The Trouble With Witches (25 page)

If she did, I hoped I was drinking it now.

We had returned to the cabin immediately after our discovery and reported what we'd found to the sheriff.
Darci
had done well, kind of, for finding her first body. She hadn't screamed, cried, or jumped up and down. She did almost pick off two skiers with the pontoon in her haste to get back to the cabin. But after achieving a spectacular wipe-out and uttering a few profanities and remarks concerning blondes, the skiers survived.

Not like the person we found floating by the island. Who was it and how did they die?
Okay, Jensen, face it
, said a voice in my head.
Orange hair, been missing for two months. Who do you think it is
?

Brandi.

I hadn't told the sheriff when he took my statement about my suspicions. It was up to the law to figure out
the who
, the how, and the when. Rick had asked us to find her, and we did. Our job was done.

Poor Rick. We'd called him after the sheriff. He'd shown up at the same time and, using his job as a journalist as an excuse, had talked the sheriff into allowing him to witness the divers retrieve the body. Tough job—observing the body of a young woman he'd watched grow up as it was hauled out of the lake.

But something was off and I couldn't put my finger on it. My mind circled back to my original question while I sipped my tea.
Who did I think it was
?

My answer had been Brandi. The answer explained where she was now, but where had she been for the last two months? I didn't know much about forensics, but I assumed that a body left in the water for two months wouldn't look like what I'd seen.

I looked at Abby standing by the sliding glass doors and watching out over the lake.

"Abby, do you think she's been dead all this time?" I asked.

She continued to stare out the doors.

"Abby," I said louder.

Slowly she turned her head toward me. "What?"

"I asked if you thought Brandi's been dead all this time."

"I don't know," she said, passing a hand over her eyes.

Her action concerned me. "Abby, are you all right?" I made a move to leave my cocoon on the couch.

"Sit down," she said, waving me back to my place. "I'm fine, but I'm confused. I would've sworn the girl was still alive."

"For a couple of psychics, there's sure a lot we don't know," I said ruefully.

Darci
frowned. "What do you mean?"

I crawled out from underneath the blanket. "Except for some eerie dreams and the freaky experience at the cabin, I haven't picked up anything. It's like I'm blocked. The runes aren't even talking to me."

"What about you?"
Darci
asked, turning to Abby.

Abby didn't speak for a moment. She simply stood by the door rubbing her arms. I thought she'd missed the question.

"Let's go out on the deck," she said abruptly, and slid the door open.

Queenie
had been lurking around Abby's feet, and when the door opened, she made a break for the great outdoors. Lady was right on her heels.

"
Queenie
!"
I shrieked. "Get back in here. Lady, stop."

Abby tried grabbing Lady's collar but missed. She hurried out the door after the animals.

Darci
and I followed.

Lady had stopped at the end of the deck, but
Queenie
had made it as far as the trees. She stopped, and with a look at me that said "Leave me alone," calmly sat down and began to clean her fur.

I made a move to go fetch her, but Abby's hand on my arm stopped me.

"Let her be. She'll be fine. I'll keep an eye on her so she doesn't wander off," Abby said.

At the sound of Abby's voice, Lady cocked her head, and Abby scratched her ears. Reassured she wouldn't have to return inside, she picked out a corner of the deck and lay down.

Each of us found our own spot,
Darci
on one of the chaise lounges, and Abby and me in chairs. The sun chased away the last bit of my trembling, and my tension melted away.

I noticed Abby seemed more relaxed, too.

I repeated the question
Darci
had asked. "Abby, are you sensing anything?"

She tucked a stray strand back into the braid circled around the top of her head. "Yes. No. Maybe," she
said,
her tone uncertain.

"That's pretty noncommittal," I said with a smile.

Abby shrugged slightly. "I know." She stared at the trees across the lake. "There's something at work here, but I can't put my finger on it. It's elusive, it plays in the shadows. What's more, it's intentional. Whatever it is, it knows we're here and it's teasing us."

"Do you think it's a ghost?"
Darci
asked in a hushed voice.

I glanced at Abby. She raised her eyebrows but didn't speak.

"Let's forget about ghosts and things that go bump in the night, shall we?" I watched both of them. "The problem at hand is, where has Brandi been for the last two months, and did she drown, or was it murder?"

There. I'd laid the question eating at all of us on the line.

"Abby, what do you think?" I asked.

She lifted her shoulder and shook her head.

"
Darci
, what about you?"

"Me?" she asked, surprised.

"Yeah, you.
You're a smart woman. What do you think?"

"Hmm—well, I don't think the body has been in the water for two months. That means either she's been here at the lake the whole time and hiding, or left and came back. Both case scenarios are suspicious."

"I agree," I said. "Next question—do we stick around and find out what happened, or do we leave and let the sheriff figure it out?"

"I think, before you decide to leave, you should take Abby and pay a visit to the Finches,"
Darci
said with a thoughtful expression on her face.

"Why?" I leaned forward. "I was there last night and didn't pick up on anything. Juliet explained away my concerns about
Tink
—the changes in her personality aren't due to abuse. It's because the kid's zoned out on meds most of the time. The Finches are only a couple trying to do their best to raise a child with some serious problems." I shook my head. "And Jason isn't the Rasputin Rick seems to think he is."

Darci
gave a little pout. "I still think you should go."

Giving up on her, I turned to Abby. "Do you think we should talk to the Finches?"

"I suppose," she said, her voice sounding troubled.

Watching her, I frowned. "Abby, what's with you today?"

Her face cleared and she smiled.
"Nothing, dear.
I'm sorry if my behavior is worrying you. I'm puzzled, that's all."

I narrowed my eyes. "Are you sure?"

Her smile widened. "Yes, I'm sure. Come on, let's go," she said, rising. Her smile left her face and she reached in her pocket and pulled something out. "
Darci
, I want you to carry this."

Abby handed her a small crystal.

Darci
turned the rock over in her hand. "What is it?"

"A piece of hematite.
You've had a bad experience today. The hematite will help absorb the negativity."

"Okay,"
Darci
said,
her tone bright. She stuck the crystal in her pocket and smiled up at Abby.

Abby returned her smile.

I crossed to the door and slid it open, but before I could step into the cabin, Abby called out.

"Wait, Ophelia. Let's go around through the yard."

I looked over my shoulder at her standing by the steps leading down to the side of the cabin. "But I don't have my keys to the SUV."

"I have
mine "
She jingled a set of keys in the air.

With a shake of my head, I closed the door and followed Abby. "Hey
Darci
, keep an eye on the cat, will you?" I called over my shoulder.

"No problem," she answered distractedly.

Taking a quick look, I saw
Darci
wasn't paying attention to our departure. She had the crystal in her hand, studying it.

After we were out of
Darci's
hearing, I shot a look at Abby. "Why did you give
Darci
a crystal?"

"She needed it," she replied, climbing the hill to the SUV.

"To disperse the negativity?"
I asked.

"Among other things," she said, outdistancing me.

I scrambled to catch up with her. "What other things?"

"Protection."

All the way over to the Finches, I tried to get Abby to explain to me what she meant by "protection," but she waved my questions aside. We also decided not to be the ones to mention the body found in the lake. If Juliet knew, we'd let her bring it up first. Arriving at the compound, we found the gate open and drove through.

It had been dark when I'd arrived last night, but now I could see how the compound was laid out. To our left there was a large vegetable garden. Two men worked in it, hoeing weeds. Beyond the garden, a distance away, I made out the white tops of bee supers.

Juliet answered the door when I knocked.

"Ophelia, nice to see you again," she said with a questioning look.

A look that said, "What are you doing here?" Dang, I hadn't thought of an excuse for suddenly appearing at the Finches' door.

"
Ahh
, hi Juliet.
Ahh
, I thought—" My mind scrambled for a reason to explain our presence.

Abby took charge and stepped forward, extending her hand. "Juliet, I'm Abigail McDonald, Ophelia's grandmother," she said easily. "Sorry to drop in unannounced like this, but I wanted to meet you."

Smooth, Abby.
Give her the truth, but not the whole truth.

Juliet took Abby's hand in both of hers. "Oh, Mrs. McDonald—"

Abby broke in. "Please,
call
me Abby."

"All right, Abby." Juliet flushed with pleasure. "I'd hoped I would meet you. Please come in." She released Abby's hand and motioned us into the main room. "I don't know what Ophelia has told you about our little group, but we're conducting psychic research. And I know you're very gifted," she said, her face shining with admiration. "Winnie told us how you handled the boy in the grocery store. I'd love to ask you some questions." She followed us.

Abby turned to Juliet. "Oh, dear," she exclaimed. "I'm afraid that's a subject I don't discuss. The way I was raised, you know. My mother believed talking about one's talent, especially to those outside your family, diminished it." She smiled. "Probably just an old mountain superstition, but…" She let her voice fade as her eyes darted to mine.

I dropped my gaze and stared at a spot by my foot. Boy, Abby was good. I'd never heard of that "old mountain" superstition.

Juliet blushed. "I understand.
Maybe after you get to know us better."

Abby smiled vaguely.

A slight figure appeared from the hallway. I froze while violet eyes stared into mine.
The same violet eyes that had haunted my dream.

"
Tink
, come over here, darling, and meet Ophelia's grandmother," Juliet said, holding out her arm to the girl.

Tink
walked slowly over and took her place at Juliet's side. As Juliet made the introductions,
Tink
slowly raised her head to face Abby. Their eyes locked, and for a moment wordless communication passed between them.

An uncomfortable silence seemed to fill the space separating
Tink
and Abby, Finally, Abby, with her eyes never leaving
Tink's
face, cocked her head and arched an eyebrow. The moment was gone.

"If you'll excuse me," Juliet said to Abby and me. "
Tink
,
let me get your medication." She crossed to the kitchen and brought back a pill bottle and a glass of water. Shaking out a couple of pills, she gave them to
Tink
along with the water.

I watched while the girl popped the pills in her mouth and followed them with a long drink of water. With an innocent smile, she handed the glass back to Juliet.

A frown crossed Juliet's face. "
Tink
, where's your necklace?"

Tink's
closed hand moved swiftly to her chest. "I forgot to put it on."

"
Tink
," she said reproachfully.

"I'm sorry. I'll go put it on." She looked up at Juliet. "After I do, may I go down to the lake?"

Juliet looked at her watch. "Yes, but only for an hour. Then you have to do your chores."

"Okay."
Tink
stuck both hands in her pockets and grinned. She glanced over at me watching her. The grin disappeared and her eyes narrowed as if daring me to speak. She knew I knew.

The kid had palmed the pills.