Lily ambushed me in the kitchen with her grandmother and Lavender following right behind. “I wasn’t yelping, I was helping. But that’s really cool. I wish we’d known about this when we were in school.”
“Yeah, I could have used the extra help in chemistry,” I admitted.
Mimsy joined us in the kitchen. “You aren’t supposed to use this form of communication for nefarious purposes.”
“Hmph, tell that to Harold Masters, your ex-boyfriend,” Ada challenged, crossing her arms across her chest. “Didn’t you use the mirror spell in order to find out if he was cheating on you?”
“Grandma!” Lavender exclaimed.
“I caught him, didn’t I?” Mimsy glared at her old friend. “Saw him kissing that Hetty Wallace clear as day. Boy, did they jump when I cursed a blue streak at them.”
We devolved into fits of laughter until her story pointed out a problem. “Wait, what if the person you’re trying to contact isn’t expecting it? Let’s say I manage to get the spell right to get ahold of Mason. How do I find him if he’s not expecting it on the other side?”
Ada glanced at Mimsy for help, and Lavender and Lily’s grandmother brushed my concern off with a wave of her hand. “If you get it right, your summons will locate him wherever he is through whatever reflective surface is closest.”
“Does that mean she could catch him at a really bad time? Like maybe when he’s in his room stark naked?” Blythe wiggled her eyebrows at me.
She had a point, but I flipped her the bird anyway. “So, it’s possible I could interrupt something important.”
“Like Mason flossing his teeth,” Blythe teased, muttering to me under her breath, “in the nude.”
Her grandmother smacked her upside her head. “Yes, mirror talk isn’t as convenient. No ringtones to give you warning. We just got used to being available to each other whenever we needed to talk, especially when we didn’t live in the same town.”
“Although you shouldn’t have bothered Vivi and Delford on their anniversary trip that one time,” scolded Mimsy. “She about killed you for interrupting—”
I held up my hand to stop her from finishing that sentence. And yet, the image of my grandmother and grandfather together intimately still tainted my brain.
“I think I’ll take my chances.” Excusing myself, I went into the living room. I crossed my fingers, hoping against hope he wasn’t somewhere trying to be stealthy while chasing after the werewolf and his gang. Summoning my powers, I focused and centered my energy. “Mirror, mirror, how you shine. Grant me this request of mine. Send this call out far and wide, find Mason on the other side.”
The reflection of my expectant face in the mirror shivered, and Mason’s eyes and part of his nose appeared. Whatever he was in the middle of, he didn’t notice me.
“Mason,” I called out. His eyebrows furrowed, and he searched for the source of the noise. “Mason!”
The detective’s eyes flashed to mine, and he cursed out loud. Tires screeching and horns blasted through the mirror, and I cringed, realizing I’d caught him while driving. He glanced behind him and yelled at someone in a nearby car. After he must have pulled over, I watched him throw the car in park.
“Charli, what in the world are you doing in my rearview mirror? You almost caused us to crash.” His harsh words hurt until he adjusted the angle so I could see relief in his expression. “I’ve been trying to call you, but you wouldn’t pick up.”
Another voice from his end grumbled something I couldn’t understand, and a car door opened and slammed shut. “Sorry,” I apologized through gritted teeth. “I didn’t know where I’d find you when I cast the spell. Was that the other detective? What’s his name? Clarkson?”
“Yeah, he said he’d give us a few minutes of privacy.” He leaned in closer so I could see him better. “I’m both mad at you and happy to finally hear your voice. But if you’re contacting me this way, something must be wrong.”
It took a whole three minutes to fill him in on everything that had happened since my return plus how I got ahold of him using a mirror. He listened with serious intent, waiting until I paused to take a breath.
“I’m so sorry about your grandmother, honey. I know that must be tough for you and Matt. Do you want me to come back to help?” he asked.
Every fiber of my being screamed, “Yes,” but I composed myself enough not to give away my desperation. “How close are you to closing the case?”
Mason cast a hesitant sideways glance, and I guessed he was looking at the other detective. “The truth? Not as close as Clarkson had originally hoped. He actually wanted me to get you to come back and use your tracking powers.”
My mouth gaped. “You must trust him a lot if you told him.”
“He was the closest to me on the force, but I wonder if his zeal to catch Mordecai will outweigh his loyalty.” Mason sighed, and I noticed the bags under his eyes. “Let’s just say that things got tense when I made it clear that in no way was I involving you.”
My heart ached to hold him and chase away the hurt I sensed. “I’m sorry it’s harder than you thought.”
He ran his fingers through his hair and scratched the longer scruff on his face. “Longer than I’d hoped. Honestly, I kind of wish I’d come home with you in the first place. Then at least I could be of some use.”
I considered whether or not to ask my next question, but I needed to know the answer. “How much longer do you think you’ll need to stay there?”
“I don’t know.” Mason’s answer cooled my excitement of talking to him over the mirror.
Before he had to go, I told him how
