Page 45 of Seven Secret Spellcasters (Kitchen Witch Mysteries #7)

“That might be nice. Depending on Cerby and Buddy.” Mia headed to the kitchen. “Do you want a soda or a glass of wine?”

“Soda, please,” he called back. “I think wine would put me out right here on the couch.”

She brought out two cans and a plate of cookies.

Then she curled up next to him. “I haven’t figured out why Howard was here a day early.

And why the National Office blew off sending someone else to do the investigation.

But I wondered, do you think it was because of my score on the exam? Since you’re my boyfriend?”

“I’ve been wondering that too.” He rubbed her arm gently. “You freaked me out by visiting Edmund Pevensie yesterday. I should have trusted your gut.”

“Probably. But my ‘innate talent’ is going to take some getting used to for both of us. You don’t think they made a mistake?

Maybe I’m not the genius they think I am.

” She laid her head on his shoulder. “I don’t believe Edmund killed Howard.

They were too close, and he was so sad at losing his friend. ”

“Emotion isn’t a valid alibi in a court case. I think Mark needs more than that.” He sipped his soda. “Like an actual killer to take the blame.”

“Too bad.” Mia leaned away from him. “Hey, you didn’t answer my other question. Do you think they made a mistake on my test?”

“I will never question your ability or what level the examination process gave you. My mother taught me better than that.”

She slugged him in his arm.

* * *

Mark texted just as she’d finished the first appetizer on her prep list the next morning.

She washed her hands, then opened his text. It only was two words long. Call me .

Mia held her phone up for Abigail to see. “I’ll be right back.”

When she got to the sofa, she sat down and called him. “What’s up?”

“Don’t be mad. I know you have Christina’s party tonight, but can you come with me to Twin for lunch? I found someone who might have seen our victim the day he was killed.”

Mia thought about her prep list. She was almost done. She thought Abigail had made hers a little lighter just in case she needed to help Finn. But the girl was doing fine. And from the excited chatter about the party and her dress, she was in a great mood. “What time can you pick me up?”

As Mia settled into Mark’s truck thirty minutes later, she pulled on her seat belt. “People are going to talk if you keep asking me out to meals.”

“I feel bad taking up your time. Besides, Sarah knows every step I make and with whom. She’ll shut any rumors down, believe me.” He glanced over at her. “Trent’s not upset I’m involving you in the investigation, is he?”

Mia laughed as she watched the trees go by while they drove. “Not in the least. He’s more upset when I’m solo investigating.” Mia explained her visit to Edmund Pevensie and what she’d learned. When Mark didn’t respond, she looked over at him. He was rubbing his temples. “Do you have a headache?”

“I do now,” he responded. “I’m trying to think how I’m going to write up the statement of an incubus in the official file.”

“Maybe you just call him Edmund?” Mia turned and looked at him.

“I think you’re looking at this wrong. If you treat people as people and stop labeling them, you won’t have this problem.

I’ve already told you that magic wasn’t involved in Howard’s killing.

So now it’s either money, love, fear, or revenge. It’s that simple.”

When he didn’t respond, she worried she’d upset him. “Mark, I’m sorry. I’ve got a lot on my mind. I didn’t mean to question your methods.”

He shook his head, focusing on the road.

“Sometimes I forget that. You’re right, people are people.

I’ve been focusing so long on what makes us different, I’ve failed to see what makes us alike.

Elise Marie is going to have to grow up in this world.

Good or bad, we have to accept the life we’ve been given and stop hoping for a different one. It’s the only way we’ll move forward.”

Mia didn’t respond. She knew Mark had had a huge paradigm shift when his daughter was born with witch powers. Then to find out his wife and his mother had hidden the coven and their involvement in it for years. Maybe Mia was asking him to go one step too far.

After a few minutes of silence in the truck, he looked over at her. “What, do we sing ‘Kumbaya’ now and clasp hands together?”

Mia burst out laughing. “How should I know? I’m a newbie to this world too. Mark, I think we do what we can.”

“Well, I have you investigating with me. Who would have thought that would happen two, three years ago?” He looked sharply at her. “And don’t think this is an ongoing situation. One and done, and you don’t tell anyone about it.”

“I think I’ve already broken that last rule.

” Mia relaxed into the seat. The fall sun was shining brightly, warming the truck cab.

Soon, rays of sun wouldn’t be able to shine brightly enough to break through the blanket of cold they’d have this winter.

And this road would at times be a sheet of ice.

Another reason Mia liked living in Magic Springs. Especially with her old car. Maybe she should replace the tires this year.

They came up to the freeway, then crossed it and the bridge over the Snake River. As they started coming into town, she turned to Mark. “So, where are we going?”

“The pancake house. The cook is a friend of Sarah’s and swears she saw Alfred Howard there on Wednesday morning.

With a friend. She wouldn’t talk on the phone.

She thinks people are listening to her conversations.

So she mailed a letter to Sarah. A letter.

” Mark shook his head. “I’d be more afraid that the post office was reading my mail if I had paranoia. ”