Page 66 of Witch and Tell

“Fifty,” Thor said.

“Thirty,” I countered.

“Thirty-five, and our silence is only good until tomorrow morning,” Buffy said. “After that, we require a supplement.”

I snatched the notebook and scrawled out an IOU.

Thor took it, his lips moving as he read. “Who’s Escalade Penclosa?”

“Never mind. You got what you wanted, so scram. Grandma Patty is sure to be looking for you. Remember, lips sealed or you don’t get a penny, okay?”

Buffy stared at me, her lower lip protruding just barely. She narrowed her eyes, then shifted her gaze to her brother. “Thor, conference.”

Thor, who was admiring the IOU for the princely sum, said, “What?”

“We need to talk.” Then, to me, “Just a moment, Josie.”

Uh-oh. I glanced around. Should I make a run for it? Retreat to the woods?

Just as I pulled myself to standing, Buffy and Thor returned.

“We made a decision,” Buffy said. “We’re not turning you in, and we’re doing it for free.”

“For ten dollars only,” Thor said.

“No, Thor. We agreed. For free.” She rested her hands on her tutu-adorned hips. “You’ve been very good to us, and as a gesture of good will, we are providing this service free of charge. Perhaps you’ll favor us with your business in the future.”

I couldn’t nod fast enough. “Definitely.”

“Unless the sheriff asks us. Then we need to tell the truth, or Grandma will be mad,” Thor added.

Buffy wiped her palms together as if signaling a job well done. “Thor?”

“Good evening, milady,” he said. Classic comic books again. “Time to get home for dinner.” He grabbed Buffy’s hand, and the two kids disappeared around the corner.

I leaned, limp, against the library’s side. Close call. I gave myself the luxury of a few seconds of rest before returning to the sawdust chute.

The chute’s lid gave with a loud creak and burst of diesel-tinted air as it opened. I froze, but no sirens sounded, and no one came running.

“Are you ready, kitten?” I flipped to my belly and, feet first, slid down the cold, grimy chute. Ancient sawdust tickled my throat. Again, I was grateful for the thickness of the tracksuit’s velour. I landed on the basement floor and, coughing, looked up the chute. “You coming?”

Rodney’s citrine eyes glowed back. He scampered down like Baryshnikov in a catsuit.

The dust-smeared basement windows gave little light, and I didn’t dare flip the light switch. I felt my way to the door to the basement’s main hall and inched toward the service stairwell. From there, it was an easy climb to the atrium.

My bones practically melted with the comfort of thousands of books welcoming me with songs, murmuredhellos, and a whirlwind of magical energy. Despite my streaky black hair and dirt-encrusted tracksuit, I felt rejuvenated.

I crept up to the tower room to wait.

I let the cooling night air blow over me through the openings of the tower. When would Beata arrive? I was sure she would. And what about Lise? I was tempted to lean forward for a view down the drive, but I didn’t dare. My face would show pale against the tower’s darkness, and I’d heard an SUV idling at the entrance driveway. A sheriff’s deputy.

I’d told Lise to arrive on foot by the forest path, just after dark, and to use my key to enter through the conservatory.

Which didn’t mean she’d show up at all. Maybe she’d had second thoughts. She’d watched as I broke the spell binding Beata’s magic. She knew what Beata was capable of. Perhaps she’d returned to Astoria. If she had, I couldn’t blame her.

Sound funneled up from the atrium. Someone was downstairs. I heard a door slowly open, then steps in the stairwell. I held my breath and half-rose from my chair.

“Josie?”