The Trouble With Witches Read Online Free Page B

exciting."
    She eyed me suspiciously. "I doubt that. Didn't you tell me Henry was coming by with some pictures?"
    "Yeah, but it didn't work. I didn't see anything that could help him find his missing person. The man's dead. A suicide. But I couldn't tell him where to find the body."
    "How did Henry take it?"
    "In typical Iceman fashion," I said, picking up my own stack of cards and thumbing through them. "He wasn't going to let on how disappointed he was, but I could tell. He really wanted to be able to give the man's family some kind of answer." I stopped, feeling the frustration pick at me once again. "Some answer other than, 'He's dead and we don't know where.' "
    "I'm sorry. I know it's hard when you don't see things clearly."
    "Yeah. Well, it's going to be harder on his family while they wait until his body's found." I turned away from the counter and grabbed a pile of returned books from the shelf. Setting them on the counter, I flipped the cover open. " Ahh , Darci , there's something else I want to tell you. Rick called—"
    She grabbed my arm. "Really? When? Is he coming back to Summerset?"
    I held up my hand, stopping her. "Calm down. He called late Saturday night, and no, he's not coming to Summerset. Umm, he has a little job for us. He wants us to come to
Minnesota
and help him find a missing girl."
    "Great, when do we leave?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
    I gave her a pointed look. " Darci , when I said 'us,' I meant Abby and me."
    Her face settled into a pout. "Why can't I come, too? You might need my help."
    "I also need you to stay here and take care of the library while I'm gone. I've got all the arrangements made with the library board, and we're leaving tomorrow," I said, my tone final.
    "I don't think that's fair. You're always trying to keep me away from all of the excitement."
    "I'm also trying to keep you out of harm's way. Look, the girl was mixed up with some kind of cultlike group, and I don't know what we'll be walking into when we arrive. I'm going to have a hard enough time keeping an eye on Abby, without worrying about you, too."
    "Humph," she said, not buying my excuse. "I suppose I can't force you to take me with you." She stopped and eyed me thoughtfully. "What does Henry think?"
    The sudden shift in conversation startled me. "What do you mean?"
    "Does Henry think you should go?" Darci asked in an even voice.
    "I don't need his permission," I said indignantly.
    "You're right, you don't." She traced a finger across the counter. "But I imagine he's not going to like it."
    I lifted my chin a notch. "I don't care whether he likes it or not."
    Darci looked at me skeptically.
    "Well, I don't. And don't be manufacturing another one of your imaginary romances starring me and Henry," I said, shaking a finger at her. "There's nothing between Henry and me. He barely likes me."
    She arched an eyebrow.
    "I mean it," I said, and paced over to the bookshelves with an armload of books. "I've got enough to think about right now. So much has happened to me since last fall that Henry Comacho is the least of my concerns."
    Darci walked over and stood beside me. "Like what? What else is bothering you?"
    "This town," I said, shoving a book onto the shelf. "Haven't you noticed all the sideways glances I've been getting?"
    "Well, you have demonstrated a real talent for finding dead bodies. Last fall, Butch Fisher, and then this spring you found Gus."
    I winced when she mentioned Gus Pike. Another friend I'd lost thanks to Charles Thornton. Gus had been a harmless old man, a recluse, and my friend. Charles, in his fervor to stamp out witches, had assumed Gus was a witch and had literally scared the old man to death. Then he buried Gus's body in a ditch, hoping I'd find it. I had. Tripped and fell right on top of the spot Charles had buried the remains. Only Henry, Abby, and Darci knew of the vision I'd had that led me to the ditch and Gus's shallow grave.
    "Look," she said, lightly touching my arm.