A Witch's Trial (Witch's Path Series: Book 3) Read Online Free Page B
Author: N. E. Conneely
for the past two centuries."
Detective Wells's expression didn't change during my explanation. I would've felt better if his face showed some emotion.
"Does Elron know about these claims?"
I met his gaze. "Yes, I told him. I'm sorry if that affects your investigation, but he's my friend. I couldn't keep something like this from him. He needed to hear it from me."
"This book… it claims that there is a demon behind the trouble we've been having?"
I nodded.
Detective Wells leaned forward. "Michelle, does that make sense to you? Demons have been extinct for thousands of years."
He still had on his best blank face, and it was good. I couldn't tell if he believed me or if he was getting ready to take me in for a psychiatric evaluation.
"I'm not sure what to think," I answered. "It seems very convenient for me to find a book explaining a demon's role in the current troubles, along with a connection to my new neighbor. If word of a demon got out, there would be panic. People can't cope with an ancient evil returned to terrorize the modern world. Demons are somewhere between a fable and the ultimate bad thing in children's stories."
I shut my mouth before I could get myself into hot water. While I was perfectly willing to believe a demon was causing trouble, Detective Wells needed to decide on his own. Nothing I could say would persuade him as much as reading that book. Maybe Sylvia would even grace him with a late-night visit. That was an illuminating experience he shouldn't miss.
Wells studied me while I drank my tea and tried to look comfortable. My best guess was that I looked more like a rabbit ready to flee than a professional having a serious discussion.
"Did you have them spike my drink?" he asked with a smile.
I snorted. "Please. If I'd done that, we would be having a fun conversation, not this depressing talk of evil, doom, and gloom."
He tipped his head in agreement. "Thank you for giving me the book. I'll get in touch after I read it."
Detective Wells shook my hand and was out the door before I had a chance to say anything else. Perhaps it was for the best. He needed to come to his own conclusions, and I didn't want to sway his views. I sat there and finished my tea as Elron's brokenhearted sobs played through my head.
Maybe Landa would have good news for me when I got home. Maybe he would be better. Or I could walk by his door and hear the haunting sobs again. If that was the case, I would do my part to turn earplugs into a fall accessory.
Chapter 2: Michelle
The tea was a pleasant memory, and I was feeling brave enough to handle whatever was waiting for me at home when I left Coffee Time. My phone rang as I was slipping the key into the ignition.
"Oaks Consulting," I answered.
"Michelle, it's Queen. I need you up here. I have a—" There was a loud crash and the sound of glass breaking. "Situation," she yelled into the phone.
Three more crashes followed the first. Heavy panting and indecipherable yelling filled the space within the clatter. I had the car turned around and was pulling onto the street before Queen had a chance to finish her explanation.
"Queen, what's going on? Where do I need to go?" I was headed for the highway, which was enough of a direction for the moment since Page Queen worked in Jasper, one town to the south of me.
"Liquor store on Old Philadelphia Road. Their clurichaun has gone crazy. I think I can keep him in the store, but I don't know how to stop him."
"I'll be there twenty minutes." I was almost to the highway, and the liquor store was on the near side of town.
The swearing in the background got louder. "I've got to go. Hurry." She hung up the phone before I could say another word.
After I pulled onto the highway and got up to speed, I set my cruise control. I wouldn't do her any good if I got pulled over for speeding.
Page was a solid hedge-witch, working in Pickens County. She was the reason they were one of my best accounts. When I'd
Detective Wells's expression didn't change during my explanation. I would've felt better if his face showed some emotion.
"Does Elron know about these claims?"
I met his gaze. "Yes, I told him. I'm sorry if that affects your investigation, but he's my friend. I couldn't keep something like this from him. He needed to hear it from me."
"This book… it claims that there is a demon behind the trouble we've been having?"
I nodded.
Detective Wells leaned forward. "Michelle, does that make sense to you? Demons have been extinct for thousands of years."
He still had on his best blank face, and it was good. I couldn't tell if he believed me or if he was getting ready to take me in for a psychiatric evaluation.
"I'm not sure what to think," I answered. "It seems very convenient for me to find a book explaining a demon's role in the current troubles, along with a connection to my new neighbor. If word of a demon got out, there would be panic. People can't cope with an ancient evil returned to terrorize the modern world. Demons are somewhere between a fable and the ultimate bad thing in children's stories."
I shut my mouth before I could get myself into hot water. While I was perfectly willing to believe a demon was causing trouble, Detective Wells needed to decide on his own. Nothing I could say would persuade him as much as reading that book. Maybe Sylvia would even grace him with a late-night visit. That was an illuminating experience he shouldn't miss.
Wells studied me while I drank my tea and tried to look comfortable. My best guess was that I looked more like a rabbit ready to flee than a professional having a serious discussion.
"Did you have them spike my drink?" he asked with a smile.
I snorted. "Please. If I'd done that, we would be having a fun conversation, not this depressing talk of evil, doom, and gloom."
He tipped his head in agreement. "Thank you for giving me the book. I'll get in touch after I read it."
Detective Wells shook my hand and was out the door before I had a chance to say anything else. Perhaps it was for the best. He needed to come to his own conclusions, and I didn't want to sway his views. I sat there and finished my tea as Elron's brokenhearted sobs played through my head.
Maybe Landa would have good news for me when I got home. Maybe he would be better. Or I could walk by his door and hear the haunting sobs again. If that was the case, I would do my part to turn earplugs into a fall accessory.
Chapter 2: Michelle
The tea was a pleasant memory, and I was feeling brave enough to handle whatever was waiting for me at home when I left Coffee Time. My phone rang as I was slipping the key into the ignition.
"Oaks Consulting," I answered.
"Michelle, it's Queen. I need you up here. I have a—" There was a loud crash and the sound of glass breaking. "Situation," she yelled into the phone.
Three more crashes followed the first. Heavy panting and indecipherable yelling filled the space within the clatter. I had the car turned around and was pulling onto the street before Queen had a chance to finish her explanation.
"Queen, what's going on? Where do I need to go?" I was headed for the highway, which was enough of a direction for the moment since Page Queen worked in Jasper, one town to the south of me.
"Liquor store on Old Philadelphia Road. Their clurichaun has gone crazy. I think I can keep him in the store, but I don't know how to stop him."
"I'll be there twenty minutes." I was almost to the highway, and the liquor store was on the near side of town.
The swearing in the background got louder. "I've got to go. Hurry." She hung up the phone before I could say another word.
After I pulled onto the highway and got up to speed, I set my cruise control. I wouldn't do her any good if I got pulled over for speeding.
Page was a solid hedge-witch, working in Pickens County. She was the reason they were one of my best accounts. When I'd
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