Magic and Mayhem: Witchin' Impossible (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Hazed & Confused Mysteries Book 1) Read Free

homecoming.”
    I moved my hand back to the steering wheel. “Lily’s the next block over.”
    When I parked, Tizzy rolled down the window. “Do you mind? I want to check out the neighborhood.”
    “And a certain Jackie Stringer?”
    “Don’t be a buzzkill.”
    “Go,” I told her. “Have fun.” With those words, all I saw was squirrel butt in my rearview mirror as she hurried down the sidewalk and out of view.
    Lily Mason’s house was on Felicity, one of the many ridiculous names the town’s forefathers had given the streets. I’d grown up on Arcadia, uber-grateful my parents hadn’t bought a house on Shangri-La. The white paint was peeled and cracked on the small two-story home, but the lawn was mowed, the windows were clean, and the porch was clutter free. A clean, green and yellow compact truck with a short box bed was parked in the small driveway. The dent behind the back left wheel well brought back memories of our hell-raising days.
    “Haze!” Lily shouted as she ran out her front door. She’d lost weight since high school, and even back then, she hadn’t had any extra pounds to spare. Her shirt hung loose, and her jeans were held up with a belt. Her hair was still the most beautiful shade of golden russet red.
    “I can’t believe you’re still driving this old beater.”
    “Martha is reliable.” Lily put her hands on her hips and nodded to me. “Unlike someone else I can mention.”
    “I’m here now.”
    She paused a couple of feet in front of me. “Yeah,” she said. “You are.”
    This close, I could see how bloodshot her eyes were. So much so, it dimmed the vibrant green of her irises. I scooped her into my arms and squeezed her until her back popped. “I’m so sorry about Danny.”
    “Me too,” she said, sad and sick with grief. She patted me on the back and eased out of my embrace. “Most days, I’m okay. Knowing you were coming started the water works.” She hugged me quick and brief. “I’m really glad you’re here. Maybe you can get the answers that I can’t.”
    “I’ll talk to the police chief in the morning.”
    “That’ll be interesting.”
    “Yep. As fun as a root canal.”
    Lily gave me an incredulous look. “You’ve had a root canal?”
    “No.” Witches didn’t suffer from human ailments like bad teeth, which meant, I could have all the chocolate I wanted, never brush my teeth, and still have healthy, pearly whites. “But I’ve heard they’re
    awful. Anyhow, I have an appointment with Adele Adams, the head of the Witch-Shifter Coalition Council tomorrow afternoon.”
    She chewed her lower lip and tugged on a lock of her hair. “About that…”
    A blood-curdling scream pierced the quiet street. Lily’s face blanched, and sparks tickled from my fingertips.
    “That’s Joy,” Lily said.
    “Stay here.” I drew my weapon as John Decker, Lily’s wereraccoon neighbor, ran out of his house, his wife Joy, the screamer, her black hair tied up in a scarf and wearing a tank style purple nightgown, hot on his trail.
    “Help!” he hollered. “It’s Boyd. It’s awful.”
    Joy was sobbing so hard she began to puke. “That’s not my child,” she heaved. “Not my Boyd. It can’t be.”
    “Is there someone else in the house?” I asked John.
    “No.” He shook his head. “I don’t think so.”
    I looked at Lily. “Call the police.”
    She nodded.
    I ran up the Decker’s porch steps, through the front door with my weapon in front of me, and into their small home.

Chapter Four
    INSIDE THE HOUSE, JEOPARDY BLARED on the old standard definition television, the rust colored sofa had an indention on the left side where I assumed Joy sat most of the time since the only other furniture in the room was a large, brown recliner with a peeling vinyl covering. No woman would put bare legs on that scratchy surface.
    I cleared the front of the house and made my way down the hall. The first door on the right had to be Joy and John’s bedroom. It was tidy, and the