Read Online Brownies and Broomsticks: A Magical Bakery Mystery by Bailey Cates - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Bailey Cates
Ads: Link
powers.
Bianca said, “Of course you’re still a little surprised, Katie. But you’ll soon tap back into the heritage deep inside you.”
“How do you know that?” I didn’t mean to sound so snarky.
Lucy answered. “Because all of us except Bianca were lucky enough to bring our magic into adulthood with us, encouraged by our families.”
Unruffled, Bianca nodded. “I became a witch as an adult.”
I looked down at Lucy. “You said something before about Grandma.”
Slowly, she nodded. “And her mother before her. You’re a hereditary witch. It’s in your blood—and not only on your mother’s side. Your father’s as well. He’s quite powerful himself.”
I remembered she’d mentioned something about him earlier. But now the idea of my father practicing magic shifted my perspective with an almost physical wrench. Dizziness swooped over me, and then I felt a visceral
click
, as if something had finally slid into place.
Mimsey threw up her hands, turquoise and silver flashing from the rings on her fingers. “All that will sort itself out. You can still help us while you come to terms with your magical abilities. We have to help your uncle. Lucille?”
I tamped down my roiling thoughts and the dozens of questions trying to surface, struggling to focus as my aunt jumped to her feet and began pacing back and forth between the sofa and the chair opposite it. The same determination from earlier that morning thrummed in her footsteps. “There has to be a way to use our abilities to help Ben.”
Jaida cocked her head. “Another protection spell, specific to him, might be the first step.”
Inclining her head slowly, Bianca said, “It wouldn’t hurt, I suppose, but isn’t that a bit like closing the proverbial barn door after the horse has bolted?”
“A protection spell could turn aside additional mayhem, or at least keep it from affecting him,” Lucy said.
A sick feeling crept into my solar plexus. I stood. “Ido so hope you ladies won’t take offense at what I’m about to say, but I feel I must.”
“Go ahead,” Jaida said.
“Ben needs concrete help.”
No one said anything. Lucy stopped pacing.
“We need a solid, real-world game plan.” I looked around at them. “You realize, of course, that finding out who really killed Mrs. Templeton is the only way we can help Ben. I don’t suppose any of you has a working crystal ball. Though even that wouldn’t hold up very well in court.” I smiled brightly at my lame joke.
They exchanged looks.
For once Mimsey frowned. “Our magic isn’t the kind where we wiggle our noses and make something disappear. Our talents are tools we can access in addition to our brainpower, our connections in the community, and a considerable amount of Southern charm to get at the truth about what happened to Mavis Templeton. There is no abracadabra cure-all to crime solving. If there were, believe me, every law enforcement agency in the world would be willing to use our skills.”
I sat back down, thoroughly chastened.
Cookie said, “Mimsey’s right, of course. So we do need that game plan you mentioned.”
Once again all eyes were on me.
I considered. “Well, then, I suppose the first thing is to figure out who had a motive to kill Mrs. Templeton.”
My aunt bobbed her head and went behind the register. She emerged with a pad of paper and a pen. “All right. Let’s get started.”
“Okay,” I said. “We know she had the good sense todate Uncle Ben back in high school. That she married—just once?”
Mimsey nodded. “Garth Templeton. Made a fortune in heavy equipment.”
“No children.”
“But she has a nephew,” Bianca said. She put her elbow on the sofa arm and propped her chin on her hand. “Albert Hill. Just as charming as his aunt, but not nearly as bright. I’ve met him a few times at society functions. He’s an acquaintance of a friend of mine.”
So Bianca attended society functions. Interesting.
“He’ll likely come into
Bianca said, “Of course you’re still a little surprised, Katie. But you’ll soon tap back into the heritage deep inside you.”
“How do you know that?” I didn’t mean to sound so snarky.
Lucy answered. “Because all of us except Bianca were lucky enough to bring our magic into adulthood with us, encouraged by our families.”
Unruffled, Bianca nodded. “I became a witch as an adult.”
I looked down at Lucy. “You said something before about Grandma.”
Slowly, she nodded. “And her mother before her. You’re a hereditary witch. It’s in your blood—and not only on your mother’s side. Your father’s as well. He’s quite powerful himself.”
I remembered she’d mentioned something about him earlier. But now the idea of my father practicing magic shifted my perspective with an almost physical wrench. Dizziness swooped over me, and then I felt a visceral
click
, as if something had finally slid into place.
Mimsey threw up her hands, turquoise and silver flashing from the rings on her fingers. “All that will sort itself out. You can still help us while you come to terms with your magical abilities. We have to help your uncle. Lucille?”
I tamped down my roiling thoughts and the dozens of questions trying to surface, struggling to focus as my aunt jumped to her feet and began pacing back and forth between the sofa and the chair opposite it. The same determination from earlier that morning thrummed in her footsteps. “There has to be a way to use our abilities to help Ben.”
Jaida cocked her head. “Another protection spell, specific to him, might be the first step.”
Inclining her head slowly, Bianca said, “It wouldn’t hurt, I suppose, but isn’t that a bit like closing the proverbial barn door after the horse has bolted?”
“A protection spell could turn aside additional mayhem, or at least keep it from affecting him,” Lucy said.
A sick feeling crept into my solar plexus. I stood. “Ido so hope you ladies won’t take offense at what I’m about to say, but I feel I must.”
“Go ahead,” Jaida said.
“Ben needs concrete help.”
No one said anything. Lucy stopped pacing.
“We need a solid, real-world game plan.” I looked around at them. “You realize, of course, that finding out who really killed Mrs. Templeton is the only way we can help Ben. I don’t suppose any of you has a working crystal ball. Though even that wouldn’t hold up very well in court.” I smiled brightly at my lame joke.
They exchanged looks.
For once Mimsey frowned. “Our magic isn’t the kind where we wiggle our noses and make something disappear. Our talents are tools we can access in addition to our brainpower, our connections in the community, and a considerable amount of Southern charm to get at the truth about what happened to Mavis Templeton. There is no abracadabra cure-all to crime solving. If there were, believe me, every law enforcement agency in the world would be willing to use our skills.”
I sat back down, thoroughly chastened.
Cookie said, “Mimsey’s right, of course. So we do need that game plan you mentioned.”
Once again all eyes were on me.
I considered. “Well, then, I suppose the first thing is to figure out who had a motive to kill Mrs. Templeton.”
My aunt bobbed her head and went behind the register. She emerged with a pad of paper and a pen. “All right. Let’s get started.”
“Okay,” I said. “We know she had the good sense todate Uncle Ben back in high school. That she married—just once?”
Mimsey nodded. “Garth Templeton. Made a fortune in heavy equipment.”
“No children.”
“But she has a nephew,” Bianca said. She put her elbow on the sofa arm and propped her chin on her hand. “Albert Hill. Just as charming as his aunt, but not nearly as bright. I’ve met him a few times at society functions. He’s an acquaintance of a friend of mine.”
So Bianca attended society functions. Interesting.
“He’ll likely come into
Similar Books
