Page 49 of Upside Down Magic

“Itwon’t take a moment, but it’s very important we talk.TheCouncilappreciates your cooperation.”

Hereyebrows shot up at that. “Okay, but please make it fast.Wecan talk outside.”Sheturned to the other hairdresser and the women on the chairs. “I’llbe right back.”

Theother hairdresser moved to the third woman. “Noproblem.I’lltake care ofKaylahere while you’re out.”

Sofiathanked her and hurried out of the salon.Wefollowed her until she had put enough distance that the women inside couldn’t see us through the front windows.

“Whatdoes theCouncilneed?” she asked with narrow-eyed suspicion. “Ihaven’t done anything.”

“We’renot here for you,”Iassured her. “Butwe need some information about a family member of yours.”

“OhmyGod, didJasonsteal from that witch again?”

“Uh…”

Sofiathrew up her hands. “Itoldhim to stop doing those stupid dares.Didyou guys throw him in bounty hunter jail again?Howmuch is it going to cost me this time?”Shepulled out her wallet. “Doyou guys take cards?I’mshort on cash today.”

“It’snothing to do withJason.”Whoeverthat was.Herbrother?Cousin?Propsto her to come to the rescue, but it sounded like she needed to let him face the full consequences next time, though.

Shelowered her wallet. “No?Who, then?GrandmaFlora?Whathas she done now?Didthat demon down the street say she peed on his flowerbed again, because he can’t prove that.”

Noteto self: no flowerbeds in any future house. “NotGrandmaFloraeither.”Sheopened her mouth to speak again, andIwas tempted to see who else in her family tended to land in trouble and for what, but we were in a bit of a time crunch, soItalked before she could. “We’relooking into information about one of your ancestors.”

“Who?”

“GeorgeEllis.Backin the late eighteen hundreds a witch messed with his powers.”

“GeorgeEllis,”Sofiarepeated, murmuring to herself. “IthinkIremember that.”

“Oh?”Isaid encouragingly.

“Granddadused to tell us the story duringHalloweenwhenIwas a kid.Somethingabout an evil witch who liked to spell others for his own entertainment and would get us kids if we misbehaved.”

Judgingby the current status of the family,Ididn’t think the story had worked very well. “Didhe tell you anything else?We’retrying to figure out what exactly happened.”

“No, sorry.”

“Isthere some kind of family bible or diary that might have more information?”Ianasked.

“Ora spellbook with details?”Iadded, rememberingGrandma’s.

“Nah, nothing like that.TheCouncilprobably knows more thanIdo, to be honest.”

Ifonly. “Unfortunately, we don’t have many details about the case.”

“Hey.”Sofiasuddenly leaned in and studied me closely, curiosity burning in her eyes.Ifshe asked me to join theChristmasevent,I’d…

Inviteher and then figure out how anyone was supposed to fit so many stickers on a postcard-sized tree,Isupposed with a sigh.

“Isthis about those rumors of paranormals getting sick?” she whispered.

“Nope,”Ilied.

“Hmph.Areyou sure?”

Iblanked my expression. “Absolutely.”

“IfIgive you five, will you tell me?Igot a bet going withBradyon who’s getting sick next.Hesays someone in the pack for sure.ButIthink it’s going to be that mage who does food deliveries.He’salways so rude, someone’s bound to infect him intentionally.”

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