you what you want to know.â
âSimple enough.â He nodded and we were back in the brandy room. Elsie and Mr. Brannigan were gone. It was only me and the witchfinder. I staggered, unsure of my feet and not used to using so much power to get places.
âNow, the truth.â His eyes were sharp behind the mask.
âSomeone else found Makaleigh,â I confided. âBut it was not a witch.â
I explained about Olivia as I grabbed a hand towel frombehind the bar to dry my shoes and legs. I was surprised to find the shoes in good condition, barely wet at all. It had to be part of their magical properties. It would be awesome to have a pair of my own.
Unfortunately the magic would be over at dawn, but the spell to keep us in the castle would still be in place. Dorothy, Elsie and I wouldnât be naked, as Madam Tunis had promised, but I was hoping we wouldnât be the only ones to be de-glammed.
âThis I believe,â the witchfinder said as I finished my story. âNo wonder that creature from the sea came to protect you. Not everyone would have walked into a company of witches who hate ghosts knowing she has a ghost pressed into a bracelet. You do not appear to be unintelligent, so I must believe you are brave,â he acknowledged, âbut foolhardy.â
âThank you.â I didnât explain that I had no idea Olivia had hidden herself in Dorothyâs bracelet. It felt like a good time to leave without telling the complete story.
âAnd so you are exonerated. I move on to interrogate that foolish friend of yours who dared defy me.â His bearing became stiff and rigid again as he took a pinch of snuff and sneezed.
âIâm afraid thatâs a waste of your time too, Antonio. I was in the room with Elsie, Dorothy and Abdon Fullerâs grandson, Brian, when we found Makaleigh. None of us were with her alone. You need to look elsewhere for the killer.â
He sat slowly on one of the velvet chairs, fingering his pencil-thin mustache. âI am quite confused by this turn of events. But how shall I redeem myself if I do not question your friends?â
âWell, you could say you questioned them,â I suggested. âCall them all in here, but then letâs strategize. One of the witches in the castle is still guilty of murder. It would be my honor to help you discover who that is.â
âAnd you would do this for me?â
âMakaleigh was a very special person. I would do it for her.â
He jumped to his feet and held out his hand. âThen let us begin, madam. The truth awaits.â
CHAPTER 12
The witchfinder did as I suggested, grimly summoning my friends into the brandy room one at a time until all of us were together. Brian immediately poured himself a drink when he heard why we were all there.
âThatâs amazing.â Dorothy was surprised when she heard the tale of the Bone Man and the witchfinder. âWe have good news too. We found Brianâs cat. She somehow managed to get out of the box and was wandering through the castle. Brian and I did a locator spell and found her.â
âGreat.â I looked around the room. âWhat did you do with her?â
âBrian and Dorothy put her back in the carrier and took her upstairs to their room. I guess we all get rooms, since we have to stay here,â Elsie said. âBrian, pour me one of those too, please. I feel a headache coming on, and it needs something stronger than an aspirin.â
Brian handed her a drink.
âBut as soon as he saw her he knew her name,â Dorothy continued her story. âIt was amazing. At least she was okay.â
âReally? What are you going to call her?â I asked.
âKalyna.â Brian laughed. âIt sounds crazy, but thatâs what I got from her, and Dorothy said thatâs how you name them.â
âI canât believe you never had a cat,â Elsie added. âYour parents really
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