Page 28 of Oohs, Ahhhs, and Orbs

“That’s two, Storm.”

I grunted. “Yep.”

“Her name was on that list you got from your witch.”

My eye twitched at the implications. “Yep,” I growled.

“Are you going to bring her in on this? Because I don’t know about you, but I still have no idea what the fuck we are dealing with here.”

I hadn’t gotten around to asking Bridgette if she was willing to act as a civilian expert on the case yet, but knowing her, she wouldn’t say no. I just didn’t know if I wanted her so close to a murder case that could potentially put her in the crosshairs of a serial killer. If she weren’t already there.

“I know. I will talk to her today and get the Captain’s go ahead.” I looked out the window to see the other woman standing in the sun. Her shoulders were shaking as someone stood beside her with their arm around her shoulders. “We need to talk to Simone Donaldson.”

After talking to Hillary Grimes the other day, we had paid a very similar visit to Mrs. Donaldson. She lived just a few houses down, an easy stroll to visit for morning coffee. It made sense since they had so much in common. The only difference between Mrs. Donaldson and the other two women who had been murdered was that she had a husband and children. It gave me a spark of hope that just because she was on the list of strongest witches, that she wouldn’t be a victim. Maybe, just maybe, the list was just a coincidence, and Hillary Grimes wasn’t murdered for her strength in magic.

I closed my eyes, knowing in my gut that I was wrong. There was something that the women on the list had that the murderer wanted. I just didn’t know what that was yet. But I would. Bridgette’s life was on the line. I had just met her, and I already knew that I didn’t want to face a day when she was no longer in this world.

Instead of punching the wall in rage fueled by fear, I took in a deep lungful of air. “Let’s get this over with.” I walked further into the room and did what I was trained to do. I looked for clues to what might be inside of a killer’s mind.

“I just don’t knowwho would have hurt Hillary. She’s always been so kind to everyone!” Simone Donaldson sniffled into her second handkerchief. The first one had been discarded whenwe sat down in her living room several houses down from the Grimes cottage.

“No enemies? No ex-boyfriends or lovers? What about any estranged family members who might have some kind of grudge against Miss Grimes?” Mac rubbed at his chin, the stubble making scratching noises against his fingertips. We both knew that none of those possibilities were likely, but just like searching the house for any missed clues, we had to do our job and ask all the questions.

“No. None of those things.” She looked between the two of us as she leaned into a short, slightly balding man sitting beside her. “You know she is a witch.” She closed her eyes and sucked in a shaky breath. “Was. Shewasa witch. You think this has to do with that. Don’t you?” She put her palm out toward us, stopping any reply before one could be made. “Please don’t lie to me. It’s one gift that I have. I can feel it when someone is lying,” she patted her chest, “in here.”

I cleared my throat and glanced at Mac, then back at Mrs. Donaldson. “We have reason to believe that the person who murdered both Mrs. Brooks and Miss Grimes is the same person. I hate to make you remember what you saw this morning, Mrs. Donaldson, but did you recognize the symbol drawn on the floor? Did that mean anything to you?”

She shuddered and dabbed at her eyes with the cloth. “It all happened so fast. At first, I thought Hillary had fallen and hurt herself when I walked in and she was just lying there on the floor. It took a second for the blood to register. As soon as I realized she was dead, I’m ashamed to say I just screamed and ran out of there like my skirt was on fire.” She shook her head. “I have a vague memory of seeing candles and chalk. I can say with certainty that there were signs of a ritual having been performed. Unfortunately, that’s all I could tell you.”

I nodded, not really expecting more. Anyone being faced with a dead body for the first time would have a hard time focusing on anything but the trauma done to the body. Unfortunately, Mrs. Donaldson would be seeing her friend lying there in her dreams for a long time to come.

“Mrs. Donaldson, I know we asked you this last time, but I need to ask you again. Can you think of anyone at all in the area who would want to murder witches?”

She sobbed into her handkerchief. “I, my Goddess! I’m a possible victim, aren’t I? I need to call the rest of my coven and warn them that there’s a witch killer on the loose. Oh, stars! What am I going to do?”

“Mrs. Donaldson,” I snapped as gently as I could, trying to pull her back from the edge of hysteria. “It’s good to be cautious, but I’d advise not to start a panic until we know for certain what is happening. Now, can you help us out so we can find this person? Do you know anyone who might dislike witches? Maybe someone has spoken openly about magic users?”

She patted her chest in an attempt to calm herself. “Umm, no. I can’t say I have. Most people don’t know that witches even exist. I think I told you this before, but most of us try to keep it that way. Very few witches tell outsiders about our abilities. I think the Salem Witch Trials and witch burnings from centuries past have mostly taught us that humans can’t be trusted.”

“Right.” We had come to another dead end. I needed to talk to Bridgette. I had a feeling that if we were going to find any useful answers, it would have to be through the knowledge she held. “One last question. I understand that Miss Grimes was a pretty powerful witch. Can you think of anyone who would be able to overpower her?”

Mrs. Donaldson blinked at me, then grimaced. “I can tell you there are two of us who might have been able to subdue Hillary.Me... and Bridgette Waters. Other than the two of us,” she shook her head. “Sorry.”

I glanced over at Mac, who shut his notebook. We both stood up and reached out a hand to shake Mrs. Donaldson’s. Her husband stood as well and placed a hand on his wife’s shoulder, giving it a soft pat. “I’m going to see the detectives out, dear. I’ll be right back.” She nodded and dabbed at her eyes, suddenly appearing exhausted from the entire ordeal.

As we stepped out onto the porch, Mr. Donaldson followed us out and closed the door softly behind him. “Please tell me if my wife is in danger.”

I had expected the question, so I wasn’t surprised in the least. “At this time, we can’t say with any certainty if there are any other witches being targeted. We are working as quickly as we can to find out who did this and why. But,” I paused as I stared at the man, “if it were my wife, I would take the threat seriously.”

He nodded. “It’s been a while since Simone has visited her sister. Maybe she could do that sometime soon.”

“I think if nothing else, it might help her heal a little from the trauma she experienced today,” Mac said from beside me.

Mr. Donaldson nodded again. “Right. Good call. Thank you, gentlemen. Please find this madman quickly!”

“As soon as we can, that I can promise you,” I said, then Mac and I walked away to head back down the street toward our vehicles. “I’m going to swing by Bridgette’s on my way into the station so I can ask her if she’s willing to help with this case.” And I needed my eyes on her just to verify that she was alive and well.

“Alright. I’ll go straight to the station. Do you want me to talk to the Captain?”

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