Page 95 of Summer L.A.W.

Magda winced. “That won’t make this easier on Sebastian.”

“No,” Chad agreed quietly. “It won’t.”

Before any of them could say more, tires crunched on gravel again.

Magda stiffened. “That’s Sebastian.”

“How did he get here so quickly?” Joell asked.

“He was staying at a local Bed and Breakfast,” Chad said. I think he had plans… for Magda.”

Magda groaned. “Well, that’s out the window.”

When Sebastian stepped out of the car, the witches all straightened instinctively, humor evaporating into solemnity.

Rayna murmured, “Okay. Respectful hats on. No jokes. No speculation. No Darwinian insults.’”

Chad nodded. “Let him take the lead.”

The moment Sebastian stepped onto the lawn and saw the body, everything changed.

“I’ll have to tell his parents,” he groaned.

“But what will you tell them?” Chad asked. “It’s very important to protect the covert nature of this place and its residents.”

“We’re all right here,” Joell said, deadpan.

“I—I don’t know. What are you telling the police?”

“As little as possible,” Rayna said.

Joell crossed her arms. “I have a solution.”

“Please share,” Chad said.

“Magda, Sebastian, and Wally should make themselves scarce. You’re the only ones who could possibly give away too much. The rest of us don’t know what you were doing. At least not the details.”

“Just that we were trying to brew a love potion,” Magda said. She faced Sebastian. “Did you tell your assistant about it?”

His face fell, and he looked miserably guilty. “Yes. Sometimes I dictate my notes in the car to save time, and he transcribes them. Additionally, he has access to my computer and even my easy-to-remember password… I mean, he had all of that.”

Chad placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “It’s not your fault. You couldn’t have known he’d be this reckless.”

“No. I can’t imagine what he was thinking. The leftover stuff in the bottom of the cauldron was full strength. We diluted and microdosed the witches, knowing they could always counteract the result if they felt ill.”

“And he didn’t have that option,” Magda said.

Chad clapped his hands and rubbed them together. “The University still thinks you have the flu, right?”

“Right,” Sebastian said.

“You and Magda should head to Australia. The remaining witches can claim not to know Derek at all without lying. Not that they wouldn’t lie to protect the league…”

Rayna shrugged. “Yes, and…?”

Brianna snapped her fingers. “Chad is a word-warrior. He can manipulate words to make the police believe what we want them to believe.”

Chad’s brows raised. “I can, and if it’s to protect the league, I would. So, I think we have our answer. I will speak to the police. Sebastian and Magda will pack a bag, including all your notes, and go to the airport. The rest of you were asleep and don’t know anything about it.”