Page 18 of Bewitched By the Wicked Witch
With Bishop suitably cowed, I made my way to the town hall's records department. The elderly clerk, Mrs. Pembridge, greeted me with nervous efficiency.
"I need to see construction permits and magical infrastructure applications for the past ten years," I told her.
She bustled away, returning with several thick folders. As I flipped through them, a pattern emerged that made my blood run cold.
"These underground utility upgrades," I said, pointing to a series of permits. "Who authorized them?"
Mrs. Pembridge adjusted her spectacles. "Oh, those were all signed off by Councilman Bishop himself. Said it was to modernize the old tunnel system for emergency purposes. Very thorough work; it cost the town a pretty penny."
"Emergency purposes?"
"Earthquake preparedness," she said. "Though I always thought it odd, all that magical shielding and containment equipment for emergency shelters." She lowered her voice conspiratorially. "Between you and me, some of those material orders looked more suited to... well, less wholesome purposes."
I studied the permits more carefully. Every signature was Reid Bishop's. Every contractor was approved personally by him. And the timeline, the major work had beencompleted just before the disappearances became systematic.
"Mrs. Pembridge," I said slowly, "who else had access to these permits? Who else would have known about the tunnel upgrades?"
"Oh, just the council members, really. Though I did notice young Tommy Bishop down here quite often, picking up the progress reports for his father."
Just as I was preparing to leave, Bishop appeared in the doorway with perfect timing that felt too convenient. "I will need those files returned immediately, Agent Renshaw," he said, waiting for me to turn and look at him.
I straightened, keeping my voice level but firm. "As I explained earlier, Councilman Bishop, this is now a federal investigation under my jurisdiction. The files stay with me." I tucked the folder more securely under my arm.
"You might want to start with the wicked witch in town. Nasty business, that one; always sticking her dark magic nose in everyone's business."
He crossed his arms as he leaned back, his overly round belly straining against his suit shirt buttons. "Last week she hexed Mr. Miller's favorite cow, and it still refuses to produce milk. Instead, it ate the toupee right off his head when he went to milk her."
Councilman Bishop didn't notice as he continued, growing more animated. "And don't get me started on the Hex and Brew coffee shop. The witch practically lives there. Ever since she started going there, every coffee I buy comes with daily predictions. And before you ask, no, I didn't ask for that with my coffee. I wanted plain, normal,no-hex coffee. Instead, I get predictions like 'Today you'll fall into a hole and dirty your pant leg.' And believe it or not, it happens every time."
"And who might that be?" I asked, though my heart was already sinking. "This witch?"
"Sage Blackstone."
I blinked at him, torn between demanding answers and ripping his damn throat out for suggesting Sage was anything but perfect. Instead, I frowned, schooled my features, tipped my head in a jerked nod, then left with a new mission added to my list.
I needed to find out why they thought Sage was some evil doing witch and squash it in its tracks.
Several hours later, after making my way through half the shops on Main Street, the picture became clearer—and more troubling than I'd expected. At the hardware store, the clerk had muttered about "that witch's dark magic" while ringing up my purchase. The pharmacist had openly scowled when I mentioned Sage's name, launching into a tirade about hexes and curses. Even the grocery store cashier had crossed herself and whispered about "staying clear of that one."
Only Cindee at the coffee shop Bishop had mentioned seemed different. When I'd asked about Sage, her face had softened with genuine fondness rather than fear or anger. "She's got a good heart under all that bluster," she'd said quietly, glancing around to make sure no one overheard.
It wasn't just Bishop who called her the town's black magic witch, the entire town had labeled her that way. A sharp ache twisted in my chest.
She'd dealt with that as a child. It wasn't somethingadults should continue to use against her. Unless they were blind to the truth and she had let them call her whatever they wanted, or worse, had given them a reason to.
I needed to confront Sage, and soon. Because as far as the whole town was concerned, she was guilty, and they were ready to light the pyre.
Eight
Callum
Iwalked back to the town as the day began to shift, my thoughts consumed with Sage. The sun hung lower in the sky, its golden light growing pale as heavy grey clouds gathered on the horizon, promising rain. The approaching storm cast an ominous backdrop against the fiery orange sunset, while autumn leaves in burnt tangerine, bright yellow, and warm sepia scattered across the cobblestones in the freshening wind. This part of the country was beautiful, but seeing Sage again after all these years had stirred up a maelstrom of emotions I thought I'd buried deep.
I knew her icy demeanor and sharp tongue would be no less than I deserved, but I couldn't help hoping that beneath the anger I was sure to face, there might still be flashes of the girl I once knew. The girl I'd loved with every fiber of my being. The woman I still loved like the breath that gave me life. When I finally saw her, it would only make that painfully more obvious.
The slight chill in the air sharpened as evening took hold and the full moon rose like a beacon over the darkening sky. The howls of the shifters went up in a cacophony in the distance, and I quickly made my way to the boardinghouse on the other side of town. I passed the picturesque shops as they closed down early for the full moon. Old Hollows was one of the few towns that had a mixed paranormal population, something Sage had proudly told me was the work of her grandmother, Bertie. I could see that same firm resolve in Sage that Bertie held herself with.
I knew Sage would be angry about my sudden appearance, but it was going to take time for me to work up to telling her I was sorry and that my decision to leave her was the worst mistake of my life. I'd thought I was protecting her, but I'd been so wrong. Now, I'd lived with that regret every day.
