Mintwood's Magical Map Page 5

  As far as I knew, Jasper’s sister had gone back to the big city, but Jasper had told me recently that she’d soon be visiting more often. The Wolf Corporation had a lot of projects in the works, including transforming the old Hayview shopping center into whatever it was going to be next. There seemed to be no strict timetable for that project, but I was impressed that Jasper had enough crews to work on all these places at the same time.

  I was just stepping into the Beetle when I caught a glimpse of the mayor of Mintwood and Detective Cutter standing down the street a bit, lost in conversation and looking very serious. The detective’s assistant, Tom, was standing nearby, fidgeting as if he didn’t quite know what to do with himself. Since I knew for a fact that he usually didn’t, that was no surprise.

  I had been wondering for a long time whether Mayor Clabberd knew my grandmother’s secret, but I had never been able to decide for sure. He had come to the farmhouse once and asked a question strange enough to make me suspect, but not clear enough to settle my doubts. Now it occurred to me that if he did know, maybe he also knew how to get humans out of trouble with the coven. Now probably wasn’t the best time to ask such a thing, though, and in general, if I asked and it turned out that he didn’t know, I’d just be in more trouble than I already was.

  With one last glance at the mayor and the detective, I got into the car and started to drive away. I hadn’t even pulled away from the curve when I saw something else that made me pause.

  An older man in scrub whites that looked like a nurse’s uniform was talking to someone who had his back to me. I wouldn’t even have noticed this pair, except that the white clothes were so striking. The older man’s hair was combed back and his face had an indefinably stately cast to it. As he slipped the other person an envelope, they turned a bit so that I could now see both profiles, neither of which I had ever seen before. As the envelope changed hands, the two strangers exchanged a look that I couldn’t read.

  Why two individuals would need to be passing money off—I assumed it was money in the envelope—in a shady corner of the town green I had no idea.

  This town was really going downhill.

  I drove home with very little time left to shower, eat, and prepare. Soon Hansen and I would be heading to the coven meeting.

  Chapter Six

  Hansen Gregory had been keeping himself busy. When I got home he was working away quietly on his computer, so absorbed that he barely gave me a nod. We kept each other company all afternoon, the only sign of his dwindling confidence being that he got paler as the day wore on.

  Evening came, and Charlie still hadn’t come home. On the other hand, Greer and her boyfriend Deacon showed up late in the day.

  “Hey,” said Deacon, stepping into the living room. “What are you doing here?” he said to Hansen.

  “I’m interviewing Lemmi for a story,” Hansen said easily. From behind the guys, Greer rolled her eyes.

  “Yeah, we have to get going soon,” I said.

  “That’s too bad. I feel like I haven’t seen much of you lately,” said Deacon. He had brown eyes and dark blond hair long enough to annoy his mother.

  Deacon and Greer had been dating on and off since high school and had recently been in a solid phase. Both of their families were well-off, and I had a feeling that deep down both families wanted them to get married, joining forces to create another generation likely to dominate the area’s business world. Greer’s mother, however, knew better than to voice any such wish. Much to her mother’s dismay, Greer had rejected her family’s money and was working as a bartender while she figured out what she wanted to do with her life. I wondered if Mrs. Dice thought that marriage would settle her daughter down at last, or if she thought her beyond saving.

  I also wondered whether Deacon wanted to ask Greer to marry him. I had a feeling he did, and that it was my friend who was the sticking point. Greer resisted anything with a whiff of the conventional. That included happy unions.

  “We should try to catch up soon. Maybe we can all hang out,” I said.

  “You mean Jasper too?” Deacon asked carefully. Greer was not as delicate. She simply elbowed him in the ribs for mentioning Jasper’s name.

  “Ouch. What did I say? The two of them have problems. We all know it. What am I supposed to do, pretend it isn’t happening? I’d rather be direct,” Deacon said, sounding injured and looking to Hansen for support.

  For the first time all day I saw the reporter smile. “He has a point,” said Hansen.

  “Now don’t you start,” I grumbled.

  “It was good to see both of you. I am sure we’ll see you again soon. I mean, because again, I’m straightforward,” said Deacon, giving his girlfriend a look that had me wondering if they had talked about this before. I had a feeling they had, and that the two of them disagreed about the results. Or something.

  Just as Hansen and I were making our way to the Beetle, Paws hopped off his porch crate. “Don’t think you can go to one of these fun things without me,” he said, trotting after us. “I am very much looking forward to seeing him blown up by witches. Or whatever is going to do it.” He was looking at Hansen as if he were dinner.

  I stopped to glare at the ghost cat, annoyed that he was forcing me to make a decision. Oddly enough, though, it turned out to be easier than I expected. I turned to Hansen Gregory and said, “I can see ghosts.”

  “Sure you can,” he said. His words were blustery, but he had gone a shade paler.

  At that moment I was reminded that my wand was safely tucked into my sleeve. There was a good chance I’d need it before the night was over.

  “Look at you being all brave,” said the cat. “You’re probably only telling him because you know he isn’t going to survive until morning.”

  “Oh, be quiet,” I told him.

  “I didn’t say anything,” said Hansen, looking bewildered.

  Then surprise registered on his features. He looked around, but he obviously didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. “You weren’t talking to me, were you,” he said. It was a statement, not a question.

  “No, I wasn’t. I was talking to one of the ghosts who lives here on my charity and should remember as much.” I glared down at my feet as I said it.

  “Whoever the ghost is, is awfully short,” Hansen commented.

  We were now standing next to the Beetle. I knew perfectly well that we were both stalling, afraid of what was to come. Hansen had every right to be. I was afraid because I knew I’d have to stand up for myself and for my friends. It was always easier said than done.

  “It’s a cat,” I told him.

  “A ghost cat? A ghost cat that understands human speech?” said Hansen.

  “If he spoke any more slowly he’d be stopped,” Paws grumbled.

  Then Hansen did something remarkable. He looked down at my feet, which weren’t anywhere near where Paws was, but still. Gazing toward where he thought the ghost cat was, he said, “It’s a pleasure to almost meet you. Thank you for coming along with us tonight. I’m sure that it will help.”

  “He very well might help. Despite the fact that he mouths off a lot, he knows everything there is to know about witches,” I said.

  At that Paws started preening. He was such a ham.

  “We should get going,” I said. I started to get into the car, but Hansen lingered.

  “He’s waiting for that wondrous creature,” said Paws. “At least on that much we can agree.” The cat sat down on the ground with a waiting air, and I knew there was no way he was going to climb into the car without having seen Charlie.

  I waited a couple of heartbeats more, but we couldn’t possibly be late to this meeting. Just as I was about to insist that we give up and go, I heard a car turn up the driveway. Hansen nearly sagged in relief.

  “Of course she came. A wonderful lady, but she doesn’t necessarily have good taste in humans,” said Paws.

  “She likes me,” I pointed out.

  Hansen started a bit because he re
alized that I was yet again speaking to something he couldn’t see.

  “I like how you think that improves your argument,” said Paws.

  I rolled my eyes and didn’t bother to comment.

  Charlie’s Volvo came and parked next to my Beetle. Charlie herself dashed out of the car and looked between us, then went right for Hansen, staring at him in a way I had never seen before. She glanced at me and said, “Hey,” then went back to concentrating on Hansen.

  “Hey,” I said back.

  “I wasn’t sure you’d come,” said Hansen.

  Charlie scoffed. “Of course I came,” she said.

  “I just mean, I know you’re busy. I know I’ve put you two through a lot, and I really didn’t need to,” he added.

  Charlie waved him off as if he hadn’t caused any trouble at all. To be fair, I did think Josephine and Scarlett were more to blame, but I didn’t bother to say it.

  “I’m glad you came,” Hansen said. Although I couldn’t see all of his face, I could tell that he was staring intently at Charlie. His voice had gone low and warm and I had the impression that slight splotches of color were forming on his cheeks.

  “Would somebody please spare me from bad romances?” Paws groaned.

  Charlie glanced sharply past the car. She couldn’t see the cat from where she was standing, but she could still hear him. She knew exactly what he’d said and what it meant. Squaring her shoulders she looked at Hansen and said, “When you get back later tonight, I’d like for us to have dinner. I’d like for you to take me out to dinner sometime soon. If the offer still stands.”

  Hanson had said a long time ago that he wanted to take Charlie out to dinner. The rest of us had simply assumed that she hadn’t noticed him trying to ask her out on a real date. Call us all fools; she at least had noticed now. Maybe she had worked the conversation over in her mind until she understood it. Maybe when she had finally admitted to herself that she cared about Hansen, she had then tried to figure out if he cared about her as well, and remembered his offer.

  Now she had her answer. And he had his.

  Hansen flashed her a smile. “I would like nothing more. Luckily enough, I’m in the hands of an excellent witch. I’m sure I’ll return in one piece.”

  I felt my heart twist with the pressure. I could barely save myself as a witch; now I had to save someone else as well?

  Charlie and Hansen paused. We all knew what they were thinking, but would they do it? Then Charlie took a step back and Hansen fumbled with the car door. Paws looked up at me and just shook his head.

  “We really should get going,” I said. “We’re going to be late, and I’m pretty sure we’re the guests of honor.”

  “Some guests,” said Hansen.

  Charlie reached out and touched his arm. Hansen glanced at her and smiled. “I can’t wait to have dinner with you.”

  Charlie beamed.

  Before Hansen and I drove away, my friend looked at me intently through the car window. I knew what she was saying without her having to utter a word. She was begging me to be careful. I silently promised her that I would.

  “Be sure to tell Greer that once we get back we’re going to Gracie’s grandmother’s. I promised her. We have to go at night,” I said.

  It felt strange talking about why I had to go at night in front of Hansen. Of course it had something to do with ghosts. If the gardener had been murdered, he would be a ghost and he’d be near his body. Since he hadn’t been found, it made sense to assume that he was dead. Sad to say, I might have better luck finding him in those circumstances. But only at night.

  Hansen kept quiet until we were finally on the road. Then he said, “Thank you for doing this. I know we’re friends, but I’m not sure we’re good enough friends for me to expect you to do this.”

  I frowned at the dark road ahead. “What do you mean?” I asked.

  Staring out the window, he just shrugged. “You can walk away from all this. You’re like them. Apparently. Not like me. I know it’s going to be difficult for you to stand up to them on my behalf. I just want you to know that I appreciate it. It did occur to me that maybe you’re doing it for Charlie, but even if that’s the case, I still appreciate it. I just wanted to say that now. If you hadn’t come and insisted that I leave with you from that store yesterday, I don’t know what would’ve happened.”

  I hated to admit it, but I didn’t either. Josephine and Scarlett were lovely people, but I didn’t know what kind of witches they were. What they might do to protect their own could be . . . anything. Gerry’s insistence that they had broken the rules didn’t give me any confidence that breaking the rules had any consequences.

  Maybe Hansen was right and I was doing some of this for Charlie. Either way, it was important that I follow through. Charlie was my best friend.

  We reached our destination sooner than I would have liked; time flies when you’re dreading something. We stopped in front of three connected little houses with lights on the roofs and windows. We were headed for the one with the sign that read “Cauldron Shop.” Paws had been uncharacteristically quiet as we drove. I had expected him to making snarky remarks the entire way, but he had remained silent. Hansen hadn’t spoken much either. In fact, he had barely moved. The full weight of the predicament he was in had sunk in. He sighed and glanced out the window as I pulled up to the row of buildings.

  The first time I had come here there had been a witch party going on inside, my fellow witches mingling and chatting before the formal meeting began. Now the building we were heading toward looked dark. I glanced down at the Paws nervously. He looked up at me and said, “Don’t lose your nerve now. You have to stand up to them. Now it isn’t just about you. It’s about nosy over there as well.”

  I sighed and nodded. That was basically the same advice Gerry had given me. I found myself wishing that Jasper was with us, or at least that I was going to see him later, or that I had told him what I was doing, or that we were still dating. Any of those would’ve been good.

  We stopped outside the door and I turned to Hansen and asked, “Are you ready?”

  He gave me a rueful smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Does it matter if I am or not?”

  “No. Not even a little bit. Thank you for asking. Maybe next time stay of trouble,” said Paws.

  Hansen must have noticed my eyes lighting up in consternation. “That ghost cat is talking again, isn’t he. Or is it a she?”

  “Paws is a he. Sometimes he does like to wear pearls, though,” I said.

  Hansen shrugged. “Whatever works.”

  Before I could say anything else, the door opened to reveal Scarlett. She was wearing bright red lipstick and her witch’s garb. There was no turning back now.

  Chapter Seven

  “There you are. We were starting to wonder when you’d get here. Everyone is already out back. We decided to gather a bit early tonight,” she explained.

  Translation, they had the party without me.

  We followed Scarlett through the quiet house. The room we walked through was hidden in shadows, and with so many cauldrons filling every corner I couldn’t tell if it looked as it had before. I didn’t really care anyhow; I was too busy trying to concentrate on not throwing up. Hansen tried not to look curious or nervous. He failed at both.

  Paws was having no such problem. He trotted forward as if he owned the place. To be fair, he had probably worked it out in his head that he somehow did own the place.

  “Wait here. Meredith is going to come get you when Rosalie is ready to convene the meeting,” said Scarlett. She barely glanced at Hansen as she flitted through the back door, cape flapping. She was clearly running away from the weight of attention that was about to hit us.

  We peered through the panes of glass in the back door, trying to get an idea of what was waiting for us. Everything looked as it had the last time I’d been here: the rocks to sit on, the stream and the lake, the light, the caped witches mingling. There were also countless cauldrons scatter
ed casually around the gathering place.

  My companion’s mouth was hanging slightly open. He couldn’t believe what he was looking at. “Now that would be a great picture for front of the newspaper.”

  I shook my head. He sighed and smiled. “If we can’t make light of a dire situation, what do we have left?”

  “We might not have much if you keep making jokes,” I pointed out.

  “He’s right,” Paws chimed in. “Let’s keep making fun of the witches. That seems like a great idea. I know your grandmother always delighted in such things. It may surprise you to hear that I was her faithful sidekick when it came to verbal sparring.”

  “You must be very disappointed that you have no one to spar with these days,” I told the cat.

  “You have no idea,” he grumbled. “You really are not very good.”

  “Maybe I’ll get better with practice. Word is that you’re a ghost. You have plenty of time to be patient with me,” I said.

  Hansen was looking at us in confusion, his lips parted into a slight smile. “I can’t believe you’re actually speaking to something I can’t see. Or hear.”

  “I can’t believe he’s your average know-it-all male,” said Paws.

  “If you’re saying that all guys are know-it-alls I agree,” I said pointedly.

  “Not cat guys,” Paws quickly amended.

  “I didn’t mean to be difficult,” Hansen said.

  Before I could reply, the door snapped open at last and Meredith Munn stood revealed, her sour face looking me over and a sneer curling her lip. Whereas before she had been merely annoying, now she was outright hostile.

  Slowly her eyes turned to Hansen. “So you’re the one causing all this trouble. I don’t know why we had to bother. As far as I’m concerned, there’s only one conclusion to this evening,” she hissed.

  Hansen nearly took a step back. While he looked unsure, I stepped forward. “Luckily enough, the conclusion of this evening isn’t up to you. Now if you’ll excuse us, we have business to attend to with the coven.”