Page 32 of Last Witch Attempt
8
EIGHT
Landon and Chief Terry drove me back to the inn so I could collect my car. Rather than drop me off with a kiss and a wave, Landon got out to walk me to my vehicle.
“I can tell you’re upset,” I said to him as I stopped near the back of the vehicle. “I don’t see that there was anything else I could’ve done.”
“That’s not why I’m agitated, Bay.” Landon moved his hands over my shoulders, squeezed, then dropped them. He was antsy. “You did exactly what you needed to do.”
“You just wish it hadn’t happened in front of your boss,” I guessed.
Landon blew out a sigh. The day had just started, and he already looked tired. “It’s fine. You were going to have to put on a show eventually.”
“I haven’t even pulled out the big guns.”
“How frightening is that?” He gave me a kiss. “Just be careful, huh? I’m not sure what the deal is with the spider things. You might want to talk to Scout.”
“I would rather not bring Scout in on this just yet. She knows that I might be working with the Feds. She doesn’t play all that well with others. I’m not sure you’ve noticed.”
Landon smirked. “I never would have pegged her as an anarchist,” he teased. He sobered again. “Just be careful, huh? Send me the occasional text so I know what you’re doing. If you head out into the woods, don’t go alone.”
“I can take Thistle and Clove if it comes to it.”
Landon frowned. “No offense to your cousins, but I don’t think you can snark the spiders to death. Get Scout, or Evan … or even Stormy. She can burn them, right?”
It was true that Scout, Evan, and Stormy were more powerful than Thistle and Clove. That was the reason I didn’t want them brought in on this. “I’ll be careful,” I promised him.
Rather than express relief, Landon made a face. “Don’t think I missed the part where you glossed over bringing in the big guns.”
“It’s going to be fine.” I meant it. “Don’t forget, I have another trick I didn’t display for your boss.”
“The ghosts.” Now he did smile. “I do like that you can conjure your own army. I understand why you don’t want Steve finding out about the necromancer thing.”
“I might tell him eventually, but for now…” I trailed off.
“For now, it’s best you don’t,” he agreed. “I’m not sure he’d understand. He freaked out over the spiders.”
“You were pretty calm.” I gave him an appraising look. “I was impressed.”
“Human-sized spiders aren’t the scariest thing I’ve seen since hooking up with you. And how freaky is that to say out loud?”
I laughed, as I knew he’d intended. I leaned in and kissed him. “Don’t worry about me. Just worry about how this is going to work with Steve. I want this partnership to gel.”
“But you were raised to keep this stuff to yourself, and you’re frightened,” he finished. “I understand.”
“It’s a lot to deal with. I’ll be okay.”
“Make sure you are.” He gave me a quick hug, then walked toward a waiting Chief Terry. “Don’t forget to text,” he called over his shoulder. “If you send me the occasional dirty one, I won’t be upset.”
I grinned as I watched him go. “I’ll keep it in mind.”
I WANTED TO GET TO TOWN AND TALKto Viola. The Whistler’s resident ghost spent half her time watching television and the other half skulking around town. She gossiped with the other ghosts. If there was information to glean, she was the best source.
There was something I had to do first, though.
I found Mom, Marnie, and Twila in the kitchen baking. Peg and Winchester were asleep on the floor next to Aunt Tillie’s empty recliner. Knowing she wasn’t in her usual spot filled me with dread.
Mom raised an eyebrow when she saw me. “This is a surprise. You just left.”
