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After giving Jimi a second sandwich, Abbie would have loved to give Nica another, too, but the young girl had only eaten a quarter of hers. Suppressing her rising worry about Nica’s flagging appetite, Abbie offered the plate of sandwiches to Talin and Judith. “How about you two? Hungry?”
Both constables nodded absently, while Yousef rose to heat himself some canned vegan soup. Ever since she learned of his non-meat preferences, she always kept those cans stocked.
Talin was still intently studying the photo she’d given him as Abbie served both constables with a bacon sandwich each. The bacon was cold, but the lack of heat wouldn’t bother the two magical constables. They were more than capable of warming their food. “If your gran wasn’t checking up on me, who could she have been seeking?”
Judith passed a hand over her sandwich, two fingers pointed and moving in a circle, muttering under her breath. The bacon instantly spit sparks the way Comet did.
Beside her, Talin merely lifted the sandwich, and the bread browned as if the whole thing were being grilled.
Judith then gestured toward Jimi and Nica’s sandwiches.
Nica took a bite, and said, “Perfect.”
Jimi offered a muffled, “Tuks,” around a mouthful of food.
Yousef returned to his seat with his warm bowl of sweet potato coconut curry soup.
Judith’s pensive gaze rested on the kids. “Gran was looking forward to taking care of Jimi and Nica today. Once she commits, it’s unlike her to renege. I don’t know where she could be.” She swallowed and then tears pooled as she said, “We fought last night. Before storming off to bed, I told her she was a pain to live with.”
“She would have known you didn’t mean it,” Abbie said.
“Before falling asleep, I’d decided to apologize the next morning,” Judith added. “Except, I’d stayed up so late stewing about our fight that I ended up sleeping in and was running late. I rushed out without even wishing her good morning.”
“Where were you today?” Abbie asked. “Your phone kept routing to voice mail.”
Judith twirled her plate in place without responding. Finally, she said, “At work.”
“No, you weren’t,” Abbie said. “Ducky said you weren’t expected this morning.” At Judith’s continued silence, she added, “The police must have wanted to know. What did you tell them about your morning’s whereabouts?”
“I gave them my alibi, but it’s private.”
Abbie sat back, confused by her answer. What could be so difficult to talk about? They were all friends and Standard Bearers. The only taboo topic between them was Bran, Judith’s ex, who was Abbie’s brother.
“If you’re worried that I’ll tell Bran you’ve begun dating again,” Abbie said, “I can keep a secret. Besides, we rarely discuss you.” Not since he rebuffed her last query about his love life.
“He talks to me about Judith all the time,” Yousef said, drawing a frown from both Abbie and Judith. He pushed his empty bowl away. “He’d want to know if you’re seeing someone.”
She knew her brother was not over his breakup with Judith. What surprised her was Bran talking to Yousef about it instead of her. What if he was Bran’s boss? She was his sister.
“None of his business,” Judith said, sounding cross.
“He wants another chance,” Yousef said.
Judith snorted. “He’s incapable of trusting me, so he’s wasting his time.”
Talin shifted uncomfortably. “Hate to interrupt, but what’s this, Jude?” He showed her an expanded portion of Abbie’s mobile photo.
Everyone leaned over to look at where he pointed. The kids sprawled across the table.
“How could I have missed that?” Abbie asked.
Her camera had caught a paper cutout buried under a cork round.
“Is it a picture doll?” Robert asked, leaning over Talin’s shoulder.
“It’s pretty!” Nica exclaimed.
“Looks vintage,” Yousef said.
“It’s from one of my Gran’s old books,” Judith said. “She loves the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale film and has a collector’s edition of one with paper cutout dolls of that story’s characters. She keeps it in her bedroom, protected by a glass case. I wonder what it’s doing on the kitchen counter. She’ll be heartbroken when she sees those scorch marks.”
Talin dropped Abbie’s mobile, opened up his tablet, and tapped on it.
“That film is from decades ago,” Abbie said. “Maybe as far back as the sixties?”
“Found it.” Talin turned his tablet around to show what he’d uncovered. A book of colorful paper cut-out dolls. “Walt Disney released their film version of Sleeping Beauty in 1959. The cutout on your kitchen island could be of a fairy.”
“What does this mean?” Abbie asked, sitting back.
“Is this fairy tale related to whoever your gran sought?” Yousef asked.
“Or to someone who works at Disney?” Talin said.
“Or someone from 1959?” Robert suggested.
“Cool,” Jimi said, and then sat back, eyeing his sister’s unfinished sandwich.
Nica pushed it over to him and straightened the tablecloth they’d scrunched.
“Judith,” Abbie said, “you had a row with your gran last night. Was that related to whoever she wanted to see this morning?”
Judith shook her head. “Our fight was about Mr. Brown. He had been over at our place yelling at her earlier. Probably about that stupid plant. When I arrived home and heard about their row, I went over to have a word with him. Except he wasn’t home. When I returned, Gran became upset that I’d interfered. She said she wasn’t a doddering old fool that needed caretaking. She was in her prime and able to take care of herself, and him, if he proved a problem.”
As if hearing what that sounded like, with trembling fingers, Judith pushed her plate with a half-eaten sandwich away. “She didn’t kill him.”
“What does Callum say about all of this?” Abbie asked.
“He asked me to allow the SCD to handle it.”
“SCD?” Robert asked, frowning.
“The Serious Crime Directorate. They’ve taken over this case,” Judith said, voice cracking a little. “They’re said to leave no stone unturned when they’re on a case.”
Abbie had never seen Judith so distraught.
“I can’t stay out of this case, Abbie,” her friend said, glancing at her with moist eyes. “I have to find Gran. She’s all the family I have. I will never stop protecting her, no matter what she or Callum say.” Her lips trembled. “I failed her this morning. I can’t fail her again.”
Nica pushed her chair back and ran around the table to Judith. “Don’t cry. We’ll help you find her. We’re the Standard Bearers.”
“You’re sweet, Nica,” Judith said, smoothing the young girl’s dark locks. “But Abbie has to go to London tonight.” She met Abbie’s troubled gaze over the little girl’s head. “Since I’m staying here tonight, I can watch the kids in your absence.”
Nica’s gaze swung to Abbie, conflicting emotions waging a fierce war within the child. Jimi came over and climbed onto Abbie’s lap. He, too, was upset by this conversation, but didn’t know what to do. His arms did his talking for him as he snuggled against her, saying clearer than words that he didn’t want Abbie to leave. Holding tight to the little boy who trembled within her hold, Abbie met Nica’s conflicted gaze.
The young girl didn’t want Abbie to leave either. She wanted all of them to help Judith. Yet, unlike Jimi, Nica probably felt she didn’t have any power to sway events.
Abbie’s heart melted as Nica’s intense sense of helplessness stole her breath. She recalled feeling like that. Abbie held out an arm for Nica, who hesitated a moment, and then raced around to embrace her.
“No need to watch these two.” Abbie ruffled both children’s heads with affection. “As far as I’m concerned, the London trip’s off since we have a lost witch to locate.”
Sparks flared up from Comet as she, too, swooped over to Abbie’s side.
“Comet says, Yay!!!” Jimi cried.
“What is that thing doing here?” Judith asked. “Why isn’t it with Gran?”
Comet’s flares died as she moved behind Abbie’s chair and out of Judith’s line of sight.
“Your gran sent her to guide us to your home this morning,” Abbie said. “I’ve been meaning to ask Comet a few questions.” She set Jimi down and sent a mental signal to her cord. It came alert with a gentle tingle. “Comet, come over here.”
The broom came around the chair and her wooden staff slid into Abbie’s grip.
“What spell did Granny Chan cast this morning?”
“I don’t know.”
Disappointing. “Can everyone hear Comet?” Abbie asked her crew.
All nodded.
Good. Her cord was broadcasting. She loved this communicative Grimm gift.
“Ask if Comet knows what was worrying Mrs. Chan recently,” Robert suggested.
“Mr. Brown,” Comet said before Abbie spoke. “His insistence that he would tell on her to the authorities about her illegal plants upset her. She said he was being difficult, and she planned to do something about it.”
“Not by killing him,” Judith insisted.
Abbie sighed. This conversation was leading them down the wrong path to clearing Granny Chan’s name. Yet, the possibility she might have murdered her neighbor was unthinkable. Wasn’t it?
“No way that old gal was a killer,” Talin said in a fierce tone. “Granny Chan’s an angel. In January, my Aunt Niara came down with a terrible cough. She lost her appetite, was feverish, and had trouble breathing, you know? The old gal texted me to slip one of her tonics into Auntie’s glass of OJ and that cured her.” He snapped his fingers. “Like that. Her doc was in awe.”
Judith squeezed Talin’s forearm in gratitude.
“I didn’t know your Aunt Niara was so sick, Talin,” Abbie said. “I’m so sorry.”
“She’s fine now,” he said, “because of Granny Chan’s kind heart. I want to find her.”
“Sounds like we have a new SB case,” Yousef said and held out his fist.
Everyone reached in eagerly with their hands clenched to seal their pact to take up this case, even the children.
The spark that resulted as their fists met tingled to the tips of Abbie’s toes. This was a unique SB happening. Abbie’s mum said she’d never heard of something like this happening to anyone else, or any group.
Abbie considered that spark to be an acknowledgment from the universe that they were on the right path. She sat up straighter, eager to begin work on finding Granny Chan.
“That never gets old,” Yousef said, shaking his fist with a delighted grin. “But, Abbie, what about the tribute service and your appointment with your podcast informant in London?”
“This is more urgent,” Abbie replied. “Even though the service is tomorrow, every day we’re not looking for Granny Chan could prove dangerous to her.”
Judith looked as if she might cry.
“While all of you look for Granny Chan, why don’t I meet your Deep Throat?” Talin suggested. “He’d recognize me since we chatted by mobile when I vetted him.”
“Would you?” Abbie asked, sighing with utter relief at this simple solution.
“Sure, no prob,” Talin said. “Since tomorrow’s Saturday, I’m off work. If you need research help, text me.”
“You can stay at my brother’s and give him my apologies for bowing out.” Abbie quickly texted the change of plans to Colin, her elder brother in London. Then she glanced up and added, “I’d been saving up for months to take Colin and his family for dinner. Would you treat them?”
At Talin’s nod, she added, “Great, I’ll grab my purse.”
“I’ll get it.” Jimi raced through the door before she could tell him her purse was in her rucksack in her bedroom. She whispered that info to a grinning Nica.
The young girl shockingly kissed Abbie’s cheek before running out. Comet sped after her, bristles flicking sparks.
Finally, Abbie met Judith’s gaze and found her friend’s eyes filled with gratitude.
“We will find Granny Chan and bring her home,” Abbie promised. Whatever it took.
The discussion turned to their plans for the next day and how to track down Granny Chan.
“We should begin with a visit to members of her coven,” Judith said.
“There’s a coven in Kent?” Abbie asked, surprised.
“There are hundreds all over England and at least a dozen in Kent,” Judith said.
This was the first Abbie had heard of this. Her mum never mentioned them.
“My aunt’s coven is part of the Silk Quilt Den,” Judith added.
“You don’t belong to it, Miss Chan?” Robert asked.
Judith slowly twirled her police cap in a circle without answering. Then she took a deep breath and said, “My gran follows western magic. Since I returned to Chipstead, I’ve returned to my studies of ancient eastern Taoism practices.”
Judith pronounced it as Daoism, but Abbie’s cord showed her the word beginning with a T. Odd. Not to be outdone, Klaus then sent her a flood of information on the history of Taoism until Abbie ordered her Grimm Tales book to cease and desist.
What was more interesting to Abbie was the news that there were different types of witches. Western and Eastern traditions. “How did your gran get drawn into western magic?”
“That’s tied to her cooking,” Judith said with a nostalgic smile. “She ran away from home in her teens because her family in China was restrictive, but soon realized she was out of her depth in England. Wanting desperately to fit in, she befriended people by asking them to teach her British recipes, as well as other ethnic dishes, from South Indian varieties to Vietnamese and everything in-between. Then, she expanded on what she’d learned.”
“She loved to experiment,” Abbie said, liking Granny Chan more with each revelation.
Judith nodded in agreement. “Gran recognized no boundaries to learning. One person she befriended, she learned later, was a witch. The woman recognized Gran possessed genuine power and invited her to join her coven.”
Judith’s gaze turned reminiscent. “Gran said practicing western spells felt no different from testing out a different dish and it helped her expand her repertoire. She especially enjoyed the freedom from restrictions that western practical magic offered.”
“It did not tempt you to follow in your gran’s eclectic habits?” Abbie asked.
Judith gave a firm shake of her head. “I’ve always wanted to master my ancestors’ line of magic. Gran and I argued often about my insistence on that. I contacted my family in China for potential sources of true Taoist traditions. My family embraced me for reaching out to them. Gran probably disliked me for that as much as for wanting to learn traditional Taoism.”
“I doubt that,” Abbie said. “All her actions proclaim your gran adores you. She only agreed to my request to babysit Nica and Jimi because she wanted to please you.”
Judith shrugged as if it didn’t matter what her Gran thought, but her lips trembled to belie that assertion. She lifted her chin and glanced around. “Taoist tradition insists that I keep my activities hidden from the public. I’m breaking my word by sharing any of this with you.”
“Why do it then?” Abbie asked, accepting her return to the earlier, less emotional topic.
Judith turned her hat around again. “Secrets can twist the truth.” She glanced at Abbie with a hint of chagrin. “I’m partly responsible for my breakup with Bran. I never told him I was a Taoist witch. He soon picked up that I wasn’t being open.”
Abbie nodded, finally seeing her brother’s relationship with Judith in a clearer light. Bran was aware his mum was a Grimm. All her brothers knew, even as her entire family safeguarded Abbie during her childhood by conspiring to convince her that magic wasn’t real.
“I’ve learned from my past mistake,” Judith said, with deep sincerity, “I don’t want what happened between Bran and me to happen between all of us. In our SB work, keeping secrets might prove truly dangerous, not merely a latent distrust that explodes when triggered. All I ask is that you not reveal anything about my magical methods to others.”
“Agreed,” they all said.
“As for Gran’s coven, they own and manage the Silk Quilt Den,” Judith said. “It’s their primary source of income.” Her lips twitched slightly, her first smile. “Their quilts are super comfy. Rumored to induce sleep in even the most hardened insomniac cases.”
“A quilt covered Mr. Brown in your aunt’s back garden,” Robert said. “I wonder if her coven might be involved in his demise?”
“Should we tell Uncle Cal about your gran’s quilt shop?” Talin asked.
“The Senior Investigating Officer knows my gran runs that shop,” Judith said. “When she questioned me this morning, I mentioned the shop.”
“Who is this officer?” Abbie asked.
“Detective Inspector Sally Turner is with Major Crimes, the Essex and Kent Serious Crime Directorate,” Judith replied. “We took our A levels together.” She met Abbie’s gaze with a clear warning. “Never took to her. Too narrow-minded. But she’s ambitious and thorough.”
“No matter how thorough she is,” Abbie said, “a norm is unlikely to consider supernatural angles as pertinent avenues to pursue. Tomorrow, if the police allow you to return home, take a magical pulse there. See if you can sense anything out of place.”
“Good idea,” Yousef said. “Since Talin will be off to London, I’ll join you, if you’ve no objections? I can set my feline instincts on the prowl around the place, too.”
At Abbie’s raised eyebrow at his suggestion, he added with a grin, “Given a choice between visiting a coven headquarters or an empty witch’s house, I choose the latter.”
She nodded, understanding. Yousef was never comfortable around magic and an empty house, even one belonging to witches, must seem like the lesser of two evils compared to an active coven site.
Nica and Jimi raced in then with Comet at their tail. The girl handed Abbie her purse.
Abbie pulled out a few hundred pounds and handed it over to Talin. “Take my family someplace nice, but inexpensive.”
“Will do.” Talin stood, tucking the notes away. “If we’re all done here, I’ll head out. I need to pack and notify a few folks I’ll be away.” He turned to Judith. “Have you decided? Are you staying here tonight or do you need a lift somewhere?”
“She’s staying,” Abbie affirmed.
“Yay!” Jimi raced around the table while Nica leaned into Abbie with a pleased smile.
“I’ll come by to pick you up tomorrow morning then,” Yousef called over his shoulder as he followed Talin out the door.
“Time for a bath and bed for these two,” Abbie said, also rising. “After we clear up.”
Judith stood to help the kids gather the dishes. She then leaned toward Abbie. “You’re the best.”
“It’s what friends do,” Abbie replied with a fond smile.
She settled Judith on the sofa in a pair of clean shorts and a T-shirt, a novel from Abbie’s crime fiction collection, and blankets and pillows. Then Abbie set her kids to wash up while she went around the house and performed her nightly routine. She set out wards to warn her of intruders outside and then checked the security of all her doors and windows.