The Secret of Isobel Key

by Jen McConnel

  To Mom, for encouraging me to fly, and to Matt, for everything else.

  Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Chapter Thirty-four

  Chapter Thirty-five

  Chapter Thirty-six

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Prologue

  1667

  As the flames rose, Isobel stopped cursing and instead started to make a shrill, screaming whine, much like the sound of the sap boiling in the logs at her feet. It was so eerie, so utterly inhuman that even the executioner, a man long seasoned to the sounds of death, wanted to cover his ears and sob into the skirt of the nearest woman.

  The sound carried from the village green, through the streets and narrow wynds, penetrating the windows and doors shut tight against the execution. It was as if not attending could erase the sin of allowing it to happen in the first place. No one who heard that sound could reconcile it with the once melodious voice of the burning woman. The evil thing at the stake was not a woman they remembered or recognized.

  Their memories were as short as the day, from the morning after her terrible deeds were revealed and the witch was brought into town in the back of a pony cart. It was suddenly as if none of the villagers knew the poor creature at all. None could recall seeking her help, and none would avow that she had always been kind and ready to bake breads for town feasts or to watch the little ones play while their parents danced together. Acts of kindness linger in the mind less than murder, for it was obvious to all that the woman had murdered at least three souls, if not countless others. Justice was being served, and her blood would not stain the God-fearing hands in St. Andrews. She was not their responsibility, and they wanted to take no claim for her evil.

  Chapter One

  “I quit!” Lou’s words echoed around the checkout line, and customers craned their necks to see what was happening. Red faced, Lou looked down at her register in embarrassment. Her manager patted her shoulder.

  “Let’s go back in the office to talk about this.” He turned, expecting her to follow.

  “No!” Louder than she’d intended, Lou stood her ground. “You heard me. I’ve had enough of this store.” As she spoke, she tossed her nametag on the counter, feeling a sense of triumph. She hadn’t rushed through her degree to spend her life selling books to cranky customers. An errant brown curl flipped over her eye, and she pushed it away. Under the shocked gaze of her manager and the curious stares of a snake-like line of holiday shoppers, Lou escaped. Embarrassment set in as soon as she was outside, and her icy blue eyes filled with tears, but she refused to cry. Not yet.

  She headed for the nearest T stop, tucking her chin against the bitter December wind. She’d walked this easy route between the bookstore and the T ever since she started college four years ago, and her body took over while her mind churned. She’d landed the job at the suburban bookstore shortly after she arrived in the city, and at the time, it had been perfect; she got a discount on books, and she was able to work with people she really enjoyed. Besides, it wasn’t like she was going to work retail forever. Sighing, she paid her fare and took her seat on the train bound for the city center.

  Lou had raced through her studies, finishing her BA in only three years, but then she’d hit a roadblock. She didn’t really know what to do with her liberal arts degree when she’d finished her classes that summer, and so when her manager suggested she shift to full-time at the bookstore, Lou had agreed. It was better than nothing, right?

  Suddenly, the weight of what she’d done hit her, and she buried her face in her hands. What was she thinking, quitting her job like that? Lou replayed the afternoon in her mind. Nothing had happened today that hadn’t happened a thousand other times. Maybe it was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back: four years of answering bizarre questions and dealing with customers who thought they were always right had finally taken their toll on her psyche.

  But now what would she do? She was unemployed the week before Christmas. Lou slumped in her seat. Unless she figured something out, and fast, she might have to move back in with her family. Her mother had been hinting at that, anyway, ever since the summer. It wasn’t that Lou had anything against her family, not really; her parents had adopted her shortly after her birth, and they’d never made her feel like anything but their cherished only child. But she’d just turned 21, and Lou had never planned on moving home. Lou snorted disparagingly; that was funny. It almost sounded like she’d ever had a plan.

  Shaking her head, Lou glanced up as the train rolled to a stop. Standing unsteadily, she tried to ignore the raging pity party in her mind. As the doors whooshed open, the cold winter air assaulted her again. For the first time she realized that she’d left her coat behind in the employee lounge. Hesitating for a moment, Lou considered taking the train back and getting her things.

  “There’s no going back,” she whispered. Even the excuse of her coat might be enough to put her in her manager’s office, begging for her job. Lou hated the fact that she’d made a scene, but she realized she’d hate herself even more if she begged to be allowed to keep working long hours at minimum wage. Shivering, Lou hurried up the stairs and out of the tunnel. The old black light posts were swathed in candy cane stripes, and every window she passed displayed some holiday decorations. What a time to be unemployed, Lou thought sourly as entered her apartment building.

  Unlocking the door on the seventeenth floor, Lou called out nervously, “Hello? Tammy?” Her roommate didn’t answer, and Lou felt relieved. She wasn’t ready to face anyone yet, not until she’d figured out her next step. Checking the kitschy clock on the wall of the hallway, Lou realized it was only a quarter after four. Tammy wouldn’t be home ‘til seven or later; she’d had to sign up for late classes that semester to finish the gen ed requirements she’d left off until her final year. Relaxing, Lou stacked her boots neatly in the hall closet and headed to the kitchen.

  Tammy’s parents had helped the girls pay for the apartment, and Lou sort of hated it. The sleek, modern kitchen was a mess; remnants from Tammy’s last party were still strewn across the stainless countertops. Sighing, Lou plugged in the electric kettle and searched for a mug. While she waited for the kettle to whistle, she started to tidy up. She loaded the dishwasher carelessly and overfilled the soap container, but when she was done the room looked much more presentable. Satisfied, Lou added a packet of hot chocolate to the mug. After a moment’s hesitation, she stirred a hearty dollop of vanilla vodka into the chipped Disney World souvenir.

  Leaning against the counter, Lou studied the apartment. The kitchen was open to the rest of the space, and from where she was standing
, Lou could see the living room and the stairs that led to her lofted bedroom. She drank in the space, and tears filled her eyes. It was cold and sterile and way too modern for her tastes, but now that she was faced with the thought of moving home, the apartment seemed beautiful.

  “What’s the matter with me?” She wondered out loud, fighting back tears. Taking her mug, she crossed to the living room and flopped down on the fluffy red sofa. She began flipping aimlessly through the stack of magazines on the coffee table.

  She always knew that she’d attend college after high school. Her parents were both doctors, and they had instilled a fierce love of learning in Lou at an early age. Money wasn’t an issue, so when she turned 18 and Leslie University accepted her, she thought the small private school would be ideal. She moved to Boston with her best friend, Tammy, who was attending Boston College. Lou took classes round the clock, even loading her schedule in the summers, and she had pulled off a feat that Tammy continued to tease her about; she’d managed to finish her BA before her twenty-first birthday. But all that hard work hadn’t gotten her anywhere; she’d stalled out after graduation in August, and the bookstore had seemed like a safe alternative to making up her mind right away. She’d barely lasted three months full-time, though; maybe she wasn’t ready to be an adult yet.

  Suddenly, her cell phone buzzed in her pocket. Glancing at the perpetually cracked screen, Lou saw that it was Tammy calling. Sighing, she flipped the phone open.

  “Hello?”

  Tammy’s voice was crackly but excited. “Lou? Guess what? You’ll never guess what happened!”

  Lou sighed, annoyed. “What?”

  “Mom and dad are sending me abroad this Christmas!” Tammy squealed in delight. “Did you hear?”

  Lou hesitated, swallowing her jealousy. “Tammy, that’s amazing!”

  “I know, right? And you’ll never guess where!”

  Not wanting to play games, Lou asked, “Would you just tell me?”

  “Scotland! Isn’t that awesome?”

  Stunned speechless, Lou just stared at the phone.

  “Lou! Louisa! Are you still there?”

  She shook herself. “Yes, I’m here. Tammy, that’s great!”

  “I know! I mean, I have to visit my great-aunt or something, but otherwise, it’s a free trip!”

  Lou was quiet. She’d give anything for a chance to travel, and she’d always dreamed about Scotland.

  Tammy bubbled on, ignoring Lou’s silence. “All that history! Won’t it be perfect to spend Christmas in Scotland?”

  “Tammy, I’m really excited for you.” Lou forced a smile as she spoke.

  “For us, you mean.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  Tammy’s voice broke into a garbled stream of words.

  “Tammy!” Lou shouted. “I can’t hear you.”

  “In the T…we’ll talk… home…”

  The cell phone made a crunching sound and the call dropped. Lou looked at her phone and leaned back into the couch cushions. It wasn’t fair, she thought grouchily. Her parents would never think to send her abroad for Christmas; Tammy had all the luck. Sniffing, Lou drained her cup of spiked cocoa and headed upstairs to lie down and forget the day had ever happened.

  Chapter Two

  An hour later, Tammy breezed through the door, dropping her coat and purse in a snowy mess. “Hello! Want to know when we leave?”

  Lou came down the stairs from her loft. She had changed into pajamas, and her eyes were puffy from crying, but Tammy didn’t notice. She headed into the kitchen and began digging around in the fridge.

  “Aren’t you curious?” She emerged with a carton of old Chinese food.

  Lou nodded. “What happened?”

  Tammy grinned. “What happened is we’re going to Scotland!”

  “We?” Lou raised her eyebrow.

  “Merry Christmas!” Tammy said gleefully.

  “What are you talking about?”

  Her best friend sighed impatiently. “I didn’t want to go alone, and I know you’ve always wanted to go there.”

  Lou faltered, “But how will I afford it?”

  “Aren’t you listening? It’s your Christmas gift! I already called your mom and asked if she wanted to go in on it. Once I told her that my folks were sending me, she agreed pretty fast.”

  “Oh.” Lou was stunned. Her parents were sending her to Scotland? “I didn’t know.”

  Tammy looked up, suddenly concerned.

  “Oh, crap, it’s the holiday season! I didn’t even think about the bookstore. Will you be able to get the time off work on this short notice?”

  Lou smiled thinly. “I don’t think I’ll have a problem.”

  ~

  The days went by in a flurry of activity as the girls prepared for their trip. On the Friday before their flight, Lou voiced a guilty thought.

  “I haven’t been home in a while, and it’s really nice of our parents to do this.”

  Tammy glanced up from her packing checklist, a frown on her face. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. We didn’t make it home for Thanksgiving, did we?”

  Lou shook her head. “I had to work Black Friday, and you had that big party planned.”

  Her best friend laughed. “It was pretty epic. Sorry you had to work.”

  Lou shrugged. “It’s fine,” she lied. “I don’t mind. But seriously, shouldn’t we go home for the weekend and thank them?”

  Frowning, Tammy consulted her packing checklist. “I guess. Just let me finish packing first. You’re such a good person, Lou. I wouldn’t have even thought of visiting this weekend.”

  Lou smiled faintly. It wasn’t so much that she wanted to go home: it was more that she didn’t want to deal with her mother’s guilt trip if she didn’t. She wasn’t even sure that a visit home would prevent it, but she was willing to try. Besides, she was grateful to her parents for the vacation. The least she could do was spend a weekend with them before she and Tammy left. Going home was always a bit awkward since she’d started college, but maybe this time would be better.

  In a few hours, the girls were loaded into Tammy’s SUV and careening toward Connecticut. Consulting her GPS, Tammy commented, “We should be there in time for dinner. Did you call your folks yet?”

  Lou shook her head. “I figured it would be more festive if we surprise them.”

  Tammy laughed. “Some surprise it will be; I told my mother. And you know those two can’t keep secrets from each other!”

  Lou shrugged. “I’m just glad we’ve got time to do this before we leave.”

  They passed the drive in relative silence, punctuated only by the carols that were playing on every radio station. Snow had started to fall when Tammy pulled up in front of the red brick colonial house that Lou had grown up in.

  “It always looks so cute during the holidays!” Tammy exclaimed, gesturing to the wreath on the front door. Lou nodded, but inwardly she cringed. She’d always hated the lengths her mother went to decorating the house for the different seasons.

  She grabbed her overnight bag and hopped to the curb. “Pick me up early on Sunday?”

  “Sure.” Tammy flicked the windshield wipers once. “Want to do brunch with the families tomorrow?”

  “Okay. Just call me.”

  “Will do. Have fun with your folks!”

  “You too!” Lou called, slamming the door shut with a wave. Watching Tammy’s taillights turn the corner, Lou took a deep breath.

  Looking up at the sky, she blinked as snowflakes caught in her eyelashes. Enjoying the peaceful moment, she almost started to look forward to her weekend at home. The door opened behind her, and Lou turned, still smiling.

  “Surprise!” Shouldering her bag, she headed inside, enjoying the stunned expression on her dad’s face.

  “What are you doing here, punkin’?” He kissed her cheek and reached for her bag, transferring it smoothly to his own shoulder.

  Lou shook out her coat and peeled off her boots. “Tammy and I th
ought we should come home for the weekend, since we’d be missing the holidays.”

  “What a nice idea! Gloria, come and see what Santa brought us! It’s our little graduate.” Her dad winked at her. “I’ll take these things up to your room. Go in and see if your mother has any leftovers from dinner.”

  Lou nodded. Trying not to step in the puddle her boots had made on the floor, she headed for the dining room.

  “Louisa! What in the world are you doing?” Her mother looked at her, stunned. Lou felt her smile slip a little.

  “Tammy and I thought we’d come thank you for the trip in person. I hope it’s okay.” She slid into her usual seat and looked around the table.

  “Of course. I just wish you girls would have called. I’d have thrown some little thing together.”

  “Some little thing” meant a party, and Lou sighed with relief, glad that Tammy’s mother hadn’t spilled the news for once. “Well, I’m glad that it will just be us this weekend. I don’t really feel like any big parties.”

  Her mother reached up and tried to smooth Lou’s unruly hair. “I don’t know why you never take any care with your looks. Have you thought about coloring your hair?”

  “What’s wrong with my hair?”

  “Oh, brown is so drab. Maybe you’d feel better if you were a redhead.”

  “I feel fine, Mom.” Lou lied through clenched teeth and her mother shrugged.

  “Just trying to help, dear. I want you to look your best.”

  Lou coughed once and turned away, her face flushed at the implication in her mother’s tone. Her mother eyed her critically.

  “I hope you’re not coming down with anything. Make sure you take extra vitamins and bring hand sanitizer on the plane. Planes are the perfect place to catch any manner of diseases.”

  Lou sighed. “Don’t worry. I won’t get sick. I’m just tired from packing.”

  “That’s right!” Her dad spoke as he entered the dining room. “Are you all set for your grand adventure?”

  “Just about. Tammy and I fly out of Logan on Monday, so we figured we’d head back to Boston on Sunday to give ourselves time to check everything. Thank you again,” she smiled at her father. “This was such a nice surprise!”