Page 41 of Fresh Old Bounties

He laughed. “Not quite yet. It seems I need to jump through a few more hoops.” The curve of his mouth turned sly, and he leaned in. “But I don’t see myself having much trouble clearing them.”

So, this visit was a warning more than an attempt to charm me. Or perhaps two for the price of one. “I see. I suppose I had it easy myself, being a Council witch and all. Witch shops are too important to depend on other people’s approval.”

He sipped his tea to hide his reaction to the huge, completely amazing ball I’d served his way. Dru would be proud. Grandma, perhaps not so much. Bagley would probably rate my performance later and find it lacking dark magic.

“Of course,” Preston said, putting his glass down. No cute mugs for him. Plus, I happened to know Bagley had haunted that particular glass not long ago. Dru would most definitely approve. If she knew that Bagley haunted the shop.

I really should tell her at some point.

“Witch shops are an integral part of the community,” he continued. “Setting up Tabbies right next to one would be a great honor.”

“Do you practice magic yourself?” I asked matter-of-factly.

“Oh, nothing as important as what you do here,” he said with some humor.

My gaze sharpened. “With the right spellbook, any spirit mage can do a lot of good.”

“Books were never my thing.”

And a million gasps were heard around the world. “Could I interest you in some starting titles?” I gestured toward the bookshelf in the corner, never taking my eyes off his face.

He gave it a cursory glance, then returned his megawatt smile to me. “Maybe another time.”

The mention of spellbooks hadn’t provoked any kind of reaction or acknowledgment of his evil deeds. Dru wasn’t going to like that. But then, the man had to be a fantastic actor to fool Dru into entering into a relationship with him just to get closer to her family.

Preston took a few big gulps of his tea, then put the glass down. “Tasty,” he said as he stood. “But now I should get going. Do you mind if I come around later this week for another chat?”

“Go ahead,” I said, sugary sweet. “I’d love to get to know you better.”

Too thick? Nah. The man was probably used to people stumbling over themselves to get on his good side and his dating app.

“Wonderful. I’ll see you then.”

Not a minute after he’d paid and left, Dru entered the shop.

The timing was so perfect, I wondered if he’d somehow put a tracking app on Dru’s phone.

“Preston was just here,” I said before she learned it from one of her many contacts in the paranormal community.

“I know,” she snapped. “What did he want?”

“Checking out the competition, I think.”

“Did he ask about the spellbook?”

“No. I brought up spellbooks, but he didn’t blink an eye.”

Dru began pacing. “We need more information to take to the POBA if we want to stop him from getting the shop.”

“I agree.”

The door opened, and chimes filled the air. A man entered the shop, and I did a double-take. There was something odd about his face, and I couldn’t fully register his features. A glamour potion?

He bolted the lock and flipped the sign to closed.

“Uh, excuse me…”

The man turned and brought a gun from inside his bomber jacket. He gestured toward the archway.

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