Prague Murder by Amanda A. Allen Read Free Book Online

my coven leader about my skill set?”
    “You are referring, of course, to your beloved aunt?”
    Emily grit her teeth to prevent herself from punching these two right in their giant noses. And then noticed a trickle of smoke in the corner. She took a deep gulp of air, closed her eyes, and began counting.
    When she dared to crack her eyes again, the trail of smoke had disappeared.
    “What is my motive?” The question was more of a demand.
    “I would like to know that myself,” Alois said. “Perhaps you can tell me why you came to our country to kill this poor fellow?”
    Emily took another deep breath in, focused on her feet, and watched in horror as the Presidium Investigators pants began to smoke.
    “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” she yelped. “You’re just making me so angry, and I’m so bad at magic.”
    Igor dumped his cup of water calmly on the cuffs of Alois’s pants.
    “Such antics will require us to bind your magic if you do not retain control.”
    That was a thought, Emily considered and then asked, “Bind how?”
    The two investigators glanced at each other and then back at Emily.
    “A simple chain,” Igor said.
    “Does it cause damage?”
    Igor shook his head.
    Emily held out her wrists as if for handcuffs and explained, “It’s not a joke that I suck at magic. It’s not a joke that you’re pissing me off by trying to pawn that guy’s murder off on me. If you keep making me so damn angry, things are going to catch on fire. I won’t do it on purpose, but it will happen.”
    “You are saying you have the control of a child,” Igor demanded.
    “Probably not even that much,” Emily nodded. “Let me just ask my aunt.”
    She pulled out her phone and dialed before they could stop her.
    “Auntie,” Emily said to her exhausted sounding aunt who was on speaker phone. “I am a murder suspect again. These Presidium guys want to use some chain deal on me because I set them on fire. Is that going to screw me up forever?”
    Hazel cleared her throat and said, “Who died?”
    “I don’t know. Some guy from near where I dropped Mary off, so they think it was me.”
    “Do they realize that there are like three bajillion people in the greater Portland area?”
    Emily looked at the cops who did not reply, but one of them made a note.
    “I would guess,” Emily said, “that the answer to that was no.”
    “Are they referring to the Chain of Legare?”
    Emily looked up at the cops, and they nodded.
    “They say yes,” Emily said.
    “It won’t hurt you. Are they Presidium? You see the pentacle on the necklace?”
    “Yes,” Emily said without double checking. She knew they were. Why bother with asking for no reason.
    “Listen well, gentlemen, my niece might be an easy target for your suspicions, but you are wasting your time. And if you think that you can do a shoddy investigation and pin this crime on her, you can be utterly certain that your work will be reviewed at the highest levels.”
    “Are you threatening us?”
    “I am not.” Hazel’s voice was ice. Or maybe a very cold icepick. “If you can prove my niece did it, I will not stand in your way. However, I am confident that you are wasting your time, and I will not allow you to run roughshod over my niece or her friend simply because they are idiots.”
    “Rude,” Emily said, “And sort of nice at the same time.”
    “You should also note that if my niece is hurt while wearing your chain, you are responsible for her pain, and I will ensure that you pay.”
    “Ahhhh,” Emily said as she wrapped the chain around her wrist and looked up to see if she’d done it right. “I knew you loved me, Auntie.”
    “Give Ingrid my love as well. I expect some very good wine for having to have this conversation while you two are supposed to be out of trouble.”
    “We were going to buy you wine anyway.”
    “Excellent. Then you can add chocolate and even more wine.”
    “Are you really that bad at magic,” Alois asked as if the idea were