Witch of Christmas Past Read Online Free PDF Page B

and ask them when they expect the power to be restored?”
    Nodding, I picked up the phone and dialed information so they could connect me right to the number. A minute later, I managed to get an actual person.
    A woman with a nasally voice came on the line. “Mystique Island Power. Can I help you?”
    “Yes. This is Isabelle Cooper with the FBI. I was wondering if you have an estimated time for the power to be restored? We were in the middle of something when it went out.”
    “I apologize for the inconvenience Miss Cooper. There was a major power draw that resulted in two blown transformers. It could be several hours before electricity is restored to the island.”
    “Do they know what kind of power draw?”
    “No. It only happened moments ago,” she explained.
    “I see. Thanks.”
    “No problem Miss Cooper. We can give you a call when we have more information.”
    “That would be great. Just call the office and it will be forwarded,’ I instructed.
    After thanking her again, I hung up.
    “Some mysterious power draw blew a couple transformers. They don’t know when the power will come back on.”
    Ayden shrugged. “Maybe it was a random gust of wind.”
    “Maybe,” Tim agreed, though he didn’t look too convinced.
    Ayden stood up. “It’s almost lunch anyway. We’ll just call it a day, and start with our fieldwork.”
    I was all for getting out of the office. “Okay boss, but I have to make a quick call first.”
    Picking up the phone, I dialed the sheriff’s office.
    “Mystique County Sheriff’s Office, this is Rayanne.”
    Rayanne!
    What the hell was she doing working at the sheriff’s office?
    I would have never expected the priestess of the Black Moon Coven to work with law enforcement.
    “Rayanne. This is Special Agent Cooper with the FBI .” I emphasized the FBI part.
    “Hello, Izzy.” Rayanne’s voice was cool, as was usually the case when she spoke with me.
    “I need to pick up the Muriel Bennett file. It will probably be in the cold case storage.”
    “Wasn’t that the lighthouse murder?”
    “It was.”
    “In that case I’ll have to talk with the sheriff. All cold case files go through him.”
    “How long will that take?” I asked.
    “Not long. He’s in his office now, and finding the file should be easy after I helped them with organizing their files last week.”
    “That would be great. I’ll be in soon,” I told her.
    I wanted to ask why she was working for the sheriff in the first place, but I didn’t think she’d give me a truthful, or civilized answer.
    It was a question for my sister the next time I saw her.
     

 
6.
     
    The sheriff’s office would have been as dark as the lighthouse, except they had a generator that kept some of the lights on.
    The tall blond woman behind the reception desk appeared far too sophisticated to be doing such mundane work.
    So why was Rayanne working for the Sheriff?
    I couldn’t even come up with a guess, but whatever her reason, I had a feeling it probably wasn’t good.
    Everyone seemed to like and trust the Black Moon witches, even Zane Dupree and my sister, but not I. No matter how I tried to keep my personal feelings out of it, I always got the impression Rayanne was up to something.
    I stepped up to the reception desk. “Did you get a chance to talk with Sheriff Bourne about the lighthouse case?”
    Her perfectly painted red lips spread into a cold smile. “Sure did. Do you mind me asking why you need the file?”
    “It’s a cold case. We like to work on unsolved cases when we have extra time.” I answered, making no effort to add any warmth to my voice.
    “I see. Good luck with this one. It’s a dinosaur.” She handed me a thin file.
    “There isn’t much here,” I commented.
    Rayanne shrugged. “I’m not familiar with the case, so I’m afraid I can’t be much help.”
    Well, that was the truth of the matter. The reality was, few people still alive had first-hand knowledge of the lighthouse murder, and no one