Page 44 of Eye on the Ball
“You’re very welcome. The charm may not work much longer, though.” She gave me a rueful smile. “You weren’t exaggerating about your singing, I guess. The magic had to work pretty hard.
I cracked up because it was true. At least I’d had my songbird moment, which I’d never in my life thought could happen. I hugged her because I could and then jumped back in surprise. “Wow!”
She laughed. “The twins like you.”
They’d kicked me, that was for sure. “Is your poor belly black and blue? Those babies are serious kickers.”
Alejandro and Jack walked over to us while Aunt Ruby, Uncle Mike, and Shelley talked to some other folks.
“Hey, Tess. That was the most beautiful singing I’ve ever heard, and I’m talking as someone with very sensitive hearing,” Jack said, pulling me into a hug.
“Thanks! It was Rose, of course.” I pulled the little jade charm out and showed it to them. The bright green had dulled to greenish gray. “I think I short-circuited it. Anyway, what’s up with the disappearing Truckmans? Are they sure Probie is gone and not just hungover somewhere and sleeping in?”
Jack shook his head. “No, he was supposed to pick up his mom for church, apparently, and Susan says that whatever else Probie might be, he’s a devoted son. He would never just not show up, especially without contacting her. His phone is turned off or destroyed, too.”
“What ishappening? None of this makes any sense. Who is abducing Truckmans? Is it aliens? I mean, that would make as much sense as anything else I’ve thought of, unless Probie’s in Mrs. Frost’s trunk, too,” I said. “Why does the horrible Sheriff Lawless the Second want to arrest Brenda, anyway?”
“She wasn’t dating both of them, was she?” Rose asked, one hand on her stomach and a slightly pained look in her eyes.
“Nobody would have that bad of taste in men,” I muttered, grimacing.
“I bet it’s because Probie was arguing with Brenda outside of Connor’s Pub last night,” Jack said.
“Oh, no.” I said. “Probie’s last words to us last night were ‘Nothing for you to worry about.’”
“He should know better than to say anything like that,” Alejandro said. “That’s almost asking for trouble.”
Aunt Ruby and Uncle Mike joined us then. Shelley was chatting with some kids over by the church.
“What happened, exactly?” I asked my aunt.
“Susan said Sheriff Lawless came screaming up in his police car, siren blaring and lights flashing, when she was at Mellie’s getting donuts this morning. She’d been chatting with Brenda when he came storming in and tried to arrest her. After Susan forced him to explain what was going on, she told him she had jurisdiction since the alleged abduction or altercation took place in Dead End,” Aunt Ruby said.
Uncle Mike nodded approvingly. “We got lucky when we got Susan Gonzalez for a sheriff. That young woman has a good head on her shoulders and is tough as nails.”
This was high praise from my uncle. He was right, too. We were very lucky to have Susan, but she’d told me she had no idea what was going on. I doubt another Truckman going missing changed that.
“She asked if Jack and Alejandro could stop by the jail as soon as possible,” Aunt Ruby said. “She hopes having a federal agent there will help convince Lawless to go home. Right now, he’s in her office trying to pressure her to hand Brenda over.”
“Trying to pressure her?” Alejandro asked, his face grim.
“I could hear him screaming in the background on the call.”
Jack’s eyes narrowed. “I’m no federal agent, so I guess I’m the muscle. I’ll be happy to go back Susan up.”
Alejandro turned to Rose. “Querida, is it all right with you if I do this thing? And then we will return home, because this trip, as interesting as it has been, has been tiring for you.”
Rose looked pale, but she kissed his cheek and smiled. “Yes. Go do your fed thing. Mrs. Callahan invited us over for lunch, and I’d like to talk to Shelley about her magic, so we’ll go there. Join us after you straighten this out?”
“I will. It won’t take long,” he promised, and I could see a hint of exactly how dangerous he was in the dark flash of his eyes.
Jack hugged me and grinned at Uncle Mike. “Try to keep your uncle from eating everything, Tess.”
“We make no promises,” Uncle Mike said. “Let’s go, ladies. I’m feeling fortunate to be surrounded by such lovely company.”
“Shelley can ride with me and Rose,” I said. “I’ve never had four witches in my car at once. It should be exciting.”
Rose rubbed her belly. “I hope not.”