Page 77 of Coven of Corpses

“All right, I’ll get in touch with Tracey, and we’ll start putting together some ingredients for protection from a witch and a demon.” Clarabell looked between them. “You decide where you’re going to launch this rumor and let me know. I’ll get the ingredients to you later.”

“Yeah, okay,” Cody said, then smirked. Even though Demetrius was looking at himself, he absolutely saw Cody in it. “I know just where to kick it off.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“I should be offended by this, you know.”

Eileen’s voice, roughened from years of cigarettes and, most recently, a pipe, was a familiar balm to Cody. She sat on the porch of the independent living condo she shared with Dieter. Her hand was curled around the bowl of a beautiful hand-carved wooden pipe, the stem tight between her teeth, and her bright green eyes squinted against the smoke drifting up.

“It’s nothing to be offended about,” Cody said. “We just know you’ve got all the in-roads for information in town.”

While they’d been open with Eileen about the witch and the demon, they hadn’t shared their body swap situation. Enough was going on without adding confusing details.

“Demetrius!”

Cody looked off down the block. Amelia and Otis had just gotten out of his Chrysler and she was waving over the roof. He smiled and waved, and when he turned back, caught a look from Demmy that made him frown.

“What?” Cody said.

“Your Aunt Amelia is going to come down here,” Demmy said.

“Yeah?”

“She’s going to ask about what’s going on.”

“Probably.”

“Do you, her nephew who’s known her all your life, want her involved?”

Cody nodded once. “Got it. Probably not. I’ll just go talk with her down there. Sound good?”

“Wait a hot tamale second,” Eileen said. “You’re worried about what will happen to Amelia, but you aren’t worried about what will happen to me if I start this rumor?”

“What? No, no. Not at all,” Demmy said.

“Eileen, listen.” Cody leaned in slightly and lowered his voice. “We know you’re more than capable of taking care of yourself. You carried a shotgun loaded with silver-dusted shells when we had a werewolf running around.”

“Still have it, loaded and ready,” Eileen said, puffing on her pipe as she looked at Cody. She took the pipe from her mouth and pointed the stem at him. “Something’s off.”

“What do you mean?” Demmy said.

“The two of you are acting squirrelly.” She looked between them. “I know they say married couples start to look and act like each other, but something else is going on here.” She pointed the pipe stem at Demmy, indicating Cody’s body. “You are acting more like him.” She then pointed at Cody. “And you’re acting more like him.”

“Well, we’ve been friends for most of our lives, and now we’re married, so that makes sense. Right?” Cody smiled as reassuringly as possible.

“Hello, boys!” Amelia’s bright voice floated up the driveway as she approached. “It’s good to see you both. We were just at Margie’s for dinner. Thought we might see you there.”

Cody’s stomach—really, Demmy’s stomach—growled at the thought of food, and he placed a hand over his midsection. With a smile, he tried to channel his inner Demmy and turned to Amelia. “Hi, Aunt Amelia. It’s good to see you.”

Amelia stopped on the front walk that connected to the driveway. She looked between him and Demmy, then finally settled her sharp gaze on Cody. Decades of teaching had given her a sixth sense about trouble and shenanigans. Cody had gone up against her power in the past and come away with his ears ringing from a stern talking to. He tried his best to smile as normally and reassuringly as Demmy would have, but deep down he knew their cover had been blown. And all he’d done was say hello. Damn, Amelia was good.

“What in the blazing peach trees has happened to you two?”

“Whatever do you mean?” Demmy said, then flinched.

Amelia pointed at Cody. “You’re not…” She took a step forward and looked hard at Demmy. “And you’re not, either.”

“Amelia, what the devil are you going on about?” Eileen said. “They’re not what?”