Page 26 of Demon and the Raven

“Everything in Lynette’s shop gets shipped in, and all she does is repackage all that crap. Not much of a witch.”

“She holds séances,” Pace pointed out. “I’ve even been to one.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, what on earth made you think a woman who dresses up to look like a Gothic vampire has a direct line to the spirit world?”

Pace turned his attention to me. “But you’re saying Xander is an actual witch?”

Her gaze met mine. “Probably not. He just had an eccentric grandmother.”

“She was,” I agreed, staring at her. “In the very best way. And everyone loved her.”

She let out a frustrated breath. “That much is true.”

I noted the dark bags under her eyes and wondered if she too had not been sleeping. I was about to ask but then realized I didn’t care.

“I had no idea you were a witch, Xander,” Mal said fondly, shoulder-checking me. “I’ve never seen you in a pointy hat.”

I groaned, and both men laughed.

“So is anyone hungry?” Mal asked. “I was on my way over to Waxing the Moon for some dinner.”

I was going to immediately beg off so I could call Lorne, but my phone rang, saving me the trouble, as it was the man himself. “I need to get this,” I rushed out, walking a few feet away before answering. “Hey, are you all right?”

“No,” he rasped. “And I need you.”

“Of course. Where am I going?”

“To Kathy Hayes’s home over on Union.”

It was a ten-minute ride on my bike. “Okay, I’ll be there shortly.”

“I would come and get you, but I can’t leave.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll get right over there.”

“Come around the back, though, and wait a bit. I can’t have you in the house until they take the body.”

All the air rushed from my lungs. “Body?” I barely got out.

“Yeah.”

It wasn’t my place to ask, but I knew he’d tell me. “Was it an accident?” I asked hopefully.

“No, it wasn’t,” he replied, sounding hollow. “She was murdered.”

“I’m so sorry,” I rushed out.

Lorne had left Boston for two reasons: first, to take his brother and niece away from where tragedy had struck their family with the loss of a beloved wife and mother, and second, because he wanted to live somewhere without crime. And yes, there had been the murder of Megan Gallagher last year, but that was tied to supernatural forces beyond his control, so that was different. In his book, it didn’t detract from the allure of the town. The paranormal was not his responsibility to curtail. But murder was something he’d dealt with in the past and was now faced with again. He’d been guaranteed a small-town utopia, and now he was having to deal with exactly what he’d run from.

“It’s not your fault,” I assured him.

“No, I know, but still,” he husked. “This is my town. I’m the chief of police.”

“You can’t be everywhere at once,” I reminded him. “And I know you’ll get justice for her. That’s who you are.”

There was silence on the line before he cleared his throat. “Yeah, so anyway, there’s stuff in here, and I need you to take a look at everything.”

“I will. I’m on my way,” I promised before he hung up.