spies and spells 02 - betting off dead (17 page)

“What about my vase?” Auntie Meme questioned.

“We will put a little spell on him that will have him bring it back,” I suggested and held my arm out. “Turn him back into human form.”

With the swipe of her hand, she instantly turned him back into the snake he’d become, only he was cradled in my arms. I dropped him and he thudded on the floor.

He got to his hands and knees and scurried to the corner, settling in a fetal position with his arms curled around his head.

“Oh get up.” I rolled my eyes. “I want to know why you had to ruin everything. I was in a very serious situation last night where I could’ve been blown up because you disabled Vinnie’s circuit connected to my necklace.”

“Whaaaaa. . .” he stuttered, “what is Vinnie? Was he a person like me and then. .  .?” He gulped.

“Vinnie is my familiar. He is programmed with all the circuits to be on alert for danger.” I went on to explain to Abram—not that it would matter because his brain was about to be erased of all knowledge—how the circuit he had disabled was the one that helped me communicate with Vinnie. “So when I didn’t get a signal of danger the other night, I proceeded. Did you know that barn blew up? Pow!” I smacked my hands and the actual footage of the barn exploding played like a video in the air above my hands.

“I’m so sorry, Maggie. I love you!” He jumped to his feet and placed his hands together, falling on his knees in front of me. “I love you and I only wanted him to not work so you called me. I took the package because it had your name on it and I wanted to peek inside to see what types of things you ordered and liked so I could buy you a present for your birthday.”

“We don’t celebrate birthdays.” Mom’s chin drew down, her brows hawked.

“Please don’t erase my memory,” he begged and walked on his knees up to my legs.

My eyes filled with water as I looked down on him. My heart dipped.

“Casta tue casta mue, erase the memory and turn to gooey!” Auntie thrust both arms in front of her, her fingers spread apart. Ten lightning bolts shot out and hit Abram, flinging his body into the bubbling cauldron. The candles in the chandelier flickered until they all blew out.

Chapter Nineteen

All night long I had tossed and turned. The darkness and silence only helped my mind play through the situation that’d happened with Abram. It was a shame that I wasn’t in love with him. It was also a shame that Mom and Auntie Meme really liked him and wanted me to love him. Ultimately, it was his actions that changed his course. If he wouldn’t have tampered with Vinnie and my life, I was sure we would’ve overlooked the package.

After Auntie had thrown him into the bubbling cauldron and we made it back upstairs, we were having a cup of tea and some homemade cookies Auntie had whipped up because we’d worked up an appetite. Shortly after we sat down, there was a knock at the door. It was Abram. He had the package in his hand.

This time we simply thanked him for picking it up off the porch and kept the door between us. My heart felt a little loss when I looked at him. The eyes he normally looked at me through were dull and not sparkling anymore. Even Boomer was with him. He looked old and feeble, which broke my heart knowing earlier he looked just like the kitten he was years ago. Abram also brought the invitation for Mom for the Historical Homes Christmas Tour on Belgravia Court. He said he saw Susie walking down the courtyard and exchanged words. He told her he was bringing the package over and would also give Mom the invite.

Life as a witch was hard. But Abram was a liability that had to be contained to keep us safe.

Coven, family, thyself.

I rolled out of bed and walked over to the window, peeling back the curtain. The morning sun was bright on this crystal clear fall morning. The universe seemed to agree with the decision we’d made about Abram. The mums in the front yard frilled themselves in the warm sun. Even Mrs. Hubbard’s plastic petals glittered. The sun bathed the entire area with a dazzling light.

I inhaled a deep breath of happy and let it seep into my soul. Even though there was nothing on the day’s plan for SKUL, other than the party tonight at the Tuckers, and I had to work at The Brew, I woke up in a pretty good mood.

I brushed my hands around me and decided on wearing my hair in a high ponytail, a pair of jeans cuffed at the bottom with a long-sleeved grey shirt and my pink pair of Chuck Taylor high tops. It seemed like the perfect outfit to work in at the diner. I put my red pendant around my neck and ran my finger over it, letting Vinnie know I was up and almost ready to go.

“Good morning,” Mom chirped from over the sink where she was clipping and washing some herbs from the herb garden she kept on the windowsill. “I know that we haven’t celebrated our favorite time of the year, but I have to get things going for the decorations for the home tour.”

“Mom, it’s a couple of months away.” I reminded her, “And you can just snap and make it beautiful.”

“Do I need to remind you of the binoculars?” Mom questioned. “I need to bring things into the house so the neighbors see. With Abram, I know we have to keep a low profile.”

“And we have.” I smiled and grabbed a muffin off the stove. “Mmm.” I looked at the hole in the muffin where I’d taken a big bite. “Cranberry nut?”

“Yes. The cranberries this time of the year are so plump.” Mom snipped at her herbs. A piece of mint flew across the room. Riule batted it around.

“See you later.” I grabbed my clutch and the fresh herbs Mom had put in a mason jar for me to take to the diner for Auntie Meme’s daily special.

I keyed in the code for the garage and greeted Vinnie by dragging my hand down his hood and curled my hand down around the door handle.

Vinnie’s lights flickered in delight.

“Good morning, Maggie. I’m feeling much more like myself today.” His engine started and he pulled out of the garage, putting the door down behind him.

“I’m so glad. I guess you know we had to get rid of Abram?” I asked and took my phone out of my clutch.

I got a little excited when I saw a text message from Amber.

“He was pulling and probing so many things the other night and I couldn’t help you. I could feel you needed me.” Vinnie recalled how I had touched the pendant.

“Well, you don’t have to worry about that now.” It wasn’t like we needed Abram to fix Vinnie. It was in Mom’s head that we had to blend in and with an old 1965 car, there had to be maintenance to keep it up. Not to mention it kept Ronald Lowell out of Mom’s hair.

I dragged the pad of my finger across my phone screen and tapped on the text messaging.

“Hhhmmm.” Amusement lurked in my eyes as I read her message asking me if I wanted to go shopping for an outfit to wear to the Tuckers’ party tonight because she’d loved my dress at her party.

Riley had even texted me asking my opinion on what she should wear as well as what cocktails she should have.

It looked like Auntie’s spell on them was working and it pleased me to no end.

“Vinnie, call Mick.” I held the phone to my ear and waited for him to answer.

“Good morning, Maggie.” His voice had depth and authority. “What do I owe this wakeup call?”

For a minute I let my mind wander to the sliver of his bedroom I’d seen through the crack of the door the first time I was there. I pictured him lying in his bed, looking out into the beautiful morning with his arms up over his head, his biceps outlined.

Vinnie reeved his engine, bringing me out of the ridiculous fantasy.

“Hi!” I cringed at how cheerful I was this morning. “I wanted to let you know that Amber and Riley came into the diner yesterday. I woke up this morning to a text from both of them.”

“Really?” He perked up with interest.

“Yes. Amber asked me to go shopping with her this afternoon for an outfit for tonight, which I’m going to do, especially to see what she’s heard or knows about the barn.” I thought it was a good idea. “Riley asked me my opinion on what she should wear as well as what cocktails she should serve.”

“This is interesting.” His husky morning voice dripped through the phone. “You go from being the ugly duckling to the most popular.”

“Just like high school.” I laughed. “I’ve got to go. I just pulled up to the diner.”

“Pick me up at six?” He referred to the party the Tuckers had invited us to. “It should be interesting.”

“Yes it should.” Inwardly I smiled as we ended the call knowing I was going to get to see him.

“Maggie,” Vinnie didn’t unlock the door after he turned off his engine. “Your emotions are starting to cloud your life’s journey.”

“Oh, I’m just having fun.” I brushed off the tickle that had started in the bottom of my toes and trickled up into my heart. “Let me out.”

“Have a good day,” Vinnie quipped, unlocking the door and driving off after I’d gotten out.

Auntie Meme hummed and sang throughout the morning and early afternoon as she worked on her daily specials and served them up. There was a steady stream of customers and not a single complaint, which made the day go by smoother and quicker. I was able to text Amber back and we were going to meet on Bardstown Road where there were several clothing boutiques to shop.

“You don’t mind if I do a little?” I didn’t finish my sentence; I simply snapped my fingers, refilling all the condiments on the table. The broom swooshed back and forth as it swept up the crumbs. Auntie drew her eyes down her nose as she looked at me. “Yesterday you gave me a day off, but it ended badly.”

I still couldn’t get Abram and what happened out of my mind. I felt a great loss as he was a friend I’d had for a long time. He was the only mortal that really did know there was some magic, but accepted me. I didn’t have to pretend to not be me when I was around him.

“Go.” Auntie Meme flicked her hand in the air. “Go on. I know you have to work.”

“Work.” That was a word I didn’t think of when I thought of SKUL. So far it was filled with excitement, a little bit of mystery, but now there was a death of an agent that put all the agents on high alert. I squeezed Auntie and headed on out the door.

Vinnie didn’t ask questions and he didn’t seem to be upset. Why should he? He had to be thrilled I wasn’t meeting Mick. There was a spot on the street with a meter, which was between all the shops so it was a perfect spot to park. I could keep my eye on him and him on me.

I ran my finger over my pendant to make sure it was synced up. After what had happened with Abram, I was still a little leery. Vinnie let it warm to the touch to put me at ease.

“I don’t think I’m going to need you, but you are here just in case.” I patted his dash and got out of the car.

The coffee shop for an afternoon treat was where Amber and I planned to meet. She was sitting at a table next to the gas fireplace. She waved me over.

Her auburn hair was hanging down and she’d braided the pieces around her hair line to resemble a head band. She wore a pair of black jeans and a green turtleneck with a pair of black flats.

“I took the liberty to go ahead and order a coffee for you and picked out a treat.” She got up and gave me a hug.

It was normal for people in Kentucky to greet each other with touches. It was strange to my family and took us a while to get used to that type of greeting, but we did.

“This looks delicious.” A couple of bite-sized cupcakes did look so good. I picked up a chocolate one and stuffed it in my mouth. It was a little bigger than I anticipated.

“Amber.” The grey-haired woman from her party the other day walked up to us. She had on a pair of white pants, white cardigan, yellow flats and several gold bracelets jingled up her wrist.

“Joan.” Amber stood up and hugged Joan. They did the greeting ritual.

“Giles and I are so sorry about Rails and Nails.” The sadness appeared in the corners of her eyes. Joan searched Amber’s face.

“I know.” Amber bit her lip as though she were biting back tears. “Joel and I were so shocked.”

“Do the police know what happened?” Joan asked with a concerned look on her face.

“They aren’t saying anything right now. The investigators are still there and they have it roped off.” Amber looked between me and Joan. “Where are my manners? Joan, did you get to meet Maggie the other night?”

“I didn’t, but I did see you across the room.” The edges of her lips curved up. She put her jeweled hand out for me to shake. “It was such a lovely party.”

“It was.” I nodded and tried to swallow down the leftover cupcake in my mouth. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“I’m sure we’ll see each other soon.” She tilted her head. Her smile widened.

“Tonight?” I asked. “Are you going to the Tuckers’ party?”

“No.” Her tone was matter-of-fact. “It was nice to see you, Amber. Let me know if you need anything.” She crossed her hand across her chest. “I’m so sorry about what happened.”

“Thank you.” Amber waved her off.

“Doesn’t she know it’s fall and she shouldn’t be wearing white?” I thought I made a funny joke.

“Joan Kirkpatrick can wear what she wants, when she wants.” Amber’s brow lifted.

“Kirkpatrick?” I recalled Vinnie pulling up stats on the Kirkpatricks a few days ago. “As in the horse people?” I tried to remember how I knew them.

“As in Riley Kirkpatrick, Riley Kirkpatrick Tucker.” The words sent caution, causing my insides to tremble. “Riley about died when she saw her mother at my home. Her father refused to come, but Joan has always been very fond of Joel. They went to the same country club when Joel and Riley were growing up.”

“So Joel knew Riley?” I asked.

It made me sick how Riley saw people with money as better than everyone else. She was going to write Amber off when she saw their house was just a log cabin. Without the Wright name, it was still just a log cabin.

“Not only did they grow up together, they dated.” Her eyes bore into me. “In fact, he told me that Riley went crazy when he broke up with her. She sort of stalked him and he even had to file a restraining order against her. Though her parents used their pull to get it taken care of, if you know what I mean.”

“But you and her are,” I started to say.