The LSP reader group chose Option C - Seek out the biggest gossip in town
Tizzy held up a hand. “Don’t be too hasty. Can Patrick be interviewed right now?”
“As far as I know, he’s still in a
trance. Amira and Ally are working on a spell to break him out of whatever has
been done. According to Sparsh, there are some special ingredients they needed
to track down.”
A little of the grump left her
system. At least her great-nieces were practicing good old-fashioned magic.
That notion brought joy to an old witch. She held out her arms. “Take me
downstairs to the van. First you’ll clean up that mess you made with the
window, then we’ll go talk to the biggest gossip in town.”
He grabbed her and zipped her down
the stairs, and set her down gently by the back door. “Why do we need to talk
to the biggest gossip?”
“If Patrick Henry came back to
town, she’ll know his movements better than anyone else.” Tizzy slung her long
hair behind her and limped through the door.
She waited for Sidney in the van. At
vampire speed, he had the mess cleaned up and repaired in less than ten
minutes.
She’d dated a vampire once. Their
wild love affair had lasted a total of twenty-three hours before he’d proposed
and wanted to turn her into a witch vamp hybrid. She’d sent him on his way.
Sidney casually strolled toward her
van. A few drops of rain still fell from the sky and coated the windshield. She
clicked the wipers. What would Ally say if Sidney proposed making her a hybrid?
Hopefully, it was a situation he’d never put her in.
He climbed into the passenger seat.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Like what?” she grumbled.
“Like you want to turn me into a
toad.”
Tizzy rolled her eyes and shifted
the van into drive, deciding to ignore his comment. After a few minutes, they
turned off the main road and toward the local community center. Even with the
storm, the Biddies Bridge Club wouldn’t miss their nightly get together.
“Bingo night?” he asked. “Who are we
going to find in there that can help us?”
She parked beside a Buick. “Your
biggest cheerleader, Mrs. Lorenson.”
He shook his head. “We can question
Mrs. L about the symbols. She doesn’t know the town is full of paranormals. And
she still thinks I’m a handyman at the B&B.”
“Hasn’t my niece taught you anything
about Burberry? We’ll barely have to mention Patrick Henry’s name. Watch me
work a magic of a different kind.” She exited the van, and Sidney met her at
the back bumper. “Just stand beside me and look pretty.”
He cracked a smile. “You think I’m
pretty.”
“No.” But she couldn’t account for
Mrs. Lorenson’s taste in men, so there was that.
His smile widened. At least he could
take a cantankerous old woman’s sass without wilting.
Inside the community center, Tizzy
bypassed the table for purchasing the bingo cards and headed straight for Mrs.
Lorenson. No need to oversell their reason for being there.
“Tizzy Walker,” Mrs. Lorenson
greeted her. “I thought you said bingo was for old ladies, same as playing
cards. I’m so glad you accepted my offer and joined us.”
She sat amongst the other ladies in
the Biddies Bridge Club. When Patrick Henry’s mother had been mayor, she’d
lorded over the Biddies as if they were her personal entourage. Now, they were
open to anyone over sixty who wanted to hang out.
Tizzy placed a hand on her hip. “I
still think that. Sidney and I thought Ally was turning the tumbler tonight. I
guess we got our nights mixed up.”
“She doesn’t have as much time for
us as she used to,” another woman spoke up. “Not since…” she nodded toward
Sidney, who stood silently behind her.
He waved to the women, but said
nothing. Maybe the vampire could follow directions.
Tizzy opened her mouth to put her
gossip plan into action when the lights flickered three times, then shut off,
leaving them in almost complete darkness.
“That’s odd,” Tizzy said. “The worst
of the storm as passed.”
“I’ll check it out,” Sidney said.
She felt a whoosh as he zoomed away
from her.
Then a hand wrapped around her
wrist, and an unfamiliar voice said, “I know what you’re after. Come with me.”
***
Here we go again! Does Tizzy…
A. Say
a quick spell to illuminate the room so she can see who it is
B. Go
with the person because she’s a tough witch
C. Scream
for Sidney
B.
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