He was trying to get her mind off of the future and into the past, Scarlett realized. Whether or not his interest was feigned, it had a calming effect on Alexis. He made her think of happier days and happier things, trips abroad and moments when she’d found just the perfect piece of art to bring home.
He’s good with people, Scarlett thought in admiration.
For her part, Scarlett sat quietly, watching and waiting. She refused the tea. Not because she thought it was poisoned, but because she wanted to keep herself apart now. She had done what she had to do. She had gotten the murderess to confess.
When the police arrived, they worked with admirable efficiency. They were polite and matter-of-fact. Tim must have told them exactly what they needed to know.
Alexis was given a chance to close up the house. Then she was put in handcuffs and escorted into a police car. Tim, Scarlett, Ronnie, and Amanda were questioned outside.
There were only two officers, so the interviews took a while. Tim gave his statement first, then Scarlett. Amanda and Ronnie’s interviews followed.
Tim and Scarlett were excused, but decided to wait until Ronnie and Amanda were cleared to leave before making their way back to the car. They spoke together outside the front door.
“You did a good job in there,” Tim said.
“Beginner’s luck,” said Scarlett.
“No, I’m really impressed. And that’s unusual for me,” he said with a smile. “You have a real knack for this.”
Scarlett laughed, relieved now that this was almost over. “Maybe I should change my line of work.”
“Maybe you should,” he said. “Scarlett Slater, private detective. Has rather a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”
Scarlett shook her head. “I don’t think I want to go through this again, if it’s all the same to you. I’m not sure I could handle murder cases day in and day out.”
“Oh, I’m sure you could handle just about anything, Scarlett,” said Tim.
Scarlett thought for a moment. “Right now, about all I could handle is a good stiff drink.”
“That could be arranged,” Tim said.
“I was joking,” said Scarlett brushing off his words. “Well, half-joking.”
“I’m not,” he said. His tone was serious and earnest. “Have a drink with me, or dinner. I want to see you again. Outside of all this.”
While she found the offer tempting, the excitement of the last few days had worn her out. What she really needed was a nice long nap.
“I’m afraid I wouldn’t be good company tonight,” she said.
“Tomorrow night, then.”
She hesitated again, and then realized she’d be foolish to pass him up. He was a good man. She liked him. And more importantly, she’d come to trust him, despite his initial suspicions of her. They’d been through hell together these last couple of days. She had seen another side of him, and she liked what she saw.
“Yes,” she said. “Tomorrow night, then.”
Chapter Eighteen
Slater’s Residence, Bicester, England
Scarlett had just arrived home when she got a call from Aunt Tabitha from the police station.
“I’m being released,” her aunt said.
“Are you okay?” Scarlett asked.
“Oh, I’m fine. They’ve treated me very nice, actually. Such lovely people. I’ve always liked men in uniform, you know. Quite the adventure. I’m going to sort of miss this place.” Tabitha chuckled. She seemed to be in good spirits.
Scarlett sighed. “You can’t be serious.”
“Only a little,” Tabitha admitted. “There’s something to be said for being the center of attention. I talked to three different detectives. Talked their ears off, if you want to know the truth. But they had to listen to me. It’s their job.”
“I’m coming to pick you up, Aunt Tabitha. Wait right there.”
It was a short drive to the station, and Tabitha was ready to leave when she got there. She looked content.
“Did they hurt you at all?” Scarlett asked, looking her over.
“Oh no,” Tabitha reassured her. “The handcuffs pinched me a little, but they took those off. I was almost hoping they’d put me in shackles, you know. Chains around my ankles. Just for the full experience. I may tell it that way, come to think of it. Makes for a better story, don’t you think?”
Scarlett couldn’t help but smile at Tabitha’s antics. “Come on, Auntie, let’s get you out of here.”
Before they left, Tabitha had to say goodbye to all the police officers at the station. On the way out, she promised that next time she came to the station she would be sure to bring them all some of her famous homemade cookies.
“I guess they found the person who did it,” Tabitha said to Scarlett on the ride home.
“I know,” Scarlett said. “I was there when they arrested her.”
“A woman, then. Who was it?”
“Jade’s friend Alexis. Apparently they were lovers too.”
“Oh my. A crime of passion?”
“Jade was cutting her off in order to save her marriage,” Scarlett explained. “Alexis was hurt. I think she has abandonment issues. Something’s definitely not right with her.”
“Not if she killed her own girlfriend,” Tabitha said. “Well, I’m just glad they didn’t blame you for it.”
Scarlett frowned. “They blamed you. That was worse.”
Tabitha patted the younger woman’s shoulder. “A simple misunderstanding. I was able to clear things up with the detective. They were just doing their job, you know.”
“But you were completely innocent,” Scarlett protested.
“Yes, and that’s why I wasn’t a bit worried,” said Tabitha. “After I saw what the confusion was, I started looking at it as a grand adventure. I mean, how many times do you get to be arrested?”
“Hopefully, never.”
“Well, you know we witches have always been misunderstood. In the old days, they would have tortured me for giving someone the evil eye. Now they just ask you a bunch of questions and they even give you tea if you ask them nicely. Which of course I did. You just have to know how to deal with people, Scarlett. That’s the trick. It may not be magic, but more often than not, it works.”
“I’ll have to remember that the next time I’m accused of murder.”
Scarlett took Tabitha back to her house and stayed with her that night, talking with her late into the evening before retiring to her old bedroom.
The next morning, Scarlett slept in late, emerging from her room around mid-morning. It always felt comfortable sleeping at her aunt’s house. After a good night’s rest, things felt almost back to normal.
When Scarlett stepped into the hall she smelled something delicious in the air. She was groggy and needed some caffeine, but the aroma wafting from the end of the hall brightened her mood immediately. She followed the scent into the dining room, where Tabitha sat drinking tea and reading the morning paper.
“What is that smell?” Scarlett asked.
“My secret recipe,” Tabitha said. “Very advanced magic. Would you like some?”
“Yes, please.”
Scarlett sat down, and Tabitha rose to make a fresh pot.
The newspaper on the table carried a headline about Alexis’s arrest for the murder of Jade Hogarth.
“Did you read this yet?”
“Three times,” said Tabitha as she put the water to boil. “Our names aren’t mentioned.”
“That’s good. I’m glad this nightmare is over.”
“Always darkest before the dawn, you know. These things come in cycles. Ups and downs. Darkness and light. Evil and goodness. Without the struggle, how can we grow?”
“Thank you, Oh Wise One,” Scarlett quipped.
Tabitha laughed. “Speaking of which, how are your studies going?”
“I’ve been a little distracted lately.”
“No excuses.”
“I almost went to jail.”
; “So? I did go to jail. Do you think that stopped me from practicing?”
“You practiced in the police station?”
“Of course. And why not? I had new subjects to practice on. Those police detectives think they’re so clever, you know, but they wouldn’t know a magic spell if it hit them in the jaw.”
“Auntie, you didn’t.”
“Oh, nothing terribly invasive. I was just having a bit of fun.”
“What did you do?”
Tabitha hesitated. “When you’re ready,” she said. “Too much knowledge too soon can be a dangerous thing. You’re still a novice. Not even that. You’ve barely cracked open your book, have you?”
“I have practiced a little.”
“Tell me.”
“The floating feather spell.”
“And?”
“It’s hard.”
“Everything gets easier with practice.”
“I could almost feel the energy coming out of my hands,” Scarlett said.
Tabitha brought the fresh teapot to the table and poured a cup for Scarlett before returning to her seat.
“What about your mirror exercises?” Tabitha asked.
“They’re going well. I think I’ve made the most progress there.”
Tabitha sipped her tea and studied her niece over the brim of her cup. “You know, I think you might be an ether witch.”
“What’s that?”
“A special type. One of many.”
“I didn’t know there were different types.”
“Yes, but there are variations. Different abilities. More innate than learned. Like different personalities, one might say.”
“Are you an ether witch?”
“No, I’m a ground witch.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that I communicate with and draw power from nature and plants.”
“That explains your love of gardening,” Scarlett observed.
“It does.”
“And poisons.”
“Now, now. I was cleared of all charges, you know. My reputation remains spotless.”
Scarlett set her cup aside. “It’s a lot to take in.”
“What is?”
“This new reality. Vampires. Werewolves. Sorcerers. Witches.”
“Nothing new about it, really. It’s the old reality, you might say. It’s always been here, though most people can’t see it.”
“Because they choose not to believe.”
“That’s part of it,” Tabitha said.
“Now that I know magic is real, I want to know more. I felt drawn to the book you gave me, the grimoire. I studied it for hours, and lost track of time.”
“That’s a good sign. I think you’re doing well, all things considered. It’s not easy to see the world in a whole new way, to accept a new reality. You seem to be coming along rather nicely, though. Just be careful not to get too sidetracked with concerns of the day. Practice, practice. That’s the secret.”
“The investigation was a distraction, I suppose, but I thought it was all connected.”
“How?”
“I wanted to find out the truth, wherever the evidence led, but a part of me wanted to prove that the four of them were behind it. Ronnie, Cliff, Karl and Tarquin.”
“Why is that?”
“I didn’t trust them. I still don’t.”
Tabitha nodded. “Because you were trying to reject them. What they are. What the world is. Your new understanding of reality. Trying to reject who you really are.”
Scarlett nodded. She knew what her aunt said was true, even if it stung a little. “It’s not easy, auntie. To accept all this change. This new reality. I may need your help.”
“Of course you will, and I’m here to help you. I know it’s not easy, but we have to become more aware of the things that blind us, so that we won’t be so easily fooled.”
Scarlett’s phone buzzed, and she saw that it was a text from Cliff. “Can I see you? I want to talk”
Scarlett frowned and didn’t reply.
“Is that the boy that’s chasing you?” Tabitha asked.
“I’m not sure chasing is the right word. We were supposed to meet, and he stood me up. He’s another part of my new reality, I suppose.”
“I can see that he hurt you.”
Scarlett nodded. “I’m not sure he meant to.”
“Then you have an opportunity to learn to accept the new reality, don’t you?”
“You’re saying I should forgive him?”
“Yes,” Tabitha said. “Not for his sake, but for yours.”
Scarlett messaged him back. “Costa Coffee in an hour and a half.”
She pushed her chair back. “I guess that means I need to clean myself up a little.”
Scarlett left to take a shower and face the demands of another day.
+++
Costa coffee, Bicester, England
Cliff waited for Scarlett at the coffee shop. He felt much calmer now. Tarquin’s potion seemed to have helped. But he knew it was only a quick fix, a short-term solution. It wasn’t sustainable. He would have to find a new blood supplier soon. He didn’t have his normal strength now, and he could feel his energy dwindling with each passing day. If he lost too much of his strength, he would be vulnerable. And that might leave them all vulnerable.
Can’t tell Scarlett that, he thought. She doesn’t need to know.
He hadn’t told her about the incident at the hospital, and he had no intention of doing so. He didn’t want her to judge him or think less of him. He never liked showing vulnerability. It was alien to him, but he especially didn’t want Scarlett to see him as weak in any way. The truth was that he was getting weaker. His thirst and withdrawal symptoms were only mitigated by Tarquin’s potion. It was certainly no cure.
Scarlett arrived right on time. He watched her cross the street to join him where he sat at an outside table.
“Hey,” she said with no warmth in her voice.
“Hello there.”
He went for a quick hug, and she allowed it, but there was no enthusiasm in her greeting or in her face.
She hates me, he thought.
“Can I get you a coffee?” he asked.
“Sure.”
They went inside and got their drinks, then found another table where they could speak without the risk of being overheard.
“I wanted to tell you again how sorry I am for not showing up or calling,” said Cliff.
“Thank you,” she said quietly.
“You’re important to me, for more reasons than you know.” He glanced around and lowered his voice. “We need to stick together, all of us. We need to stay focused. We can’t afford to let anything jeopardize our long-term relationship. Our survival depends on it.”
Scarlett looked hurt. “Well, that’s that then. If you didn’t want to date me you could have just told me, instead of standing me up.”
She got up, took her coffee, and left.
“Wait, Scarlett.”
He got up to go after her, but then thought better of it. He watched her walk away, and chastised himself for saying the wrong thing. So much had happened these last few days. He had done his best to make things right with her. Normally, he would be more hurt at her rejection of him, but now he just felt cold inside.
He wondered if the potion was having a numbing effect on him. Tarquin didn’t mention that, but he did say something about making better decisions. Maybe this was a better decision then, and that was why he wasn’t so… upset.
+++
Clarke’s Quarters, RAF Bicester
Tim sat at his computer in his little room at the barracks. He checked the time again. Five o’clock. He was exhausted. He’d visited seven different hospitals since six this morning, and his clothes and skin smelled of disinfectant. He couldn’t wait to get into the shower. He just had one more thing to do before he could relax.
He picked up his cell and dialed a number. The phone rang a few times before it was a
nswered.
“Danny, hi, it’s me,” he said.
“Tim, hello. Any news?”
“Yes, and no sir.”
“Go on.”
“Well, it doesn’t look like there has been any blood taken from any of the major hospitals around here. So that means there is probably only one hostile in the area, and that he’ll need to reestablish a supply soon.”
“Either that or he’ll start killing.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Ok. Well, I suppose that’s good. But we don’t have any leads, is that correct?”
“Correct, sir. I could start talking to hospitals a little further afield if you like?”
“Hmm.” The line was quiet for a moment. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. That’s many more people to be suspicious.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Keep a filter on the police reports for anything involving the hospitals and blood disappearing though. We might get lucky.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Anything else?”
“No, sir. Everything else is good.”
“Great. Ok Tim, have a good weekend. Good work on this one.”
“Thank you, sir. You too.”
Tim hung up, and put his phone back down on his desk. Then he stood up and stretched before padding into the bathroom to shower. After all, he had a date. His heart skipped a beat with excitement.
He had a date. With Scarlett.
The sound of the shower turning on came through to the room. And then, moments later, there was the distinct sound of humming. Human humming. As in good-mood-humming.
+++
Slater Residence, Bicester, England
Scarlett went back to her own home and found Amanda there watching the news. When Amanda saw the look on Scarlett’s face, she shut off the television and gave her roommate her full attention.
“Is anything wrong?” Amanda asked.
A Very British Witch Boxed Set Page 41