asked, his deep voice warm and soothing.
I slipped off the bed, still a bit lightheaded from Hobbs’s elixir. “I’m going to feed Nana Karen, of course. I do it every night, and I’m late. She’s going to be very cranky or better known as hangry.”
Atti buzzed in front of my face, his long beak, bobbing as he shook his head. “You’ll do no such thing. You’re quite ill. I’ll feed her.”
Holding out my finger, I let him land on it and gave him a kiss on his head. “I have some girl talk I need to get off my chest, Atti. No offense to you, but I need a female opinion.”
“And must you have that discussion this eve? Can’t it wait until you don’t sound like a foghorn?”
I wanted to share my elation over Hobbs’s acceptance of my visions, and while I was sure Atti would be thrilled for me in his distinctly unaffected, almost bored Atti way, I needed a girl to squeal over it with.
I looked my familiar in the eye. “I’m just a little woozy, but I’m fine. Now, quit haranguing me and let me be a girl for two seconds, huh, grouchy?”
“Ick,” he spat. “Far be it from me to keep you from talk of filthy boys. Off with you then. Whilst you’re gone, I shall draw a warm bath and stoke the fire.”
“Where’s Uncle Darling?”
“Visiting Montwell. The doctors allowed them extra time this evening due to how well he’s faring. Lovely news, isn’t it?”
I grinned and tried to take a sigh of relief, but my tight chest didn’t love that. “It sure is.”
“Good enough. Now, I’m off to prepare a meal, too. How does chicken and dumplings sound?”
I kissed him on the top of his tiny head again. “Like the best comfort food ever. Thanks, Atti. I love you.”
“Ugh, keep your unhealthy slobber to yourself, Miss Witch. Now go, before I change my mind and shackle you to your bed and force you to become well.”
Laughing, I headed off to the mudroom to grab my coat and hat and bundle up. I couldn’t wait to talk to Nana. I also grabbed my phone and shoved it into the pocket of my jacket.
Pushing the door open, I looked over at Hobbs’s cottage and smiled. It was all lit up, courtesy of him. He’d decorated around the rounded door and all across the roofline with red and white Christmas lights. There was a wreath with a big red bow hanging on the door, and he’d even put out a standing wood Santa on the tiny porch, carved and painted by one of our local artisans.
The light was on in his kitchen, which I hoped didn’t mean he was cooking up another batch of chimpanzee sweat, but it did make my heart skip a beat that he’d taken such good care of me.
And that reminded me of where we were at this point in the hunt for a killer. Despite the fact that we still had next to nothing, and my uncle was still in danger, I felt as though we’d at least accomplished something.
We had two more clues to this mess. The University of Virginia and a man who talked funny. But was he the same man in both Kerry Carver’s case and Jasmine’s? Or was that a dumb question? It had to be.
And the U of V was bugging me, but my brain was still fuzzy from whatever Hobbs put in that disgusting drink. Why did that sound familiar? Not only because I’d seen the emblem in my vision, but because…
I stopped my short trek to the barn and pulled my phone from my pocket, still on the last Facebook page I’d looked at this afternoon after looking at Jasmine’s mother’s page.
And several things kept running through my brain, all smushed together and cramming my head at once.
The University of Virginia.
The crease in the killer’s pants.
The smell of cigarette smoke.
The description Officer Little had given about the man who’d attacked my uncle.
Solange and Sienna’s mention of someone who talked funny…
Holy word so bad, Atti, were I still in grade school, would ground me for a hundred years for saying!
When it all came together, when I pulled up Facebook and double-checked my facts, I instantly texted Stiles to tell him what I thought I knew.
And as luck would have it, that was the instant someone cracked me over the head with something. Something pretty gosh darn hard, thank you very much.
When I opened my eyes, I couldn’t