remember which ones I put this in.” She picked the last two and meticulously poured a few drops of the clear liquid into each. “That should do it.”
“How long before it takes effect?” Carl asked.
“Wait ’till they take a few sips, and then it should kick in. I made it extra strong.”
Carl picked up the two that contained the potion and carried them back to the table while Rachel, Fred and Nova brought the other cups along with the creamer and the sweetener.
Eric immediately took his coffee, raised it to his lips and blew on it, then had a sip, though it was black and unsweetened. Terry poured two packets of sugar into hers and followed that with a dose of creamer.
Eric sighed, “Boy, I needed that.”
Terry took two quick sips of her own and smiled into her cup. “I really appreciate you letting us use your bathroom. It’s much nicer than the one at the gas station.”
Carl gave a sympathetic dip of his chin. “Like I said, I know what it’s like to be stuck in a vehicle for hours on a stakeout.” Eric took another big swig from his coffee and Carl felt encouraged. He’s in a hurry. Good . Carl fingered his cup and fought to keep his expression neutral.
“So, Ashley, or Terry, or whatever your name is,” Fred said. “Why are you taking classes at Western Carolina?”
“Well, I already have a degree, but I want to get my teaching certificate.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Carl saw Nova give her head a subtle shake. That must mean Terry is still lying, if Nova’s using her power right now. The truth potion hasn’t kicked in . He turned his attention back to Eric when he took another long drink. Maybe it’s working on him now . “Eric,” Carl said, “have you been on many stakeouts?”
“Lately, yeah.”
“Where was your last one?”
“Salem, Massachusetts. We were there almost a week.” Eric closed his mouth tightly as if angry at himself, and Nova nodded once.
The potion is working .
Fred had noticed, too, and she said, “Terry, why did you enroll in Environmental Science if it’s so hard?”
Terry seemed to be struggling with her reply, so Eric answered for her, “To make contact with Jamie.”
Jamie’s jaw tensed and Carl knew what he was thinking. They know about his magic. This is exactly what we feared . Rachel’s face turned ashen and she put one hand to her face.
“Um…why did you want to make contact with him?” Carl asked.
“Because it seemed like the best way to make contact with Fred, since we know they are dating. All of Fred’s classes were full, and the Enviro Science class still had space, so Terry signed up for it. She looks more like a college student than I do.”
Fred? They wanted to talk to her? Carl pushed the tip of his tongue hard against the inside of his bottom teeth and his mind began to race. Not Jamie? He didn’t want to ask the next question because he was afraid of the answer, but he knew he had to. “Why did you want to contact Fred?”
“Because we need her help getting in touch with two witches from Thibodaux, Louisiana, named Rita and Cassandra. We’re certain Fred knows them.” Eric and his partner glanced at each other with alarmed looks on their faces, and Eric muttered, “I didn’t mean to say that.”
You can’t help it. Might as well go for the whole story, now .
“Why them?” Fred said. “They’re just a couple of dirt bags.”
“Because we’re pretty sure they are real witches. I know you probably don’t believe in those, but…but we think they’re the real deal, regardless of their shady lifestyle.”
“How do you know that, Terry?” Jamie asked.
“From intercepted phone calls and interviews with people at that biker bar where they used to hang out, The Rusty Screw.” Her eyes widened as she realized what she was admitting. “Uh…I could lose my job for telling you that.” She looked at her partner again, and he spread his hands as if to say I know. I’m doing it too .
“Terry, I still
“How long before it takes effect?” Carl asked.
“Wait ’till they take a few sips, and then it should kick in. I made it extra strong.”
Carl picked up the two that contained the potion and carried them back to the table while Rachel, Fred and Nova brought the other cups along with the creamer and the sweetener.
Eric immediately took his coffee, raised it to his lips and blew on it, then had a sip, though it was black and unsweetened. Terry poured two packets of sugar into hers and followed that with a dose of creamer.
Eric sighed, “Boy, I needed that.”
Terry took two quick sips of her own and smiled into her cup. “I really appreciate you letting us use your bathroom. It’s much nicer than the one at the gas station.”
Carl gave a sympathetic dip of his chin. “Like I said, I know what it’s like to be stuck in a vehicle for hours on a stakeout.” Eric took another big swig from his coffee and Carl felt encouraged. He’s in a hurry. Good . Carl fingered his cup and fought to keep his expression neutral.
“So, Ashley, or Terry, or whatever your name is,” Fred said. “Why are you taking classes at Western Carolina?”
“Well, I already have a degree, but I want to get my teaching certificate.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Carl saw Nova give her head a subtle shake. That must mean Terry is still lying, if Nova’s using her power right now. The truth potion hasn’t kicked in . He turned his attention back to Eric when he took another long drink. Maybe it’s working on him now . “Eric,” Carl said, “have you been on many stakeouts?”
“Lately, yeah.”
“Where was your last one?”
“Salem, Massachusetts. We were there almost a week.” Eric closed his mouth tightly as if angry at himself, and Nova nodded once.
The potion is working .
Fred had noticed, too, and she said, “Terry, why did you enroll in Environmental Science if it’s so hard?”
Terry seemed to be struggling with her reply, so Eric answered for her, “To make contact with Jamie.”
Jamie’s jaw tensed and Carl knew what he was thinking. They know about his magic. This is exactly what we feared . Rachel’s face turned ashen and she put one hand to her face.
“Um…why did you want to make contact with him?” Carl asked.
“Because it seemed like the best way to make contact with Fred, since we know they are dating. All of Fred’s classes were full, and the Enviro Science class still had space, so Terry signed up for it. She looks more like a college student than I do.”
Fred? They wanted to talk to her? Carl pushed the tip of his tongue hard against the inside of his bottom teeth and his mind began to race. Not Jamie? He didn’t want to ask the next question because he was afraid of the answer, but he knew he had to. “Why did you want to contact Fred?”
“Because we need her help getting in touch with two witches from Thibodaux, Louisiana, named Rita and Cassandra. We’re certain Fred knows them.” Eric and his partner glanced at each other with alarmed looks on their faces, and Eric muttered, “I didn’t mean to say that.”
You can’t help it. Might as well go for the whole story, now .
“Why them?” Fred said. “They’re just a couple of dirt bags.”
“Because we’re pretty sure they are real witches. I know you probably don’t believe in those, but…but we think they’re the real deal, regardless of their shady lifestyle.”
“How do you know that, Terry?” Jamie asked.
“From intercepted phone calls and interviews with people at that biker bar where they used to hang out, The Rusty Screw.” Her eyes widened as she realized what she was admitting. “Uh…I could lose my job for telling you that.” She looked at her partner again, and he spread his hands as if to say I know. I’m doing it too .
“Terry, I still
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