Free Wicked Witch Murder by Leslie Meier Page B

pass,” said Lucy.
    â€œI know, but it sure seems to be taking its own sweet time,” complained Diana. “I know I promised not to practice witchcraft, but I really think a repelling spell might help, if you wouldn’t mind.” Seeing Lucy’s lips tighten, she quickly added, “The girls wouldn’t even have to know. I could be very quiet.”
    â€œWhy don’t you give the doctor a call and get some of that cortisone?”
    â€œFilthy poison,” snapped Diana. “I wouldn’t pollute my body with that stuff.”
    â€œMaybe there’s something else he could prescribe?”
    â€œA prescription isn’t going to do any good,” said Diana. “What’s going on here is much stronger than any little pill.”
    â€œIt’s worth a try,” insisted Lucy. “I’m always amazed at the new stuff….”
    Diana sniffed. “I don’t think pharmaceutical companies have come up with anything to counteract a maleficent spell.”
    Lucy blinked. “You think your poison ivy is the result of an evil spell? Is that what you’re saying?”
    Diana nodded.
    â€œBut you told me there’s nothing wicked about witchcraft.”
    Diana shrugged. “It’s like any other religion—there are always some who stray. Witches are people, too, and there are jealousies and rivalries, and when you have attained a certain level of expertise, it’s tempting to use your powers in a negative way.”
    â€œDo you suspect anyone in particular?” asked Lucy.
    â€œI think it was Lady Sybil,” whispered Diana. “She was very upset when Lord Malebranche asked me to fill in during his absence.”
    â€œYou mentioned Lord Malebranche before….”
    â€œHe’s the high priest of our coven. He’s been called away.”
    â€œWho called him? Where did he go?”
    â€œHe always spends Midsummer in England, with a coven in the New Forest.”
    Not this year, thought Lucy, taking a deep breath. “They’ve identified the body in the woods—it’s Malcolm Malebranche….”
    A deep shudder racked Diana’s body, and Lucy quickly wrapped her in the comforter that had been tossed to the bottom of the bed. “No, no,” moaned Diana, rocking back and forth. “Not Lord Malebranche.”
    â€œThey think it was an accident, a magic trick gone wrong,” added Lucy.
    â€œEvil…evil is afoot,” whispered Diana. “I have to take steps to protect myself and the others.”
    â€œYou’re safe here,” said Lucy, trying to calm her. “It was an accident.”
    Diana shook her head; she was still shivering. “No accident.” She seized a pen and notepad that were lying on the bedside table and began scribbling frantically. When she finished, she shoved the paper at Lucy. “You must get me these things. They’re all at my shop.”
    Lucy took the paper and studied the list: black candles, salt, chalice, wine, athame, frankincense, onyx stone. “You promised,” protested Lucy. “No witchcraft.”
    Diana had pulled her long hair down over her face, but her eyes glittered brightly through the tangled locks. “It’s a matter of life and death,” she said, her voice little more than a hiss. “You have to get these things for me.”
    This wasn’t what Lucy had intended at all. She’d come back to question Diana about Malebranche, but all she’d found out so far was that he was the high priest of a Wiccan coven. “What can you tell me about Malcolm Malebranche?” demanded Lucy. “He was a magician, right?”
    Diana wasn’t yielding; her jaw was set, her hands curled into fists. “Get me the tools I need for the spell and I’ll tell you,” she said.
    Lucy knew when she was beat. The woman was hysterical, crazy, totally insane, but she wasn’t going to get another word