31

Karin's next visitor was an investigator from the state police. "Ma'am, I'd like to ask you a few questions about your cousin."

He looked like a faded version of Indiana Jones, only without the silly hat. "Please come in."

"I understand your brother lives with you."

She nodded. "He's sleeping. Do you need to speak with him?"

"Not right now. We got his statement the other night when he found the body."

A hunter found her. It looks like she jumped.

Karin pretended nothing was awry. "Would you like some coffee, Detective Smith?"

Smith nodded, and she wondered what his game really was. When his back was turned, she added an herb to the mix and handed him a steaming mug. "Smells good," he said with a grim smile.

"So why are you here? I told the Chance Harbor police everything I know."

Smith yawned. "There were some odd things about the case. For example, the positioning of the body did not suggest a fall."

That was news to her. "Really? Then why did the coroner release the body?"

"Because there were no signs of trauma, or anything amiss."

"Was she screened for toxins?"

"Yes, ma'am. Other than some alcohol, they found nothing."

"Interesting. So what do you think happened?"

Smith's eyes were closing and he blinked it away. "I think she was killed elsewhere, then dumped there to make it look like an accident."

"Rissa had no enemies, Detective." Except for a very dead witch who wanted her power.

"That's what your brother said."

Smith stood up and offered his hand. "Thanks for your time. I'll call you if I get any new leads."

Karin took his hand, and watched him stumble near the door. He fumbled for the doorknob, but never made it outside. Before he fell, she caught him and dragged him to the couch. She arranged him carefully, then snapped his photo with her phone. A wallet search revealed nothing, so she called in a favor with her friend Lois at the State Police barracks. Lois was a witch from Rob's old coven, and always had her ear to the ground.

"Hey, do you know a detective named Frederick Smith?"

"Never heard of him. Why do you ask?"

"He's here in my house, asking about Rissa. Want me to send his photo?"

"Sure. I can ask around."

"Thanks, Lo." Karin didn't have to remind her friend to keep this quiet. She emailed the photo and knew she'd have an answer within the hour. When Smith woke up from his beauty sleep, he wouldn't remember a thing.

Adam was about to head out to Cassie's when his Dad flagged him down. "Son, we need to talk."

"Sure. What's going on?"

"It's about you and Cassie Blake."

His Dad had never once lectured him about his extracurricular activities with Diana, so he wondered what was up. "What about it?"

"I know you were together last night."

Damn, so his Dad had heard them. "So what?"

"Aren't you moving a little too fast? You haven't even gone out on a date."

Wow, so that's what this was about. "Don't worry, Dad. We'll get around to it."

Ethan touched his arm. "I know you will. It's just...it happened the same way with Amelia, and look how that turned out."

Adam pursed his lips. "Yeah, well, I'm not you, Dad, OK?"

He tried to move off, but his Dad still blocked the way. "Be careful, Adam. Cassie Blake is nothing like Diana."

He wasn't sure how to take that, so he decided to let it pass. "I got it. Can I go now?"

Ethan moved to one side, but offered one last comment. "Jane Blake is home, Adam. Be on your best behavior."

Karin watched her brother sleep and knew she could scream and he still wouldn't stir. She went straight for his briefcase and found the paper fragments from the spells he'd cobbled together for Jane. She stuffed those in her pocket, then snuck over to the safe he kept in the floor. She dialed the combo from memory, and it sprang open silently. The Balcoin crystal was at the bottom, wrapped in silk and warded with a protection spell. She might not have any power, but she still remembered the words to break Rob's protection. The Latin words burned her tongue as she uttered them mutely, smirking in satisfaction when his wards fell away with a nearly audible snap. She grabbed the crystal, barely feeling its usual effect, but still sensitive enough to sense its presence.

She placed the stone inside her backpack and jumped in her car. If she put enough miles between her and Rob, she might have a chance. She drove down to the marina and jumped on the ferry to the mainland. When they skirted Warren Island, she got off at that stop. The tiny village was stuffed full of witches, most of them long time friends of hers. She stopped at Crowhaven Road and looked down its long length, wondering if Adam and Cassie realized it had all started here. Karin walked to its very end, and found the graveyard where Francis Balcoin was interred. She approached his vault, and walked its four corners, first in one direction and then the other. She stopped at the north side, and pushed aside some sand. With her portable shovel, she dug deep and dropped in the crystal. With silent words, she warded the spot with one of Francis's own spells, long ago memorized from his Book of Shadows. Any of the Balcoins could perform simple spells, even the ones without magic. And this spell was simple enough that Rob would overlook it.

Karin walked down to the village and entered the last shop on Dead End Lane. Ignoring the fortune teller's sign saying she'd be back in ten minutes, she ducked her head through beaded curtains and made her way to the kitchen. Her friend Deidre sat sipping on green tea, and offered up the kettle to Karin. As she poured, she said, "I need a healer."

"And a translator?" Dee guessed, staring at the scraps of paper in Karin's hand.

"That too."

She watched Dee's face as she read, knowing in her gut what Dee confirmed a moment later. "Rob stole your magic."

Karin echoed the words. "Stole. Not borrowed?"

Dee said, "Nope. This is an extraction spell. He waited until you opened yourself up, and then invoked it."

"And my other senses?"

Dee took her hand. "I can fix that today. The rest will take time."

Karin sighed. "Time is something I don't have. Can you get the others on board?"

Her friend looked at her like she'd grown horns. "You seriously expect the coven to turn against its high priest?"

"Yes. Once they know the truth, they won't hesitate."

"And which truth is that?"

"That John Blackwell has invaded my brother's body...for keeps."

"They'll want proof."

"They won't accept my word?"

"Maybe in the old days, but you're a Christian now, and an outsider."

Like she needed a reminder. "Will you come and observe?"

Deirdre nodded. "Yes. He will awaken tonight. Once I confirm your suspicions, we must act swiftly and decisively. Will that be a problem?"

Karin had no qualms about the path she had set out on. "None whatsoever."

"Then so it shall be." With that, Dee took her hand and began the long process of healing the damage to her psyche.