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hope he had children just like himself one day.
After placing the last of the silverware in the dish drainer, he wiped his hands on the
towel hanging from the oven door and headed into the living room to tidy up a bit. Neither he nor
Jess were very neat people. He picked up a few articles of discarded clothing and grabbed her
backpack off the floor by the couch, intending to take it up to her. If she wanted to sulk, she
WITCH HUNT Leanne Karella & Vivienne King 85
could at least put her stuff away since school had just let out for the summer.
The books tumbled out onto the floor. Damn, he muttered as he dropped the clothes
and started shoving books and loose papers back into the bag. And then his blood ran cold.
Sonofabitch.
He picked up two books he recognized from Lina s bookshelf. Contacting Your Spirit
Guide and Life on the Other Side: A Psychic s Tour of the Afterlife. Sonofabitch, he said again.
He knew it. Lina was corrupting his daughter with all that nonsense about spirits and shit.
Enough was enough. And Jess was lying to him.
Jessica Lynn Godfrey! Get your butt down here!
She came stomping down the stairs. What? she asked, a scowl firmly in place.
Don t you what me, young lady. What the hell are these? He held out the books, one
in each hand, to show her the covers.
Books? she said, her eyebrows raised in a look of innocence.
He ground his teeth. I told you that you weren t supposed to read this crap. Why do you
have them?
One-shoulder shrug.
So help me, Jess. Answer me! You got these from Lina, didn t you?
Jess s eyes went wide. She shook her head. She doesn t know I have them.
His baby girl was lying to him. He hadn t been a cop for the last twenty years for nothing.
He knew damn well when someone was lying to him. That hurt. Bad. And she was lying to
protect Lina.
You re grounded. He headed for the door. He was going to have this out with Lina
right damn now.
For how long?
Until I say so. He jerked open the door.
Where are you going?
To find out what kind of bullshit that woman has been planting in your head, that s
where. You --he jerked open the door with one hand, pointed at her with the other, still clutching
the evil books-- are not to leave this house. He slammed the door behind him, got in the cruiser,
and headed into town.
WITCH HUNT Leanne Karella & Vivienne King 86
Chapter Thirteen
From the Journal of Lina Brennen:
My thirteenth diary entry. I know Granna calls my belief in signs hogwash, but I know
what I know. And thirteen can t herald anything good.
* * * *
Trent shoved a hand through his hair and pounded the steering wheel of his cruiser. When
he found Lina--he clenched his jaw--he d give her a piece of his mind.
How could Jess lie to him? His nostrils flared and his heart ached. It had felt like she d
rammed him with a red-hot poker when those words had fallen from her lips. To protect a
woman that she didn t even know. A luscious, temptingly beautiful viper.
Trent ground his jaw when the sheriff s office came into view. Lina had hoodwinked
him, too, and that almost hurt worse. It was his own damn fault that he d brought that snake to
his town. He d fallen under her spell, her breathtaking beauty, inviting hips. Damn it all, he
spat.
Trent whipped into the parking slot and threw the car door open. His heart attempting to
punch a hole through his chest, he stomped up the stairs to her apartment.
He pounded on the door. No answer. Open the damn door, Lina. Nothing. No footsteps,
no talking, no nothing.
Where the hell was she?
Lina, he called one last time. But all that met him was empty silence.
The fury still burning in his gut, his heart a raw wound, he turned around. Staring at the
street, he realized her car was nowhere in sight. I ll find you, come hell or high water, Lina.
Trent stomped down the stairs and jumped into his car.
He took off in a cloud of dust and barreled down the road. He scanned the area, searching
for her rusty blue escort. Spying the Chevron, he veered sharply to the right and parked. Maybe
Louise would know something.
Trent took a deep, calming breath, not willing to give anybody the satisfaction of seeing
him this way. Then he stepped from the car and walked with a steady, sure gait that belied the
waves of fury roiling through him.
Louise, he called as he stepped through the door.
Well, my oh my, if it ain t Trent Godfrey. And to what do I owe the honor? Her
turquoise eye shadow showed up in stark relief to the pastiness of her face.
Trent scratched the back of his head. How could he ask this question without raising the
suspicion of the one of the town s biggest gossips? Hell, all the women around Unegi were
gossips. He blew out a disgusted breath. Wondering who you saw driving in or out of town
tonight.
Louise lifted a dark brow, her coral pink lips curling into a crescent-shaped smile.
Wouldn t happen to be askin about anybody in particular would you?
His lips thinned with irritation. Lina Brennen.
Ahh. Saw her heading toward Devil s Peak bout an hour ago.
WITCH HUNT Leanne Karella & Vivienne King 87
Thank you, he replied curtly, turned on his heel, and fled.
Louise s belly laugh trailed after him.
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