Witch's Diary: A Paranormal Urban Fantasy Tale (Lost Library Book 4) by Kate Baray Page A

Jack had opted to stay with the security staff on the fifth floor. Once the rooms were sorted, the woman assigned to greet them took Lizzie aside, spoke with her briefly, and left.
    “All right—I’m off to get debriefed on Harrington’s project. Pilar’s waiting for me. Since it’s technically the start of the day, I’m going to push through and cross my fingers that the long nap I grabbed on the plane will get me through the day.” She wrinkled her nose in displeasure. “You guys may not see me all day.” Turning to Kenna, Lizzie said, “Maybe you should get a little rest? After you see Harrington, I mean.”
    Kenna nodded, though she doubted it would be possible for her to sleep, as cranked up over her mom’s disappearance as she was.
    Lizzie headed down to the basement, where Kenna knew most of the magical books were still kept. So maybe Lizzie’s mysterious project was a book problem? It made sense that Lizzie’s ultra-secret trade with Harrington was for work on a magical book problem. Magical book deciphering was one of Lizzie’s superpowers. Kenna chuckled. That drove Lizzie nuts. Not a superpower, a talent. Like there was a difference.
    “Shit.” Kenna bit back another chuckle—she had a superpower. When she thought about it that way, it seemed cool. Where was Harrington? She had to pee.
    Looking up, she saw two pairs of male eyes staring at her curiously.
    “What?” She hated missing the punch line, especially when she was it.
    Max and Jack exchanged a look, but neither said a word.
    “When did you get guys get to be so tight?”
    Max perked up and said, “Harrington.”
    Looking over her shoulder, Kenna saw Harrington approaching from the hallway.
    Any respite from tension Kenna had felt vanished. “Hey, Harrington.”
    He reached out and clasped Kenna’s hand. “I know the circumstances are especially difficult with your mother missing, but I wanted to offer my congratulations.”
    Was that bastard congratulating her for joining the elite ranks of the magically talented or on her pregnancy? That was unkind, and Lizzie would not approve. Kenna gave herself a tiny mental kick. She composed herself and said, “Thank you. Can you get the funds released? At least some of them?”
    “No. There’s no possibility. The funds are no longer controlled by IPPC. A number of mainstream policing organizations hold them.”
    Kenna felt a hand under her elbow. She turned to find Max standing next to her, avoiding eye contact. She pulled her arm away and moved out of reach. “What can you do? You must have had some idea when you spoke with us.”
    Harrington murmured an agreement. “Let’s take this conversation into my office.”
    Kenna glared holes in Harrington’s back all the way down the hallway.
    Jack slipped next to her and put his arm around her. He squeezed her uncomfortably close.
    She jabbed him hard in the ribs.
    He hung on with a steely arm and whispered in her ear, “Watch it. Unpredictable, remember?”
    “Crap,” Kenna muttered. “Rainbows and kittens, rainbows and kittens.”
    Jack let go of her. “Good start, but you don’t actually like kittens. Although how a person can dislike kittens…”
    They arrived at Harrington’s office, and Harrington didn’t have a single scorch mark on him. Bonus.
    As she walked through the door, she mouthed to Jack, “Thanks.”
    She shrugged. Jack was stronger than he realized. Mental note: no focused hate, ill will, or bad feelings. She could do that. Generalized hate, ill will, and bad feelings with no specific target were just fine, so she should be good. And she had that trick, the candle one. Redirect her magic. Although how to safely do that—and without a candle—she hadn’t mastered. She’d work on that pronto. Or carry candles.
    “What’s your plan? My mom’s got days before her trial. And who knows when those crazies will decide to speed up the schedule or…or hurt her.” Kenna looked around the room. “Do you have any