“W-what? Why do you think Frank is involved?”
“You’ve already done one illegal thing with him. It only makes sense. Plus, you’re dating him. Who else would you go to such lengths for?”
I’d have to tell her about Isabella’s diary, anyway. Retrieving it, I handed her the instructions. “I’ve been following this.”
Kitty took it from me and squinted at the tiny handwriting. Then, keeping her fingers on the page with the directions, she flipped to the front of the journal. “Isabella. I thought so. She was making wolfsbane for Frank? How? According to this, you need a witch to help brew the potion.”
“She had a witch doing it for her.” I threw up my hands at her skeptical glance. “Not me.”
“Then who?”
I lowered my hands. “Can you help me or not?”
Her gaze shifted from potion to book. “You’ve followed the instructions, exactly?”
“Yes.”
She chewed on her lip in thought. “Let me see what I can do. I must return before 3:00. Mom’s taking Lydia shopping."
“Sounds normal.” I couldn’t remember the last time Mom had taken me or any other daughter shopping for that matter. Not that I would have enjoyed it.
Kitty pouted. “She always has Mom wrapped around her finger.”
“I think it’s a mutual thing.”
Her shoulders dropped, and she shook her head. “Lately, something has been… off between them.”
Lydia loved presents, retail therapy, and gifts. Because of the financial strain of Dad’s curse, she probably thought Mom was becoming too stingy with money and took it personally.
“Sounds like this excursion to the shops is to get things back on track.”
“The only way to solve their issues.” Kitty nodded. “Anyway, I need to focus. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t stare at me.”
I rolled my eyes and picked up my book. “I’ll go read in the stacks. Tell me when you figure it out.”
“If I figure it out.”
I frowned at that. “If,” I mumbled. I went into the stacks and opened my book, but no matter how long Istared at it, I couldn’t focus. I should have asked for help sooner, but I’d wanted to do this for Frank and sought to avoid giving too much away to Kitty or others. Now, those reasons felt silly compared to the fact that Frank may be without a wolfsbane potion tomorrow.
My phone buzzed, and I pulled it out of my pocket, my heart skipping at the sight of Frank’s name in my text messages.
I need you.
I smiled.
You know how to make a girl feel special.
I’m here. Outside the church. Come quick.
My smile faded. The lack of flirty response was concerning. I rushed up the steps and dashed for the doors, throwing them open.
Frank stood there, his face devoid of color, his hands on his knees gasping for breath as if he just ran a marathon. “It was me. I did it.”
Dread curled inside, but still I said, “We don’t know if you did it.”
“Iknow I did it.” He lifted his phone, scrolling with trembling fingers, then shoved it at me. “See that? That’s me.”
My eyes fixed on the screen, my heart pounding in my ears. The photo, somewhat blurry, depicted a werewolf standing upright in tattered clothes. “This is a picture of a werewolf. It may be any—”
