1 A Hiss-tory of Magic by Harper Lin

Author:Harper Lin
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Harper Lin Books
Published: 2014-12-04T05:00:00+00:00

Respectable Accusers

At dusk, Bea called me on my cell. I could barely hear her over the background noise and electronic music.

“Bea, where are you?” I asked.

The grocery store had a balcony. I guess it was meant for employees on their smoke break. It was empty and had a view of the town.

“I’m at the Night Owl. Decent café, terrible library. Or that might just be for today, because everybody who would be at the Brew-Ha-Ha came here instead. It used to be quiet enough to browse and do some reading!”

“How’s Aunt Astrid?”

“Well enough to shoo me out for a night out with the girls.”

The girls in question hollered their hellos.

I groaned, thinking about that morning. “Has Nadia forgiven me yet?”

“Nadia? I talked her out of reporting you to Detective Samberg for a hate crime, but I’ll tell her that you’re sorry—”

Nadia’s voice rose above the background chatter to cuss me out. “Ruby’s brother is a sore spot with her, you know. If you think he was unpleasant to you at school, imagine living with him.”

“Let me go to the restroom where it’s quieter,” Bea said.

“He was unpleasant to Min at school. And so says the best friend of Darla Castellan! The only friend, by now.”

“With friends like Ruby, Darla doesn’t need to antagonize anybody,” Bea said.

The background noise grew muffled. Bea must have found the restroom.

“Darla killed Ted for fun, then. Some things never change.”

“Oh, don’t start! You know that I only have so much tolerance for mean, insipid gossip.” Bea droned, “Clutch the pearls! Darla strung our Ted along, and that’s why she didn’t divorce until recently! Oh, my stars! Min Park’s so handsome now—and a criminal! He’s sexy now because he’s dangerous!”

“No offense, Bea, but I thought your friends would have a better perspective after Naomi and Ruby got together.”

Another big change from when we’re kids: gossip becomes useful to know. Maybe I wouldn’t have put my foot in my mouth that morning if I’d listened more.

“Apparently, if you can’t beat ’em, then join them. The chef at the Night Owl is willing to stock our pastries once the Brew-Ha-Ha building is back up, by the way.”

“That’s great news.”

“Now,” Bea said, “you tell me something important.”

I told her about a possible fraternity that marked its members with magical pendants.

“And Min was a member?” Bea asked. “You’ve got to bring him over here! We can ask him together! Discreetly, of course.”

“With your friends treating him like an escaped felon when it was only an interrogation?”

“That’ll show more people that it was only an interrogation. And an interrogation is just questions, like we’ll ask him. Bookstore café, police department—just innocent, curious questions to find out the truth—”

At that moment, the door to the balcony swung open, and Min strode through talking on his phone, sounding upset.

“No, today—tonight, whatever!” He paused. “I’m not going anywhere. You already know where my parents live, and at which inn I booked a room. You should be the one to come to me for follow-up questions.

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