“And they were?” Abby asked in a gentle voice.
Juliet clasped her hands tightly in her lap. “You both live in a small town. You know how rumors can get started.” She gazed down at her hands. “We’ve worked so hard building a good reputation with the people who live here. And if word got out—”
“What word?” I interrupted.
Juliet flipped her hair over her shoulder. “There are so many misconceptions whenever people choose to live together in a group like we do,” she said, not answering my question.
Abby’s eyes slid to mine and she gave her head a slight shake. “What kind of misconceptions?” she asked.
“They assume we’re a cult, and with that, all their preconceived opinions come into play.”
Abby watched Juliet closely. “Such as?”
She plucked at her tunic again. “You know, sex, illicit drugs, mind control, those kinds of things…” Her voice grew faint and she tugged on her bottom lip. “Brandi is a very troubled young woman…” She hesitated. “Her behavior forced us into asking her to leave.”
“What kind of behavior?” Abby asked.
Juliet abruptly leaned forward, and her eyes searched Abby’s face. “She tried to seduce my husband.” Her voice was hushed.
Well, that put a new spin on things. I opened my mouth to speak, but Abby placed her hand on my leg, silencing me.
Abby’s eyes never left Juliet’s face. “What happened?”
Sitting back and wrapping her arms around herself, Juliet hugged herself tightly. “One afternoon, Jason found Brandi naked in our bed.” Her eyes flared for a moment. “Brandi could be very brazen sexually. Prior to the incident with Jason, several times we caught her trying to sneak off the compound at night.”
“And you don’t allow that?”
“Of course not.” Juliet uncrossed her arms and leaned forward. “That’s not what this place is about. We’re here for spiritual growth, not running naked through the pines. Things of the flesh are within the sanctity of marriage. I had qualms about Brandi when she first came. But I ignored them—she seemed so lost, so in need of our help—I went against my better judgment.”
Abby nodded sympathetically. “She left after you confronted her?”
“I never saw her. Jason was here by himself when it happened. He said the scene got ugly when he rebuffed her, so he left. When he returned, she was gone.” Her voice sounded flat and repetitive, like she was retelling a story.
“You believe him?” I asked.
Her eyes narrowed in a flash of temper. “Yes, I believe him. Jason adores me. And I adore him. The girl was a troublemaker from the start.”
“A bad influence on Tink, no doubt, too,” I said.
She nodded her head vehemently. “Yes, she was. As you know, Ophelia, after what I told you last night, we have enough problems with Tink. I didn’t need Brandi encouraging disobedience.” Juliet relaxed against the back of her chair. “We thought she’d returned home to her parents until the sheriff stopped by asking question.”
“Don’t you think you should’ve told him about the scene with Jason?” I asked.
“What would that serve? She was gone and we didn’t know where. Telling the sheriff about what she tried to pull with Jason wouldn’t help him find her.” She crossed her legs. “Jason wanted to, but I discouraged him. He doesn’t get out among the community as much as I do. He’s too busy with his studies, so he has no idea how tenuous our acceptance is.”
“You really think if it got out about Brandi’s behavior, it would affect your standing with the town?” Abby chimed in.
“Yes. I’m not some idealistic New Ager that believes all is peace and love in the outside world. I understand human nature. People always think the worst, whether it’s proven or not. Can you imagine what one whiff of scandal about an alleged affair between my husband and a girl young enough to be his daughter would do?” Her head turned and she gazed out at the trees growing around the deck. “We’d have to leave this beautiful place,” she said wistfully.
I looked at Abby to try and detect what she thought, but her face was expressionless.
She stood and smiled down at Juliet. “Thank you for being honest with us,” she said, laying a hand on Juliet’s shoulder.
Juliet reached up and grabbed Abby’s hand. “You won’t tell anyone, will you?” Her face was etched with concern.
“However painful it might be for them, Brandi’s parents have a right to know what was going on, but we’ll leave it up to Rick,” Abby said gently.
“But—”
Abby patted her hand. “It will be all right. Don’t worry.”
Juliet stood and followed us out the door and to the edge of the porch steps.
As we drove away, I saw her in the rearview mirror as she wrapped an arm around one of the posts and sagged against it. The men working in the garden earlier were gone.
“I feel kind of bad about Juliet, Abby,” I said, returning my eyes to the lane ahead. “You really pried the story out of her.”
“I know. She assumed since I’m a psychic, I’d read her mind and know the truth anyway.”
I gave a small grin. “Yeah, that ‘I think I see, I think I see’ routine really worked.”
Abby smiled and turned toward the window. “I saw someone do that on TV once.”
“Darci would’ve been really proud of you for the way you handled Juliet.”
Abby chuckled. “Oh, I’ll never be as good as Darci.”
My face grew serious. “Do you think she was telling the truth?”
“About the failed attempt at seduction? Yes. You spent time with them last night; what do you think? Is Jason a cheater?”
“No,” I said with conviction. “She was right when she said he adores her. You could feel the chemistry two feet away. And I sensed he’s very protective of her. No, he wouldn’t do anything that might hurt her.”
“How about Brandi? Would he hurt her?” Abby asked.
I thought about the body in the lake. Could Jason be responsible? Had the scene been so ugly, it ended in Brandi’s death? And he’d disposed of the body in the lake? No, we’d agreed the body wasn’t decomposed enough. Last night Jason seemed personable and charming, not a killer.
“Did you hear me, Ophelia?” Abby asked when I didn’t answer.
“Yeah, I was thinking about it. No, he’s different, but I can’t see him provoked enough to kill. He’s too cerebral, if you know what I mean.”
“Meaning he’s too smart to kill?” Abby asked with a grin.
“No.” I stopped and tried to think of the best way to describe Jason. “I don’t think he’s passionate enough to kill. The only things I think he truly cares about are his studies and Juliet.”
“But if he thought Brandi represented a threat to his marriage?”
“Not even then. I got the feeling last night that both Juliet and Jason are very secure in their marriage. He would know Juliet wouldn’t believe anything Brandi might tell her.”
“What about Juliet? She’s determined to protect the reputation of their group. Would it be enough of a motive for murder?”
“No, I think she’s too dedicated to truth and enlightenment for murder. Someone like that usually doesn’t see killing as a solution to their problems.”
By now we’d reached the cabin. I put the SUV in park and started to open my door.
“Wait,” Abby said, laying a hand on my arm. “What do you think about Tink?”
“Tink? What about her?” I looked at Abby in surprise.
“What’s your impression?” she asked.
“I think she’s a mixed-up kid who’s had some tough breaks.” I turned my head and gazed out the windshield. “She likes to play games with people. She ditched her meds, you know.” I returned my eyes to Abby.
“Yes, I saw that, too.”
“And I’d just bet,” I said, with a quick nod of my head like I knew what I was talking about, “as soon as she was out of sight of the main house,
she made her escape. She’s probably running loose in the woods right now, and Jason will be out looking for her before nightfall.”
Abby’s mouth twisted in a small grin. “You’re probably right. The child has spirit.” Her expression turned serious. “That’s all you saw?”
“Yeah,” I said, wondering what she was getting at.
She shook her head and got out of the SUV. With brisk strides she headed toward the cabin.
“What?” I said, and scrambled out. “What did you see?” I ran to catch up to her.
Abby shot me a look from over her shoulder. “Ophelia, that child’s an extremely powerful psychic.”
Twenty-three
Instead of going into the cabin, Abby detoured around the building and went through the side yard to the deck. By the time I reached her, she was sitting calmly in a chair talking to Darci.
“Hey, wait a second,” I said, bursting in on the conversation. “What do you mean the kid is a psychic?”
“What?” Darci’s eyes traveled first to me and then to Abby.
I threw myself down on a chair next to Darci. “Abby says Tink is a psychic.”
Darci leaned forward in interest. “Really? I thought you said the kid was just spooky…” Her voice dropped away and she cocked her head and eyed me with speculation. “But I can see where having psychic talent would lead—”
I drew myself up and broke in. “Are you insinuating that I’m spooky?”
Darci smiled broadly. “Come on, Ophelia, you’re not exactly ‘normal.’ That’s why you’re so much fun to hang around with. I never know what’s going to happen next.” She wiggled around on the chaise. “Besides, normal’s boring.”
Frowning, I didn’t know if I’d been paid a compliment or not. With everything that had happened in such a short space of time, normal didn’t sound half bad right now. Boring, maybe, but at least safe.
I turned my attention to Abby. “Okay, so Tink is a psychic—”
“A very powerful psychic,” Abby said, talking over me. “I can’t believe you didn’t feel it or see it, Ophelia. All you have to do is look at her. It’s right there in her eyes.”
“Well, I didn’t see it,” I said emphatically, “or feel it.”
Abby shook her head. “Her talent is very uncontrolled. Her energy was all over the place. And as soon as she walked into the room, I felt her trying to read me.”
“Wow,” Darci said, amazed. “When can I meet her?”
I gave her a quelling look and turned my attention back to Abby. “Do you think the Finches know?”
“They are doing research into psychic phenomena,” Abby said, lifting a shoulder, “so one would assume they do.”
“You know,” I said, snapping my fingers, “Juliet did say they’re hoping their research will help Tink. But I thought she meant they hope to learn something to help Tink control her rages.”
Abby gave an unladylike snort. “Nonsense. That child doesn’t have rages.”
“But Juliet said—”
She stopped me with a look. “I don’t care what she said. As a small child Tink may have had her share of temper tantrums. A lot of children pitch fits—”
“But Tink might have pushed her mother down the stairs during one,” I blurted out.
“Humph, I don’t believe that one either.” Abby settled back in her chair and crossed her arms.
I was getting more confused by the minute.
“Then what do you believe?” I asked.
Abby ignored my question. “Tell me more about the necklace.”
I groaned. “We’re not back on that dumb necklace, are we? I swear you’re as obsessed with it as the Finches.”
Darci perked up. “What necklace?”
Great, now Darci would make a big deal about Tink’s amulet, too.
“The kid wears this necklace that looks like a silver spider’s web, and it has a red stone in the center. Evidently she’s supposed to wear it all the time, because whenever they catch her without it on, Juliet and Jason get all bent out of shape,” I said.
Darci sank back, disappointed. “That’s it? I’ve seen a ton of kids at the library wearing necklaces in the shape of a spider’s web.”
With a quick nod, I glanced over at Abby. “See? All the kids wear them.”
“You said the stone was red,” Abby said, ignoring my remark. “Could it be a ruby?”
“I suppose,” I mumbled, and gave up trying to get her attention off the necklace.
“I wonder when Tink was born?” she said to herself.
“Abby, what are you getting at?” My voice was tinged with frustration.
She gave me a stern look. “When we get home, I’m giving you all the family’s journals, and you’re going to read every last one of them.”
Now I was more confused than ever.
“What do our family’s journals have to do with Tink’s necklace?”
“The journals contain spells—binding spells—spells that use spiders’ webs.”
The light clicked on.
“Someone is trying to bind Tink’s powers using that necklace?”
Satisfied that I finally understood, Abby smiled. “Yes. It’s my guess the crystal is Tink’s birthstone—”
“And the stone fixes the spell specifically on her?” I interrupted.
“Yes. And the spider’s web binds whatever the person who cast the spell stated in their intentions.”
“In this case, Tink’s psychic abilities?”
Abby nodded. “I think so.”
“The spell must work.” I stared off into space, thinking. “Whenever I was around Tink, the necklace was somewhere nearby. Either hanging on a branch or in her pocket. That’s why I never picked up on her talent.”
“Maybe. The necklace would definitely work better if it was worn around her neck, but if she was close enough to it, it would still exert some power over her.”
“So someone is dabbling in magick?” My eyes drifted back to Abby’s face.
“Juliet would be my guess,” Abby said.
“But what about Jason? He was a stage magician at one time.”
“Ophelia,” she chided, “you know stage magic has nothing to do with real magick.”
“I know, but what if his interest in fake magic led him to explore real magick?” I remembered my conversation with Jason. “He said meeting Juliet opened his eyes to real magic, but I thought he meant it a different way. That she opened his eyes to the potential that lies within…” My voice trailed off while I put two and two together in my mind. “Crap, they’re practicing witchcraft, aren’t they?”
“Oh my gosh! It’s not a commune, it’s a coven.” Darci’s face glowed. “There’s a coven across the lake. How cool is that?”
“Slow down, Darce. We’re making a lot of assumptions here.” I chewed on my bottom lip, thinking.
I thought about the clearing with the abandoned cabin.
“Abby, do you think Juliet or Jason laid down some kind of protective spell around that cabin?”
“If Juliet and Jason are dabbling,” she said, “the spell could be theirs. But the day you found the cabin, I assumed Walks Quietly was responsible.”
Oh yeah, I’d forgotten about him.
Abby continued. “I don’t know exactly what Walks Quietly is—I don’t know very much about Native American beliefs—but he’s some kind of medicine man.”
I rubbed my forehead with the heels of my hands. I felt my headache coming back.
Abby leaned toward me and touched my arm. “Headache again?”
“Yeah.” I exhaled slowly.
A look of uncertainty shadowed Abby’s face. She pursed her lips before speaking. “There’s something else, Ophelia. Earlier I told you something or someone is toying with us, but there is a purpose behind the game, and—”
A voice called out from inside the cabin, “Is anyone here?”
Rick.
“We’re on the deck,” I called out.
The doors slid
open and Rick stepped out. His beard was thicker now, and his self-confident air was gone. He looked tired, worn down.
Abby stood, shaking her head in sympathy.
Rising, I crossed to Rick and took his hands in mine. “Rick, I’m so sorry. Did you call Brandi’s parents?”
“No,” he said shortly.
“I know calling her parents will be hard, but putting it off won’t make it easier,” I said gently.
“It’s not Brandi,” he said in a low voice.
I released his hands and stepped back. “But who—”
“Duane Hobbs,” he replied, cutting me off.
“Duane Hobbs drowned?”
Before he could answer, Abby broke in. “Let the man sit down, Ophelia.”
Rick shot Abby a grateful look and sat on the nearest chair.
Abby laid a hand on his shoulder. “Do you want something to drink, Rick?”
“That would be great.”
Abby went back into the cabin, while I turned to Rick. “What about Duane?”
He held up a hand. “I’ll explain when Abby gets back.”
I crossed my arms and tapped my foot. My mind was racing. How did Duane Hobbs wind up dead?
“Rick—”
“I don’t want to tell the story twice, okay?” he said, his voice weary.
I took pity on him and kept my mouth shut. Crossing over to my chair, I plopped down and waited.
Abby returned a few moments later with a tray holding a pitcher of lemonade and four glasses. She poured one for each of us, then sat next to me. After passing a hand over her eyes, she took a tiny sip.
Disturbed, I touched her arm. “Abby?”
She reached over and patted my hand, smiling. “Let’s hear what Rick has to say.”
Rick drained his glass in one long drink. Setting the empty glass on the deck, he leaned forward. “I was in the boat with the sheriff and the medical examiner when the divers brought the body to the surface. I even helped get it into the boat. It was obvious—he didn’t drown.” Rick winced. “When they turned him over, we saw a deep gash on the left side of his skull. Deep enough to kill him. He also had a piece of cord tied around his foot.”
The Trouble with Witches Page 16