Witch Unleashed

by Kate Allenton

  Pippy’s hand flew to cover her mouth. “This is a joke, right?” She glanced at the mirror. “My sister put you up to this to get back at me?”

  “Why would she do that?”

  “She hates me.” Pippy slammed her hand on the table before taking a calming breath. “Did she get my mother’s abilities?”

  The Chief remained quiet.

  “She did, didn’t she?” Pippy rose from her seat and started pacing the room. “She’s a wallflower without a spine.” Pippy rested her hands on the back of the chair she’d vacated. “I tried to tell my mother she wouldn’t last a day as head of the Clan seated at the council table, but she wouldn’t listen.”

  “Your mother wouldn’t listen. Is that why you killed her?” the Chief asked.

  Pippy gasped and retook her seat. “I loved my mother. I didn’t kill her.”

  “She was killed by a witch.”

  Pippy sat back in her chair and shook her head. “That’s not possible. My mother was the strongest witch in the tristate where we live. No one could beat her. Everyone was scared of her.”

  “Apparently someone on the island did. I’m sorry for your loss, but I need you to write down everything you’ve done since you stepped foot on the island.”

  “You still think I did this? What motive do I have to kill my mother?”

  “Money, revenge, the possibilities are endless, and that’s what we’re trying to get to the bottom of. You and your sister and brother stand to inherit her entire estate.”

  Pippy laughed. She outright laughed like it was the funniest joke she’d heard yet. “You obviously didn’t know my mother. If I had to guess, she had a will and probably left everything to her stupid cat.”

  “I’ll need to speak with her attorney.” The Chief rose from his spot and opened the door. “If you’ll just come with me, I’ll have another officer take your statement on where you’ve been while I talk to your brother and sister.”

  They watched as the Chief led her out of the room.

  “She didn’t even shed a tear finding out her mom was dead. I cried for a week straight when mine died, and I was only ten.”

  “I don’t know much about Vinette, but I do know she wasn’t the easiest person to get along with. She ruffled several board members’ feathers, and they had a hard time keeping her constrained to their rules.”

  “Still, it was her mother,” Tess whispered.

  “Not everyone likes their parents,” Ryder said as the Chief escorted Penny into the room. She gave a worried look out into the lobby as the door shut.

  “Please take a seat.”

  “Why are we here?” Penny asked.

  “I’ll tell you after you answer some questions for me.”

  “Okay.” She rested her clasped hands against the table.

  “What did you do after arriving on the island?”

  “Um.” She moistened her lips. “We checked into our rooms at the hotel.”

  “Did you share a room?”

  “Oh no, Mom likes her privacy. We all have separate rooms.”

  “Okay, and what did you do?”

  “Let’s see.” She smiled. “I called home to check on Roger.”

  “Who’s Roger? A boyfriend?”

  “Roger is my Chihuahua. He really hates it when I leave him with a sitter, and Mom wouldn’t let me bring him since the hotel has a no-pet policy.”

  Ryder rolled his eyes and started to agree with Pippy’s assessment.

  “Once I talked to Roger, I went down to the pool and swam for a bit until I was tired. I took a nap in the room and then met my family for dinner.”

  “And where did you go for dinner?”

  “Mom and I ate at the hotel restaurant. My brother and sister went into town to check out the other places. I don’t know where they ate.”

  “And what time did you finish eating?”

  “Around eight forty five or so.”

  “And you and your mom went up to the rooms?”

  “I did; she didn’t. I left her talking to Mr. Venture in the lobby.”

  The Chief made a note on his pad. “Was your mom acting strange at dinner?”

  “Come to think of it, she kept watching Mr. Venture and was acting like she knew a secret. She was rather giddy about it. Happy, and she’s never happy. Have you seen her aura? It’s the color of mud. Not bright.”

  “Must be when she formed a plan to marry her son off to you,” Ryder said in the silence of the room.

  Tess nudged his arm. “As if.”

  “Okay, thank you.” The Chief cleared his throat again. “I’m sorry to be the one to inform you, but your mother is dead.”

  “No, no, no.” Penny shook her head. “That can’t be.”

  “We found her on the beach this morning.”

  Penny’s shoulders sagged as a tear slipped from her eyes.

  “How? Did she at least die peacefully?” Her lip started to quiver.

  “She didn’t do it,” Tess said, crossing her arms over her chest.

  “It’s always the quiet ones,” Ryder said. “This could all be an act. Her sister said Penny was the strongest in the family.”

  “She’s crying.” Tess pointed to the woman in the room. “Killer’s don’t grieve.”

  “Sociopaths can conjure tears on a whim,” Ryder announced. He would know. He had first-hand experience. “How can you be a skeptic and be winning on the murder board?”

  “Maybe because I’m not quick to judge.” Tess smiled.

  The Chief led Penny from the room and returned with Peter, the last of the Halliwells.

  “Did you know that he’s like a ninja master?” Tess grinned. “He was top of his class in college, and he’s a therapeutic doctor. He uses energy or chi to heal people.”

  “Sounds like a good guy. Maybe you should meet him. You can have ninja babies.”

  Tess rolled her eyes. “I’m guessing he’s gay.”

  Ryder tossed his head back and let out a full belly laugh. “Why in the world would you think that?”

  “In my entire background check of the family, he was the one I worried about the least. He was never in the headlines, never with a woman on his arm, even though he’s handsome, powerful, and rich. Some chicks dig that, but that’s not why I think he’s gay.”

  “And why do you think so?”

  “Because when I was getting everyone checked in, one of our most stunningly beautiful employees tried to discreetly hand him her room key, and he handed it right back without a second thought.” Tess turned to look at me. “I’d think most of you guys would be eager to jump at meaningless sex with a beautiful woman.”

  Ryder tilted his head. “And what vast worldly experience would make you say that?”

  Tess shrugged. “Out of all of the guests that have come and gone, Peter Halliwell was the only one that ever returned the key.”

  Chapter 9

  Okay, so maybe my father’s idea had merit. Peter was a good-looking guy after all, and he hadn’t fallen victim to the siren’s call. Still, my money was on the fact that he wasn’t on the market.

  Peter was told of his mother’s passing, and his alibi would be easy enough to check out. He’d gone into town and spent the night away at a local bed and breakfast. He’d claimed he’d needed some time away from the Halliwell drama and his mother’s nagging. Hopefully, someone would remember him at the B&B, and if not, there might be street cams that would have caught him coming or going. When asked if he was with anyone, his answer had been a hesitant no, but it didn’t take a genius to not buy into his words.

  His look had been sincere enough when told of his mother’s passing. Pain and sadness had crossed his gaze. Not that I was giving him the benefit of the doubt, but judging by his muscular bod- building physique, he wouldn’t have needed magic to kill the old witch but sheer brutal will.

  I waited for the Chief to reassemble the players when Ryder left to inform him I was there. I wrung my fingers together as I stared at the trio behind th
e glass. Any one of them could have done the deed against their mom. What were the odds they’d try something on me when they found out that their mother’s witchery was running through my veins?

  “It’s time,” Ryder announced, peeking into the observation room.

  “What if they try something?” I asked.

  “I’ll stop them.” His look was stone-cold serious.

  “What if they don’t believe me?”

  “They’ll believe me,” he said, grabbing my hand and pulling me from the room. He opened the interrogation room door, and all eyes turned my way.

  “What is she doing here?” Pippy asked. Her tone dripped with disdain. “Is the hotel trying to kick us out?”

  The Chief gave me a nod, and I slid the sunglasses down my nose.

  Pippy’s eyes narrowed, and the other two siblings merely sat looking confused.

  “The only way you could have gotten her powers is if you killed her.” Pippy pointed a long, bony accusing finger in my direction.

  “That’s not true,” Ryder announced. “They go to the closest worthy recipient, so even though your mother was killed by a witch, that witch wasn’t deemed worthy, but Tess Venture was.”

  “Then she must know who did it,” Peter said, crossing his arms over his chest.

  “I didn’t hear a thing,” I answered in all honesty. “I’d been sleeping around the bend from where your mom was killed, and if there was a way I could gift you her witchcraft, you have to believe that I would. I don’t want it.”

  “You should be honored,” Penny said. “She felt you worthy, and we’d be happy to have you in the clan.”

  It was apparent Penny was either really nice to the point of me needing to knock some sense into her or really good at lying. Either way the sense I knocked into her might work to handle either case.

  “We don’t know this girl,” Peter said, tilting his head. “We don’t know anything about her, Penny. You can’t just be offering a seat at our table to a stranger.”

  I held up my hands. “I don’t want any seat at whatever dinner table you’re talking about.”

  They exchanged a confused look. Peter was the first to speak. “Is she for real?”

  Ryder nodded. “Tess didn’t find out until recently that she’s an ancestor of the witch line. Her abilities were bound until your mother’s magic changed all that. Actually, we have it on authority that your mother was trying to arrange a meeting between you and her.”

  “Not that I knew.” I held up my hands. “The last thing I need is my father playing matchmaker, especially with the way he kept my bindings a secret.”

  “Perfect.” Pippy tossed up her hands. “I’m not training her how to use magic.”

  “I didn’t ask you to,” I answered, staring at all of them. “To be honest, I don’t even want to know, and I have no desire to learn.”

  Pippy’s glare bored a hole through my head. “You have no idea what my mother was capable of, or you’d be changing your tune.”

  “We’re getting off topic,” Ryder said. “I wanted you to meet Tess so you know she’s the one that picked up your mother’s abilities, but she had nothing to do with her death. Her alibi is solid.”

  “How solid?” Pippy asked.

  “I’m a hunter for the Council. The killer I was tracking on that boat is the same one who killed your mother, and Tess wasn’t a passenger. I’m a hundred percent certain that she’s innocent.” His words came out stern and sure as he flashed them a badge he’d yet to show me.

  He had more faith in his abilities than I had in his to find the real killer.

  “Until we find a way to transfer the abilities back to one of you three, Tess is off-limits. Do I make myself clear?”

  “She can keep the powers. I don’t want them,” Penny said with a sad smile.

  “Speak for yourself,” Pippy answered.

  “Enough. Are we done here?” Peter said, rising from his seat. “I need to get back to the mainland and inform the rest of our relatives.”

  “The ferry won’t be back until Sunday. I’m afraid you’re all stuck here until then.”

  He gave a slow nod. “I’ll make some calls and see if I can charter a plane.”

  “I’m afraid that’s not possible,” I said, rising. “We don’t have an airport, and helicopters won’t fly near the island. Their instruments go haywire.”

  “I’ll charter a boat or swim if I have to.” Pippy’s gaze narrowed.

  “Under the order of the Council, I’m afraid you guys are stuck here until I give the clearance to leave. We have a killer on the island that I personally tracked, and because of that, no one with witchcraft abilities is leaving.”

  “You can’t do that,” Pippy growled as Peter took her arm and started pulling her from the room.

  “You’ll have to forgive my sister,” Penny offered. “We all grieve in different ways.”

  That wasn’t grieving, not that I’d point that out. If the misguided sister wanted to believe that Pippy was upset instead of pissed off, who was I to correct her?

  The Chief walked them out of the precinct and returned moments later. “The coroner confirmed our findings. Vinette died from her wounds. She had several broken bones and burns consistent with a magical fight.”

  “Someone left her for dead,” Ryder said, chewing on his bottom lip. “That’s the only explanation for the transfer of power symbol she drew in the sand. She must have done it minutes before she took her last breath.”

  “Wait, what? That’s what that symbol was by her body?” I asked. “You mean all it took was drawing some symbol in the sand? Remind me what it looked like so I can try to replicate it.”

  “Afraid I can’t let you do that,” Ryder said, meeting my gaze. “It’s safer knowing that her abilities are sitting inside you bound by the talisman than in the hands of one of the witches, or we might find a war on our hands.”

  “I know where we can start,” I said. “Chief, if you’ll check out the B&B and see if Peter was telling the truth, I’ll get Watson to pull the video feed to check everyone else’s alibi to see if they were coming or going and who was missing from their rooms.”

  The Chief glanced at Ryder, and Ryder gave a little nod. “Call us on your cell if you find anything.”

  “He can’t,” I said. “Cell service is spotty on the island. We’ll all need to use a landline.”

  My stomach rumbled for the first time since that morning as they left the precinct. The sun had started to lower into the horizon. Time had slipped by watching the interrogations.

  “We should grab a bite to eat,” Ryder announced as he climbed into the golf cart.

  I sat there debating in silence for a minute. “I’m not ready to see my family.”

  “Good thing there are more restaurants on the island. Otherwise, you’d starve. How about some pizza? It’s next to where I’m staying, and I had it last night. Did you know that a real Italian chef made it?”

  I smiled as I pushed the gas pedal. “Of course I did. I begged Daddy to approve his application.”

  Ryder

  Chapter 10

  She dangled the pizza over her mouth, pulling at the cheese with pure determination that she would win the battle. He grinned and sipped his beer watching her antics. How she was still eating was a mystery in and of itself. Ryder had three pieces, and he was stuffed.

  “You really do love pizza.”

  Stuffing the extra cheese she’d peeled off into her mouth, she covered her mouth with her hand to chew. She nodded enthusiastically, not speaking until she swallowed.

  “I love pizza, but even more, I love the pictures on the wall.”

  Ryder hadn’t even noticed the ambiance. He took a minute to glance around the pizza joint. Huge framed colorful pictures of Italian landscapes brightened the room.

  “I can see why.”

  “When I was a teen, I’d dream of running away and having adventures in places like that and meeting other people besides the ones stuck on the
island.”

  “They had a choice to stay; you didn’t.”

  “I know that now.” Her eyes clouded. “I never could understand why every vacation I tried to plan never got me off the island, and let me tell you, my father must have gone to great lengths to get me to stay. The ferry never showed one time. He claimed it was because of the rough seas. Another time, a hurricane was reportedly heading our way.”

  “That should have been easy enough to check out. Just turn on the news.”

  “Oh, there was a hurricane, but it never even touched us. It’s like there’s some invisible force field around the island making it untouchable to the outside world.” She shrugged. “I’m surprised you made the cut.”

  “I must be special.” He picked a pepperoni off the pie and tossed it into his mouth.

  “Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like he chained me in a basement. I live on a beautiful island, surrounded by family. I get to meet new people once a week, and the locals are always nice and helpful. Well, most of them,” she amended.

  “True paradise,” he said, taking a sip of his beer.

  She sighed. “And yet I’ve always yearned to leave it.” She met his gaze. “Maybe one day I will make it happen.”

  “Sounds like you’re close enough. You stood up to your father, and you now know the truth.”

  She sipped her water, watching him over the rim before she lowered her cup. “Enough about me, tell me about you.”

  “There’s not much to tell. I grew up in Florida, and both of my parents are deceased.”

  “Were they witches?” She leaned in and asked as if the subject was taboo.

  His lips twitched. Witches were occupying three tables in the pizza joint. Was she really that clueless to what was going on around her?

  “My mother was,” he answered. “She hid it from me too. So I’ve experienced the same deception, more times than I care to admit.”

  “There’s more to that story, isn’t there?”

  “None that I care to share.” He tilted his beer in a salute to drop the subject before he took a sip.