‘Oh, I’m not joining them,’ Bea says. ‘My future’s here on the East Coast. When I’m not at Cawden, I’ll be lodging with Bridget. I want to develop my political work.’
‘I promised Julia I’d keep an eye on her,’ Bridget says quickly, forestalling any question I might ask about this arrangement. Such as what Izzy thinks of having Bea under her roof.
Bridget reaches for another pastry. I pick almond flakes off the one I chose but haven’t touched.
‘I’m going to testify against Luka Ortiz,’ Bea says into the silence.
Guilt washes hotly through me for my thoughts about Bea, because that decision takes guts. That ‘political work’ which is evidently more important to her than being with her family? That’s been in Sandra Ortiz’s office. How can Bea take to the witness stand against Ortiz’s son, and continue that work? And in the cutthroat world of the Capitol, I can’tsee how testifying against a sitting representative’s child will do her resumé any good. This is a big, brave step, and I lean out of my seat to embrace her.
‘No, Sarah,’ she says, a hand keeping me at bay. ‘You don’t get it. Luka Ortiz is magical, and the way I see it, all magic is evil. Some witches it corrupts, and others become corrupters. I guess we’ll find out which applies to Luka at his trial. Bridget, I’m going to go now.’
Bridget rises with her. ‘She doesn’t have her own key yet,’ Bridge says, apologetically. Then to Bea, ‘Let’s go get one cut right now.’
I follow them to the door, but Bea has already let herself out and my friend gives a vague wave before hurrying after. I watch them drive away, sunshine on my face and shadow in my heart. Four became three, became two – or is it only one, now? Julia has left me without a word, and even Bridget can’t meet my eye.
I go back inside long after her sports car has turned the corner. The tea is cold. I dump the box of pastries in the bin, tipping my almondine in after. Julia didn’t send those – Bridget bought them as a consoling treat. I wash and wipe the cups and plates, putting everything back in its place. The shattered glass I fold in copies of theSanctuary Sentineluntil no sharp edges cut through the newsprint. Only then do I pour myself a tall glass of cold water and stand at the countertop to drink.
There, next to my fingers, is the letter from Homeland Security. My eyes fall again on that second page. The requirement that witches bring their kids under the age of 21 for registration, even if a Determination has shown they don’t have magic.
They expect me to bring Harper.
And my heart takes off like a hare as I become suddenly,furiously, certain that this is Bea’s doing. Bea’s suggestion while she worked in Sandra Ortiz’s office. Does she still want to expose Harper? My throat tightens thinking about it, and even water is difficult to swallow around the rising lump of panic.
If Harper is taken for testing, will it open Dan Whitman’s death right up again?
4
AMERICAN NEWS NETWORK, 24-HOUR ROLLING BULLETIN
ANCHORWelcome back to ANN, the network serving you all the news and views without prejudice or partisanship. We’re going live to Washington, DC, the northern district law courts, where a grand jury deliberating the charges against Luka Ortiz has just issued its decision. Our Capitol Correspondent Joshua Feldstein is there. Joshua, what has been decided about any potential trial for this young man, the only child of Representative Sandra Ortiz?
FELDSTEINThank you, Maritza. Yes, today comes the long-awaited ruling of a grand jury on whether Luka Ortiz should stand trial, and if so, on what charges. This case has moved remarkably rapidly in the past three months, since a man was grievously injured and a young woman subsequently found dead in Bittershore Nature Preserve, Connecticut. We don’t have the details but circumstances suggested a ritual, perhaps magical. Sensationally, in what prosecutors say is a third murder attempt, Luka Ortiz was apprehended in woods near Bittershore after – they allege – wounding a young woman, a fellow student at Cawden College.
ANCHORThere was something interesting about who found him, is that right?
FELDSTEINThat’s correct. The reported sequence of events of that night is that Ortiz was first interrupted by a magical practitioner named Sarah Fenn, the registered witch of nearby Sanctuary, whose daughter was at the centre of witchcrime allegations last year. Next on the scene was DI Maggie Knight, the detective tasked with investigating Sanctuary, who ultimately concluded that case was one not of magical murder or witchcraft but rather simple, old-fashioned hysteria. Knight and Fenn would be key witnesses in any trial.Will bekey witnesses, I can now say, for it has been confirmed that a trial is indeed going ahead.
ANCHORThat’s not the outcome Sandra Ortiz will have wanted, Joshua. Can you tell us the nature of the charges he’ll be facing, and what that tells us about this case?
FELDSTEINAbsolutely. Luka Ortiz has been charged with two counts of grievous wounding and one count of depraved-heart murder, a category of second-degree murder. This charge is used when it’s thought a suspect knowingly commits acts against people likely to result in harm, but without intending them to die. And as magical means are alleged, it will be treated as witchcrime.
ANCHORSecond-degree murder. Does that avoid the automatic death penalty, which was the most notorious aspect of the accusations in the Sanctuary case?
FELDSTEINWhat you call the ‘Sanctuary case’ never came to trial, of course, Maritza. The conclusion was that there was insufficient evidence to proceed with a prosecution. But had it done so, yes, conviction would have automatically triggered capital punishment. Thatis not the case in this instance. In fact, Luka will be eligible for bail, although that’s likely to be under stringent conditions, and is at the judge’s discretion.
ANCHORDo we have any sense of the strategy or response of the Ortiz camp to this announcement, Joshua?
FELDSTEINI imagine an announcement with be forthcoming very soon. But we already know the key contention of the Ortiz defence, which is that Luka is in fact another victim. Sandra Ortiz has maintained from the start – if you remember the statement released very swiftly after the arrest – that if her son had any involvement at all, he was coerced. Essentially that he was magically controlled by another witch, or witches. ‘The magical community … have come for my son,’ were the words she used then.
ANCHORAnd do we have any idea who or what that accusation refers to?
FELDSTEINNot so far, Maritza, but I’m sure the defence team will waste no time telling us who they think is behind these crimes.
5
HARPER
My dad.Luka Ortiz’s legal team is going to come for my dad – if they can figure out how he did it.
