I couldn’t believe they would just take the alibi as gold. Most people had someone who would be happy to lie for them, and unless Angelica had cast a truth spell—which was illegal except in certain circumstances which didn’t apply here—she couldn’t know for sure. If James was here, he’d be able to tell. Had Angelica checked whether the guy had motive?
Will nudged my arm with his. “Here, have some garlic bread, and stop thinking about the case.”
I took two pieces from the basket and passed it to Imani. “Sorry. I can’t help it.”
He grinned. “Are you sure you don’t want to become an agent?”
“I’m sure.” He had a good point though. If I didn’t want to be an agent, why did I care? I wanted to be a photographer, so I should be out there taking photos. Fine. Tomorrow morning, I was going to get up early, at sunrise, and go take some early morning pictures when the light was magical.
The rest of our dinner arrived. I shut my eyes and savoured the delicious scent of my anchovy pizza. I opened my eyes to Will and Imani pulling disgusted faces at me. “What?”
Imani shook her head. “I don’t know how you can eat that stinking fish.”
Will shuddered. “No kissing me until you’ve brushed your teeth.”
I rolled my eyes. “Tease me all you want. At least I never have to share.” I grinned. “Yum!” I took a bite and groaned. Talk about heaven. “Mmmmmmm.” Will and Imani shared a “vomit” look. I didn’t really want to give away even one anchovy, but I couldn’t resist. Imani had twisted her spaghetti bolognaise onto her fork and lifted it to her mouth. Just as she was about to put it in, I drew a smidge of magic and transferred one of the anchovies from my pizza onto her fork. In her mouth it went. She started chewing, then stopped. Her eyes widened. She grabbed her napkin, lifted it to her mouth, and spat her food into it. I laughed.
Angelica’s voice carried across the table… without magic. “What inappropriate public behaviour, Imani. Are you trying to embarrass me?”
I snorted. Imani pinched her lips together and turned to me. “You!”
I grinned and shrugged. I wasn’t going to admit to anything. Besides, Will was only watching and didn’t know what had happened. I was going to get him too. “Me? I didn’t do anything.”
Angelica shook her head and went back to her food and whatever my mother was saying.
Imani leaned towards me. “I felt your magic.”
“I was removing some food I’d dropped on my shirt. You know how clumsy I am.”
She narrowed her eyes at me, then peered at the masticated food in her napkin.
I wrinkled my brow. My acting game needed to be on point. “What are you doing?”
“Looking for that damn anchovy.”
I activated my best surprised face. “Did they accidentally put one in your food?”
She puckered her lips. “It wasn’t a they; it was a you.” The urge to giggle was strong, so I shoved my pizza into my mouth and took a bite. When I was done with that mouthful, I subtly looked at Will. He was eating a pepperoni pizza. The flavour was pretty strong, so he’d be less likely to notice any anchovies. I’d have to wait until he had more of his garlic bread. Luckily, I didn’t have long to wait. As it was about to go in his mouth, I plonked two of my anchovy pieces onto it. In it went.
His face twisted in horror, and he slammed his napkin over his mouth and coughed. Angelica stared at him and raised a brow as if to say, not you too. “I can’t take you lot anywhere.” She pinned her school-teacher gaze on me. “Lily, stop behaving like an adolescent.”
I burst out laughing. Revenge was sweet. “They started it.”
My mother shook her head and laughed. “That’s the Lily I remember. Always so cheeky.”
I smiled at her. “I try.”
Angelica turned to my mother. “How am I supposed to keep her in line if you don’t back me up?”
“Good luck with that. I tried for fourteen years, and she’s still the same three-year-old who put a dead lizard in her brother’s sandwich after he broke one of her dolls, and still the same twelve-year-old who hid her father’s car keys after he punished her for something her brother did. He couldn’t find them for two days.” She shook her head. “He was so angry. She didn’t admit to taking them until he apologised for wrongly punishing her, but he still grounded her afterwards for hiding his keys. Those were good times.”
“Getting grounded was not good times, Mum. But having Dad around was.” I gave her a sad smile, which she returned. “Sorry I gave you grief as a kid.”
“You weren’t any worse than any other child. I’m glad you had some fight in you, Lily. From what Angelica says, it’s helped get you through everything.”
I didn’t hear it, but Angelica’s phone must have rung because she pulled it out of her bag and answered it. “Hello, Angelica DuPree speaking.” She listened for a moment, then said something in Italian. Hmm, interesting.
I turned to Will. “Do you think that’s the Italian PIB guy?”
“I have no idea. And for the record, when you least expect it, expect it.”
“You were mean to me first.”
“We were just teasing.”
“So was I.”
“But it was anchovy.” He shuddered again.
“Poor baby. Did you have a drink to wash out the taste?”
“Yes.”
“Can you still taste it?”
“No, but that’s not th—”
“Yes it is. You suffered for approximately five seconds. Time to get over it.” I smiled.
Angelica’s
