Page 52 of Upside Down Magic

“Doyou know about the old dark coven who used to operate here long ago?”Itoyed with the glass, having absolutely no intention of drinking its contents.

“Whatdoes that have to do withChristmas?”

“Nothing.I’vebeen curious about something that happened a while back.Youknow theEllisfamily?”

“Can’tsayIdo.”

“Theoldest brother comes in sometimes,” the other man said.

Iturned to him again. “Hedoes?”

Ashrug. “Seenhim here and there, not a regular like me.”

“Youknow what happened in the family a while back?”

Wyattslapped the counter with his rag and began wiping some of the water spill. “Wekeep our business to ourselves here, lady.”

Theman snorted. “Surething,Wyatt.”

“Keepyour mouth shut if you don’t want me to shut it for you,Earl.”

Earlrolled his eyes but said nothing more.

Ifinished swirling on the stool to face the rest of the dimly lit space.

“Ifanyone has any information on theEllises’ past or theLeemanfamily who used to live here, please let me know.”

Withthat,Istood and left the bar.Iantook a few extra seconds to join me outside, likely having given everyone his patented glacial bounty-hunter glare.

Oncewe were back in theSUV,Icontemplated the information we had gathered so far.

“So,Sofia’solder brother drops by the bar sometimes.Thatprobably means he’s involved in some shady deals and has access to shady spells.Doyou think he wants to take revenge for what happened to his ancestor?”

“Thecase files didn’t mention his ancestor suffering long-lasting consequences because of the spell.”

“Doesn’tmean it didn’t happen.Butyou’re right,”Iadmitted with a sigh. “It’sfar-fetched to go through all this trouble to avenge a long-ago relative, plus he’d have targeted witches.He’dhave no beef with the other paranormals.”

“Doyou want to go back to talk toSofiaabout him?”

Ipondered that. “Notyet.Let’sgo to the old coven house.Ifwe’re right andLeemanwas involved with the coven and that’s how he got his dark magic potion, and that’s related to our current situation, good chance whoever made the spell now went there to soak in the bad vibes.”

“Andif the spell was dormant and nobody around is behind it?”

“Westill should check.”

Ianstarted the car. “Good.”

“Something’sbeen bugging me about our conversation withWyatt.”

“Oh?”

“Henever asked about paranormals being sick.”

SEVENTEEN

“Ifound that curious too,”Iansaid.

“Doyou think it’s because he’s involved?Maybehe called me under theChristmasevent pretext to try to figure out how muchIknow about the spell causing the magic issues.”

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