A Ghoulish Midlife (Witching After Forty #1) - Lia Davis Page 0,51

recognized Carmen for what she was.” Betty had told us who had killed her, but the decomposition was too far gone to get more than that.

“Yes, that’s my guess. Most witch hunters leave regular, run of the mill witches alone. But Mom said Carmen went rogue a long time ago. She’s after necromancers.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Mom says Carmen’s father was killed when she was a teenager by a necromancer. Carmen has been really angry since then.” Drew wiped his face. “I can’t believe she spelled me. She’s so far gone she’s using magic, and hunters are supposed to be against it. Not using it.”

“So, that means she’ll come after us now.” I looked at Wallie, who was most likely starting to show necromancer powers, too. “You’re in danger. I want you to go back to school, right now. Let us deal with this woman.”

He snorted. “Not a chance, Mom. I’m not leaving you.”

“But how do we deal with this?” I asked.

Drew sighed. “I can pretend to still be under her spell.”

“Me too,” Sam agreed.

Okay that might work as long as the guys could pull it off.

We sat around the dinner table and discussed one option after another for how that could be to our benefit.

In the end, we decided we had to draw her out. If we could get her somewhere with all of us around her, we could subdue her. Get her to confess her crimes. Then Drew would arrest her for William and Betty’s murders. It was the only thing we could think of.

Once we had a plan worked out, Drew stood and moved to the living room to call Carmen to set the trap. The rest of us sat as quietly as we could so we didn’t make the crazy rogue hunter suspicious.

Sammie sat in his seat next to his mom making clicking noises with his mouth while playing on his tablet. I considered putting a magical circle around him to muffle his noise.

In less time than I thought it would take, Drew returned but didn’t sit. “She’s agreed to meet me there in about an hour. I’m heading there now.”

Everyone else jumped into motion. When I started cleaning off the table, Alfred appeared and pushed me aside. I laughed softly and let him have at it.

I entered the living room and found Olivia and Sam discussing something in a hushed argument kind of way. Moving to stand beside them, I asked, “What’s up?”

Olivia huffed. “My parents are out of town.”

I glanced at Sammie who was sitting next to Wallie chatting away. “Wallie can watch him. Alfred is here. The house won’t let Carmen or anyone with ill intent come inside.”

As if agreeing with me the walls of the living room vibrated and a knock sounded on the ceiling above our heads. Olivia gasped and stared at me wide-eyed. “Was that the house?”

Laughing, I nodded. “Yeah. Do you now see why the construction crew gets scared off?”

“We should set up cameras just so we can see their reaction when the house acts out.” Olivia started to giggle, which made me laugh more.

“I love it. But later. Right now, we have a rogue hunter to take down.”

It took some time, but I finally got Wallie to promise to stay here with Alfred and Sammie. He couldn’t argue too much with me since I told him that his job is more important because he was keeping the kid and the ghouls safe. Which meant Wallie would stay safely at home as well. Plus, Wallie could protect Sammie and control Alfred. At least Alfred would follow Wal’s directions because my son was a necromancer.

I turned to Sam and Olivia. “Ready?” I asked in a low voice with my stomach churning. Now that we were putting the plan into motion and fast, I was starting to have doubts.

Olivia looked like she was about to come apart at the seams. Not because she was scared, but excited. I made one more attempt to get her to stay. “Olivia, your kid has only two parents. And both of you shouldn’t go. Carmen has already killed two people that we know of. Think about staying behind.”

Wallie grunted. “I only have one parent.”

I sighed. “I kind of have to go, Wal. I’m the necromancer.”

Not that I wanted to. I definitely didn’t want to. But Carmen had to be stopped. And I had powers. They might need me. Hopefully, Drew and Sam would be able to handle it on their own, but if not, Owen and I