Page 33 of All My Witches
Thistle leaned closer to me. “We didn’t present anyevidence.”
“Who cares? This has already gone on far toolong.”
“Yeah, we’re in a boring part,” Thistle agreed. “Infact… .”
When she didn’t finish her sentence, I turned to face her and found her eyes glued toward a window near the ceiling. I followed her gaze, frowning when I realized we were looking at an observation room ofsorts.
“Why would that be there?” I asked, confused. “This isn’t an operatingroom.”
“No, but look who’s standing at the far end downthere.”
I gasped when I saw Aunt Tillie prancing in front of the window. She wore a loud evening gown with a peacock pattern, and one of those ostentatious hats with netting that covered her right eye. She waved with her right hand and held up the fake-looking diamond with herleft.
“Son ofa… !”
“What?” Landon turned in that direction, swearing under his breath when he saw her. “I guess we know where the diamondis.”
Aunt Tillie waited until she was sure everyone saw her before turning on her heel anddisappearing.
“We have to chase her,” Marcus said. “We need that diamond. That’s why she hasit.”
“I know.” Landon made a growling sound in the back of his throat. “She’s officially on my lastnerve.”
“Welcome to my world,” Thistle said. “It suckssometimes.”
THE HOSPITAL WASAvirtual maze. We did our best to follow Aunt Tillie, even though we kept losing sight of her. When that happened, she let loose a creepy giggle that allowed us to give chase. By the fifth time it happened, we were flustered, and annoyance threatened to overtake ourgroup.
“I’m going to rip her throat out if she doesn’t stop making that noise,” Thistle groused. “I’m not joking. Between that and the music, it’s toomuch.”
“The music is for our montage,” I pointed out. “If we were actually on a soap right now the music would be part of thechase.”
“Yeah, what is it with the montages?” Landon asked. “You were going to explain it earlier, but then we gotdistracted.”
“I’m still distracted,” Thistle volunteered. “Your T-shirt is the most distracting thing I’ve everseen.”
Landon pretended he didn’t hear her. “The music montages,Bay.”
“It’s a normal thing on soaps. I don’t knowwhy.”
“Well, it’s weird.” Landon leaned against a wall and rubbed his forehead. “Does anyone else feel as if we’ve been going in circles forhours?”
“Why do you think she used a montage?” I asked. “She wants us to feel as if it’s been hours. Real time is closer to ten minutes, but I’m exhausted from all the walking we’ve beendoing.”
“I’m more tired of the song and the giggling,” Thistle said. “I’m also beyond agitated with the fact that we’re still stuck in this world. How long are we supposed to put up withthis?”
“Until she’s finished punishingus.”
“You’re going to blame me for this, aren’t you?” Thistle’s voice was laced withchallenge.
I shrugged. “Technically it’s both our fault. I let you talk me into cursingher.”
“And now we’re all paying the price,” Clove supplied, earning a dark look from Thistle. “What? I’m innocent in all of this. You guys got me in trouble. It doesn’t seemfair.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Thistle waved off the complaint. “We need to get ahead of her. I don’t like beingbehind.”
“How are we possibly going to figure out what she has planned?” I challenged. “She’s obviously given this place a lot of thought. I mean … look at that guy.” I pointed toward a handsome doctor as he walked into the room directly in front of us. “We’ve passed him three timesnow.”
“Why is that important?” Landon asked, genuinely curious. “Does he play intothis?”
