“Great.”
“I can be there in twenty minutes.”
“Okay.”
Landon waited for me to say more. When I didn’t, he filled the silence. “Sweetie, is there something going on you want to tell me about?”
I chewed my bottom lip, undecided. Was there? Should I tell him about this? He would laugh at my reaction. There was no getting around that. I couldn’t shake the worry, and regret was impossible to live with. If I didn’t put my plan into action, there was a chance I would always be surrounded by regret.
“I need you to do something for me,” I said finally.
“Is it something dirty?”
“No, but I’ll add something dirty to the mix if you do what I ask without questioning me,” I offered, hopeful.
“What do you want me to do?” Landon sounded intrigued. That wouldn’t stop him from making fun of me if the chance arose.
“I’m going to ask you to do something that you’ll think is strange,” I started, choosing my words carefully. “I’m going to ask you to do it anyway and I don’t want any lip.”
“Ooh, I’m all tingly with anticipation.”
He was clearly enjoying himself. That didn’t stop me from laying it all out for him.
“I had a scary situation here earlier,” I explained. “You won’t think it’s scary — so don’t even bother asking about it — but I think it’s scary. Now I’m worried Mrs. Little is hanging around outside the newspaper office. I need you to park by the back door.
“I’ll keep watch for when you arrive, which will allow me to slip outside and run to your vehicle,” I continued. “You stay inside the Explorer and I’ll hop in the passenger side, and then I want you to take off as fast as you can.”
It was so quiet on the other end of the call I thought I’d lost him.
“Landon?”
“I’m here.” All traces of mirth were gone. “Do you want to tell me what this is about?”
“Over dinner.”
“Maybe I don’t want to wait.”
I bit back a sigh. He was such a pain in the keister when he wanted to be. “Landon, I know I sound like a loon. I freely admit that I might be losing my mind. That doesn’t change the fact that I need you to do this.”
“And you’re going to tell me why you need me to do this over dinner, right?”
I wasn’t keen on that, but saw no other option. “Yes.”
“Fine. Get ready.” I could tell Landon was resigned as I heard him shuffling things around his desk on the other end of the call. “I’ll be there in four minutes. If I see someone chasing you, prepare yourself. I will break the terms of our agreement and jump out to save you.”
Hopefully, that wouldn’t be necessary. “It’s probably nothing.” I offered him a hollow laugh that sounded unnecessarily harsh. “Sometimes I work myself up and I can’t explain it.”
“I’m well aware of that. I’m on my way.”
“I’ll be ready.”
I double checked the front door before moving to the back. I hoped Mrs. Little would assume I was leaving through the front. I had every intention of abandoning my vehicle in favor of Landon’s if it meant escape.
I peered through the small window at the side of the door and waited. Everything appeared calm on the other side of the door, but that didn’t stop my heart from pounding. The second I saw Landon’s truck I threw open the door and stepped outside.
I wasn’t exactly a natural athlete — I blamed my mother ... and aunts ... and especially Aunt Tillie — but I managed to keep my hands steady as I locked the door. I didn’t trip as I descended the stairs, my eyes busy as they bounced around looking for attackers.
It took me two tries to open the passenger door of Landon’s Explorer, but once inside I heaved out a sigh as I locked the door and stared into the foliage near the woods. I’d made it. That was good. My plan worked.
Landon didn’t immediately drive away. When I slid my eyes to him, I found his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly and his expression grim. “What was that, Bay? Who is following you?”
I was expecting the question. That didn’t mean I was ready to answer. “Just ... go. I’ll tell you once I’ve settled.”
“Tell me now. If someone has threatened you ... .” He trailed off and I recognized the uncertainty weighing him down. “Did Gibson say something to you? I warned him to stay away from you.”
Hmm. That was interesting. It seemed Landon was worked up regarding his own matters. “It has nothing to do with Agent Gibson.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. You’re going to think I’m an idiot when I tell you what happened.”
“I doubt that.” Landon quickly squeezed my hand before putting the vehicle in gear. “You’re going to tell me everything over dinner. I know we have a deal stating otherwise because of the situation, but I’m changing that deal. I want to go back to the way things were.”
“What about Agent Gibson?”
“Screw him.”
I widened my eyes. That did not sound like the Landon I knew. “Really?”
“Really.” He checked the rearview mirror. “We have a lot to talk about.”
Apparently, we did.
LANDON CHOSE A BOOTH in the corner for privacy for our big discussion. He waited until after we received our iced teas and had placed our orders to ask the obvious question.
“What happened to you today?”
I met his serious gaze and shrugged. “You’re going to laugh.”
“No, I’m not. I saw the look on your face when you escaped from the building. You were genuinely afraid.”
That was a mild exaggeration. “I wasn’t afraid. I was careful.”
“It seemed like more than that to me.”
It would, of course. He was in tune with my emotions, even more so lately since I started controlling the dead and seemingly talking to myself during random parts of the day. He didn’t bring that up now, but I realized that’s what he was really worried about.
“I think there’s something weird going on with Mrs. Little,” I explained after a beat. “I mean ... like really weird.”
To give himself time, Landon sipped his iced tea and studied me. “What do you think is wrong with Mrs. Little?” he asked finally.
“I don’t know. It’s possible she’s simply messing with me. Given how Aunt Tillie has treated her over the years — and, yes, I was a willing participant for most of it — I would have it coming if she ever decided to pay me back.”
“Fair enough.” Landon steepled his hands and waited. “Tell me.”
There was no way out of it. I was succinct and to the point. When I was done, instead of laughing Landon cocked his head to the side.
“Are you saying that she’s acting weird enough that you’re actually considering Aunt Tillie’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers scenario?”
Well, when he put it like that ... . “You don’t need to sound so dismissive,” I said. “It’s simply one hypothesis.”
“And what are the others?”
“That she’s had a stroke and somehow it’s changed her personality for the better,” I answered without hesitation. “Oh, and there’s the possibility that she’s simply playing an elaborate hoax to get back at Aunt Tillie. Like I said, we have it coming.”
“And why aren’t you leaning toward that possibility?”
“Because it takes dedication and imagination. Mrs. Little has dedication, but she’s lacking in imagination. And she’s not smart enough to come up with an idea like this.”
Landon stroked his chin as he studied me. “I don’t want to encourage you — that actually sounds very dangerous right now — but you have a point. I can see Aunt Tillie coming up with this scenario to drive Mrs. Little crazy. I cannot see Mrs. Little being fun enough to come up with something like this to mess with you guys.”
“It would almost be a relief if she could,” I admitted. “But you’re right, she’s not fun enough. That’s why she’s a
lways such an easy mark for Aunt Tillie.”
“I can see that.” Landon leaned back in the booth, his eyes solemn. “Do you really think it’s aliens?”
I hated being put on the spot. “I really think Agent Gibson is hiding something,” I answered carefully. “When you put all the pieces together, it makes a compelling picture ... and that picture just might happen to have aliens in it.”
Landon’s expression didn’t change. “Put all the pieces together for me.”
I didn’t immediately react. “I thought we agreed to keep our investigations separate on this one.”
“I already told you, I’m over that.” He was firm. “I don’t want to be separated from you any longer. We’re going to figure this out together.”
“But ... Agent Gibson won’t like it if you share information.”
“I don’t have any information to share. He’s kept everything from me. He wants me close to act as a shield with the locals because I’m a familiar face. Other than that, I don’t know what’s going on.”
“Nothing?”
“Nothing.”
I furrowed my brow. “That can’t be right,” I said finally, running the scenario through my head. “You’ve been working with him for days. You must know something.”
“Bay, all he’s told Chief Terry and me is that there was an incident,” Landon supplied. “He said that it was a military operation and only those with top security clearance could see the reports. That does not include me.”
My heart went out to him. “I’m sorry he’s such a jerk.”
Landon’s lips curved. “I’m sorry he’s such a jerk, too, but I’m over it. I’m sick of being left in the dark.”
“That’s why you didn’t put up a bigger objection when I snuck out of the guesthouse,” I mused. “You were hoping I would stumble across something that could help you fill in the gaps.”
“Basically,” Landon conceded. “Gibson isn’t sharing ... and I’m done being kept out of the loop.”
“So, what are you suggesting?”
“That we work together.”
“How?”
“I haven’t figured that out yet,” Landon conceded. “I have a few ideas if you’re willing to listen.”
I was officially intrigued. “Okay, what have you got?”
“For starters, I thought we could get Aunt Tillie to cast a spell – or maybe even concoct a potion – that we can use to knock Gibson out.” Landon was serious as he rubbed his hands together. “Then we’ll break into his room at whatever bed and breakfast he’s staying and go through all of his files.”
It was a ridiculously simple plan. It was also immediate grounds for him to be fired ... and probably locked up for the rest of his life. “That would make you an accessory to drugging a federal agent. Also, I’m pretty sure going through his stuff is against the law.”
“Oh, look who is suddenly a fan of following the letter of the law,” Landon muttered, annoyance on full display.
“Hey, I didn’t say I wanted to follow the law. That’s a horrible thing to say.”
Landon’s lips quirked. “Fine. What’s your plan?”
“I have several ideas,” I admitted, grabbing a roll from the basket at the center of the table and ripping the top off and shoving it in my mouth. When I swallowed, I had my emotions under more control. “The thing is, I’m familiar with a way to get back to the scene that Gibson doesn’t know about.”
“I already figured that out,” Landon admitted. “I haven’t mentioned anything to Gibson because I don’t want you arrested — and I actually like it when you make him look like an idiot — but I’ve known that since the second day.”
“Well, we were out there again today,” I offered. “We ran into Hank William Jenkins.”
Landon was blasé. “Is that a real name?”
“His father was a big fan of a certain country music star.”
“Only in Hemlock Cove.”
“I think that probably could’ve happened anywhere,” I countered. “The thing is, Hank is something of a loon. He lives out in the woods by himself. He has no running water. He’s one of those preppers who has a bunker and is readying himself for the end of the world.”
“Zombies?”
“Apparently this time it’s aliens.”
Landon snickered, seemingly enjoying himself. “I never thought this would become an actual conversation between us. Sure, we had fun with the idea of an alien invasion, but you’re treating it as a real thing.”
“I still think it’s far more likely that a drone crashed.” I felt the need to cover my bases. “There’s other stuff going on. I can’t ignore it.”
“Fine.” Landon held up his hands in capitulation. “Tell me what happened at Hank William Jenkins’ house this afternoon. Did he tell you about how country boys survive?”
“No. He almost shot us because he doesn’t like trespassers. Then we found out he has some weird relationship with Aunt Tillie and he backed off. None of us knew they hung out.”
Landon leaned forward. “Wait ... what?”
“It’s true. They’re buddies.”
“Like ... sex buddies?”
I scorched him with a dark look. “Not sex buddies! Don’t be gross.”
“How was I supposed to know?”
“You don’t always have to jump to the gross conclusion.”
“Fair enough.” Landon’s smile was mischievous. “So Aunt Tillie and the town loner have a unique relationship. Continue.”
“It’s more than that. He was acting weird — even weirder than normal, according to Aunt Tillie — and we heard a noise in his barn. He wouldn’t allow us to see what was in there, but he’s hiding something.”
“An alien?”
I shrugged. “Something. We’re going back tonight to find out what.”
Landon feigned patience. “Have you ever considered that it might be a horse ... or a cow ... or a goat?”
“He lives, like, a quarter of a mile from the crash scene. He’s in the middle of the woods.”
Landon licked his lips. I could practically see his mind working. “I’m not saying that I believe it’s aliens,” he said finally.
“But you believe it’s worth taking a look,” I finished, amused. “You want to see what Hank has in his barn as much as we do.”
“I’m interested. Let’s leave it at that.”
“I’m taking Clove, Thistle and Aunt Tillie with me. This is a Winchester thing, and I’m inviting you along out of the goodness of my heart. If you turn all FBI agent and threaten to start arresting everyone, you won’t be invited back a second time.”
Instead of being offended, Landon let loose a low chuckle. “Seems like a fair deal.”
I waited, but he didn’t add to the statement. “That’s it? You’re not going to push things further?”
“No. I want us to be a team again.”
Honestly, I wanted it, too. I missed working together for the common good. “Okay. We’ll eat dinner, maybe have some ice cream, and wait until it’s dark to head to Hank’s house.”
Landon’s smile was crooked when he stretched his legs under the table. “Have you given any thought to what you’ll do if you actually find an alien?”
“Probably run and scream.”
“Well, at least you have a plan.”
“That’s the most important thing,” I agreed. “We’ll figure out the rest as we go along.”
“Bay?”
“Hmm.”
“It’s a pleasure to be on your team again.”
I couldn’t resist his charming grin. “Right back at you.”
Alien Inspiration
You know that scene in Alien where the little monster punches out of that guy’s chest and tries to kill them all? That’s how I feel when Aunt Tillie says she has an idea.
Thistle trying to talk everyone out of helping Aunt Tillie with her most recent plan
Sixteen
Boldly go where no witch has gone before.
Landon followed my instructions after dinner and parked at Hollow Creek. We were the first to arrive, and he was thoughtful as we exited his Explorer.
“I didn’t even think about entering from this direction,” he mused, his expression serious as he stared at the water. “Gibson said he had all the angles covered to keep people away from the scene. He mentioned that one side was cut off by water. I didn’t realize which body of water he was referring to until now.”
“You’re not as familiar with the area,” I offered helpfully. “It’s not your fault.”
“Chief Terry should have realized. He knows the area.”
“Maybe he didn’t think about it.”
“Or maybe he chose to keep his mouth shut because he wanted to see what you would uncover,” Landon countered. “I’m seriously impressed, Bay. Approaching from this direction was smart. You’re either a genius or a criminal mastermind.”
“I prefer genius.”
“Fair enough.”
Thistle arrived with Aunt Tillie a few minutes later. I texted before leaving the diner to make sure that someone was available to pick up our crotchety great-aunt. Clove was coming from the opposite direction, so it only made sense to saddle Thistle with the deed.
“I’m not doing that, you old crank!” Thistle slammed the door as she exited her car and fixed me with a dark look. “She’s going back with you when we’re finished tonight. I’m not kidding.”
Landon’s smile was lazy as he hooked his fingers in his belt loops and rocked back on his heels. “And it’s lovely to see you this evening, too, Thistle.”
Thistle ignored his sarcasm and remained focused on me. “She’s being a real pill. She’s your responsibility now.”
Aunt Tillie was slower getting out of the car. When she exited I realized she was wearing her combat helmet and boots. She was also holding a shotgun.
“You can’t take that with you.” I hurriedly scampered around the car, every intention of wrestling the gun out of her hands.
Anticipating my reaction, Aunt Tillie took an exaggerated step back and glared. “Don’t even think about it. I have a constitutional right to bear arms.”
Close Encounters of the Witchy Kind (A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Fantasy Book 6) Page 15