Page 58 of Dead Heat

I didn’t recall any of that, but my knee now sported a bruise that wasn’t there yesterday.

I poured the coffee into my favorite mug and inhaled the nutty aroma. “Thank you for this.”

“How did the meeting go last night?” Nana Pratt asked.

“It was hard,” I admitted. “I don’t regret telling them, but it’s a heavy responsibility, rocking someone’s world.”

“Between you and West, I’m sure you did a good job.”

“I appreciate that.” I paused to sip the coffee. The caffeine seeped straight into my veins. “They asked for the Sight.”

“Is that possible?” the ghost asked.

“I don’t know. I’m going to speak to Phaedra as soon as I can motivate myself to move faster.”

Nana Pratt lit up. “Will Ashley be there?”

“I assume so.” Nana Pratt’s granddaughter was now employed by Phaedra Bridger and training to become a Witch’s Assistant. The news had unsettled Nana Pratt, but the elderly ghost put on a brave face.

“Can I go with you? I’d like to see her.”

“It isn’t a social call.”

Nana Pratt jutted out her lower lip, a sign of her extreme disappointment.

“But I’ll ask Ashley to stop by and see you soon,” I quickly added. The young woman didn’t visit her grandmother nearly as frequently as Alicia visited Ray. Then again, Ashleywas an adult with an active social life, whereas Alicia was a young, lonely teen.

Her face relaxed. “Oh, thank you. That would be wonderful.”

I drove my pickup truck along the dirt path that cut through the woods. I slowed down when I arrived at the section where the tree roots created natural speed bumps. A few more bounces and Bridger Farm came into view. I pulled over and parked.

There was no denying that I was becoming a regular visitor. If anyone had told me years ago that I’d be the frequent guest of a witch, I’d have laughed in their face. I was grateful, however, that my poor track record with witches didn’t prevent me from enjoying a fruitful friendship with Phaedra.

The interior door was open, so I knocked twice on the screen door and entered the house. “Honey, I’m home,” I joked.

“We’re in the kitchen,” Phaedra yelled.

I cut straight through the center of the old farmhouse to its heart. Phaedra and Ashley stood at the counter, which was covered in jars, bowls, and bottles of varying sizes. Each one contained a different herb or liquid.

“Am I interrupting a lesson?” I asked.

“Actually, we’re working on your upgraded ward. I’m experimenting with a few options before I decide which is best.”

That was good news in light of Posy’s recent arrival. “Any progress?”

“Only if you want your visitors to explode on entry,” Ashley blurted.

Phaedra gave her a sharp look. “It isn’t your standardward. It involves finesse, especially when I have to weave in loopholes for known entities.”

“I know you’ll get there,” I said. I only hoped she ‘got there’ before Posy got to me. “If you can craft something basic now that stops strangers at the gate and add the nuances later, that would be great.”

Ashley snickered. “If it works, can I use it at my house? It would be hilarious if Steven couldn’t make it past the driveway.”

“Magic isn’t to be used for pranking your brother,” Phaedra said, “no matter how funny you think it would be.”

Ashley rested her cheek on the heel of her hand. “Bummer. I was already picturing the video I could post.”

“No videos of magic ever,” Phaedra emphasized. “That’s rule number two.”

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