Page 101 of Upside Down Magic

Thehallway’s light switched on andNorman’sshrill voice rang out. “Hope?What’sgoing on?”

THIRTY-ONE

Weall jumped,startled, and turned toward the hallway.

Normanstood behind us, dressed in red plaid flannel pajamas and holding a small cast-iron pan in his hands.

“What’sgoing on?” he repeated, his wild eyes going from face to face.“Dru?”

“Hello,Norman,”Drusaid as if it was our usual morning meeting at theTeaCauldron.

Iscrambled to my feet and managed not to face plant—although it was a close one.

“Norman!I’mso glad to see you!”

Hisgaze went to the potion bowl and the circle of herbs and crystals. “What…what are you doing?”

“Notime for explanations,”Isaid in my best no-nonsense, confident voice. “Whichof these two artifacts has come in the last week?”Ipointed at the two suspect art pieces.

Hisconfused gaze followed my finger. “Uh.Neither?They’vebeen here for two weeks now.”

“Isthere anything that arrived within the last few days?”Lilianasked sharply.

“Y-yes?Igot a new item onSunday…Canyou please tell me what’s going on?”

“Later,Ipromise.”Alongwith a memory potion.Boy,IhopedLilianhad one because they were way above my power range. “Canyou take us to the item?It’sveryimportant,Norman.”

Heblinked, studied my face for a few moments, then nodded slowly. “O-okay.I’llbring it.Giveme a second.”Heturned and disappeared into the door marked as office.

“Twentysays he’s calling the police,”Susywhispered.

“Shouldwe stop him, boss?”Alexasked.

Shouldwe? “Heyyou,”Iexclaimed asWyattinched toward the back door. “Noleaving the rest of us in a lurch.”

Rufusgrowled in assent.

Wyattglared but stayed put.

“Boss?”Alexurged.

Iopened my mouth to tell him that since we’d been caught we might as well wait and see ifNormanwould actually help but closed it whenNormanreturned, sans cast-iron pan.

Instead, he held a vase.

Or, shouldIsay, the essence of all evil.

Lilianinhaled sharply,Alex’sandSusy’seyes widened into plates,Druwinced and took a step backward,Huttonlet out a low growl,Dorseycrossed her chest, and evenRufussnarled.

Wyattpicked his nose.

Hewas probably used to being in the presence of everything foul and dark, thanks to his bar.

Thevase in itself was a beautiful, polished creation painted white with green leafy decorations outlined in gold paint.Itwas about the size of a football and perfect for sacrificing flowers into speedy wilting.

Thebad vibes emanating from the thing were nearly overwhelming.

“It’sbeautiful, isn’t it?”Normansaid full of innocent pride, clearly misunderstanding everyone’s reaction to it. “Familyheirloom.Irecently came into possession of it, butIcan’t wait to put it on display!Thisone won’t be for sale, of course,” he confessed with a soft chuckle.

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