer will only slow me down.” She gritted her teeth. The last thing she needed was some pompous Hexer taking over the case and ordering her around. “I have a team already in place, and I assure you we can handle this. If I need backup, I’ll send word.”
“I understand your reluctance, but I really must insist. This operative’s knowledge of the situation will be essential. I can verify for him personally. He’s one of our best and most experienced agents.” Beatrice practically beamed when she spoke of him.
“Why? What’s so special about this Hexer?”
“He was one of the travelers.”
Nothing should surprise Honora anymore when it came to the council and its secrets, but this little morsel of news shocked her speechless. Her mouth practically hung open. “Are you serious? You sent a Hexer through the witching wall and you still had a breach? How do you know he’s not involved?” She put her hand on her hip. “He could be working with the ghoul.”
“I have vetted Hexer Min personally. I assure you he’s on our side. This mission is the council’s top priority. We don’t have time to argue, and the council must be kept in the loop. That’s why he’ll be working closely with you. His knowledge of the others is imperative. You are going to need him whether you like it or not.” She stood. A side door swung open and Hexer Min entered.
Honora’s gaze locked on the tall, pasty Hexer who had attacked January and tried to steal the warden’s handbook outside of the rare artifacts shop. As he walked into the room, a rush of anger pulsed through her. A weaselly smile spread across his thin lips.
“What’s going on here?” Honora jumped out of her seat. “If this is some kind of joke, it’s not funny.” She’d had enough of Beatrice and her conniving tactics.
Min was just as rat-faced today as he was the last time they’d met. He strode over to her in a few quick steps, but before he could say a word, Honora slapped him across the face. “That’s for attacking my friend.”
He reared back and rubbed his jaw with a wince. “I guess I deserved that. I assure you it wasn’t my intention to hurt anyone. I regret using such force. I’ve been in the Otherworld for so long that I acted impulsively. It was a mistake. My sincere apologies.” He gave her a small bow, but Honora just rolled her eyes.
“Is there a problem?” Beatrice asked.
“You bet there is. Your precious Hexer likes to attack elderly witches in their shops in the magic district and then try and steal things that don’t belong to him,” Honora said, unable to hide the disgust in her voice.
“I understand the two of you have met, but for the sake of Everland and your duty to the witching world, you will put the past behind you and move forward. That’s not a request. Do I make myself clear to the both of you?” Beatrice’s gaze narrowed.
The Hexer nodded. Honora sneered.
Beatrice motioned to Harper, who held out a piece of parchment.
“These are the travelers from the last pilgrimage. Hexer Min has already begun his investigation. I suggest you two get caught up.”
Hexer Min turned to Honora. “We got off on the wrong foot. It happens in my line of work. I’m on your side. I know that’s hard to believe, but I am.”
“Looks like I don’t have much of a choice,” Honora grumbled.
A self-satisfied smirk played across Min’s lips. He took the list of names from Harper and handed it to Honora. She spun on her heels and strode out of the council chamber, a fire burning in her stomach, more determined than ever to solve this case and clear her mother’s name.
16
Early the next morning, Honora sat in her office thinking about her mother, a mother she hadn’t seen in over ten years. Elspeth had told Honora and her sisters that leaving Everland was a sacrifice. She had a job to do, an Otherworld to explore for the good of the witching world. They would lose ten years of birthdays and holidays, of family dinners and mother-daughter outings. Elspeth had waited until after the three girls had graduated from Haven Academy and were branching out into adulthood. Sacrifice was what she called it, but really Elspeth had left to follow her dreams, and Honora couldn’t blame her. But the only feeling worse than the one Honora’d had when she left was the punch to the gut she’d felt when her mother didn’t return.
It wasn’t so much that she missed her mother—of course she did—but that Honora had wanted to go with her. She wanted to be by her side, to run off and explore the world, just the two of them. But Elspeth wouldn’t allow her to go. And now she’d disappeared—a ghost witch, neither here nor there. Was she wandering alone in the Otherworld? Hurt or killed or taken? Was she really a traitor? No one knew. There was more to the Travelers Program than she and her sisters had realized, and Honora was finally going to find out what happened to her mother once and for all.
Honora held the worn piece of parchment in her hands and scanned the list of names. Sawyer brought her a steaming cup of tea. “Are you sure you’re okay with this? You know I’m with you no matter what you decide to do. We can do this on our own. We don’t need the council breathing down our necks.” He set the cup down and crossed his arms over his chest in a defiant posture.
“Me, too. ‘Independence’ is my middle name. We’ve got this.” Jenny leaned back on the sofa and propped her boots on the coffee table. “They practically called your mother a traitor. Did Beatrice really think that antagonizing you was going to get you to help them?”
“Actually, yes, I think she did. And as much as I hate to admit it, she was right. The more Beatrice implied that my mom might be involved, the more I wanted to prove her innocence. She made it personal. She knew I would take the case, and she knew I would work like a dog to solve it. She insulted my family and tried to dirty the Mayhem name. That witch is going to regret the day she implied my mother was a part of this.”
“I doubt Beatrice will regret it when you solve the case. She’s ruthless. But worst of all, we have to work with the Hexer.” Sawyer shook his head. “If this weren’t so serious, it would almost be comical.”
“Are we really going to team up with that snake?” Jenny asked.
“I don’t want to work with him, either, but the council knows more than we do about the wall,” Honora sniped. Her emotions were roiling, up one minute and down the next. She took a drink of tea, letting the warm liquid soothe her nerves. “Sorry. The past few days have been enlightening, to say the least.”
“That’s understandable,” Jenny said.
“Stay on your guard at all times and we’ll be fine. Nothing changes. Our mission is still to flush out Ghoul Jane and whoever’s working with her. Hexer Min should be he
re soon. I arranged for us to meet and formulate a plan. Remember, we keep this guy on a need-to-know basis. He doesn’t know about Rainer, and he won’t find out until I’m ready to tell him. We use the Hexer to do the legwork and give us details about the Travelers Program.” Honora straightened in her chair. It sounded harsh, even to her, even after what he’d done to January, but in her opinion trust had to be earned, and Hexer Min had a lot of ground to make up.
“We make him our lapdog,” Jenny said with a rueful smile. “I can handle him if you’d prefer to steer clear.”
“Good idea. Just be careful. Remember, he’s a Hexer. I’ve seen the kind of wandwork this wizard is capable of, and trust me, you don’t want to be on the receiving end of his spellcasting.” Honora stared at Jenny, remembering the Hexer’s dueling wands.
“I can’t believe the council didn’t just go and arrest Ghoul Jane. What are they waiting for?” Sawyer exclaimed. “Hex Division could swoop in and put her in knot cuffs and lock her up in a Hexer cell for good.”
Honora sighed. “You’re right, and it sounds good in theory, but Beatrice has a point. If they arrest her now, then we’ll never know who she’s working for. Tracking her is our best option.”
There was a knock on the door. Sawyer jumped to his feet and within seconds escorted Hexer Min, dressed in trademark head-to-toe black, into Honora’s office. Her skin crawled as he strode in, looking even paler and more beady-eyed if that were possible. The guy really needs to get out into the sun, Honora thought, giving him the once-over. She made quick introductions as Min sat directly across from her, leaning his pointy elbow on her desk. Honora turned everyone’s attention to the list of travelers.
Fly By Midnight (A Sister Witches Mystery) Page 16