Fried Green Witch Read online

  Tina shoved one of the sandwiches in her mouth and started munching.

  I threw my chin over my shoulder and shot Maisie a less-than-nice smile. “You don’t have to eat the food. In fact, Sera’s not charging you for any of this today. We don’t want any hard feelings, and we don’t want you holding anything over us. Since you aren’t 100 percent satisfied, we won’t make you pay a dime.”

  “We won’t?” Sera said.

  I widened my eyes at her in a way that meant shut it. “Of course not. If Maisie isn’t happy, she doesn’t have to pay. That’s always been our motto.”

  A very pregnant Daisy came over to the table. She had the same chestnut-colored hair, but it was much longer, falling in loose waves around her glowing face. “Sera, Dylan, I’m so glad y’all were able to come. Oh,” she squealed, “the food looks wonderful. Exactly what I needed. And I love the frozen ring in the punch bowl. This is the most wonderful baby shower food ever.”

  I gave Maisie a smug smirk as Sera tugged me from the table.

  “What are you trying to do?” she said. “It’s not that I needed this job, but I don’t need these witches making my life any more havoc-filled than it already is.”

  “How is your life havoc-filled?” I said.

  “It just is,” she said.

  “Unless you’ve had a fight with your boyfriend, your life is just about perfect.”

  “No comment,” Sera muttered.

  I heaved a shot of air from my lungs. “Okay, I’m going to blissfully ignore that comment because you and Brock are perfect together. But anyway, business is great in Silver Springs. You have a fabulous reputation and a wonderful bakery. I wouldn’t worry about them.” Sera nibbled her fingers. I smacked her hand away. “That’s my habit, remember? Not yours.”

  Sera flexed her fingers. “I know. It’s just the whole new moon, old moon, waxing moon, I don’t know. The whole thing has me in a kerfuffle.”

  “Kerfuffle?” Reid said, coming up behind us. “Wow. Talk about telling your age.”

  Sera elbowed Reid. “One day you’ll be old. And when you are, I’ll remind you of that fact as much as I can just to annoy you.”

  I chuckled. “Come on. Let’s enjoy this baby shower.”

  Roman had finished putting all the chairs out, and he came over to me. He wrapped me in a big hug and brushed his lips over my cheek. “See you later tonight for dinner?”

  I nodded. “You got it, handsome. There’s a lot to do. We’ve got a wedding in less than three months.”

  Roman adjusted his collar. “All I have to do is show up. You’re the one doing all the planning.”

  I gently nudged his shoulder. “Very funny. There’s a lot you need to help with. I’m not doing this whole wedding on my own. You asked me, I said yes—”

  “Eventually,” he said.

  “Anyway, there’s a lot to do. I have a list for you. It’s very detailed. We can go over it tonight.”

  “Sounds romantic,” he said.

  “Listen, we don’t have to get married.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Darlin’, all I want to do in life is marry you.”

  My heart melted. I got a snuggly warm feeling inside, the kind that made my heart balloon to the size of my head. I loved this man.

  “Great, I’ll see you tonight,” I said.

  Roman laughed, and I found myself surrounded by squealing women of all ages ready to make one baby shower.

  Maisie took the stage. She rose and tapped her glass with a spoon.

  Ding ding ding ding ding.

  The conversations lowered to mumbles and whisperings. All heads turned in her direction. Maisie clasped her hands in front of her and said, “I want to thank y’all for coming to my baby sister’s baby shower. For so many years I thought I’d be the first one to have a baby, but it wasn’t meant for me. That’s okay. I live with my cat, and we’re just fine. I want to thank all the people who made this happen, including the Apel sisters—Dylan and Sera. Especially Sera, as she’s comped the meal as this is not what we agreed on, and it’s really subpar.”

  An uneasy silence fell across the room. I gritted my teeth and plastered on the biggest smile I could muster.

  Tina fanned her face. Her skin started to turn red as if she was getting hot. She crossed to a nearby window, flipped the lock and pushed it open.

  Maisie shot her an evil look. Tina shrugged. “It’s stifling.”

  “As I was saying,” Maisie continued, “thank y’all for coming. I can’t wait to meet the little baby girl.”

  As she finished up talking, Maisie’s body started to swell.

  I hoped it might be a trick of the light, but then other people started murmuring.

  At first it was her hands. They looked bloated. Her fingers swelled around several rings, making the digits appear more like sausages than actual fingers. Maisie glanced down. For a brief second her eyes flared, but then she turned back to the crowd, a smile still on her face.

  “We’re so excited you’re here,” she said. “I have a couple of baby shower games to play. The first is when we guess the name.”

  Maisie’s chest ballooned as if she’d been pumped with gas. The buttons on her blouse popped off, flying across the room. A few ladies in the crowd wheezed.

  Maisie teetered. She pitched back, falling to the floor. Tina crossed over and reached for her, but Maisie bounced like a basketball.

  Literally.

  Her body hit the linoleum, and she ricocheted up.

  “Oh,” Maisie yelped. “Someone stop this.”

  I flashed a look at Sera, who stared in horror. I knew what she was thinking—had Maisie eaten some of the food before we’d been able to stop her?

  Tina chased a bouncing Maisie around the front of the room. At this point Maisie looked exactly like a rogue basketball, one that wouldn’t stop bouncing.

  And she kept growing. The thin woman was nearly completely round. She bounced one more time and landed with her back stuck in the open window.

  “Help,” Maisie cried.

  Tina lunged forward. She grabbed Maisie’s arm and started pulling, but Maisie seemed to get even more stuck in the frame.

  “I can’t get her,” Tina said. “Someone help.”

  What the heck?

  I leaped from my chair and raced over. I tugged on Maisie’s swollen arm, but she was seriously wedged in. The more I pulled, the more glued she seemed to be. In fact, it was almost as if some sort of negative suction was at work, yanking her in the opposite direction.

  “Please,” Maisie said. I glanced up. Her eyes were filled with fright. They glistened as if she was barely able to contain the tears that wanted to shed down her face.

  “I’m trying,” I said. “Hold tight.” I glanced at Tina. “On the count of three, pull.”

  Tina nodded.

  “One. Two. Three.”

  As we both pulled, something else sucked Maisie. She jerked from our grasp and popped out onto the other side of the window.

  I leaned over in time to see her drift skyward. She looked like a birthday balloon that had been released into the atmosphere.

  Her thick arms and legs waved as if she was trying to swim herself back to the ground, but it was no use.

  “Can’t anyone get her down?” I screeched to the party.

  It was as if up until that moment, everyone had been living in a cloud of confusion. The women suddenly sprang into action, coming over and lifting their hands, ready to spell Maisie back down to earth.

  Magic crackled and splintered in the air. As the room focused on Maisie, I watched the poor woman drifted higher and higher in the sky, the whole time growing.

  “Oh no,” I heard her yell.

  Right as the roomful of witches focused on bringing her back down, Maisie lifted until the sun blocked my view of her, but I heard a distinct sound that reminded me of a balloon being popped by a needle or a pair of scissors.

  Then I watched as Maisie’s body plummeted to the ground.


  THREE

  I called Roman immediately. “One of the witches puffed up like a balloon, floated out the window and then popped.”

  “Please tell me this is a joke,” he said.

  “Not a joke. I think she might be dead.”

  He was silent for a moment. “I’ll be right there.”

  Roman arrived ten minutes later. One woman had already called an ambulance and the local police, who arrived on the scene quickly.

  “Should we go outside?” Sera said to me.

  I nodded. “I think we’d better.”

  The entire baby shower left the community center and walked into downtown Normal, Alabama, where the baby shower was taking place.

  Police and ambulance sirens sliced through the quiet Saturday calm. Sera and I followed the crowd until we reached an intersection, where a group of people hovered.

  Daisy surged through the clot of gapers. “My sister! Where’s my sister?”

  A salt-and-pepper-haired policeman pushed her back. “I’m sorry, ma’am. She didn’t make it.”

  Daisy collapsed to her knees while her friends surrounded her.

  “Oh no,” Sera said.

  “What?”

  She shot me a look full of angst and worry. “Do you think I did this?”

  I frowned. “What do you mean?” Then I realized she meant with the food. “There’s no way,” I said. “We didn’t see her eat any of it.”

  Sera nodded, but worry lines marred her face. “Yeah.”

  “I’m serious,” I said. “There’s no way. Reid swelled up right after she ate the food. If it was the same thing, then Maisie wouldn’t have waited so long.”

  “I don’t know,” Sera said, her voice trailing off. “It could’ve been some sort of delayed reaction.” She glanced around. “Where’s Grandma? She would know.”

  I twisted a lock of dark hair over my shoulder. “Are you seriously thinking about asking Grandma? She’ll start more trouble than it’s worth.”

  Sera shrugged. “You’re right. It’s just…I don’t know. We’re in a town that’s crawling with witches, my magic goes all haywire, a woman winds up dead and it seems to be tied to my power. I don’t know what happened.”

  “I’ll tell you what happened.”

  We turned to face the mysterious voice.

  Crouched on the ground was a short woman with beautiful blonde hair. She had a fringe of bangs over dark brown eyes and a worried look on her face. She slid two fingers over the asphalt and raised them to the sky, seeming to study some sort of residue that had been on the ground.

  “I’ll tell you what happened,” she repeated.

  “What’s that?” I said.

  “That woman was murdered,” she said. She rose and brushed her hand on her pant leg. “I’m Andie Taylor.”

  “Dylan Apel,” I said, “and this is my sister, Sera.”

  “Hey,” Sera said.

  “We were in town for a baby shower when…” I didn’t know exactly how to explain it.

  “When the deceased blew up like a balloon?” Andie finished for me.

  “That’s right,” Sera said. “How’d you know?”

  Andie slung her fists on her hips and stared at the sky. “Saw it. I can spot witchcraft a mile away. It also helps that I’m a witch.”

  A tall man with a solid build and shoulder-length dark hair strolled up to Andie. He placed a hand on her shoulder. “You okay?”

  She smiled warmly at him. In fact, her entire body lit up, seeming to take a deep breath of life at his touch. It was obvious they cared about each other very much.

  “I’m fine,” she said. “Nothing to worry about here.” She turned to us. “Stone, this is Dylan and Sera.”

  “Hello,” we said in unison.

  He nodded. “Nice to meet you.” He glanced back at Andie. “If you’re okay, I’ll go back to the house and watch Gabby.”

  She nodded. “Thanks. I’ll see you in a little while.”

  Stone left, flashing a smile that reminded me more of a rock star than anything else. There was something seriously mesmerizing about him. I dragged my gaze from him and settled it back on Andie. A cool breeze whipped up her hair, sending it spiraling around her delicate features.

  “You were saying that Maisie was murdered?” I said, keeping my voice low. The victim’s sister stood by the police, a box of tissues in her hand as she bawled over the deceased.

  Andie glanced at the scene as well. “Yep. Murder.”

  “How can you be so sure?” Sera said. “Couldn’t it have been accidental magic? Like, you know, the third full moon or something?”

  Andie shrugged. “I suppose it could’ve been, but I found something that suggests otherwise.”

  “What’s that?” I said.

  Andie pointed to the ground. “I found remnants of a spell on the ground. Along with a bit of food.”

  Sera’s face crumpled. I knew what my sister was thinking—that it hadn’t been murder at all, just a very bad puff pastry that Maisie had happened to eat without any of us seeing what happened.

  “Well,” I said, “it could have been accidental food poisoning or something. It might not have been intentional.”

  Andie shook her head. “I know it was intentional.”

  I frowned. “How do you know?”

  She stared at me for a minute. “Y’all are new in town, aren’t you?”

  I nodded. “We’re not from here.”

  Andie laughed. “Boy, do you need some instruction on Normal.”

  Sera toed at a rock. “Why?”

  “Because this town is an interesting place,” Andie said. “Come on, I’ll buy you a cup of hot chocolate.”

  Sera and I exchanged looks. “Why?” I said.

  Andie shrugged. “Because I hate to see someone looking as lost in this town as I feel.” She gestured for us to follow. “Follow me, and I’ll give you an education that’ll surprise you.”

  We followed her inside a little sweet shop called Nibbly Bites. The woman behind the counter was way tall and very pretty with a friendly smile.

  “Hi, Maggie,” Andie said in greeting. “We’d like three hot chocolates.”

  “Coming right up,” Maggie said.

  Maggie built our yummy-looking beverages complete with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. The three of us stole a booth in back.

  “What’s the deal with this town?” Sera said. “It doesn’t seem like people are normal.” She glanced at the Maggie woman behind the counter. “She’s not a witch, but there’s something magical about her.”

  Andie nodded. “This town used to be regular, or normal, but not long ago something happened and we’re experiencing an influx of supernatural folks.”

  “You mean other than witches?” I said.

  Andie nodded. “A lot more than witches. In fact, the witches at that baby shower are new to town, too.”

  I took a sip of my drink. Wonderful chocolaty goodness slid over my tongue and warmed my insides as it plummeted to my stomach. “I didn’t realize that magical beings other than witches lived out in the world.”

  Andie brushed her bangs from her face. “They do. Very much so.” She tapped her fingers on the table. “Very much so,” she repeated.

  Sera leaned closer. “But you were saying something else. You were saying you knew it was murder. How?”

  Andie leaned back. “It’s obvious, right? Who’s going to blow up into a balloon and then pop? The balloon part could’ve been an accident, but the popping? I’m not sure about it. We’ve had lots of strange goings-on here lately. It just wouldn’t surprise me, is all. Plus the spell residue I found, but that could’ve been attached to the food.”

  I downed the rest of my drink. “Thank you for your input,” I said. “But it looks like my sister and I should get going. It’s been a pretty harrowing day for us.”

  Andie nodded. “I completely understand. Listen, if you’re ever in town again, let me know. It’s always good to meet other folks who are about as nor
mal as the likes of us can get.”

  She gave me a wink, and I smiled. I liked her. She seemed nice, genuine, all the characteristics I tended to appreciate in folks.

  “So what are you?” I asked.

  Andie sighed. “A witch. Reformed, sort of. Actually it’s complicated. I’m technically a vampire-hunting witch, but I try not to do too much vampire hunting.”

  My eyes widened. “Wow. You’re like, super serious. Vampire hunting? I didn’t know that existed.”

  Andie’s mouth twisted into a grim line. “It does. It’s not much fun to think about and even less fun to have to do, but it’s not something you should worry yourself about. Most vamps keep to the shadows, and few attack regular people anymore.”

  “Anymore?” Sera said. “I kind of wish you’d said very few attack people ever.”

  Andie brushed a lock of bangs from her eyes. “Sorry. I’m not trying to scare y’all. Listen, best thing you can do is go home and not worry about it. Any of it. It was nice talking to you both.”

  “You too,” I said. I slid from the booth, and the three of us headed from the store. We stepped outside. Thick clouds blanketed the sky. A cool breeze slid up my arms. I hugged them, trying to retain my body heat.

  The crowd had lessened, but there were still people milling around, including the sheriff.

  He stepped over to us. “You’re the lady who made the food, right?” he said to Sera.

  She nodded. “That’s right. Maisie hired me.”

  He patted down his hair. “Well, I need to speak to you.”

  “What’s this about, Terry?” Andie said.

  “This is about this little lady here putting something in that food to cause Ms. Trip to take herself a journey into the sky and plummet to the ground.”

  A cold chill crept up my body. Instinctively I pushed myself between him and my sister. “What are you saying my sister did?”

  Terry spat on the ground. Wow. Really gross and pretty rude. “What I’m saying is, I need to bring your sister in. She’s under suspicion of murder for food poisoning that effectively led to the death of Maisie Trip.”

  Tears filled Sera’s eyes. “I didn’t do anything.”

  I put my arm around her. “But you’re not arresting her.”

  The sheriff chewed on some invisible substance. After a moment he said, “Might as well be. We’ve got proof the food was tampered with. Lady, you’re under arrest for murder. Come with me.”