This Strange Addiction by Julie Steimle (e book free reading .txt) 📕

The grandmother stared at her. “Excuse me?”

But a laugh caught in Stewart’s throat. And Kim giggled more, nodding.

“Never mind,” Audry said, waving it away. “The point is, I am also good friends with Rick’s best friend’s wife—so they are invited as well.”

“And who are they?” Grandma Bruchenhaus asked, her nose tipped into the air.

“The Cartwrights,” Audry said with a nod to her. “I was just at their house these past few days when I wasn’t answering the phone. Andrew is studying to be doctor—I think a general practitioner, though possibly a surgeon. And Jessica is a police detective.”

Her grandmother gazed wanly at her.

“Why weren’t you answering the phone?” Kim asked, curious.

Audry leaned nearer to her. “Because Jessica just had her first baby. My roommate Silvia and I were helping out. We didn’t want the ring to disturb them.”

“Oh…” Kim and Stewart nodded together.

Her grandmother huffed. “Please…”

Audry shot her a tired look.

Then her phone rang.

Audry looked at the call name. It was Matthew. Answering it, Audry held up one finger. “Yes?”

<< I got your call. We picked her up. And the best part—she was caught trying to break into your department’s office. One down. Two to go. >>

Shivers of relief ran through her. “That is such good news.”

“What is it?” Kim asked, watching her.

“Hold on a second, Matthew.” Audry put her hand over her phone and said, “I’m sorry. I need to take this call. It’s important. I’ll send you two an invitation to the wedding.”

Kim and Stewart nodded, waving as they walked away.

Her grandmother huffed. “More important than planning your wedding?”

“Yes,” Audry said to her. “It is about a criminal investigation.”

Grandma Bruchenhaus leaned back in her chair, staring.

Audry stepped aside from her table, saying to Matthew, “Ok, anything else you need from me?”

<< Actually, uh, I need to know if your boyfriend has said anything yet about those witches. Has he? >>

Sighing, Audry had had a feeling he had not reported Danna like he ought to have. “He has. I think Danna has visited him. He called her LA Barbie.”

<< Ok. So Danna is trying to work him. That means the other is… I don’t know where. I think she is our loose cannon. We have no proof of another witch involved. I do have something, uh, unpleasant to tell you though. >>

Audry braced for it. Had somebody broken into the Cartwright’s house? Were any of them hurt?

<< Your ex, Harlin Nichols, was attacked. He survived it—and he is now an eyewitness to harassment, and much more. This is, uh, morally bad but technically good for us, because he’s agreeing to testify that they were searching for Silvia and were using violence to get to you and her. >>

She drew in a breath. “Oh my gosh…”

<< He’s ok. But one of them tried to kill him. >>

Audry put her hand over her mouth, feeling lightheaded.

<< So we are doubling the watch on Hogan. >>

“Thank you,” she breathed out.

<< We’re gonna end this, >> he said.

Yet a horrifying thought went into Audry’s head. “But Randon said witches do not give up and they do not forgive.”

Matthew went silent. His breath was the only thing she could hear. Finally, Matthew replied, << Yeah. But Silvia is their target, and the coven had sent—according to Rick and Andy—three of their best witches to catch her. If we stop these three, it will be a while before her coven regroups and tries something else. Besides, we are going to send them a message that they are not going to get away with murder this time. They are not up against just the NYPD. >>

It was a strange thing to say. What else were they up against? The CIA? The FBI? Maybe.

When the call ended, Audry rejoined her grandmother.

“More important than your wedding, huh?” her grandmother said. “It better be with the way you are acting.”

The following day, Hogan joined her and her grandmother in their wedding preparations. They had started off at her apartment with the catalogues and pictures, a place which Hogan had failed yet again to find on his own. And when he had arrived, Audry had to go out and bring him up from the street and lead him into the apartment where he automatically seemed unfocused and even groggy. There was no explanation for it, except it reminded Audry of when Vincent had come and crashed on her couch unexpectedly. So she decided that they leave together to see things first hand rather than look through books.

Hogan was all for it, complaining about carbon monoxide and maybe Audry checking for it in her apartment as he was so sleepy there.

They went to a florist first.

Strangely, as they went along to the shops, Audry spotted Danna on the road not too far away. They had been going on foot downtown after they had parked in a structure, feeling it was best to enjoy the day at a walking pace. Danna kept her distance, yet… weirdly, was still dressed in pink—not a good outfit for inconspicuous stalking. This time she looked a bit like Elle Woods in those Legally Blonde movies—more clothed but still like a bimbo. And when they went into the florist’s, Audry pulled out her cellphone to make a call.

“What are you doing?” Hogan asked, watching her.

Audry held up a finger to him. “Give me a moment.”

He shrugged and went on with her grandmother toward the counter. Audry stepped to the side to get out of sight. The phone rang once on the other side. Then twice, then went to voicemail. Apparently Matthew did not pick up often.

“Hi. It’s Audry again. Um, I’m out on Lafayette Street with my grandmother and fiancée, and Danna is out there following us. This is stalking. Can you come and do something about this? I’m getting a little freaked. I’ll text you the address. Thanks.”

She hung up then went to join them in their conversation with the florist.

They admired all sorts of roses and flowers, looking into the books for the best arrangements. They were thinking of table arrangements and standing flower displays for the actual wedding. Bouquets for her and the bridesmaids had already been selected in their catalogue. Audry plucked up a business card from off the counter, and with her phone, took a picture of it, sending it to Matthew’s phone immediately.

Hogan glanced over to see what she was doing. “What’s that?”

Audry held up the card. “For future reference.” She didn’t dare tell them they were being followed by witches. He would think she was nuts, or he would freak out, grab them both and run. Her grandmother would tell her she wasn’t being nice, but then judge Danna’s outfit as tacky. Both would be bad reactions.

She tried to give her fiancée and grandmother the attention they needed at that moment. And though Audry looked through the books, selecting the flowers she liked, she kept peeking to the window to keep an eye out for Danna.

“What is with you?” Hogan whispered when she had peeked for the fifth time.

Finally, she said, “You know that LA Barbie that went to your office the other day? I think I saw her on the street, following us.”

He made a dry face. “What?”

Shaking her head, Audry said, “Never mind. Just… don’t worry about it.”

But he now was checking the window.

After they had taken stock of what that shop had to offer, creating a short tentative list of what they might get, they went out and wandered to the next shop. Audry spotted Danna standing not far off, watching them. She wasn’t hiding very well though she wasn’t out and out staring at them. Audry tugged on Hogan’s arm to look. When he turned his head, Danna moved almost as if she were stepping out from his line of sight, yet Audry could still see her. He squinted and said, “What? I don’t see anybody.”

But Danna was right there. When he turned back in the direction they were going, Danna went back to her original position, but she was staring at Hogan and her grandmother, and not Audry. Was it possible that Danna could not see her at all?

They went into another shop. It was larger inside and full of a wider variety of flowers, the prime focus being orchids. Her grandmother gushed, as she adored orchids, and she was now in heaven. Audry really didn’t care for the flower, but she let her grandmother make all choices as it saved and argument.

The bell hanging on the door rang again, and another customer stepped inside.

Audry turned to look. Danna sidestepped behind a fichus just as Hogan also looked. He didn’t see Danna and turned back around to look at the displays which the florist was showing them. Danna seemed confused, watching him.

Quietly, Audry took up another business card which was next to brochures on the counter and photographed it with her phone. She sent that to Matthew, texting their location to him, adding: She is in the shop with us. Help. She then wandered to the other side of the flower shop. Audry pretended to be looking at the lilies as she did.

Danna didn’t even seem to see her. The witch in pink was standing back, watching Hogan like a tiger, her eyes also raking over Grandma Bruchenhaus. Danna pulled out her phone and took a picture of them. Then she stared at it, frowning. Swearing under her breath, Danna’s face flushed, clearly angry and disappointed.

It had occurred to Audry something Silvia and the others had said about the shadowing spell—something Audry had not quite believed it at the time, but she was seeing it for herself that it had to be true. The shadow spell really made it so those witches could not see her. Hogan could see her. Her grandmother could. So Audry wondered if it was only the witches who couldn’t. But how? It wasn’t logical after all, spells and magic. Magic was just silly fairytales. Fiction. Right?

And yet as Audry walked around the edge of the store, still pretending to admire the plant arrangements, she got close enough to hear Danna mutter, talking to someone into her Bluetooth phone, “I took a photo. She’s not in it. Damn that Silvia and her shadow spells. Where is she? She’s gonna pay.”

Danna really could not see her. And she was following them. Danna believed she was invisible. As a scientist, Audry had to test it to make sure. Quietly stepping behind the door, Audry pulled open the door from the inside and then closed it, stepping behind another flower display inside the shop to hide. When the bell rang, everybody looked.

“Audry?” Hogan turned around, searching for her. He then rushed to the door, going out.

“Where does she think she’s going?” her grandmother said, following him. “She’s the bride.”

Danna caught the door before it shut, following them outside as if she too were invisible and needed to not give herself away. Audry watched from the window inside. Hogan was right next to Danna, and for a split second, he really did not see the witch. But then, Danna approached him, smiling with an extended hand. “Hi again. Fancy meeting you here.”

Hogan stared, pulling back as if she had appeared out of nowhere. “Holy crap. You were following us.”

“And who is this?” Grandma Bruchenhaus asked.

Oh… this was bad. Audry panicked, speed dialing Matthew again. “Pick up. Pick up. Pick up.”

He didn’t.

“Damn.” She then left a voice message. “Matthew, I need you now! She is outside with my grandmother and Hogan. You have to get here now!”

And she ended the call.

“I’m Danna Groves, a friend of your… granddaughter’s.” Danna’s eyes smiled treacherously on Grandma Bruchenhaus.

“I thought you said you were Silvia’s sorority sister,” Hogan replied, gently putting himself between Danna and Grandma Bruchenhaus. Good man.

Danna smiled her sultry grin, looking also coy—however she managed it. She batted her lashes as she said, “Oh. My mistake. I am both. I am looking for Audry because I know she can lead me to Silvia.”

No cops. No nothing.

Where was