by Joyce
“Someone get her out of here!” the doctor yelled again. “Get that crash cart. Wake up, people! One of Wilmington’s finest is dying.”
Joe’s eyes fluttered open. He stared at me for a long moment, and then finally smiled. “Molly?”
A nurse reset the heart monitor. “I think the machine was just going crazy, Doctor.”
Another nurse helped Joe sit up as she saw him struggling to move.
“What’s going on?” Joe asked. “Where am I? Where’s Suzanne?”
It hit me that I needed to pay Suzanne a visit before she started crashing too. I had ignored her at the accident scene. I wouldn’t do it again.
The doctor and nurses hovered, taking Joe’s vitals and asking him questions. I waved to him and then went to find Suzanne. My heart was still pounding. It had been terrifying taking his life in my hands.
Suzanne was still slumbering peacefully when I went into her room. There was no one there with her. Savannah was a long way off. Maybe there wasn’t time for family to come here, or maybe she didn’t have anyone. I wasn’t sure.
I did exactly the same thing for Suzanne that I’d done for Joe. A moment later, her eyes opened and fixed on me. “Molly? Where are we? Where’s Joe?”
“We’re at the hospital. Joe’s here too. What do you remember about the witness’s escape?”
Her brows knit together. She looked confused. “I’m not sure. I heard him laughing in the backseat. A minute later, something stung me—at least, that’s what it felt like. The pain was terrible. I guess I blacked out. Then I woke up and you’re here.”
“It’s going to be fine now, Suzanne. You and Joe are okay, although you might be off the street for a few days. Take care. I’m going back to see Joe. Is there anyone I can call for you?”
She smiled sadly. “Nope. Joe is as close to family as I get. I hope that doesn’t bother you. I don’t mean it in a bad way. Joe and I aren’t like that anymore.”
“I know. Rest now. You’ll be fine.”
I left Suzanne’s room and put my back against the cool wall to take a deep breath. I was so grateful that I could help them—and that nothing bad had happened when I’d done it. I fingered my amulet with a smile. Maybe Olivia and Elsie thought that using this ancient magic was bad, but it had served me well.
Joe’s room was right down the hall. I straightened up and went to see him.
Only his main doctor was left in the room. He was explaining what he believed had happened to Joe and Suzanne.
“It sounds ridiculous, but we found that both of you were affected by puffer fish poison.”
“That doesn’t sound so much ridiculous as impossible,” Joe said.
I went to stand next to the bed, and I took his hand.
The doctor shrugged. “Maybe so, but that’s what our tox screens showed in both of you.”
“We were driving down the road when we were attacked,” Joe told him, “not in the water.”
“Well, whatever. It looks as though you’re going to be fine. I’d like you to stay until at least tomorrow—maybe another night.”
“Thanks, but no thanks. We’re in the middle of a homicide investigation. It looks as though the one witness we had is involved in the two local deaths. He may even be the killer.”
“It’s two A.M.” The doctor looked at his watch. “Get some sleep, and we’ll see how it goes later today.”
“Sure.” Joe shook his hand. “Thanks, doctor.”
When we were alone, I sat beside the bed again. “How do you feel?”
“Starving. I hope you have a big T-bone and a baked potato in your purse.”
“I have a few Tic Tacs.” I smiled at him. “I’m sorry. I ate your yummy green Jell-O for dinner with your terrible potatoes and soggy roast beef.”
“No wonder I’m hungry.” He grinned. “I guess they’ll have to bring two trays so I don’t starve to death.”
I kissed him and smoothed back the silver streaks in his black hair. “That was too close. What do you remember?”
“I felt something—like a bee sting—and nothing after that. Was that some kind of club thing?”
“Yes. I think your witness is actually your suspect. The club noticed that the man’s face was shifting.” I couldn’t think of any other way to explain it without going into a lengthy explanation of glamour.
“Shifting?” He glanced around the room and whispered, “You mean like a hologram?”
“Something like that. Hiding in plain sight, I guess.”
“And now he’s gone.”
“I have good club information that your suspect is really a woman. Her club is very strong. You were lucky she didn’t kill you.”
“But why use puffer fish poison? Where would she even get something like that?”
“She’s one with the sea. She probably brought it with her. I can’t explain everything to you right now, but she’s very dangerous and powerful. Maybe you should take some vacation time. You and Suzanne have both earned it.”
“Suzanne!” He sat up. “Is she okay?”
“Yes. Lie down. Get some rest. I’ll see if I can find something for you to eat.”
He pulled me back. “You’re not doing anything with this woman’s club from the sea, are you?”
“No. Don’t worry. I’ll be right back.”
I went to the cafeteria and found some crackers, a candy bar and a Coke in a vending machine. I took it back to Joe, but he was asleep again. It was nice to see that it was a natural sleep.
Thinking that Suzanne might be hungry too, I took my haul to her room. She was awake and hungry. The doctor had told her the same thing that he’d told Joe.
“I’m not sure I’ve ever heard of a killer using puffer fish poison as a weapon.” She munched down the crackers between gulps of Coke. “Things keep getting weirder. I wonder if that’s what the killer used on all the victims. I doubt the medical examiners would have thought to check for that poison. But how did he inject it? I searched him. He didn’t have a needle on him.”
“I don’t know. I’m glad you and Joe are okay. I think maybe you should take some time—both of you.”
“Seriously?” She frowned at me. “In the middle of a homicide investigation? I don’t want to trail this killer up to Virginia Beach. We need to stop him now.”
I knew she’d feel the same way as Joe. I doubted that I could convince either of them to take a break. I couldn’t even use magic references with her. I’m sure she thought I was just overly concerned.
“It will be okay, Molly.” She ripped open the candy bar. “We know to keep a better eye on this guy now. I’ll take care of Joe.”
With their recent history, I doubted it, but I smiled and kept it to myself.
“Joe is a wonderful person. He always has been,” she said. “I’m glad he found someone like you.”
“Thanks. I’m glad he did too.”
“We just had too many issues when we were married. It was kid stuff, looking back on it. I didn’t want to stay in Wilmington. He did. I was looking for adventure. Joe was never the adventurous kind. He liked being at home, watching football on Sunday. That wasn’t for me, although you’d never know it now. Where did I go? Savannah. What an adventure!”
“You’ve been there awhile,” I reminded her. “I guess that’s what you were looking for.”
She grinned, but there was something in her eyes that made me realize she was serious. “I think I’ve been looking for Joe ever since we split up. I just didn’t realize it until we met again. I was stupid to leave him. I wish he had a brother.”
I laughed at the last part—Joe was an only child. But knowing she meant what she said about wanting to be with him again made me aware again of their previous relationship.
After she’d finished eating, I told her that I should go so she could get some rest.
I was exhausted. I took a taxi home and fell into bed. Isabelle promised to keep watch while I slept. I barely heard what she said before I was asleep. I dreamed about the ocean and Manannan MacLir being chased by a hideous-looking woman who I assumed must have been the sea witch.
There was something to these dreams—to the interplay of the Bone Man’s wife and the sea witch killing young men. I felt as though the dots were starting to connect for me.
It was nine A.M. when I awoke to an overcast day. I couldn’t remember when I’d ever slept so late. As I became more aware, I realized that I wasn’t alone. Elsie was sitting on the bed beside me. Dorothy was in the chair. Olivia was hovering over me.
“Thank goodness,” Elsie said. “I thought you were going to sleep all day.”
Dorothy moved over and sat on the bed too. “How’s Joe? What time did you get back?”
I sat against on my pillow, realizing that I was still wearing the clothes I’d come home in last night. I really had been tired. “Joe and Suzanne are both fine. I got back around three. I need a shower, a few minutes alone and a strong cup of coffee.”
“Green tea and breakfast would be better,” Elsie said. “I’ll make you some eggs. You have to keep up your strength.”
“Have we considered that Suzanne could be the sea witch?” Olivia asked. “She’s been everywhere the killings have taken place. She wants Joe. I think she could be evil.”
“I don’t think she’s evil.” I threw back the sheet and blanket. “I think she’s lonely and looking back on the mistakes she’s made in her life. Not too much different than any other woman her age.”
“Did the doctors know what was wrong with them?” Dorothy asked.
“They were both injected with puffer fish poison, although Suzanne swears she checked their witness carefully before they left the safe house.”
“But a magical, dead creature of the sea could have access to that kind of thing,” Olivia said. “It’s a wonder they both aren’t dead.”
“I suppose that’s true.” I got up and stretched. “I’ll see you two in the kitchen.”
When I had showered and dressed, I felt much better. I called the hospital. Joe was being released later that afternoon. Suzanne too, so I could pick them both up. I’d have to go to Dorothy’s house to get my car. The world seemed a better place again.
Elsie had scrambled all the eggs in the refrigerator. She and Dorothy helped me eat them at the table in the garden. All around us life was coming back to the world. Birds nested in the trees and added their voices to the morning. Azaleas were splendidly in bloom along with daffodils and tulips. There was even some wisteria perfuming the garden for us.
“So we got the memorial guest book from Belinda last night.” Dorothy produced the small book out of her bag. “Mom and I went through it last night and I created a spreadsheet from the names.”
“She’s very efficient.” Olivia beamed at her daughter. “Who’d have thought she’d be good at something like that? I never was. She must get it from her father’s side.”
“Is all that necessary?” Elsie righted her peach-colored hat. “We could just separate the names magically like this.”
She muttered a spell and the printed spreadsheet Dorothy had created caught fire and burned in her hands. Dorothy jumped up with a yelp and dropped the paper to the ground.
“Sorry.” Elsie sipped her tea and looked the other way.
“I guess we’re back to looking through the book and writing the names of the witches we don’t know on a piece of paper.” Dorothy smiled, but she was obviously a little annoyed.
We pulled our chairs together and studied the book. Olivia looked over our shoulders.
“We know the sea witch isn’t Phoebe or Kay,” Elsie said. “We’ve known them for years. Oh look—Larry signed the guest book too. Doesn’t he have lovely penmanship?”
She giggled, and we moved on.
“Not Adrian, or Nora,” Olivia said. “They’re old friends too. And Althea and Elizabeth are Belinda’s sisters. We’ve known them forever.”
“What about Marlie Eubanks? I don’t recognize that name.” Elsie pointed at it.
“Let’s write that down.” I grabbed a piece of paper from the desk in the living room. “I also don’t know Zack Nelson or Emma Rhodes.”
Olivia and Elsie agreed.
“What about Portia de Winter?” Dorothy questioned.
“She’s only been in the area for a few months while she was setting up the full moon celebration,” I told her.
“But she’s with the council,” Elsie reminded us.
“We should check on her for sure,” Olivia said. “Since when do we trust the council?”
“Four people we don’t really know from the list.” I looked at the names. “That’s not too bad. We can find them and be on guard against the sea witch’s glamour.”
“We should be able to do that.” Elsie looked away, and when she looked back, her face resembled Cary Grant’s. “By George, I believe we can do it.”
Dorothy laughed and even Olivia chuckled.
“I wish it was that obvious,” I said. “Everyone be sure to bring your magic tool with you. I don’t have to get Joe from the hospital until later today. We should have enough time to check out these witches.”
“Fortune favors the bold,” Elsie/Cary said as she picked up her plate, glass and silverware. “We shall come back victorious, or on our shields.”
CHAPTER 33
Witch’s cat, witch’s cat,
Watching the night,
Run away, run away
Into the light.
We went to Dorothy’s. She and Olivia wanted us to come inside and listen to Hemlock talk about his past.
“He only spends time in the library,” Olivia said. “I think he might actually be reading the books.”
We spent ten minutes listening to Hemlock recount tales of his life in ancient Greece. He seemed a little puzzled to be in the New World, as he called it.
“He thought this was Atlantis,” Dorothy said with a laugh. “He was disappointed when I told him it wasn’t. It’s amazing all that information was inside my cat and I never knew it.”
“People who don’t talk to cats don’t know what they’re missing,” Elsie said.
I reminded everyone gently that we were on a mission. It was lovely conversing with Hemlock, but there were things to be done.
We took my car back to my house, and Dorothy drove the Mercedes. Olivia insisted the car wasn’t being driven enough, since Dorothy only wanted to drive the Beetle.
We were in the process of changing cars when Abdon Fuller joined us with Cassandra at his side.
“I’m looking for my grandson. Have you seen or talked to him?” he demanded with no preliminary.
“Good morning to you too, starshine,” Elsie said. “The earth says hello.”
He frowned at her and focused on Dorothy. “I know he was at that hovel you call a shop yesterday. I lost track of him after that.”
He glanced at Cassandra with a murderous expression that said that she had lost track of him. She pushed her hair back behind one ear and feigned boredom, staring at her fingernails.
“He was at Smuggler’s Arcane,” Dorothy admitted. “But he left. I tried calling him several times during the night. There was no answer.”
“You have strong magic,” Elsie said. “Why don’t you do a finding spell? Or a locator spell?”
“Don’t you think I’ve tried that? It’s as though he disappeared from the earth.”
“He may be underwater and in danger,” I told him. “The sea witch that Cassandra warned us about has killed two young men in the area. I’d hate Brian to be the thi
rd, but he’s showing signs that he could be next.”
“No sea witch would dare attack my grandson,” Abdon roared. “He’s probably hiding himself from the likes of you. I don’t know why I bothered coming here. Come, Cassandra.”
Abdon vanished. Cassandra stayed long enough to tell us to call her if we heard anything from Brian. Then she was gone too.
“And you can buy that ability to pop in and out, huh?” Elsie asked. “I wonder how much it costs. I have some money saved up. I’d like to be able to dramatically disappear at will.”
“I’m afraid Brian is really in trouble,” Dorothy said. “I went to his apartment again last night. He hasn’t been home. Could we try looking for him through the telescope before we go talk to those witches?”
We were at the shop ten minutes later. I fed Harper while Elsie and Dorothy took out the spelled telescope to search for Brian. Olivia tried to get Harper to play with her, but while he acknowledged her, he wasn’t interested in playing.
“It’s really odd not hearing his thoughts,” Olivia said. “After years of having him in my head, it feels empty in there now.”
“Any sign of him?” Elsie asked Dorothy who was holding the telescope to her eye.
“No. I don’t see him anywhere.” Dorothy turned to me. “Would we be able to see him if the sea witch took him underwater?”
“I don’t think so. I think we’d need a different spell for that.”
“And maybe a pair of magic goggles,” Elsie said. “How else could you open your eyes underwater?”
“What should we do?” Dorothy was suddenly panic-stricken.
“I know this is only a theory.” I put my hands on her shoulders. “But I think the sea witch is the Bone Man’s wife. I think they’re the same.”
Elsie drew in a deep breath. “Why would you think that, Molly?”
“Dreams and intuition. The sea witch and the Bone Man’s wife keep coming back together. A sea witch is a dead witch given to the ocean. Sometimes they return. The first dream I had was about the sea god getting there too late to save his love from the fire. I know it sounds crazy, but I’m sure that was the Bone Man and his wife. I think he couldn’t let her go. He put her in the water even though he knew what she’d become.”