Free Witch's Diary: A Paranormal Urban Fantasy Tale (Lost Library Book 4) by Kate Baray Page A

face and her nose was running, and she hadn’t noticed. She blew her nose and wiped roughly at the tears on her face.
    “Play it again.” This time there was no stutter.
    A woman’s voice overlaid the video footage, masking whatever small sounds Kenna’s mom might have made around her gag. “Gwen McIntyre, formerly known as Gwendolyn Lucille Brown, is charged with conspiracy to undermine the Coven’s authority, attempted assassination of a Coven leader, and terroristic threat. I believe that makes the good witch Gwen, a terrorist, doesn’t it?”
    The voice paused, and Kenna’s eyes flew back to her mom. She was working her mouth around the gag, but that only caused her split lip to reopen and bleed.
    The even-toned female voice continued, as if she was reading from a menu or an informational pamphlet. “Gwen has no representation, no contacts within the Coven, and very little chance of escaping conviction and a death sentence.”
    Kenna gasped, covering her mouth, fearful she’d miss something important.
    “…a trade. My father’s assets in exchange for my influence with the Coven. I can arrange representation for Gwen, whisper a few words in the right ear, and she’ll be released. You’ve got ten days. Or, rather, Gwen has ten days. But sooner is better for dear Gwen.”
    The video stopped.
    “That’s Margot? On the video clip?” Kenna asked.
    John nodded. “She’s voiced over the clip. None of the original soundtrack remains, just her message.”
    “It’s like she doesn’t even care, one way or the other.” Confused, still in shock, Kenna couldn’t wrap her head around it. “I mean, Margot had to have set this up. Otherwise, how can she deliver what she’s promising?”
    “She’s…dispassionate. That’s been our experience with her.” Lizzie frowned at John and gave a tiny shake of her head. “Yes, I’m sure she’s behind the charges. But there are no guarantees with Margot. She’s incapable of anything but self-interest and is completely untrustworthy.”
    “I’d say circumstance and convenience met,” Jack said.
    Jack sounded much too confident in his conclusion for Kenna’s comfort. Was she the only one who had no idea what was going on?
    “How do you, as the one completely magic-free guy in this room, have any insight? And what the hell does that cryptic statement mean?”
    Jack politely ignored her accusatory tone. “Margot and Sylvester, third and second respectively in Worth’s organization, have been fighting for leadership over the last several weeks. I’d say her circumstance must not be improving as quickly as she’d hoped, and she’s looking for an advantage.” Jack looked to John for confirmation. John nodded.
    Jack’s tone turned grimmer. “And I’d guess that your mom showed up on an ally’s property at just the wrong time, looking like the perfect sacrificial lamb. That was all Margot needed to leverage IPPC. Or leverage people who have influence with IPPC.”
    Kenna bit her lip. “We’ll never convince Harrington to release all of Worth’s frozen assets to Margot. We’ve got to be talking about massive sums of money. Does anyone know the total value of the seizures?”
    If she could just keep thinking about the next question, the next task, she could ignore the gut-wrenching panic.
    “Millions—but how many?” Jack shook his head.
    “Hundreds,” Lizzie whispered.
    “What?” Kenna turned a laser focus on Lizzie. “What did you say?”
    Louder, Lizzie said, “Hundreds of millions. Even if we could persuade Harrington, and then he in turn convinces IPPC, the logistics alone would be prohibitive within a ten-day period.”
    John placed a hand on Kenna’s arm. “She knows that. Margot is anything but an idiot. She’s looking to negotiate.”
    “Oh my God, this is impossible. And did you see her? Did you see my mom in that video?” Kenna cried. “She can’t stay there for another day, let alone ten.”
    “She’s fine.” John was trying to