Page 119 of Destiny of the Witch

‘No sign of Lyrica, though,’ Keely said, disappointed.

‘Maybe she’s in the back?’ I asked hopefully.

We approached the bar, and I cleared my throat. The man folded the newspaper and smiled at us.

‘Good afternoon, ladies. What can I get you?’

‘Actually,’ Keely said, ‘we’re looking for someone. Is Lyrica here by any chance?’

The man rolled his eyes. ‘Lyrica? What’s she done now?’

‘Nothing! We just needed to speak to her,’ I assured him.

He shook his head. ‘Well, you’re out of luck then. Lyrica left here a few months ago. Just took off, she did. Left me with no notice whatsoever. There’s gratitude for you, after all I’ve done for her. I only took her on out of respect for her old dad, you know. He used to own this place.’

‘Do you know where she’s working now?’ Keely asked hopefully.

He shrugged. ‘Nowhere round here. If you ask me, she’s done a bunk. Left Cornwall. She kept muttering about it. Very odd sort of woman is Lyrica.’ He tapped his temple. ‘Not all there, if you know what I mean. Away with the fairies, and that’s putting it politely.’

He frowned suddenly. ‘Don’t I know you three? Yeah, I remember. You came in back in the spring. I remember you because she frightened you all to death giving you one of her card readings. I recall there were three of you, and I remember your red hair,’ he added, nodding at me.

Clearly, he was getting me mixed up with Romy, but it didn’t matter. It was an opportunity to press him for more information, which Keely seized.

‘That’s right. We were hoping she could help us with something.’ She hesitated. ‘She certainly has a gift, doesn’t she?’

He snorted with laughter. ‘A gift? I don’t know about that. She’s weird, if you ask me, and you certainly didn’t seem to appreciate her back then. As I recall you got quite irate with her.’

‘Yes, well,’ Harley said, ‘a lot’s happened since then. Maybe she’s been proved right.’

‘I can’t believe she’s left,’ Keely said heavily. ‘Oh well. If you can’t help…’

‘Actually,’ the man said, almost reluctantly, ‘I might have something for you.’

‘Really?’ We all looked at each other excitedly. ‘Her address?’

‘Like I told you, I don’t know or care where she’s gone,’ he reminded us patiently. ‘Thing is, not long after you visited, she had a funny turn. Ran out of the pub like something was after her. One of my customers told me they spotted her on the pier, if you can believe it, staring out to sea like she was possessed or something. Anyway, when she came back she was acting weird. Even more weird than usual. Couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. I asked her what was up with her, and she just kept saying, “He has returned.” I mean, it isn’t normal, is it? Who’s returned, I ask you? But the thing is, that same day she gave me something to pass onto you. She reminded me of you, and said I had to give this envelope to you, if you ever returned and asked for her. To be honest,’ he admitted reluctantly, ‘I nearly threw it away, especially after she did a bunk. Can’t think why I didn’t. Anyway, it’s here, behind the bar.’

He rummaged around and handed us an envelope.

Keely took it, her eyes shining. ‘Thank you! Was there any other message?’

‘Nope. That’s it. Sorry.’ His eyes lit up as the door was pushed open and a couple entered. ‘Tina! Pete! What can I get you? Usual, is it?’

‘Come on,’ Harley murmured. ‘Let’s get out of here and zap home. I can’t wait to see what this is.’

Chapter 41

Trinity

‘I should tell Killian we’re zapping back,’ Harley said, as we left the pub and entered the alleyway, ducking as a few large seagulls flew past.

‘You could go back in the boat with him,’ Keely suggested. ‘Trinity and I will zap back.’

‘No way! You’ll open that envelope without me,’ she protested.

‘As if I’d do that,’ Keely said innocently.

I grinned. Even I knew she would, so she had no chance of convincing her twin sister otherwise.

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