Witch Swindled in Westerham

by Dionne Lister

  “Good idea. Angelica will send you a mind message when she needs you.”

  “Straight into my head?”

  “Yes.”

  “Will I hear it, or will it be in word pictures, like the coordinates?”

  “You’ll hear her voice.”

  “That’s cool.”

  “Yes, it is. Stay safe, Lily.”

  “I will. You too.” He kept eye contact for a second more than was necessary, sending warmth through my body all the way to my toes. Damn him. And then he was crouch running to where James hid. Once he reached James, he lay on the ground and crawled to the left of James and to the corner of the house. He disappeared around the corner, heading for the back of the house. Please don’t get hurt.

  I sat behind a large tree fern and poked my head just far enough out to see Angelica and Beren. Angelica nodded to Beren, put her hand on the doorknob, then pushed the door open. She pivoted back and let Beren run in first, his gun raised in front of him. She ran in after. James stood, looked in the window, then ran for the front door too.

  My heart pounded. I held my breath and listened for shouting or gunshots. My gaze darted from the front door to the corner where William had disappeared and back again. I was going to have a heart attack just waiting for this to go down.

  Was Olivia still alive? I swallowed. Crap. If I let myself go there, I’d end up in the foetal position on the ground.

  A seagull cawed directly above as it glided to the water. I started, my heart pummelling my ribs. Jesus. Give a witch a break. I tried to slow my breathing and listened. Muffled shouts from inside the house disturbed the refined silence of the wealthy enclave. Oh my God. Was everyone okay? What was happening? I swallowed again, my mouth working overtime on the saliva.

  More shouting, this time coming from the back of the house. Should I investigate? Did they need me? I knelt, getting ready, just in case. Come on, Angelica. Call me, dammit.

  A low rumble came from the far side of the yard, down the hill and to my right. The ground also rose from where I hid to the driveway, the land having a cross fall towards me and to the water. A black car sped past up the driveway. Crap. I jumped up. Was Olivia in there?

  I screamed out for Angelica as I ran up the hill, chasing the car as it headed for the main gates. They would get away over my dead body. I didn’t climb that damn wall for nothing.

  I sprinted faster, James calling out my name from behind me, but I couldn’t stop. I wasn’t going to let them escape. The large iron gates had started to open, and I was still thirty metres from the car. My breathing was ragged, and my legs burned as I pushed harder. I stooped to pick up a large rock as I ran. It was just bigger than my hand, and I was going to use it to smash their windows.

  The gates were almost open enough for the car to get through, and I was close enough to see Frederick at the wheel. The engine revved. No! They were going to get away.

  Then the gates stopped opening, a couple of centimetres shy of being big enough for the car to get through. It must’ve been someone’s magic. The hair on my nape stood on end. Someone else was casting a spell. Was it us or them?

  I reached the passenger window, but Camilla wasn’t there. Dark tinting covered the back windows, and I put my face up to them and looked in.

  Camilla sat in the back with a tied-up, gagged, and pissed-off looking Olivia. I let out a rush of breath. Thank God she was still alive. I tried to open the back door, but it was locked. Camilla’s mouth was moving. That wasn’t a good sign.

  It was like thousands of ants were climbing all over my head, and the gates started opening.

  I reached my arm back and slammed the rock against the front passenger window. Glass smashed. The engine revved. With tyres squealing, the car burst out of the front entry.

  James ran past me and thrust his hands out.

  Instead of turning onto the road, the car drove straight and crashed into a high brick fence on the opposite side of the street. Yay, James! He ran to the driver side of the car. I followed but stayed on the passenger side, figuring we needed to cover all exits.

  Camilla was already getting out of the back, dragging Olivia with her. Was she going to take her through a doorway again? Panting came from behind me. I turned. Beren pointed his gun at Camilla and yelled, “Stop!”

  She grinned like a maniac and stepped forward, one foot disappearing into a doorway I couldn’t see. A huge crack split the air as Beren pulled the trigger. The bullet hit Camilla in the shoulder. She dropped Olivia and fell backwards, her foot reappearing as she hit the ground. Beren ran and tackled her, cuffing her with what I assumed were the anti-magic cuffs. He didn’t muck around.

  James was on the driver side trying to pull the door open. Frederick, inside, held it shut. At least he couldn’t lock the car now one of the doors was open. What an idiot. It wasn’t like he could go anywhere. He should just give up.

  I wrenched open the front passenger door—it was a bit stiff because the panels were slightly out of whack after the crash—the screech of complaining metal hurting my ears almost as much as the gunshot.

  Still holding his door with one hand, Frederick glared at me, his cheeks red, eyes ablaze. He was way angry.

  Well, bad luck, Donald Duck. Today is not going to be your day.

  He screamed, frothing at the mouth. “I had this all set up, and you came along… you and your stupid PIB chaps. Why do you think I chose Olivia?” His yell turned into a manic laugh. “Her father is rich, and I was this close”—he held his thumb and pointer finger a centimetre apart—“to acquiring some of that for myself. Don’t think I’m going away without retribution.” He reached under his seat, pulled out a gun, and pointed it at me.

  My eyes widened. “He’s got a gun!” My stomach dropped, and I sucked in a breath of air.

  “I’m not going down alone,” he said, the crazy glint in his eyes slicing right through me.

  I stumbled backwards, but I was too slow. Another shot exploded, pretty much obliterating my eardrums, pain lancing through my ears. Blood splattered over the cream-leather seat and my clothes. My life flashed in front of my eyes—my parents, my photography, how James would deal with this, Angelica, and Beren, regret at not ever getting to kiss William. Argh, I’d turned into a sap on my deathbed, when I should be embracing the panic. Tears burned my eyes, and I looked down, expecting to see blood spurting out of my stomach.

  Frederick gurgled. My head snapped up. Blood bubbled up through his mouth and fountained down his chin. The gun fell from his hand, and he slumped towards me, his head landing on the passenger seat with a tiny thud.

  My legs gave way, and my butt slammed into the ground. What the hell had just happened? I blinked and stared sightlessly at the top of Frederick’s head.

  “Lily!” James must have run around the car, because all of a sudden he was on the ground next to me, his hand on my chin, lifting my face. “Are you hurt? Are you okay? Answer me!”

  His voice was faint over the ringing in my ears. “I— I’m fine. I think.” Was I yelling? I patted myself down and nodded, my breath coming fast. I wasn’t going to die. Sweet baby Jesus. “Yes, I’m fine. Olivia. How’s Olivia?”

  “I think she’s okay but in shock. Beren’s untying her now, and Ma’am’s transporting Camilla to PIB headquarters. Jesus, Lily, I thought he was going to kill you.” James dragged his palm down his face. “What happened to staying out of it?”

  “But they were getting away. I couldn’t let them. I just couldn’t. I didn’t mean to get involved. It’s like my brain has a mind of its own. It just wanted to save Olivia.”

  James snorted. “Your brain has a mind of its own. Now I’ve heard everything.” He squeezed me in a hug. “Thank God you’re okay. Don’t ever scare me like that again.”

  “I'm sorry. I’ll try not to.” My voice was muffled against his shirt.

  “I suppose that’s the best you’re going to give me.”

  “What’s going to happen to Olivia? Are you going to wipe he
r memory?”

  “We’ll need a statement first.”

  William’s voice floated from above. “Lily? There’s someone here who wants to see you.”

  James released me. I looked up. Olivia stood there with Beren and William behind her. Her cheek was bruised, hair messy, and she had her arms wrapped around her middle. Her eyes glistened. She looked like a person defeated.

  “Olivia!” I jumped up and squished her in the biggest hug ever. Looked like circumstance was slowly beating my hug aversion out of me.

  She hugged me back and cried. “God, am I glad to see you. I—I don’t know what happened. He didn’t love me, Lily. Everything was a sham.” She shook with sobs.

  “Hey, it’s going to be okay.” I held her tighter. “I’m so sorry he was a fraud, but you’re going to get through this. You really are, and I’ll be with you every step of the way. I'm so sorry I couldn’t tell you anything. I hope you don’t hate me.”

  She hiccupped. “Of course not. You didn’t make him do all those evil things. But I’m sad and angry, confused. I hate him, yet I still love him. How is that possible?”

  “You don’t have to process it all now. Everything you’re feeling is normal. Just go with it, and we’ll take it day by day. Okay?”

  She nodded. Beren put his hand on her shoulder. “Time to go. I’m going to transport you to PIB headquarters, as we need to ask you some questions. Are you okay with that, Olivia?”

  She stepped back from me and nodded again.

  “I’ll see you soon, Liv, okay?”

  She looked at me, her face overflowing with sadness. She gave a small wave as Beren put his arm around her and guided her through a doorway.

  “Lily?” James was using his I-need-you-to-do-me-a-favour voice.

  “What do you need me to do?” I didn’t have the energy to make him work for it.

  “Can you take photos of the scene? We need them for forensics, plus can you can get a photo of the moment he pulled the gun on you? We’ll also have to get you to take some shots inside, see if you can get some of when they had Olivia here. It will help in court.”

  I looked at the ground for a moment, summoning my strength. He wanted me to relive the horror of everything right now? But it’s for the greater good. Dig deep, Lily. You didn’t go through all this to have Camilla get off on a technicality, or to see James get suspended or fired for killing Frederick.

  William stepped up and put his palm on my shoulder. The heat of his hand through my top was comforting, and I leaned into him a little. “We know it’s a lot to ask, but we wouldn’t if we didn’t have to. You know that, right?”

  “Yeah, I know. I’ll do it.”

  “We’ll be here with you, Lily. And if you need to stop and take a break at any time, you can.”

  “Thanks.” I’d had my small knapsack on my back the entire time, so I slid it off and grabbed my camera out of it. I took photos of the car from all angles, then took pics of Frederick. I gagged a couple of times and had to stop to get some fresh air, but before long, I was done. Then I stood where I’d been when he was pointing the gun at me. It took a few tries, but finally, I managed to conjure the moment he pointed the gun at me. I shuddered, my heart racing again, and had to remind myself that this wasn’t real, at least not in this moment.

  James and William had donned gloves and were searching the car. William bagged the gun and a pile of cash he found in the glove box.

  Just before we left to examine the house, two witches, one woman and one man, stepped out of nowhere. They both wore white smocks, rubber gloves, and one carried a body bag. The one carrying the bag greeted us with a nod. “I’m Agent Michaels. We’re here to examine the body and take it away.” He looked through the open front passenger door. “Which one of you shot him?”

  “I did.” James put up his hand.

  “I’ll have some questions for you. Think you can stay while we do this?”

  “Yeah, sure.” James turned to William and me. “You guys go get started. I’ll be in soon.”

  “Not a problem.” William turned to me. “Come on. Let’s get this done.”

  I gripped my camera and followed him down to the house. I’d be more than glad to see the end of today.

  I shoulder-bumped William as we walked. “You owe me about a gazillion coffees.”

  “Me? What did I do?”

  “Nothing much, but I have to take this out on someone, and you’re it.”

  “I can handle anything you throw at me. I’ve got your back, kiddo.”

  “Kiddo? I’m not much younger than you. How old are you, by the way?”

  “Twenty-seven.”

  “Okay, I suppose you are an old man.”

  He gasped in mock horror and covered his heart with one hand over the other. “How you wound me.”

  “I’m sure it would take a lot more to wound you, tough guy.”

  His smile fell. “It would, but never again.” He quickened his stride and left me trailing behind as he entered the house. Huh?

  I stumbled, but quickly righted myself. Okay, that was a random freak out I hadn’t seen coming. I hadn’t meant to hurt his feelings. Idiot, Lily. That chick, whoever she was, must have done a real number on him. It still surprised me that anyone would hurt him—he was the hottest guy I’d ever met, apart from the cranky disposition. Surely he would do the breaking of hearts, not the other way around?

  I just wanted to run in there and give him a hug, but there was as much chance of that as of Angelica not wiping Olivia’s memory of all this. How did I manage to stuff things up every single time? It must be a gift.

  I pushed away the thought that William and I would never get close and raised my camera. It was time to get back to work.

  Chapter 14

  Later that night, I gave Angelica my memory card, which had enough evidence to put Camilla away for the rest of her life. Then I lingered in a hot shower before going to bed, exhausted.

  The next morning, I dragged my sorry arse out of bed and got dressed, ready for another meeting at the PIB. I went down to the kitchen and felt all the sad feels while making my coffee with the machine William had given me. As the milk frothed, I heavy sighed.

  “You’ve hardly gotten out of bed and already the world is on your shoulders?” Angelica strode in and magicked a cup of tea into her hands. I had so much catching up to do.

  “I’m just tired.” I checked my mind shield was up. Yes. Phew.

  “There’s nothing you’d like to talk about?”

  “No, thanks. Actually, I do have one question about yesterday. Why didn’t James freeze Frederick rather than shoot him?” It had bothered me all night. I hated the guy, but did he have to die, and did I have to see his blood everywhere? You could wash that stuff out of clothes, but you couldn’t wash it from your memory, although…

  She ran her hand over her bun. “He can’t do a freezing spell. I could have, or Beren or William, but none of us could see him properly. You need a clear line of sight, or someone else might be affected instead, and then you do more harm than good. Yesterday, he did what he was trained to do in that situation—shoot first and ask questions later. From what he tells me, there really was no time. And I agree. Would you rather he let you get shot and die?”

  I refrained from rolling my eyes. “Um, no, of course not. I just wondered—that’s all. And speaking of getting shot and dying, is it possible you could wipe my memory of seeing Frederick with blood everywhere? I’d prefer not to have that in my repertoire of thoughts.” And who could blame me?

  “I’m afraid not, dear. You need these memories for your subconscious to use later. Every experience we have is filed away by the brain so it can make more informed decisions later. When you trust your gut, it’s your subconscious brain you’re trusting. It gathers the most minute data you don’t even know it’s collecting, and next time it’s in a similar situation, it compares notes with itself, and if it notices a deviation from the norm or can relate it to a similar dangerous situa
tion, it will tell you to act.”

  “Huh. Interesting. That doesn’t really help me though. I woke from three separate nightmares last night. I’m tired.”

  “You’ll just have to deal with it, dear. Your generation lacks resilience.”

  Resilience shmilience. I sighed again and dropped my head, my energy draining through my body, down my legs, and into the floor. I wanted to go back to bed.

  “Time to get a move on. Finish your coffee, and let’s get going.” Angelica turned and stepped through her portal.

  I swallowed my coffee in five huge gulps. So much for enjoying my favourite beverage. Today really was starting out crap. I put my cup on the table, created my own portal, and shuffled through.

  Angelica held the PIB reception room door open for me.

  “Thanks for waiting.” I slipped through and walked the familiar route to the conference room. I wondered if there’d been arguments with other PIB staff because she and her team were always hogging it?

  I also wondered how Olivia was and how I was supposed to deal with pretending yesterday never happened. I’d call her as soon as I finished here. Ma’am opened the door for me—funny how I thought of her more as Ma’am at work and Angelica at home. I supposed it was safer that way, as I wouldn’t slip up and call her the wrong thing in front of her colleagues.

  I’d barely made it two steps into the room when I stopped. “Olivia?” What was she doing here? She sat between Beren and Millicent on the other side of the table. Dark circles ringed the underside of her red eyes, but she managed a wan smile.

  James sat at the base of the table, next to Millicent, and waved. William had his back to me, and being the polite person he was, he hadn’t even turned to acknowledge I was there. We were playing it like that today, were we?

  Angelica smiled as she took her place at the head of the table. “Olivia has decided not to have her mind wiped. Instead, she’s going to take the non-disclosure oath.”