“Listen,” Ben offered. “Maybe I was outta line jumpin’ on R.J. like that, but I’ve just got this thing about bein’ on time.”
The group looked silently around at one another then back at him. They all seemed too tightly strung but quietly nodded in assent.
“Okay then,” he proceeded. “We might as well get started then. I’ve already been through this with R.J., so I’ll ask the rest of ya’. When was the last time you saw Ariel Tanner alive?”
“See, I told you,” R.J. announced haughtily. “The cops are trying to blame it on us!”
“Do you intend to Mirandize us, Detective Storm,” Cally interjected bluntly.
“Don’t tell me, let me guess.” Ben threw up his hands and rolled his eyes. “Law student.”
Cally held her position at the table, but the look on her face showed that Ben had just exposed what she believed to be a trump card. It became immediately obvious why she had been picked as the speaker for the group. Now that he had knocked some of the wind from her sails, I hoped we could get on with what had brought us all together.
“I already told ya’,” Ben explained. “Nobody here is bein’ accused of anything. These are just routine questions. As for Miranda, since nobody is under arrest, there’s no reason to read anyone their rights. We just wanna talk to ya’ about Ariel Tanner and Devon Johnston. Okay?”
“There’s no reason for any of you to be on the defensive,” I added. “We’re all on the same side. We just want to find whoever is responsible for Ariel’s death.”
Once again they cast timid glances between themselves. Finally, someone other than Cally spoke up.
“So this isn’t just some shakedown ‘cause of us being involved in The Craft?” Randy asked.
“No,” I answered. “Not at all. Surely R.J. told you that Felicity and I are Witches. I was Ariel’s teacher.”
“Yes, he did…” Shari said.
“…But you’re with the cops,” Jennifer finished.
“So?” Ben interposed, “You got some kinda problem with cops?”
“It’s usually the police that have a problem with us,” stated Randy, still wearing a befuddled expression.
“Yeah,” Shari agreed. “Ever since that one cop here in the county started giving lectures…”
“…About how WitchCraft is evil and the same thing as Satan worship. You know,” Jennifer finished again.
“Are you two gonna do that all night?” Ben asked staring at the twins.
“Do what?” they asked simultaneously.
“Never mind,” he shook his head. “And yeah, I know what you’re talkin’ about. I’ll admit that there are quite a few coppers that don’t understand what you guys are all about. Hell, I don’t even understand it, but I can tell ya’ this… Rowan has been my friend practically forever. Shit, I was his Best Man when he and Felicity got married. I know that Rowan isn’t doin’ anything quote quote evil.” He held up his fingers and made invisible quote symbols in the air before him. “And if you guys are into the same thing he is, I’ve got no reason ta’ believe that you are either.”
“So are we all clear on where everybody stands?” I asked after an expectant pause.
“Yeah,” Cally once again spoke, this time with a relaxed smile. “We’re clear.”
The rest of the group voiced and nodded their agreement, and the tension drained quickly from the room. I had expected a little rough going at first because of Ben’s presence. The last thing that crossed my mind was that I would come under some kind of suspicion because of my relationship with the police, especially after the way R.J. had behaved toward me earlier in the day. I was painfully aware that the general public misunderstood Witches, but I never imagined that Witches would misunderstand one of their own.
As the group was settling in, I noticed Dickens, our black cat with the fondness for male visitors, lurking in the shadows. He silently padded forward to the chair R.J. was seated in and then reared back on his haunches as if he were about to climb into his lap. Suddenly, the hair along his back stood on end, and he puffed out like a furry black balloon. His ears laid back, and he dropped back down to all fours then skirted widely back around the chair to investigate Randy instead. “That’s two of them who don’t seem to like him,” I thought to myself and wondered if Emily would make her opinion known.
“I’m glad that’s taken care of,” Felicity piped up. “Now can we get down to business?”
“Ben?” I looked over to him questioningly.
We had discussed this meeting earlier between ourselves and decided that he should take the lead. What we would reveal regarding the case so far was already public knowledge. There had been a leak at the department, and the local paper’s headline for the day had read “SATANIC KILLER LOOSE IN CITY.” The story that followed contained grotesque, sensationalized details of Ariel’s death.
“As you already know,” he started, “Ariel Tanner was murdered sometime this past Wednesday evening. There were no witnesses, and I’ll spare ya’ the details of her death, except ta’ say that it was particularly gruesome, and whoever did it is one seriously sick bastard. I brought Rowan into the investigation as of Friday evening because of some symbols left at the scene. He was able to decipher what our expert couldn’t and has helped pick out a few clues we might otherwise have missed. Any questions so far?”
“R.J. said you told him that the murder was connected with The Craft,” stated Randy. “Do the symbols you mentioned have something to do with that?”
“Yes they do,” I answered. “There was a Pentacle drawn on the wall, and it was shaded with the colors of the four towers, leading me to believe they were hailed.”
“How do you know it just wasn’t something that Ariel had done?” Cally posed.
“Because,” I took a deep breath and continued, “the Pentacle was drawn, and the Southern Tower shaded, with Ariel’s blood.”
Cally gasped and the rest of the group stared on at me as if I’d just slapped them. In a way, I guess I had.
“I’m sorry,” I told them. “I really am. Believe me, it gets worse, so if you don’t think you’re up for hearing this…”
“No,” Cally answered my hanging question quietly. “Go on. We have to know what happened.”
“As long as you’re sure.” I looked on and continued only after they had all agreed. “In addition to the Pentacle, the words ‘All Is Forgiven’ were inscribed on the wall in the same manner. Also, a black candle and white candle had both been burned. A wine goblet was used, and,” I choked slightly, “it appears that Ariel’s blood was in it.”
“What does it mean?” Shari asked. “What is this guy…”
“…Some kind of vampire?” Jennifer finished.
“I doubt it,” I answered. “I expect it’s just a sick twist he added to the spell.”
“What spell?” Randy questioned.
“An Expiation spell,” Felicity explained. “You might never have dealt with one before, but it is pretty basic. It’s a ritual performed in order to rid yourself of guilt and regrets. Kind of a self atonement spell.”
“So you think whoever did it regretted killing Ariel?” Cally queried.
“So it would seem,” Felicity answered.
“That would mean you’re looking for a Witch then, right?” asked Randy.
“Yes and no,” I told him. “It’s very likely that the killer practiced WitchCraft at some point in his life, and he’s obviously familiar with the Wiccan religion to a degree. The Expiation spell shows that, even if he did warp it hideously by using Ariel’s blood.” I paused to let my words settle in. “Based on the fact that he, for one, broke the basic rule of ‘Harm None,’ and for two, went through the motions of a blood sacrifice, I would say he fancies himself a ritual magician. A mage of the Black Arts.”
“And that,” Ben sighed, “brings us back to why we asked you all to come here tonight. R.J. spoke with Rowan and me this mornin’, and I’m sure he’s told ya’ all about it.” He looked over at R.J. who dipped his head in an affirmative. “He gave us some information with regards to a Devon Johnston who was apparently hooked up with your group until recently.”