Every Witch Way But Wicked (A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Mystery) by Amanda M. Lee Read Free Book Online

finished?”
    William’s eyes shifted to the left as he shook his head. “No, absolutely not.” With those words, William stalked back out of the office through the wall. You didn’t have to be a good judge of character to know that he was lying.
    Even Edith, who was oblivious to just about everything that didn’t concern her, noticed the sudden shift in William’s attitude. “He’s hiding something.”
    He most definitely was.
Seven
    After a couple of hours of work, I decided to break for lunch. I could still hear Brian busily moving furniture in the far office. I debated inviting him to lunch out of sheer courtesy, but I decided against it. I didn’t want to spend time with him when I didn’t have to.
    The town was abuzz with energy as I made my way to Hypnotic. Everyone was out decorating the storefronts and streets, and preparing the central square for tonight’s bonfire and kickoff party.
    Hemlock Cove is always interesting, but when the town is planning a party things are even more entertaining. I couldn’t help but laugh to myself as I saw Mrs. Little bossing around several other business owners from her position in the middle of everything.
    “That doesn’t go there, Trent,” she barked at a teenage boy. I think he was the grandson of the local hardware shop owner, Mr. Wharton. “Do I have to do everything myself?”
    When I got to Hypnotic, I found Thistle and Clove busy with their own reorganization project – and a verbal spat.
    “I didn’t say they were ugly,” Clove argued, waving at me as I entered. “I said I thought they were garish. There’s a difference.”
    “You say garish but you mean butt ugly,” Thistle argued.
    “I did not say that. I just think they’re creepy.”
    “What are we talking about?” I asked, throwing myself onto the couch to watch them work.
    “Clove says my new candles are ugly,” Thistle said angrily.
    “I didn’t say they were ugly!” Clove was clearly at the end of her rope.
    “Where are the candles?”
    “In the box on the counter,” Clove said.
    I wandered over and looked in the box. Recently, Thistle had been experimenting with different types of candles. Clove had balked at the simple skulls Thistle had been manufacturing over the past two weeks. Thistle was apparently getting more creative with the skulls – if the candles in the box were any indication.
    I pulled one of them out and couldn’t help but laugh out loud. It was still a skull, but Thistle has fashioned ornate knives jutting out from them. The wicks of the candles were at the hilt of the knives. She had also colored what appeared to be blood at the base of the knives.
    “Awful, aren’t they?” Clove asked.
    Actually, I thought they were kind of cool. “I bet they’re big sellers for the murder mystery weekend.”
    “Which is exactly why I made them,” Thistle said haughtily.
    “You made them to irritate me,” Clove countered.
    “That was just an added side benefit,” Thistle said snidely.
    I put the candle back in the box and went back to the couch. “You guys want to order lunch?”
    “We saw you coming down the street and already ordered sandwiches,” Clove said. “It should be here in twenty minutes.”
    “Cool.”
    Thistle looked up from the herbs she was bagging and regarded me. “How was your first day with Brian?”
    “I barely saw him,” I admitted. “He’s renovating William’s office.”
    “That was quick,” Clove said.
    “Tell me about it. William is pissed.”
    “He’s still hanging around?” Thistle asked. “Have you asked him why?”
    Thistle and Clove didn’t have the same gift I did. They couldn’t see ghosts. We had found out recently that if I was in close proximity with them they could actually hear ghosts – but neither of them was exactly pleased with that discovery. Thankfully, William hadn’t made his way down to Hypnotic yet. He had been a beloved member of the community in life. Unfortunately, he was sometimes the dirty old