Witches and Whatnots: An Izzy Cooper Novel Read Online Free PDF

but I did.”
    “Anything else?” I wanted to move past the vampire thing. Talking about something we already knew, wouldn’t garner much in the way of new information.
    “He also had the habit of disappearing for two or three days at a time. I thought his explanations were a little corny, but I never pressed too hard. Do you think he was off killing people when he was gone?”
    It was another one of Josie’s duh moments, but I decided not to point it out. Putting her on the defensive wouldn’t get me far. Instead, I kept my answer short and sweet. “I don’t know.”
    “That’s really all I can tell you.” She lifted her shoulders.
    “Okay, well if you think of anything, it would be very helpful if you’d get in touch with me.”
    “I will.” She forced a smile.
    After Josie left, I noticed a newspaper that someone had left on one of the empty tables. Snatching up the paper, I took it back to my table and gazed down at the front page while eating my muffin.
    Of course, the front page was filled with news of Jason Robinson’s mysterious death. It wasn’t until I flipped to the next page that something caught my eye.
    Life Returns to Dell
    Moonlight Dell has been lifeless for nearly decades, but no longer. Rayanne Bovine has come home to claim her inheritance. Miss Bovine is the great-granddaughter of Bridgett Melby; the lawful owner of the property that the Dell sits on.
    In the early nineteenth century, Bridgett Melby was one of the original founders of the village of Moonlight Dell. Unfortunately, rumors got started that Miss Melby, along with the other residents of the Dell were really a coven of witches known as the Black Moon Sisterhood. It was also rumored that Miss Melby was descended from Miranda Hubbard, one of the original Salem witches. Allegedly, Miranda Hubbard escaped Salem just before the witch trials began, taking members of her coven with her.
    It was the winter of 1836 that tragedy struck Mystique Island with the deaths of several infants. Suspicion fell on Moonlight Dell, and the citizens of that village were subject to mob justice. Most of the residents were burned at the stake, though some did manage to escape, one of those being Miss Melby’s daughter.
    Later, it was discovered that the infants died of a repertory virus that had been rampant that year, but by then it was too late. The residents of the Dell were already either dead or had fled the village. Until recently, the Dell has remained deserted.
    After the tragedy that was visited on Moonlight Dell, it is only right that Storm Cove and the rest of Mystique Island welcome our newest citizens with open arms.
    Although the article gave me a little more information about the Dell than I’d had before, I found it a little strange that the editor of the Storm Cove Herald would do such a big article on the new residents of the island. Ruth was more into community events and headlines, than fluffing up some new resident. She hadn’t even given that much attention to Zane Dupree and the Misty Haven Resort, which in my opinion had been bigger news.
    I’d only eaten about half of my breakfast muffin when I heard the wail of sirens.
    Whatever was happening, it was close.
    Downing my coffee, I grabbed the muffin from the plate and made tracks for the door. All the hubbub seemed to be down at the docks. There were police cars everywhere. As I was standing there gawking, the coroner’s van pulled up.
    That could only mean one thing - another body.
    I decided I might as well check it out now, instead of waiting for someone to call me.
    Stuffing the remainder of my breakfast into my face, I trotted to the docks. Hopefully, whatever they’d discovered, it wouldn’t be so gross that I ended up chucking it all back up.
    When I got close enough, I saw that the commotion seemed to be at one of the boats that had been towed in by the coast guard.
    Standing on the dock, I called to Sheriff Bourne, who was busy examining something on the boat.