Page 66 of Hex and the Kitty

“Do what you need to.” Warrick watched as his crew gathered their equipment from the disabled vehicle, their expressions somber with the realization of how close they’d come to disaster.

“Your witch has serious power,” Reed commented, nodding toward Molly as she spoke with a deputy. “Cooling spells like that take remarkable control, especially under pressure.”

“She saved the entire crew,” Warrick replied, unable to keep pride from coloring his tone. “And potentially innocent civilians at that intersection.”

Reed studied him, amber eyes knowing. “She complements you. Counterbalances that intensity of yours with her own brand of strength.” He clapped Warrick’s shoulder. “But stay vigilant. Whoever did this is escalating beyond petty revenge.”

FIFTY-ONE

Hours later, Warrick sat alone in his office, the station quiet around him. The debriefing had concluded, reports filed, equipment inspected for further tampering. Through it all, responsibility pressed down on him with crushing weight.

He’d been brought to Whispering Pines to lead, to protect. Instead, his presence had somehow triggered this campaign of sabotage that endangered those under his command.

His phone lit up with a text from Reed.

Preliminary magical analysis confirms tiger shifter energy signature on the dampener. Similar to previous incidents. Not enough for arrest warrant yet, but we’re building the case.

Warrick set the phone down, jaw tight with frustration. Gus Niles. The evidence mounted with each incident, though nothing definitive enough for arrest. The jealous shifter had escalated from embarrassing pranks to potentially lethal sabotage.

The clock on his wall showed nearly nine. Most businesses in town would have closed hours ago, but a drive past The Bewitched Bakery revealed warm light still glowing from the kitchen windows. Without allowing himself to reconsider, he parked and approached the back entrance, knocking softly.

The door opened to reveal Molly, flour dusting her apron and a smudge of frosting on one cheek. Her expression shifted from surprise to relief when she recognized him.

“I hoped you’d stop by,” she said, stepping back to let him in. “How’s David? And the crew?”

“Shaken but unhurt, thanks to you.” He followed her into the kitchen, the familiar smells of sugar and spice wrapping around him like a balm for his frayed nerves. “What were you doing in that area? It couldn’t have been coincidence.”

She moved to the kettle, filling it with water. “Daisy had one of her ‘feelings’ after our girls’ night vision spell. Said I should deliver pastries to the community center right then, not later.” She shrugged. “You know how her hunches work.”

Warrick did indeed. The pink-haired pharmacist possessed an uncanny knack for being in the right place at the right time—or ensuring others were.

“Well, I’m grateful,” he said, accepting the steaming mug she offered. “Though watching you run toward a runaway fire engine aged me significantly.”

They settled at the small table in the kitchen’s corner, the bakery silent around them. For several moments, neither spoke, content to sip tea and process the day’s events in companionable quiet.

“We identified a magical dampener on the engine,” he finally said. “First time that technology has appeared in the sabotage attempts.”

Molly nodded, her expression thoughtful. “I sensed it when I cast the cooling spell. It resisted my magic initially—took extra force to break through.”

“The magical signature matches previous incidents. Tiger shifter.” He met her eyes directly. “You recognized it from the smoke monster attack, didn’t you?”

She hesitated, then nodded. “It reminded me of the energy I sensed when Gus visited the bakery once. But magical signatures can be similar between related shifters, and I couldn’t be certain...”

“You should have told me your suspicions.”

“Would you have acted on a witch’s intuition without concrete proof?” She shook her head. “You’d have needed evidence, especially against another shifter.”

The quiet challenge in her voice gave him pause. Would he have dismissed her concerns without tangible proof? He prided himself on fairness, but self-awareness forced him to acknowledge the possibility.

“You’re right,” he conceded. “I would’ve required evidence.”

“Which we now have.” She reached across the table, covering his hand with hers. “Reed will build the case properly. You’ll protect your crew. We’ll make the ball a success despite everything.”

Her confidence both strengthened and unsettled him. What if he couldn’t identify the saboteur before someone got hurt? What if he failed this town that had welcomed him, offered him a true home after centuries of wandering?

“I nearly lost David today,” he admitted, voicing the fear that had haunted him since the incident. “My oldest friend in Whispering Pines. If something had happened to him, to any of the crew...” He shook his head. “With all my experience, I couldn’t prevent this.”

“No one expects perfection from you.” Her fingers tightened on his. “Not the department, not the town. Not me.”

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