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his fantasies crushed.”
    “Oh, you aren’t that bad.”
    I just raised a brow.
    “Okay, sometimes you are but you really should give a guy a chance. If not the singer, then someone else. I’ll see what I can come up with,” she said.
    “Oh no. Do not try to set me up with your therapist or stylist or some other guy who I will totally hate.”
    “Anyway, why were you on your way over when I called?”
    She always ignored me when she didn’t care what I said. Mark my words, I would be set up with some loser in a month or so.
    “I was coming by to see if you recognized this guy from the club.”
    I pulled out a picture of Stephen Wilkins that I stole from his apartment.
    She looked at it for a couple minutes before handing it back.
    “No. He looks like a lot a college kids that hang out there. There are a few regulars that show up every weekend but he doesn’t look like any of them.”
    I sighed. Another dead end. I hate when I can’t find the bad guy. Unless someone comes forward with more information I can’t think of anywhere else to look. I guess it’s a good thing we’re going to the club Saturday. Maybe I’ll ask around to see if anyone recognizes him.
     
    After leaving Temmy’s, I went to visit my grandmother. Elinor Tywella was a sixty five year old White Witch. She lives in a suburb of Atlanta called Decatur, which is where she raised me. I pulled into the drive, and knocked on the door before going in.
    “Grandmother. It’s Avery.”
    “In the kitchen, Avy.”
    She and Temmy were the only two people I let get away with calling me Avy. Everyone else was restricted to Ave, if they were my friend, or Avery if they weren’t. That didn’t include the names I was called behind my back.
     
    I walked into the kitchen to find my grandmother bent over a large cauldron mixing a potion. I’m not sure what it was for, but as a White Witch, she would not permit any spell she created to harm others either directly or indirectly.
    “What are you making grandmother?”
    “Oh, this is a blessing for the Goddess Selene. She has brought those of the moon dance much happiness in recent months.”
    “Ah.”
    Most people’s grandmothers spend their time in the kitchen baking cookies. Mine spends her time thanking the Gods and Goddesses by creating tributes. As a matter of fact, other than healing potions, that is what my grandmother regularly does. Well, that and dance in the moonlight with her geriatric friends. She has invited me several times to join them but I have gracefully declined.
    “What brings you home this evening, Avy?”
    “I was just checking on you. I wish you would carry a cell phone then I could actually call you every once in a while.”
    “I do not need such distractions when I am communing with the other plane.”
    “Okay, you could at least call me every so often to let me know you are alright.”
    “And then you would have no reason to come for a visit.”
    I smiled. “I would visit. Even if I knew you were still kicking it.”
    “You will know when I pass. For I will give you all of my earthly gifts.”
    What gifts? Her cookbook for creating cauldrons full of tribute potions for Gods and Goddesses that never bother to show up and actually accept them. I think I’m good.
    “Do you have any tributes for your only grandchild? I’m thinking of the food variety.”
    “Have a seat and I will fix you a sandwich.” She went to the fridge and pulled out the ingredients she would need. “And how is Temmy doing? Is she still tending bar?”
    “Yep. I think she found her calling. She can flirt with men all night long and get paid for it. It’s perfect for her.”
    “How about you? Do you still feel you have found your calling?”
    “Yes, grandmother. Being a Human’s Rights detective has been the only thing I have wanted to do since I was twelve years old. That is not going to change.”
    “I just thought I would ask.”
     
    She didn’t want me to join the task force. She would