Page 112 of Real Fake Hauntings

Then I called Dru and told her to give a last call and stop accepting new customers.

By the time I got to the Tea Cauldron, she was ushering the last client out of the shop.

“You’re still paying me for the planned overtime,” she warned me.

I was a little hurt she’d think I’d walk back on our agreement. “I promised.”

“Good.” She looked me up and down, a frown forming as she noticed the grass stains and clumps of dirt on my clothes and the probably sorry state of my witch hat. “What happened?”

I took the locket out and showed it to her. “I got Bagley back.”

She eyed the pendant with mistrust. “You don’t say.”

“It’s true. Oh, and the dark witch was Hannah.”

Dru’s mouth opened, then closed. Then she pointed at me. “You’re too trusting!”

“Hey now, you were nice to her too.”

“Because I trusted your judgment.” She snorted. “I should’ve known. Was she even on your ‘everyone is a suspect’ list?”

I sniffed, offended. “Of course.” Not. But I’m sure I’d have put her there eventually.

“I have to say,” Bagley said, “that while I’m sad my plan didn’t work out, I’m glad I didn’t miss this display of cheap entertainment.”

“Give me that,” Dru snapped, going for the locket.

I swung it out of her reach. “No manhandling the evil witch. Gotta keep an eye on her.”

“I’ll tell you where you can keep it.”

Bagley cackled.

“Let’s find you a place, Ms. Bagley.”

Fluffy barked in agreement.

Going into the back, I studied my choices. I didn’t want her in the kitchen, since her evil aura might affect my lovely potions, or in the bathroom, where she could converse with anyone at will. The cleaning supplies closet? No, too close to the bead curtain—someone curious might peek inside.

Somewhere in the backyard? A crow might pick her up for their collection, though. Ah! I knew just the place.

I dipped into the kitchen, put the locket into a plastic container, and took it out in the yard.

“What are you doing?” Bagley demanded, her voice muffled by the lid.

“Putting you somewhere safe. If you’re good, I might take you out for walks.”

“Child, I’m not a dog!”

Fluffy barked and wagged her tail.

“Shush, you brainless creature,” the evil hag said.

“That’s not nice,” I told Bagley. Opening the door of the rusting locker containing the few tools I owned, I set Bagley on a shelf. “I’ll check back on you later. Until then, think about what you’ve done.”

“Hope Avery,” Bagley exclaimed. “Don’t you dare. Don’t you?—”

I closed the door and smiled down at Fluffy.

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