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CHAPTER 9

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That evening, Suzanne arrived at Maddie’s house.

“I can’t wait to see what new spell you’ll be able to do tonight,” Suzanne enthused as she peered out of the living room window. The sky was black and the moon was heavy and golden. She pulled the curtains and turned around to face Maddie and Trixie, her eyes sparkling.

“Mrrow,” Trixie seemed to agree, sitting on the periwinkle sofa next to Wytchcraft for the Chosen.

“I guess we’d better get started.” Maddie sat on the other side of the book, while Suzanne sat next to Trixie.

Maddie opened the ancient tome, the pages crumbling and fly-spotted.

“You already know how to do the Tell the Truth spell,” Suzanne mused. She suddenly drew in a breath. “I know! You could cast it on Ramon and ask him if he’s really interested in me!”

“Suzanne.” Maddie shook her head. “You know I don’t agree with using magic for personal gain.”

“It wouldn’t be your personal gain,” Suzanne argued. Her face fell as she reluctantly conceded Maddie’s point, and she sighed.

“Mrrow.” Trixie patted a page.

“You know how to do this one,” Suzanne said. “Escape Your Enemy.”

“Yes,” Maddie replied, hoping she would never have to use it again.

They paged past glamour spells, fountain of youth spells, how to ensure a good harvest, and many others. But none of them appealed to Maddie. She knew from experience that she would experience a slight tug or inclination to a certain spell in the book – but only on the night of a full moon.

They were nearly at the end of the book. What if none of the spells called out to her tonight? Did that mean that her progress as a witch was suspended – or even halted?

“Mrrow.” Trixie tapped the book with her paw, which meant, “Turn the page.”

“Okay.” Lately Maddie had been growing in confidence with her magical abilities, but tonight her doubts had resurfaced.

Why couldn’t there be a page in the book that stated exactly what she could expect from her abilities in the coming years? The only reference she had was that when a witch turned seven-and-twenty, she came into her full powers. Maddie had turned twenty-seven months ago and so far was only able to master one new spell per month.

Maddie scanned the next page and paused. There was something different about this spell.

“An Incantation to Find Someone and Discover What They’re Doing Right Now,” she read out slowly.

“Mrrow,” Trixie sounded approving.

“Ooh, is this the one?” Suzanne’s face lit up.

“Maybe,” Maddie replied cautiously.

“That sounds exciting!” Suzanne peered at the page.

Maddie studied the handwritten words on the page. Somehow, she knew that this was the spell she was meant to find tonight.

“You should try it now.” Suzanne’s eyes sparkled.

“Do you think so?”

“Mrrow!” Trixie agreed.

Maddie pulled out a small notebook and pen she had in her shorts’ pocket. She knew from experience that it would be best if she wrote down the words so she wouldn’t have to memorize the incantation and possibly make an error – with unintended results – when using it for the first time. But writing down the spell meant she’d have to make sure she had the scrap of paper on her everywhere, in case she needed to use it. And in the past, sometimes she’d had to use a spell when she’d least expected to, when she and Suzanne were investigating a murder.

“Mrrow.” Trixie bunted her arm in approval as Maddie wrote down the words.

“Who are you going to spy on?” Suzanne asked eagerly.

“Hmm.” Maddie nibbled her lip. Was it fair to spy on someone when it wasn’t connected to solving a murder? Should they even get involved in attempting to solve Veronica’s death? She glanced at Suzanne who looked like she wanted to bounce with excitement at the idea of Maddie attempting a new spell.

“What if I try it on you?” Maddie asked.

“Ooh!” Suzanne jumped up. “But you already know I’m standing right here.”

“What if you go into my bedroom?” Maddie suggested. “And I’ll cast the spell here.”

“Okay.” Suzanne hurried down the hall toward Maddie’s room. “And I’m going to be doing something!” she called out.

Maddie gave her friend another minute, then read out the words on the paper. Trixie rubbed her cheek against Maddie’s arm.

“Show me the person I am thinking of

Show me their actions

Show me true”

Maddie repeated the words three times while thinking of Suzanne. She tried not to let herself think that Suzanne was in her bedroom; instead, she focused her mind on the moment when Suzanne had jumped up from the sofa, excited about the spell.

A picture arose in her mind. Suzanne was in Maddie’s bedroom, touching her toes.

Maddie giggled.

“It worked!” she called out.

“Mrrow!” Trixie agreed, hopping off the sofa and scampering toward Maddie’s room. She followed her familiar.

“Well?” Suzanne flung open Maddie’s bedroom door.

“You were touching your toes.”

“Yes!” Suzanne hugged Maddie, and bent down to stroke Trixie. “It worked!”

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BUZZ BUZZ.

Maddie groaned and rolled over. She wished she could sleep in, especially after testing the incantation last night – she’d felt more tired than usual after Suzanne had gone home. But today was Friday.

She smiled, sleepily opening her eyes. That meant in two days’ time she and Trixie would be having a picnic with Luke.

“Mrrow.” Trixie hopped onto her chest and gently patted Maddie’s cheek, her claws sheathed. Wake up.

“Okay,” Maddie grumbled good-humoredly.

After a quick breakfast and shower, Maddie and Trixie hopped in the truck and drove to the town square. Even though she had permission to park at the square during the day, she had to bring the truck home at night.

“Hi!” Suzanne waved and bounced on the spot as Maddie parked Brewed from the Bean.

“You’re in a good mood,” Maddie observed as she and Trixie jumped out of the front of the vehicle.

“I’m seeing Ramon tomorrow.” Suzanne grinned. “I couldn’t sleep last night after I got home, so I went through my closet and I’ve already picked out what to wear on my date!”

“That’s great!”

“I even took a photo to show you – and Trixie.” Suzanne held out her phone to both of them. A cute light blue dress with a swing skirt lay on her bedspread.

“I think it’s perfect,” Maddie said, pleased that her friend seemed calm – albeit enthusiastic – about her upcoming date.

“Me too,” Suzanne said with satisfaction. “What about you, Trix?”

“Mrrow!” Trixie stared at the photo on the phone, putting out a paw to touch it.

“Oh, good.” Suzanne put the phone back in her pocket. “Now all we have to do is catch the killer and have fabulous love lives!”

Maddie shook her head, choosing not to reply to Suzanne’s remark. She jumped into the back of the truck and started setting up the coffee machine. In a few minutes, hopefully the early morning joggers would start arriving demanding bottled water, or for some of them, a quick espresso before they set off around the block again.

After selling five bottles of water in ten minutes, Maddie turned to Suzanne only to be interrupted by a nasal voice.

“I want to talk to you, Maddie Goodwell!” Claudine.

“What does she want?” Suzanne muttered, peering out through the serving hatch.

Claudine stood at the counter, dressed in black, her hands on her hips and a big scowl on her face.

“What did you do to my cousin?”