Page 35 of Witch
“Look around you,” said Ivan, shining his light on everything. “He tortured them beyond what we originally believed. We need to search his room, office, and library. Find those other women, and let’s get them home.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
With the events unfolding in upstate New York, the home team was scrambling to be sure they had a sound legal case, just as a backup. The plan was to kill Marcus Hopkins, especially after seeing his hidden torture room.
The old stone walls of the mansion had been so thick, the cellar torture rooms so far removed from the high-traffic areas, no one ever heard what he was doing. The intention of the team was to make him suffer as he’d made the women suffer.
It was another twenty-four hours before they were all home and able to discuss what had happened. Noah went straight to bed, hoping to be rested enough to kill Hopkins himself.
“The good thing I can tell you is that he showed up at the General Store, just like we suspected. The cousins told him that the Robicheauxs come in frequently, so he’s sitting there like a fat toad waiting for his flies,” said Alec.
“Margot said he asked for credit at the store. She tried to sweet-talk him, but he wasn’t having any of it,” said Robbie.
“He wasn’t affected by Margot?” said Antoine. “She’s a stunner. Hey, she’s not there alone, is she? We need to make sure he can’t get to her.”
“No,” said Robbie. “I’m wondering if, beyond the whole witch thing, he has something against women. Maybe a mother issue or a woman who rejected him as a younger man. Anyway, I don’t think we have anything to worry about at the store. We’ve got the Couvillion boys working the store this week. All of them.”
“All of them,” smirked Jean. “That should be something special. They’re all nearly as big as we are and meaner. A lot meaner.”
“They said he went inside the cabin with his bag of groceries and hasn’t been out since. We just left him in there by himself, but Ace and the boys have eyes on him. The rental car hasn’t moved, but the rental car company has been calling and texting him daily about returning the vehicle. He obviously thought he’d be done with all of us, with all of this, by this time.”
“Well, he’s not going to be in there for long. We got word about what happened in New York. That man is gonna die,” said Kade. “Noah looked like he’d been dragged through the ringer.”
“If we kill him, no doubt they’ll start asking us questions, especially since he accused Mama and the girls,” said Alec.
“You’re right, but I almost don’t give a damn,” said Antoine. “That man is torturing and killing women for no reason other than his own paranoia. Which brings to mind our suggestion of haunting his ass. The ghosts at the mansion in New York said that he’s scared of the spirits. I say we haunt him to death.”
“We will,” said Ghost. “Believe me, we will. After what I saw in that house, there is nothing off the table for that man.”
Ian nodded toward a crowd walking toward them. It happened to be a crowd of some of the most beautiful female seniors in the world. They were strong, confident, and the look on their faces said they were determined about something.
“Oh, shit,” muttered Alec. “I know that look.”
“Please, no,” mumbled Gaspar. “No, no, no.”
“Don’t no, no, no us, big brother,” said Marie. “I think you know why we’re here.”
“I do. And no.”
“May we remind you that we are capable of managing ourselves,” said Rachelle. “We’ve avoided trouble before, met it head-on, and we can handle this as well.Withyour support.”
Gaspar took a deep breath and looked at Nine, Ian, and Ghost. Nodding, he turned back to the women.
“What’s your idea?” he asked begrudgingly.
“I’m glad you asked, brother dear,” smirked Camille. “We, the Robicheaux witches, would like to make a little shopping trip to the General Store. All six of us.”
Gaspar started to speak, but Claudette held up her hand.
“Don’t. We will enter the store together and leave together, driving to the rental cabin near the west side of River Road. He’ll think it’s our home. We’ll enter the house, and we won’t leave.”
“We’re going to lay our money on the fact that he’ll return later, try to take us all, or do something to the house, at which time you all will be there to stop him,” said Marie.
“With us,” said Irene, standing with Matthew, Ruby, Sven, and Teddy. But as Gaspar started to speak, several other women appeared. They were the victims of Hopkins. All of them. When Gaspar saw another older couple, he frowned, unsure of who they were.
“Mama?”
“Gaspar, this is Mr. and Mrs. Michael Hopkins. Marcus’s parents.”
