The District. Carol Ericson

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СКАЧАТЬ from the storefronts, depending on the wares inside. A wooden sign with Kindred Spirits printed in red along with a bubbling cauldron creaked in front of one of the stores.

      He tugged on a wayward lock of Christina’s long hair. “That’s our store.”

      “Cute logo.” She tapped the edge of the sign as they ducked into the store.

      The top of his head brushed a tassel of bells hanging from the doorway and their light tinkle announced their arrival.

      Soft New Age music played in the background and Eric’s nose twitched at the smell of sandalwood incense. He sniffed. “Told you so.”

      “Smells nice.”

      A woman emerged from the back of the store, throwing one impossibly long gray braid over her shoulder. “Welcome, kindred spirits. Can I help you with something, or are you here to browse?”

      Eric pressed his twitching lips into a hard line. “We’re actually here to ask you a couple of questions about a former employee, Nora Sterling. We’re with the FBI. I’m Agent Brody, and this is Agent Sandoval.”

      Shaking her head, the woman placed her hands together as if in prayer. She mumbled a few words between barely moving lips.

      He took a quick glance at Christina, but she refused to meet his eyes. “Excuse me?”

      “A very sad situation.” The woman lowered her hands. “But the police already came in here asking questions.”

      “We’re not the police.” Christina took a few steps through the crowded store toward the woman and thrust out her hand. “And you are?”

      “Libby Rivers. I’m the owner of the...” She had taken Christina’s hand and then jerked, almost flinging Christina’s hand away.

      Christina took a step back. “A-are you okay?”

      “I’m sorry. A little static electricity.” She smoothed her hand along the length of her braid. “As I was saying, I’m the owner of the store and Nora worked for me.”

      Eric drew his brows together. Christina was staring at the woman, rubbing her palm against the thigh of her jeans.

      “I’d shake your hand, too, but I don’t want to shock you.” He plucked a green marble from a glass bowl and rolled it in his palm. “Can you tell us anything about Nora? Did she have visitors to the store? Complain about anyone stalking her? Have any unusual interactions with a customer?”

      Libby flicked her fingers. “The police already asked me all of that.”

      “It’s different talking to someone in person and reading someone else’s notes.”

      “What do you really want, Agent Brody?”

      He blinked. Were his questioning skills that bad? He reached into the front pocket of his jeans and pulled out the piece of notepaper with the symbol. He snapped it open and turned it toward Libby. “What does this mean?”

      Libby’s faded blue eyes flickered. “Where did you see that?”

      “Can’t tell you that, Libby.” He waved the paper under her nose. “What does it mean?”

      She snatched it from his hand and pressed it against her chest, right above her heart. “It’s the symbol of a coven, Agent Brody.”

      He folded his arms. “A coven? You mean like a coven of witches?”

      “There’s a war going on, Agent Brody, a war against this coven.”

      Then she dropped the paper and her hand shot out, and she grabbed Christina’s wrist, pulling her closer. “And that includes you, Agent Sandoval.”

      Chapter Five

      Libby’s cool blue eyes burned into Christina’s face. The clawlike fingers dug into her flesh.

      Eric shifted beside her, sucking in his breath, automatically reaching for his weapon.

      Christina stumbled back a step and wrenched her arm away from Libby’s grip. “What are you talking about?”

      “I’m sorry.” Libby coiled her braid around one hand. “Did I frighten you? That’s good. You should be frightened.”

      Eric squared his shoulders and stepped between them. “Are you threatening her?”

      “Me?” Libby backed up and bent over, sweeping the paper with the symbol from the floor as her long braid fell over one shoulder. “I’m not the one your partner has to look out for, Agent Brody.”

      “Who, then? Why should I be afraid of a war on this coven, and what exactly do you mean by a war?”

      Libby clicked her tongue. “You’re one of those who denies her powers. Stuffs them away. Ignores them. But you’re one of us, Agent Sandoval.”

      “Did you just call me a witch?” Christina tried for a light tone, but Libby didn’t crack a smile. How did the woman know about her special powers? That handshake—something had passed between them.

      “Whether you belong to this coven,” she said, tapping the symbol, “or another, you’re still a witch.”

      “Okay, maybe there’s a little ESP going on here, someone with special gifts sensing it in someone else, but I’m no witch and I certainly didn’t join any coven.” She pointed to the piece of paper Libby had placed on the counter. “This one or any other.”

      “You don’t join a coven, my dear. You belong.” Libby turned to Eric. “Nora did. She belonged to this coven.”

      Eric whistled. “Did she, umm, practice witchcraft?”

      “She did.” Libby’s gaze trailed to Christina. “There are some who embrace their powers.”

      Christina dug her high heels into the floor. “Do you have any proof that Nora was murdered because she belonged to this coven?”

      “Tell me. Did you find the sign of this coven on Nora?” Libby reached into a drawer and pulled out three incense sticks. “Or someone else?”

      Eric shot her a look and cleared his throat. “We can’t tell you that, Libby.”

      She nodded. “Someone else. So now you have two victims who are tied to this coven. Are you going to tell me that the coven isn’t the common denominator here?”

      The bells over the door shivered and they all jerked their heads up. A tall man, dressed all in black with a black fedora, filled the doorway and for a second Christina had an urge to flee.

      Libby folded the sheet of paper with the symbol and slid it toward Eric. “Hello, Nigel. More patchouli oil?”

      “It’s a little more serious than that, Libby. I need a new deck of cards.”

      Christina weaved her fingers through Eric’s and tightened her hold.

      “I СКАЧАТЬ