Free What's a Witch to Do?: A Midnight Magic Mystery by Jennifer Harlow Page B

the person and have them arrested.” I kiss her cheek. “But I’m gonna need your help.”
    “How? Anything.”
    “I need you to discreetly ask around the coven about the others. Especially Cheyenne, Collins, and Erica.”
    “Collins? She wouldn’t do this,” she says. “You’re like a sister to her. She loves you.”
    “She might have information about Cheyenne.”
    “Well, if it’s anyone, it’s that cow,” Debbie says.
    “We need proof.” And I need to stay alive long enough to find it. There’s a knock on the bedroom door. “Come in.” Adam steps in, now dressed in black jeans and camouflage T-shirt. Without the bruises and ectoplasm, his impish face is just a few degrees shy of handsome. “You’re looking better. How you feeling?”
    He shuts the door. “Good. Tired.”
    “Lot of that going around,” I say. “Debbie, give us a minute?”
    Debbie stands and walks past Adam, giving him the evil eye. “I’ll order the pizza.”
    “She’s tough,” Adam says after the door shuts.
    “She’s scared. Getting married, now this. Finding you naked didn’t help matters.”
    “Yeah, sorry about that,” he says, blushing a little.
    I rise from the bed. “Just wear pajamas from now on. Impressionable young girls around and all.”
    He raises an eyebrow. “Does that mean I’m staying?”
    “So it seems. No one else is rushing to my rescue anytime soon.”
    He nods sadly. “I’m sorry.”
    “Yeah, well, I’m used to it,” I say with a shrug. He just looks at me with pity. I don’t do pity. “What do we do now? I have my spies out in full force collecting intel. I’ve identified potential suspects. I’ve established your alibi. I’ve whipped up a few protection charms at work, and dinner’s on the way. What next?”
    He seems suitably impressed, even raising an eyebrow. “I guess we eat pizza.”
    “Best damn idea I’ve heard all day.”
Sunday Supper
    The girls, Debbie, Greg, Adam, and I all sit around the dining room table scarfing down pizza and apple juice. The dinner of champions. I figure if I’m dying soon, screw Weight Watchers, I’m going to enjoy fat, sweets, and empty calories as much as I can. Though my eating habits are positively dainty compared to Adam’s. He shovels an entire pepperoni and sausage pizza into his mouth in record time, having warned Debbie to order extra. Cora giggles and tries to do the same, barely chewing, but I yank the piece away with a scowl.
    “Hungry there, uh, Adam?” Greg asks as he exchanges a glance with Debbie.
    “Sorry,” Adam says with his mouth full. “I haven’t eaten all day.”
    “You shouldn’t talk with your mouth full,” Sophie sneers. “It’s rude.”
    Adam takes a few seconds to chew and swallow. “You’re right. I apologize.”
    Sophie’s sneer doesn’t waver as she sips her juice. We eat in silence for a few seconds. Cora smiles brightly at Adam, who smiles back. Greg and Debbie exchange another look, neither too happy with our latest addition. My house, I have to play host before the atmosphere goes from frosty to arctic. “So girls, it looks as if we’re having a guest stay with us for a few days.”
    “Him?” Sophie asks.
    “Yes, and if anyone asks, he’s our cousin A.J. from Boston here for the wedding.”
    “Why do we have to lie?” Sophie asks.
    “You’ll understand when you’re older,” Debbie says. “Your aunt has a reputation to maintain. We don’t want the entire town thinking she’s Paris Hilton, do we?”
    “But why does he have to stay here?” Sophie asks.
    “Because he’s our friend,” I say, “and since he is a guest in this house, we will treat him accordingly, okay? So drop the attitude.”
    “But—”
    “Not another word. You are being rude, and you know better.”
    Sophie tosses her half eaten slice down and stands. “This sucks!” she says before running off. Um … okay. Debbie, Greg, and I are all speechless. This is not normal behavior for her. She does silent