The Witch Weekly Part 14

Luckily they were baking brownies, Madrina said. So I popped over here.

You made brownies? I turned to Layla. You didnt tell me you were making brownies.

It was a joke, Madrina snapped. Im your fairy G.o.dmother, of course I know when youre injured.

She popped over here a few seconds after we heard the screech of tires outside, Bel said, looking lost without something to do for once. Ever the planner, standing around and watching looked strange on her. Layla and I heard the horrible sound, but by the time we were even at the front door, Madrina was by your side. If it werent for her The note of sadness in Bels voice had my heartbeat speeding at twice its normal rate. Was I really hurt that badly?

I got there in time, Madrina said simply. Already focused on my body again, she ran her hands from the tip of my head to the bottom of my toes. Each time she touched me, a little bit of the pain seeped away.

I lay back against the pillows, letting my mind free as Madrinas hands danced across my skin. But when I opened my eyes, her face was pinched with pain. Whats happened? Are you okay? Madrina, stop whatever youre doing.

No, dear.

What is she doing? I turned to my two best friends. Stop her!

Sorry, Charlie, Layla said. Its needed. Wed do it if we could, but we dont have those powers.

You know the drill, Bel said. Just relax. Madrina needs to help you; the pain is too unbearable for one person.

One of a fairy G.o.dmothers gifted magical strengths is the ability to help bear the burden of pain for her charge. She couldnt heal a wound completely with a point of her finger, but she could help ease the suffering. Like the law that states every action has an equal and opposite reaction; except in this case, there is a certain amount of pain a person experiences. By law, that pain cant just vanish into thin air. But it can be shared between a G.o.dmother and her charge, and Madrina had just stolen some of mine to ease my suffering.

Madrina, you dont have to, I said. Well buy you the large screen television if thats what this is about.

Layla tried to hold in a small bout of laughter, but she failed. Just say thank you and accept help, Rosie.

This is my job, Madrina chimed in, so you need to let me do it. And more than a job, I want you to heal, Rosie.

Not particularly the sentimental type, Madrinas words touched me. That means a lot.

Because after all, I do want that television. Madrinas pinched face cracked a smile. And I know your job is in jeopardy, so Id feel really terrible making you pay for a TV and then bankrupting you.

The room burst into easy t.i.tters of laughter. The mood lightened for a moment, and I took that second to let a wave of gratefulness wash over me. This day could have turned out so differently, yet here I was surrounded by family. I couldnt imagine a better place be.

The lightness of the mood was broken as the door to my bedroom flew open, and in whirled the tornado that was the Chief. Rosie? he called. Rosie, are you alright?

I looked up at the breathless man, his hair ruffled and his eyes wide. Im okay.

Reaching out, he took my hand in his. What happened? I feel terrible. I should have followed you home, or given you a ride Hold on a second. I squeezed his hand back and turned to Layla and offered her a glare. You know girlfriend, I never got to thank you for setting me up on a blind date tonight.

She had guile to wink at me, though she blushed afterwards, looking down to her feet. Uh, youre welcome.

Arent you going to yell at her for impersonating an informant? I spoke to the Chief, but I pointed at Layla. You got mad at me for impersonating a reporter, and I actually am a reporter.

Oh, relax, Layla said. He only got mad at you because he wanted an excuse to ask you out on a date.

The Chiefs gaze never lifted from my face. Are you okay?

My heart softened at his concerned gaze, and even Madrina stepped aside, which was practically unheard of. Im fine, really. Thank you for coming. How did you hear about this?

He stared at me for another long minute. Eventually, he must have decided that I was as fine as I said I was, and he started addressing all of the questions thatd been hurled at him since his arrival. First of all, it was wrong and illegal for you to impersonate a reporter in order to get questions answered from a witness, so thats why I got mad at you; not because I wanted to ask you on a date. Even if I did want to ask you on a date, that was still wrong.

I knew it, Layla chirped. It was all about the date.

And you" he rounded on Layla. That was wrong to mislead me. You could have just talked to me about tonight. I wasnt the one who needed convincing to go out with Rosie. She is the one who needed convincing.

Yeah, but you couldnt keep a secret if I told you, Layla shot back. I have no regrets.

I thought it was about work.

Did it work out or not? Layla batted her eyes innocently at the two of us. Hmm?

When both the Chief and I turned our glares on her, she clapped her hands and jumped up and down.

Yes, Madrina muttered under her breath. Then she followed it up with something that sounded like: I can smell a television.

Even Bel tried to hide her pleased smile.

I came here as fast as I could, the Chief said, turning back to business. What happened?

I dont know. I parked, climbed out of my car and was crossing the street when car came cras.h.i.+ng towards me. I tried to jump out of the way, but it must have nicked my legs.

Why are you not in the hospital?

Do you doubt me? Madrina stepped up. Im her nurse.

Its just with injuries that bad"

Layla stepped forward and rested a hand on the Chiefs flailing arm. Madrina is the best there is. If she hadnt gotten there so quickly, the situation would be a lot grimmer now.

Youre a nurse? he looked at her. I didnt know.

Madrina cleared her throat. Something like that.

But she needs proper care and medical attention"

Im doing fine, I said to the Chief. Let us handle this.

But if you get infected"

Sometimes it was really difficult not to talk about magic. Part of me wanted to blurt out that one touch from Madrinas hands could do more than any nurse, any doctor, any shot of morphine that a hospital could provide. So instead, I went for the distraction technique again. How did you hear about what happened?

Layla looked at her toes, and the Chief looked at Layla. She sheepishly raised a finger. I called him. I figured we needed someone to look into who was driving the car and why they came after you.

What makes you think they came after her? The Chief asked. Are you sure it wasnt an accident? It was dark out.

When his gaze fell on mine, I gave a sad shake of my head. No, when they saw me, they sped up. I almost flew out of the way. Our street is well lit. Even if the car had just gone straight, they would have missed me because I dived fast enough. They swerved to hit me.

The Chiefs jaw clenched and unclenched. When he stopped working his jaw as if he were trying to chew on a piece of metal, he nodded. Ill find them. Well find them.

Do you think this is about the case? Layla asked. Maybe she was onto something.

I know she went to visit Dan today, the Chief said. And Im wondering if thats not related. Did you see the car?

I didnt stop and draw a sketch of it, no, I said wryly. It was dark outside, and the car was dark. Thats all I can say for a fact. I dont want to give wrong information.

Excuse me for a second, I need to make a phone call. The Chief ducked out of the room.

As soon as he left, all sets of eyes swiveled towards me.

Layla looked like she was a helium balloon about to pop. Her cheeks expanded and her face turned red and it was clear she was trying to hold something in, so I gestured for her to speak up. She let out a squeal so loud it was as if that helium balloon had opened a tiny gas leak and was shooting straight for the moon.

It worked! Layla did a little dance and then twirled in a circle. I knew it! You guys are going out again.

Hes going to help me with my article, I hedged. Its nothing serious.

Sure, okay.

Its not!

Just like that time I asked Andy Sweet to tutor me in the art of donut making. Layla rolled her eyeb.a.l.l.s. What do I care how theyre made? I just care about eating them. But I helped with his work because it meant Id have the excuse to hang out with his cute tush some more. I think thats whats happening here.

Hes not helping with the article because he wants to stare at my b.u.t.t! I said, realizing far too late that the Chief had re-entered the room mid-speech. Turning towards him, I shrank lower and lower into the bed until I was praying that the pillow would swallow me whole. His expression was one of amus.e.m.e.nt mixed with confusion. I pulled the covers over my head.

I feel like I should say something to address that comment, the Chief said. But unfortunately, that discussion will have to wait. Rosie, we have an ID on the car.

You do? I flipped the covers back, all embarra.s.sment forgotten. Where? Who? What?

After coming after you, the car made a mistake and screeched through a stop sign at the end of the block. Someone called in to report it.

Thank goodness for small towns, Layla murmured. You think anyone in New York would call to report someone running a stop sign? No, theyd be lucky to report a dead body.

Well? I focused on the Chief. What did you learn?

The car belongs to Dan Woods, Rosie. He was last seen driving the car an hour ago when he made a delivery. The next thing we know hes squealing through a stop sign after youve been hit. The Chief shook his head. Im going over there now to ask some questions.

Im coming with you, I said, struggling to sit up.

Not with those injuries, youre not. He laid a hand on my shoulder.

Under normal circ.u.mstances, Id say he was right. But my family wasnt normal, and neither were these circ.u.mstances. Madrinas touch had taken away a lot of the pain, and her magic had helped ease my injuries until they were mere bruises now. Im coming with.

No.

If you dont take her with, Layla said. Shes just going to be a headache for us, and you wont know where she is. Give her an ice pack and make her sit in the car.

No.

Fine, I said. Ill follow you there. You cant stop me from driving to get a pizza. Turns out that getting hit by a car suddenly makes me hungry.

The Chief rolled his eyes to the ceiling. Fine. Get an ice pack. You may ride along, but youre not getting out of the car.

I could barely hide a smile. In my defense, Chief. You knew exactly what you were getting into when you agreed to seven dates with me. We both knew they wouldnt be any ordinary dates.

Seven dates? Layla jumped nearly three feet off the ground, and I was worried she was going to fly away. It worked!

A television! Madrina sank to her knees. I smell a television.

A few minutes later, I was dressed in loose pants, a tank top and light sweater, and leaning against the Chiefs arm as we hobbled out to the car. Whats up with them? Are they extra odd tonight?

I gave him a half smile. Hey, buster, thats my family youre talking about. Theyre exceptionally weird. And I love em.

Chapter 23.

By the time we reached Dans place, the Chief and I had driven each other borderline crazy. Both of us had so many questions, and both of us had very few answers. Wed taken my car there, though the Chief drove. Hed only had the cop car at my place, and we agreed it might spook Dan if he caught wind of a police car headed his way.

Despite our precautions, however, the plan hadnt worked.

I frowned at the dark house. It looks like hes gone already.

The Chief exhaled a sigh. Hed tried to keep me bound to the car, but since Id been shouting suggestions and advice at him through the window so loudly, he eventually let me trail him like a puppy dog as long as I stayed quiet.

Hes not answering the doorbell, but the car is here, I said. Havent seen any movement anywhere since weve shown up, and his house is open. Do you think he took off?

The Chief shook his head. Its hard to say.

As the Chief wandered out of sight, I did something that technically was against the rules. I shouldnt use magic in public, but was it really public if n.o.body was watching me? Resting a hand on the doork.n.o.b, I muttered an unlocking spell under my breath and jiggled it a few more times until it opened up. Oh, look at that, I said. He left the back door unlocked.

No, he didnt. The Chief squinted at me. I just tried it a second ago.

I shrugged. Maybe you didnt try hard enough. I mean, I am pretty strong. Check out these guns.

The Chief stared in disbelief as I flexed my measly biceps. I sometimes wish wed never met. I dont know how you manage to break so many rules, but"

Are you going to lecture me, or are you going to poke your head in there and see if Dans around waiting to run over more innocent victims?

The Chief maintained a slight glare in my general direction, but my logic must have worked. Instead of throwing more textbook definitions of the law at me, he hesitantly tried the door. Finding it unlocked, he gave me one more skeptical glare before poking his head inside. Dan, are you around?

There was no answer.

Dan, this is the police, the Chief called again. I just have a few questions. Im going to come inside if I dont hear from you.

Still nothing.