Page 17 of Clubs

“CPS requires kids of different genders to have their own rooms,” Beatrice had explained on her way down the hall. “Alicia made this her bedroom so they’d each have their own.”

Beatrice disappeared down the hall, leaving me to look around. I wasn’t sure what I was looking for, but any information I could get was worth my time.

Sitting on Alicia’s bed, I opened the bedside table. Inside were the basics. Bras, socks, panties. Nothing special.

I continued to the other side of the bed. In those drawers, nothing notable either. Some clothes and lingerie. Same for the dresser.

The wardrobe by the window, however, was exactly what I was looking for. A quick peek inside told me everything I needed to know.

Candles. Shiny crystals. Daggers with intricate designs and gems embedded into the handles. At the center of it all sat a leather-bound book. There were no words strewn across it, but it didn’t need a title. I had one just like it tucked in a wardrobe of my own at home.

This was Alicia’s book of shadows. Alicia Tanner was a Witch.

CHAPTER FIVE

BROOKE

“Oh, hey.” Standing in my living room, wearing my shirt—might I add—Ria propped her hands on her hips. “I didn’t think you’d be home yet. I thought you got off at seven today.”

No, that was on Mondays. It was Saturday. And work was the last thing on my mind.

I dropped my duffel to the hardwoods and all but jumped across the room to her. Tossing my arms around her shoulders, breathing in the smell of cigarette smoke and alcohol, I exhaled with relief. Not because of the cigarettes and alcohol, but because she was here. She was okay. It wasn’t out of place for her to disappear for a night or two, or for her to flake on our plans. But it wasn’t every day that someone in the same line of work as my sister was found dead behind my boyfriend’s bar. “Thank God you’re okay.”

Ria laughed. “Of course I’m okay.” Sliding her hand up and down my back, she squeezed me tight. “And I get a hug and everything? Just for being okay? I could get used to this.”

I rolled my eyes but it was fair. I wasn’t a particularly affectionate person, not with anyone. Declan and Ria being the exceptions. Ria was my baby sister, and I had taken care of her our entire lives. She saw a softer part of me that I kept hidden from almost everyone else. But even that softness only extended so far. I just wasn’t a touchy-feely, sweet-hearted person. And I definitely wasn't much of a hugger.

Pulling back, I patted her all over. Like I was examining her for an injury. “Where the hell were you last night?”

“With a client,” she said, cocking her head to the side. “Why?”

A better question was: why was her nose running, her eyes bloodshot, her skin clammy, and her pupils their normal size? Normal here wasn’t normal. Pinpricks, that was normal for Ria.

“If you were with a client last night, why are you going through withdrawals right now?”

Stepping back, she let out a huff. “And here I was thinking you’d be proud.”

“Are you getting clean? No more drugs for you?” I arched a brow. “In that case, yeah. Very proud. But I don’t think you’re getting clean. I think you’re just out of drugs and I’m wondering why.”

This time, it was more of a sigh than a huff. “Dude was a runner. He left with my money. I tried to chase him, twisted my ankle in the process, and I am pissed. But I got another job tonight, so.” She shrugged, rolling her eyes. “Not the point. I’m fine. What happened? I don’t think I said that I was coming to Spades for sure, anyway.”

Fair. She hadn’t. She said she might come by Spades.

“Somebody dumped a body behind the bar.”

Ria’s jaw fell open. “What?”

“Alicia Tanner.” Lowering myself to the couch, I patted the seat beside me. “Did you know her?”

“Fuck if I know. Why would I know her?” Ria sat beside me. “And why the hell didn’t you guys just cover it up? You could’ve done that, right?”

Things only people in our family said. “Because we didn’t find the body. Somebody called it in. Anonymously.”

Eyes widening, she shook her head in confusion. “That doesn’t make any sense.”

“Preaching to the choir,” I said, scooting back into my corner of the couch to better face her. “It’s gotta be somebody trying to frame Declan. That’s all that makes sense. But Declan doesn’t have enemies. Yeah, I’m sure he’s pissed some people off at the bar, but not enough for this. It just doesn’t make sense. And you know what else does doesn’t make sense?”

“What’s that?”

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