Waking the Witch (Otherworld 11)

"I don't know what meds you're on, but they're powerful stuff. I've never even been near your house. If you saw me there--"

"I didn't need to see you. Someone starts following me and, two days later, Savannah Levine pops up, supposedly investigating the murder of humans. Bullshit. You came here for me. Then you found out we'd had some murders and decided it'd be easier to play private eye.

Twice now I'd felt someone watching me, who disappeared when I got close. Two witches in town, both being followed by a mystery stalker. Hmm.

"It wasn't me," I said.

"Like hell. You're investigating me, on behalf of the council."

"How do you know I'm not investigating Cody?" I asked.

She rolled her eyes. "Since when does the council bother with humans?"

Damn. After Molly's call, I'd really been hoping Cody was a druid. It couldn't be that easy, could it? But what exactly did Tiffany think I was investigating her for? Let's give her a shake and see what came loose.

"You're in a lot of trouble, Tiffany," I said. "You thought you could just hide out here in Nowhere-ville, but the council has caught up with you."

She crossed her arms. "I haven't done anything wrong."

"No? Let's start with the minor offenses, like sharing your rituals with your human husband. I saw Tommy's Facebook album. If you were going to tell Cody what you are--which isn't advisable, but not a crime--then you should have told him to be more discreet. That's an exposure threat, which attracts the interest of both the council and the Cabals."

"I didn't--" She sucked in breath, rethinking the denial. "It was back when we were dating. He walked in on me doing a healing ritual. I had a big exam and felt a cold coming on. I told him I was Wiccan. That's what he thinks. He wanted me to show him some magic for his frat party, and I made up a ritual. If you take a good look at Tommy's photos, you'll see it's fake."

"Maybe. But that's just the first of your offenses, isn't it?"

She brushed dust off her slacks. Buying time.

"I'm allowed to use my powers to benefit my family," she said, chin lifting. "As long as I'm careful, I can do that."

"Sure. You can entertain the baby with a light show. You can mix healing teas for your kids. You can set perimeter spells. Hell, if the neighbor's brat was picking on yours, you could wallop him with a knockback ... if you knew the spell. But that's not what we're talking about, is it?"

"Don't you have better things to do? Bigger crimes to punish?"

"Nope. But I will give you a chance to defend yourself." I glanced at my watch. "Ten minutes. Starting now."

"Go to hell."

I leaned against the wall. "I'm not a crusader, Tiffany. I might help Paige and the council, but I can be reasonable. Them? Not so much. So just tell--"

She spat at me. Missed. That didn't save her from an energy bolt that had her eyes rolling back in her head as she hit the floor, flopping like a beached salmon. I stood over her.

"You want to try again?" I said.

"I have the right to protect--"

"Is someone actually threatening your family?"

"Besides you?"

"I'm only a threat if you or Cody had something to do with those murders. Otherwise, I don't give a shit. Is anyone else threatening them?"

"What the hell do you know about families? You're a spoiled brat who's never had to worry about anyone but herself. If you had children, you'd understand that protecting them is about more than just fighting someone like you."

"In other words, no. What you mean is that you're using your powers to make money. Because, otherwise, your kids might not get the fancy sneakers they want." I leaned over her. "You have no fucking idea what it's like to need to put food on the table. You're talking about lifestyle, not survival."

"My children need--"

"Look around you, Tiffany, and you'll see children who need. Like Kayla Thompson--"