The treasure hunt. The letters spelling WARM. There was no heat needed for the ritual, so what was that all about? Was it a coincidence?
And why would Mom send the postcards in the wrong order, leading them from Wellington to the south? It could have as easily been the other way around. It would have made more sense, sending the postcards as she went.
Unfortunately, even after reading her letter, Shanna wasn’t sure how much sense her mom made.
She leaned her head on the table, resting on the letter partially mangled from the kea’s bite. Charlie had said those birds were extremely intelligent, and Shanna had seen it in the parrot’s eyes as it perched on her shoulder. Too bad they couldn’t read or talk. She bet a kea would be able to figure out this puzzle.
“What are you missing?” she muttered to herself. She lifted up, staring at the letter as the writing blurred in front of her eyes.
The first letter of each of the postcard places, in the order they’d visited them. That had to be intentional; that was why Mom nudged them toward Wellington first, correctly assuming they’d follow the trail to the south from the closest next place to the one furthest away, spelling WARM as they went, like a good, obedient swarm of bees, finding their way back home.
Shanna blinked. Mom said it was all for her. She left to eventually give freedom to her. Shanna.
She turned the letter around and scribbled the initials of the four places on the back. But in the forefront of Mom’s mind was her. She added her initial at the start.
SWARM.
Shanna tilted her head, staring at the word as if an explanation would pour out of it. The paper remained empty, but a memory flashed in her mind. The big, bold letters ofThe Witchy Swarmshop, the S turned into a sigil.
The shop closing after twenty years because its owner, Bella, a masterful witch—at least according to that clerk—was leaving.
Bella.
A memory from their adventure in Abel Tasman flashed in Shanna’s mind. The initials carved in the tree, A + B, Alfie and Bella.“Did you name your boat after one of the girls?”Shanna had asked Alfie. And he thought he did—but he couldn’t remember.
He couldn’t remember Bella.
She’s been there. She’s been there all along.
“Here you are.” Simon stepped onto the terrace. “Enjoying your freedom, huh?” His light smile couldn’t hide the worry flashing in his eyes, although at the moment, Shanna was too rattled to wonder where that worry came from.
Her fingers shook as she slid them across the paper. “I—I—I think I need to go.”
He sat down, frowning. “Where?” He reached for her hand. “Is something wrong?”
“My mom is still alive.” Her voice came out trembling, betraying how close to tears she was. “And I know where she is.”
Chapter 21
“Black tourmaline in the center… five petals of Siberian lily around it … all right, done.” Shanna stepped away from the grid she’d set up for the spell that should bring Simon back to life. “And then I say the words?”
“That’s what the book instructs you to do,” Gran’s voice came over the phone.
“And you trust this Brenda B. Bustin person?”
“Horrible pen name, great knowledge of ghosts. Go ahead, dear.”
Shanna closed her eyes, clutched her connecting crystal, and whispered the words of the spell.
“Is it working?” she asked once she was done.
“How would I know? You’re the one doing it.”
“I don’t feel anything.” Simon wouldn’t show up here, of course. She’d called his soul back into his body, which would presumably still be at the hospital. But as with every spell, she should feel an effect.
“Maybe you call his company, see if it worked?” Gran suggested.
“And say what? Hey, I had a hunch your boss was dead. Mind checking if he’s breathing for me?” Shanna leaned on the table with her palms. “You’re sure all the ingredients are correct?”
