A Witch's Trial (Witch's Path Series: Book 3) Read Online Free Page A
Author: N. E. Conneely
what family was like. There was a smile on my lips as I turned onto the main road. I could get used to this type of family.
My pleasant reflections were interrupted by my phone. I crossed my fingers as I answered, hoping it wouldn't be a dire emergency. "Oaks Consulting. This is Michelle."
"Michelle, it's Wells."
"Hi, Detective. What can I do for you?" I had a feeling he was after the book. After all, that's what I'd promised him.
"You've had a few days. When am I going to get a look at that book?"
"How does today sound?" There wasn't any reason to procrastinate. I had a copy of the book with me, and I was in Ellijay. Putting it off would just cost me time and gas.
"Today would be good. When will you be here?"
"Can we meet somewhere? Maybe Coffee Time?" It felt wrong to talk about the book at his desk in a crowded room with other cops and random citizens within earshot. I wanted him to decide what the rest of the force knew, not have them overhear bits and pieces while they were going about their day.
"Sure, but I expect a good explanation. Twenty minutes sound about right?"
"I'll see you then." I hung up before he could ask any more questions.
I strolled into Coffee Time ten minutes later with the book tucked in my purse. After getting a cup of tea, I snagged a table in the back. It was one of two tables in the back that weren't popular due to their proximity to the coffee grinder and blenders.
Sipping my tea, I reflected on the upcoming conversation. This meeting wouldn't be fun or easy. It was going to be hard and depressing. If I was lucky, he would believe me and we could work on common goals. Typically, luck wasn't my thing, which left the less fun but more realistic path. He wouldn't believe me, and it would deteriorate from there.
Detective Wells walked in, scanning the room. He gave a sharp nod in my direction before going to the counter. A few minutes later, he sat down across from me with a steaming cup of coffee in his hand.
"You owe me an explanation, Michelle."
I met his gaze. "I know. Thank you for being patient with me and for meeting me here."
He shrugged. "It was worth the trip for the coffee. The stuff that passes for coffee at work is shameful."
Flashing the smallest of smiles, I continued. "I've tried to think of the best way to do this, and a direct approach seems best." I gently placed the book on the table and slid it to him. Sitting back in my chair, I forced myself to relax and look normal. After some thought, I'd decided to present the book as if it were the original. It had taken some work, but to my senses the books were identical. Elron had the original, as was his right, and another, less precise copy was in my apartment.
Wells picked it up and flipped through the pages. It must've passed his inspection because he didn't ask to see the original. Tension in my shoulder relaxed, and I hoped he attributed any changes in my posture to the subject matter rather than legitimacy of the book.
"What's so special about this book?" he asked.
"Do you want to know what I think of the book or would you prefer to read it before you hear my thoughts?" I knew what he'd say, but I was looking for any chance to escape. This was a conversation I'd gladly procrastinate.
"I'd like to hear your thoughts." He crossed his arms and leaned on the table.
"Remember when I told you about the woman at Adder's house dropping the book?"
Wells nodded.
"I picked it up because I suspected it could be important. With the way things happened that night, I didn't want to give you the book in case it was spelled. I examined it, and it appears to be a completely harmless collation of thoughts put on paper."
He studied me. "If it's harmless, why were you concerned about eavesdropping?"
"The writing is the problem. It's the diary of a woman who was taken by a demon to be used as its host. At the end of the book, the woman also confesses to being Elron's wife, who was believed to be dead
My pleasant reflections were interrupted by my phone. I crossed my fingers as I answered, hoping it wouldn't be a dire emergency. "Oaks Consulting. This is Michelle."
"Michelle, it's Wells."
"Hi, Detective. What can I do for you?" I had a feeling he was after the book. After all, that's what I'd promised him.
"You've had a few days. When am I going to get a look at that book?"
"How does today sound?" There wasn't any reason to procrastinate. I had a copy of the book with me, and I was in Ellijay. Putting it off would just cost me time and gas.
"Today would be good. When will you be here?"
"Can we meet somewhere? Maybe Coffee Time?" It felt wrong to talk about the book at his desk in a crowded room with other cops and random citizens within earshot. I wanted him to decide what the rest of the force knew, not have them overhear bits and pieces while they were going about their day.
"Sure, but I expect a good explanation. Twenty minutes sound about right?"
"I'll see you then." I hung up before he could ask any more questions.
I strolled into Coffee Time ten minutes later with the book tucked in my purse. After getting a cup of tea, I snagged a table in the back. It was one of two tables in the back that weren't popular due to their proximity to the coffee grinder and blenders.
Sipping my tea, I reflected on the upcoming conversation. This meeting wouldn't be fun or easy. It was going to be hard and depressing. If I was lucky, he would believe me and we could work on common goals. Typically, luck wasn't my thing, which left the less fun but more realistic path. He wouldn't believe me, and it would deteriorate from there.
Detective Wells walked in, scanning the room. He gave a sharp nod in my direction before going to the counter. A few minutes later, he sat down across from me with a steaming cup of coffee in his hand.
"You owe me an explanation, Michelle."
I met his gaze. "I know. Thank you for being patient with me and for meeting me here."
He shrugged. "It was worth the trip for the coffee. The stuff that passes for coffee at work is shameful."
Flashing the smallest of smiles, I continued. "I've tried to think of the best way to do this, and a direct approach seems best." I gently placed the book on the table and slid it to him. Sitting back in my chair, I forced myself to relax and look normal. After some thought, I'd decided to present the book as if it were the original. It had taken some work, but to my senses the books were identical. Elron had the original, as was his right, and another, less precise copy was in my apartment.
Wells picked it up and flipped through the pages. It must've passed his inspection because he didn't ask to see the original. Tension in my shoulder relaxed, and I hoped he attributed any changes in my posture to the subject matter rather than legitimacy of the book.
"What's so special about this book?" he asked.
"Do you want to know what I think of the book or would you prefer to read it before you hear my thoughts?" I knew what he'd say, but I was looking for any chance to escape. This was a conversation I'd gladly procrastinate.
"I'd like to hear your thoughts." He crossed his arms and leaned on the table.
"Remember when I told you about the woman at Adder's house dropping the book?"
Wells nodded.
"I picked it up because I suspected it could be important. With the way things happened that night, I didn't want to give you the book in case it was spelled. I examined it, and it appears to be a completely harmless collation of thoughts put on paper."
He studied me. "If it's harmless, why were you concerned about eavesdropping?"
"The writing is the problem. It's the diary of a woman who was taken by a demon to be used as its host. At the end of the book, the woman also confesses to being Elron's wife, who was believed to be dead
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