Witch of Christmas Past Read Online Free PDF Page A

with the supernatural at all. Maybe our perp is some family member going through a psychotic break because of the man’s death.”
    Tim leaned back in his chair and clasped his hands behind his head. “Could be. We’re looking into that angle.”
    “Where’s the boss?”
    “With there being no more grave robberies over the weekend, he was in such a good mood that he planned to stop by Pies & Stuff to get breakfast for everyone.”
    “Cool! I haven’t eaten yet.”
    Ayden was being human for once, which also went a long way in brightening my day.
    I was just settling in at my desk when the boss walked in, carrying a box full of sausage muffins and three glasses of orange juice.
    “Merry Christmas everyone!” he said, adding an extra bit of cheer in his voice.
    “I think you’re a little early with that,” I pointed out.
    Ayden shrugged. “I’m practicing.”
    After handing out breakfast, Ayden dropped the empty box in the trash and turned to face us.
    “I have an announcement to make,” he declared.
    Damn! I just knew the boss’s generosity wasn’t about him being in a good mood, at least that wasn’t all it was about.
    “As you both know, the Storm Cove City Council has a program to raise money for charities during the holidays, and most businesses in town donate something to help out.”
    Both Tim and I nodded.
    “Well I decided this year, ACMU will donate something.”
    “Okay,” I said, a guarded tone to my voice. “What are we planning to donate?”
    I loved giving to charity, but I did have to pay the rent if I didn’t want to celebrate the New Year holiday at the soup kitchen.
    “Our time.” His smile grew even larger.
    He sure was proud of this plan of his, maybe even a little smug.
    What were we going to get roped into?
    After swallowing the bite of sausage muffin I was chewing on, I asked, “How are we going to donate time?”
    “As you know, they will be holding an auction for charity at the tree lighting festivities tomorrow night. All three of us will go up for auction.”
    I didn’t like the sound of that. “What do we have to give the winner? I mean, what kind of time?”
    “Thank you for asking, Izzy.” Ayden smiled again.
    I wasn’t sure I liked this new, smiling boss.
    “The winners will get to ride along with us for a week while we are working,” Ayden announced.
    “Is that even legal?” I asked, hoping that maybe I had stumbled onto a loophole.
    It wasn’t that I had anything against helping charity, but I would have preferred to sell baked goods or something along those lines. I liked to work solo, and if I had to have a partner, I was good with Tim.
    “It’s perfectly legal. I already cleared it with the field office in Portland. We just need to keep them out of harm’s way, and of course we need to protect classified information,” Ayden explained.
    When neither Tim nor I responded, he continued, “If you are both up for it, I’ll need you at the tree lighting tomorrow night. Besides, we have to be there anyway. With a gathering of this size, and an island full of, not so normal citizens, there could be mischief.”
    “Okay boss. Whatever you say.” I smiled.
    “Also, after lunch I want you both out in the field. Someone has to know something about that grave. Tim, you go talk with the family again. Izzy, you should make contact with some of your friends. See what you can find out through the grapevine.”
    “You mean the witch vine?” I had to toss that out there.
    “Yeah, whatever.” Ayden all but ignored me.
    The boss knew that our job basically centered on crimes involving the paranormal, but he liked to ignore that fact as much as possible.
    “Just see what you can find out,” he repeated.
    “Will do,” I responded, already turning on my computer to get started for the day.
    I figured there was no sense in telling him that I’d already been asking around about it, which might result in a reassignment to something he might deem as more