Page 35 of Boss Witch

Come to think of it, Mina had mentioned this character as well, something about an unusual installation he’d built to communicate with aliens. “What?”

“This is only what I hear, of course, but apparently, he’s out at all hours, mucking around in other people’s fields. And Roger Stevewell says that John Farmer told him this… Whenever Dale’s been creeping around, strange things happen.”

All his instincts perked up. “What sort of things?”

Just then, the other man’s mobile rang. “I’m taking this. It’s Gladys.”

Sprawled in the chair, Gavin enjoyed his beer until his own mobile pinged with an alert.Your Hotmail account has been locked after multiple failed login attempts. Please check to ensure the safety of your account and change your password if you suspect your information has been compromised.

What the hell.

It had been years since he’d even looked at that email, one his grandfather had helped him make when he was like thirteen. Before…

Yeah. Before.

Mildly curious, Gavin completed password recovery because hell if he could even remember what it was back in the day. Probably something he’d thought was clever as a sprat, likesexparty6969. He got the text via code, and in a few moments, he was in the formerly abandoned inbox, scrutinizing ten thousand spam messages. An embarrassing number of them were porn related. With a wince, Gavin searched how to delete a Hotmail account.

Then a new message popped in at the top, and he stared at it, frozen in shock.

Kevin Rhys.

Nobody in the order talked about his grandfather. His name had been stricken from all the records, and his father had hammered it home that if Grandad wasn’t dead, he would be if the order caught up to him.

Gavin took a breath. Another.

And opened the email.

Dear Gavin,

First off, I’m sorry. Not for the choice I made but for leaving without saying goodbye. You must’ve been so hurt, angry, and confused, but I made the call to save someone’s life, someone precious to me. I’m not saying you mattered less, but he needed me more.

You see, I learned some things that made my heart shrivel, and I couldn’t walk that path anymore. I don’t know what your father’s said about me, so I’ll just say that I think of you every day, and I look at old pictures of you often. It’s hard for me to imagine that you’re a grown man. You might even have a family of your own by now.

That’s the hardest part of this separation. Missing you and knowing that any contact between us might put you at risk too. I happened to remember this old email address—­remember the day I helped you set it up? You’ve changed the password since then, sorry about locking your account.

But me failing to login proved this email was still good, so I had to take a chance. I want you to know that I’m proud of you, no matter what you’re doing.

But I do have some cautionary words. The order can’t be trusted.

If they find out I’ve gotten in touch with you, neither one of us will be safe.

I love and miss you, Gavin.

Love always,

Grandad

Head whirling, Gavin stared at his screen, hardly able to think.He’s alive. He remembers me. The order can’t be trusted?

Chapter 11

After the day Clem had, she should’ve been texting her coven sisters demanding comfort.

And yet, she stared at the message she’d sent Gavin, wondering if the witch’s council would accept temporary insanity as an excuse for her behavior. It worked in mundane courts sometimes. Rereading the sentence didn’t change anything.

Had an incredibly shitty day. You free tonight?

He replied right off.Had a bit of a day myself. Would help to see you.

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