Page 30 of Home Is Where the Witch Is
“Will you submit to a Calling spell?” Emperia asked.
Medea was so incensed by the question that all the color drained from her face. “I will not.”
“One last question, if you please,” Emperia asked then. “Who were you with when Aata was murdered?”
“My advisor,” the other witch replied instantly. “Ioannis. Feel free to check.”
“Oh, we will.” Chaoxiang offered the candidate a tight, humorless smile. “Don’t leave the sanctioned area, Medea. We’ll be speaking to you again soon.”
“Can’t wait,” she snapped, pushing up out of the chair and striding out of the room.
“Thoughts?” Declan asked as soon as everyone was sure she was really gone.
“My gut tells me she did it,” Hella said, shaking her head. “She just has so much pent up rage, and you see how she is any time a non-human magical creature is mentioned.”
“Or speaks,” Dracula added darkly.
“She might be a prejudiced jerk, but that don’t make her no murderer. We need more evidence.” Rosie chewed the inside of her cheek as she wracked her brain. They’d come across nothing in the hotel room that had even remotely looked like evidence, and Aata’s spirit certainly hadn’t mentioned anything.
“The only thing that might be considered evidence could be whatever the ‘paper’ was Maude mentioned Medea had been trying to take from Aata during their argument,” Rosie pointed out.
“And we don’t even know if therewasa paper,” Ivy added, sounding deflated. “We only have Maude’s word for it. Could have been a burger wrapper for all we know.”
“We’re not likely to get any more info from Medea until she gets herself a lawyer.” Hella rolled her eyes.
“Ridiculous,” Emperia scoffed.
“Why?” Rosie asked. “I’d have thought it would be standard procedure. I’m surprised Tya didn’t ask for one too.”
“Because as the Council of Witches it’suswho would preside over any trial, when or if it comes to that,” Chaoxiang replied.
Rosie frowned. “Then why did she ask for a lawyer?”
Dracula sneered. “Because she’s trying to buy herself some time. The Calling spell only works for spells cast within the past 24 hours. If she can make it to noon today—which she easily will, now—it’s useless to even bother trying it. Lawyer or no lawyer.”
“Crap,” Rosie sighed.
Declan looked at Ivy hopefully. “Anything from Aata?”
“It’s pretty obvious he’s not a fan of hers,” the medium said with a grimace. “He bristled up like a hound when she came into the room, and he practically snarled at her the whole time she was here.”
Emperia pondered. “No words?”
“Not a one. But I’d definitely say she riled our boy alright.” Ivy stood up to stretch her back, adjusting her short ponytail.
“Interesting,” Chaoxiang mused. “Who’s gonna volunteer to check up on her?”
“I will,” Emperia volunteered, much to the visible relief of everyone else in the room. “If we can’t be courteous, we can be cold and clinical. I think I’ve got the franchise on that.”
“I’ll say,” Hella agreed enthusiastically, only to hold up her hands in defense when Emperia shot her an icy glare. “That was acompliment, baby.”
“Mmhmm.”
“Clock’s tickin’,” Declan announced. “Let’s speak to the French candidate.”
Rosie was glad he was being mindful of the time, because they still had the kids and a very pregnant Tammy to worry about at the end of the day.
After a short break,they were ready for Monsieur D’Louncrais. The French witch presented looking dapper—and more than a little conspicuous—in ripped blue jeans and a flowing white linen shirt. The latter looked like it might have been more at home in medieval France than in modern-day Mosswood. He nodded politely as he came into the room, sweeping his blue gaze across the Council until it landed on Rosie.
