Southern Charm by Stuart Jaffe Page B

speakers. Max didn't recognize the piece but it was a somber, slightly dissonant sound that made the witch appear more devious, more of a threat.
    Exactly what she wants.
    "Come now," she said, stepping toward the chairs. "I promise I won't curse you tonight."
    "How comforting."
    The idea of heading further into this spider's web did not appeal to Max, but he wanted to hear what she had to say. There were so many loose threads, and if this witch would tie some of it together, even just one or two things, he had to take a few chances. No risk, no reward — Drummond would be proud.
    When Max settled into his chair. Connor sat opposite him. "I'm sure Howard Corkille has told you his pathetic little story. He probably even told you some of the truth. But what you should know is that Terrance Hull is not seeking the painting as some sort of retribution upon Corkille for deceiving his grandfather. He never even liked the old man that much. No, Terrance Hull needs to find the painting for the same reason he needed to get his journal back a year ago. They are two of three key charms to a powerful spell. I was to cast that spell, but because of you, Hull is not as confident in me as he once was. When you help me get this painting back to him," she said, her eyes turned toward the ceiling as if peering into the future, "he will care about me again."
    "So, what's this spell?"
    "Simply to raise Tucker Hull back from the grave with more power than he ever had when alive, to restore him to his place as the head of the Hull family, but this time, with an enormous fortune to wield."
    "Is that all?"
    Dr. Connor curled her lip. "For now."
    "And you actually think I'll help you do this?"
    She placed her middle finger on Max's forehead and slid it down to the tip of his nose. "You will be eager to help me."
    Max swore she kept speaking, but he could not hear anything. A weight pressed into his body as if a sandbag had been dumped into his lap. At first, he thought it was fear taking over. As Dr. Connor edged back, concentrating on him and mouthing silent words, he knew the weight was not fear but some kind of spell.
    "Stop this." He tried to lift his arms but they wouldn't budge from his side.
    "I just need to ensure that you won't do anything rash."
    "I'm not going to help you," he said, while a voice deep inside questioned his timing for bravado.
    "I wonder what your wife will say about it?"
    "What?"
    "She must be feeling a bit lonely outside, in that cold car, waiting for you to play your little detective game with me. She must be wishing something more exciting would happen."
    Max strained against his invisible bonds. Though he knew she would never hear him, Max screamed Sandra's name, begged her to drive away — even as he pictured Dr. Connor's hired hands ripping open the car door and yanking her out. She would struggle. She would fight back with a kick or a punch, but they would overpower her.
    The witch had his wife.
    Dr. Connor sauntered to her rolltop desk and opened the half-empty bottle of Jack Daniel's. She tipped back her head and guzzled for a moment. With a satisfied exhalation, she returned to Max. "Now," she said, "you will help me get that painting, so that I may return to Terrance's favor. If you don't, I'm sure the Hulls will always have need for a good blood sacrifice."
    With the coldest, most hateful scorn he ever held, Max nodded. He thought to threaten her should anything happen to Sandra, but he could see in her eyes that she knew. And though Drummond was not in the room, Max could hear his strong voice saying, "There's no way this is going to end up good."

Chapter 14
    Max slammed open his office door, cracking the glass right across the gold-painted 319, and headed straight for the bookshelf. He grabbed the first book he could reach, opened it, found only pages, and tossed it aside. Another book. Another. And another.
    Drummond entered from the ceiling and said, "Um, Max? You feeling okay?"
    "What does it look like?"