spies and spells 02 - betting off dead Read Online Free Page A

Meme was not good at sleuthing and this was a disaster waiting to happen.
    “Shay Hannagan down at 212 Belgravia Court,” Auntie spouted off Mrs. Hannagan’s address, “told me that she saw the one and only Gladys Hubbard scurrying across Belgravia Court from our house to hers. Not just a little walk, she was practically running with a package under her arm around the same time I was supposed to get a delivery.”
    “I’m sure you went over and asked her nicely if she’d received the package and maybe was bringing it to our house and when no one answered she took it back home?” It seemed like a pretty logical explanation to me, but logical and Auntie Meme were not a combination.
    “I might could’ve.” Auntie Meme lifted her chin, her lids drew down to cover her eyes as she looked down to the right.
    “Let me guess,” I paused for effect. “You didn’t.”
    “You’re darn tootin’ right I didn’t,” she spat through gritted teeth. “I got me one of them eyewitness accounts about her thieving my package.”
    “You heard it from Shay Hannagan, who I recall also started the rumor that Abram and I were going to get married.” A rumor I desperately wanted to forget about. A rumor that sent Mom and Auntie Meme to the store to get me all sorts of bridal catalogs when I was twenty-one.
    “He was carrying you.” Auntie Meme brought back the memory of how I’d let Lilith take me to The Derby, our local neighborhood bar, for my twenty-first birthday. Needless to say, I couldn’t make it home on my own two feet and Abram had to carry me.
    “I was drunk.” My voice carried a unique force. “Besides, I was just making a point.” I had to put that memory in the back of my head.
    Everyone on Belgravia Court thought there was going to be this big old wedding right there in the middle of the court. Abram’s mom had already made a guest list. Mom has always been so sure that my Witchy Hour had to do with marrying a mortal. One like Abram wouldn’t be so bad since he never questioned me, until today, and he’s kept his mouth shut about Vinnie. A keeper in Mom’s and Auntie Meme’s eyes.
    One problem. I wasn’t attracted to Abram Callahan and never would be. I let out a happy sigh when images of Mick popped in my head.
    “Oh no.” Auntie shook her head and disappeared back into the kitchen. “I know that look when I see it. Mortal or witch,” she hollered over her shoulder. “You are smitten, young lady!”
    “I am not in love with Abram Callahan!” I put the condiment container back under the counter and ran my finger down the three coffee pots. Instantly they filled with freshly brewed coffee. I dusted my hands and smiled.
    “I wasn’t talking about Abram.” A puff of flour rolled out of the pass-through. “I’m talking about Mick.” Her words sent a shock to my heart. “I’m gonna have to call the Spell Circle.”

Chapter Three
     
    It didn’t do me any good to wear a cute outfit to work. I hustled and cleared so many tables, I ended up spilling everyone’s leftovers on me. Auntie Meme was off her game and we’d actually had a few complaints, which had never happened in the history of The Brew. And the lunch crowd stayed unusually longer than normal. It was so out of character that I had a sneaky suspicion Auntie Meme had done a little spell of her own to keep the crowds there so I would be late meeting Mick.
    She’d already threatened to call in her Spell Circle, her group of witchy friends that met once a month to do protection spells and concoct all sorts of new spells. Some worked, some didn’t. Either way, I enjoyed watching them and found myself somewhat jealous that I didn’t have friends like that.
    Still, I was almost certain Auntie had planned the lunch crowd to take longer than usual.
    “Good afternoon, Maggie.” Vinnie had been waiting outside of the diner when I’d gotten off work.
    “Good afternoon,” I put on my seatbelt and paused, wondering if I should flip