The three women exchanged a look. Norma Ray spoke. “Oh? And what exactly did you find out?”
Oh crap. They were supposed to jump right on in and say they knew about the hidden spells. Was this a trap?
“Well,” I said slowly, “I discovered that Hannah hid something from the town.”
Another look exchanged.
“What sort of thing?” Norma Ray asked. “Was it a clock? Like one of those big ones in the town square.”
Like, where did Norma Ray come up with this stuff?
She shook her head before anyone could answer. “I know what it was. She stole all the children. But I’m pretty sure she must’ve given them back because I see plenty of grown-ups walking around.”
I nearly slapped my face.
Malene’s expression soured. “Norma Ray, you know very well that it wasn’t children or a clock that Norma Ray hid in Peachwood.”
Urleen pulled a flask from her purse, unscrewed it and poured a heavy load into the three women’s cups. “I hate to drink before five, but it seems like we might need it with what we’re about to discuss.”
Malene sipped her coffee laced with whiskey and grimaced. “That hits the spot. Tell me, Clem, what is it that Hannah hid?”
I sucked my teeth, worried. But at the same time I’d already decided that the three of these women had to be witches. They just had to be.
I tapped my finger on Sadie’s kitchen table. “Hannah told me that she hid all the complicated spells in town. She hid them away because people were being irresponsible.”
Malene nodded. “That’s true. She did.”
I exhaled. “So you are witches.”
Norma Ray shook her head. “Oh, dear, we’re more than witches.”
I stared at them, shocked. “Then what are y’all?”
Malene pulled off her glasses and rubbed them clean with a cloth. She stared at me long and hard. The room suddenly felt stifling, and I considered opening a window while I waited for Malene to answer. But then that would just let the humidity in, which would be worse.
Finally she spoke and the tension disappeared. “You might as well know. What Norma says is true. We’re more than witches.” Her eyes narrowed. “We’re also spell hunters.”
Chapter 18
“You’re what?” I said, confused.
Urleen patted my hand. “We’re spell hunters, dear. It’s sort of an elevated witch.”
“I don’t understand. I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
Norma Ray stirred her coffee with her finger. “You’re entitled not to know anything about us. After all, you don’t even want to be a witch.”
I flared out my hands. “Okay, first of all, would everyone stop saying that?”
“If the shoe fits,” Norma Ray said.
“Don’t worry about it, dear,” Urleen replied. “It’s just that some things are obvious.”
I wanted to shout so loudly that I blew off the roof. “Would one of y’all just please explain this without judging me and my own abilities?”
“I’ll go,” Malene said. “The three of us are spell hunters, as we said. In our youth we sought out long-lost spells—the kind that had been forgotten.”
“How?” I asked.
