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“The head librarian. She’s been there since the beginning of time and loves to tell everyone about it. I can’t make waves even if I wanted to.”
“And you don’t need to work in an environment where you aren’t comfortable. You realize that’s discrimination.”
“I know, but what good would it do to lodge a complaint?” Natalie sipped on her coffee. “It’s not like Barbara will all of a sudden see the light and amend her behavior. She’d just be out to get me in backhanded ways. It would be even more miserable to work there.”
“Perhaps today is the day you give your notice.”
“But that feels like failure.”
Damon knew his sister needed time to process what she was going to do and that he couldn’t solve her problem for her, no matter how much he wanted to. “Then give yourself time to realize it’s not. You know I’m behind you whatever you decide to do.”
“Thanks.” Natalie stood up and moved toward the cabinet where they kept travel mugs. “I should go.” She grabbed a container and smiled at him. “Have a great day dazzling the world.”
He smiled back. “I’ll try.” But he too was dissatisfied with his job. Playing make believe ghost hunter was getting old. Part of why he ran his video channel was to help regular people understand witchcraft so that women like Barbara would not only believe but also respect people like his sister.
After Natalie left Damon picked up his phone, still not sure what he should do about Jessie. He clicked on her voicemail to hear what she’d said.
Her voice sounded frantic as she said, “Damon, I need your help. I’m being haunted and this is no joke. He’s mean, and no matter what I try, the spirit won’t leave. Please, Damon. I need you. Call me.”
Fear for Jessie filled Damon with urgency, and he quickly hit Call. She answered on the first ring. “Thank god you called. Damon—” She let out a shaky breath. “I’m scared. This spirit— Well, he’s nasty, and I’m afraid he’s going to hurt me. I thought I was strong enough to fight him, but I’m not. I need the help of a powerful witch. Will you come?”
“Of course.” He got up to put his mug in the sink as worry over a real spirit situation filled him. “What’s the address?”
As Jessie gave him directions to her home a few towns away, Damon hurried to his car. Finally, Kay and he were going to be able to do some real work that would show viewers how important it was to have witches to keep the balance of their world right. Then Jessie said, “And, Damon, don’t bring Kay.”
“Why not?” Damon frowned as he started his car. He wanted Kay by his side. More than that, heneededher. She was a powerful witch and if the situation was as dangerous as Jessie said it was, he’d be foolish not to bring a partner.
“This guy has a grudge against women. I’m afraid for her.”
“I’m sure Kay—”
“Thanks! See you soon!” Jessie hung up before Damon could tell her he planned to bring Kay anyway.
As he drove to the island, he called Kay to let her know he was on his way to get her to deal with a haunting emergency. His stomach was churning when he did, because he had a bad feeling about the situation. It occurred to him that while it was because of the impending danger, part of his discomfort might be because of the animosity between Jessie and the woman he loved. That was what made him to decide to leave out the fact Kay and he were going to be ghost hunting for Jessie until he could see Kay’s reaction in person. He knew it shouldn’t matter, Kay was the kind of woman who would help her worst enemy, but Damon needed her to listen to the message to understand the urgency. It wouldn’t be a stretch to think she might not believe Jessie’s story if she didn’t hear it for herself.
Kay was in the driveway waiting when he got to her house, and she jumped into his vehicle ready to roll. She asked, “Where are we going?”
“New Gardiner.”
“New Gardiner? That’s kind of far. Who is it?”
Damon reached over to where his phone was mounted on the dash and hit the speaker before playing Jessie’s message for Kay. He glanced over to see her reaction as she listened, but couldn’t tell if her frown was concern, anger, or disbelief.
“That sounds serious,” she said.
Damon let out a sigh of relief. He should have known Kay would be able to be objective. “That’s what I thought, too.” The gears of his Land Rover clunked as he shifted from park to reverse.
“Hold on. Why did Jessie call us? She’s from a family of witches. Surely their combined effort could have solved her problem.”
Damon put his foot on the brake before they made it to the road. “Because this is what we do. We’re good at it.”
“No. I’m not buying it. She wants you at her house. Does she know I’m coming?”
His stomach lurched because getting Kay’s help wasn’t going to happen easily, and he felt as if they were wasting time. “She told me not to bring you because the spirit haunting her has a grudge against women.”
“Pathetic, Damon.” Kay let out a dry laugh. “She had to have heard about our relationship by now, and I bet this is her attempt at stealing you from me.”
Anger spiked in him, because not only did he believe the haunting could be a serious reality, it was the second time Kay acted as if he were a dog chasing after whomever had a treat. “What makes you think I’m someone she can steal? Don’t you trust my feelings for you?”
