Page 13 of Oohs, Ahhhs, and Orbs

“I’m scared,” I whispered as I thought about what the future could be like. It could be dark and lonely after having my heart broken. But it could also be beautiful and full of light, happiness, and a family that we create. “But I think,” I drew in a deep breath before letting it out slowly. “I think I’m excited, too.”

Chapter

Eight

LOGAN

The last two days, Mac and I spent going over the magic murder case, as we’ve taken to calling it. With the information Bridgette supplied, we were able to look at it from different angles, but we were no closer to finding out why it had happened, let alone who had done it.

We were back on the street where it had happened and were once again going door to door, questioning neighbors who hadn’t answered the first time we had come through. It turned out that the elderly witch was known to most and loved by all who did know her.

It seemed it wasn’t unusual to see flickering lights from her house at night, though many said she was more prone to do her spells or incantations outside under the moonlight. It appeared that she had been open with her neighbors about what and who she was, and none of them were bothered by it. Honestly, it was refreshing to see so many people accepting of someone who was different by societal standards.

I had another look through her spell books, paying close attention to the ones that seemed to be used most often, asindicated by the bookmarks and notes written on the page. Emily Brooks had been fond of remedies for various common illnesses that ranged from a runny nose to stomach upset. She also used an incantation for gardening, improving her yields of fruits and vegetables, which, according to the neighbors, she generously shared the abundance of often.

“I don’t think we are going to get anything more from the neighbors,” Mac said as we climbed inside his SUV. He slammed the door shut and revved the engine. “It seems the old lady was practically a saint with how much she shared with the neighbors. When she wasn’t helping them with the common cold, she was filling their kitchens. Who would want to murder the woman, Storm?”

I was just as frustrated as he was. So far, we had little to go on. I pulled out the names Bridgette had given me and pointed to the first of the four names on the shortlist. “According to Bridgette, only someone with strong magical power would be able to bind a person with an incantation and move them without using physical strength. We go talk to Hillary Grimes next.”

Mac glanced over, taking a look at the address I had looked up and written down next to the name. “Only four people?”

I grunted. It wasn’t enough, but it was a start. “Two. One of them is currently on a cruise somewhere in the South Atlantic.”

“Who’s the third?” Mac asked as he pulled up to a stop sign and turned on his blinker.

I sighed and rubbed at the ache that was building at my temples. “Bridgette.”

Mac let out a low whistle. “Are you certain she’s not a suspect?”

“I’d place my badge on it. The woman may be the strongest witch in the town, but she isn’t capable of killing someone.” Mac eyed me but didn’t say anything until I huffed. “Say it.”

“I don’t know, man. You just met her. How do you know she’s not guilty? Sometimes, it’s the sweet, quiet ones who are the most deadly. Have you seen that movie about the woman who married all those men? She was beautiful and charming but was deadly with an untraceable poison. Add magic to that; she’d be unstoppable.”

I snorted. “You don’t know her, Mac. No one could fake that kind of surprise when I talked to her. She was devastated to learn of Emily Brook’s death. Plus, she’s willing to help as much as she’s able to.”

“Are you thinking of bringing her in on a more official basis to help with the case? We could use an expert advisor on something like this. It’s a fucked up situation. It’s too soon to call in the FBI, though I’m sure they probably have experience with witches and murder.”

“Actually, I was going to ask her when we have dinner tonight before I approach the Captain. If she agrees, I plan to talk to him tomorrow. The sooner we can get more straightforward answers from Bridgette, the better. I was only able to get general knowledge from her the other night before Marlene and Kristy showed up.”

Mac pulled up to a small clapboard house painted a cheery, eggshell blue. It had garden beds framing the front walk and surrounded the porch. I would bet a year’s salary that her magic was responsible for the lush flowers overflowing their beds. He turned to me with a disbelieving look on his craggy face.

“What the hell?”

I grunted. “Yeah, that about sums it up.”

“What did Kristy want after all this time?”

“Apparently, she wants to talk to me. I’ve gotten a few texts from her over the last couple of weeks but have been ignoring them since I have nothing to say to her. Unless she wants to give me Sam, I just want to forget I knew her. Marlene just wantedto cause trouble, of course. She’s the one who sent Bridgette running.”

“How did you handle it with your girl?” Mac opened his door, and I followed suit, shutting the door firmly while taking a look at the surrounding houses. It was like most of the residential streets in our small town. Most of the houses were on the smaller side but well-kept.

I thought about what Mac had asked and felt my chest grow warm.My girl. It felt right. After the almost meltdown that Bridgette had gone through when we’d touched, I was certain that the thought of us being together scared her, while at the same time, she felt the connection just as strongly as I did. I needed to find out what her demons were and somehow convince her that I was worth taking a chance on for more than just a date.

When I joined Mac on the sidewalk, I watched him pop a stick of gum into his mouth. “I just told her I wanted a do over, a real date that had nothing to do with murder or ex wives.” I’d basically begged her for a chance. I wasn’t sure what I would have done had she turned me down. Probably show up every day with flowers or some shit until I finally wore her down. Some women were worth the effort, and I knew down to my bones that Bridgette was worth everything.

“Well, good luck, Storm. You know Bobbi Jo will want to invite her over for Sunday brunch. The sooner, the better. Hell, she’s going to blow a fucking gasket if I don’t tell her right away that you have a new woman. She’ll be happy for you, but she’ll want to check her out for herself. She swears that she knew Kristy wasn’t right for you the first time she spoke with her.”

Mac and Bobbi Jo were good people with good instincts. It didn’t surprise me that his wife wanted to assess my girl and give her a stamp of approval. Even though I didn’t need her validation, it felt good knowing that Bobbi Jo wouldn’t hesitate.All it would take was one minute with Bridgette, and she would adopt her as another daughter.

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