they’re hiding something. They could be the ones behind his disappearance. You just never know with them.”
“Are you suggesting the council was involved with his disappearance?” Honora sat up straighter, digesting Jane’s innuendo. “Have they tried to intimidate you or have they made you feel threatened in any way?” She leaned forward and gave Jane a reassuring look. “You can trust me.”
“Sometimes I wish they had; at least it would be something. The council acts like I don’t even matter. And that affair they cooked up was just pathetic. Do you see why I had to come to you? I had to take finding Jon into my own hands.”
“You’re certain they made it up?”
“Who else?”
Your husband.
But if an employee had gone missing under dubious circumstances, the council would keep the search as low-key as possible, even if that meant keeping Jane ignorant of the progress they were making. After reviewing Jonathan’s résumé, however, Honora had to agree with Jane. The affair felt staged as a deflection, but by whom?
“Do you think his disappearance has anything to do with the witching wall?” Honora asked, directly watching for a flicker of recognition from Jane.
“Why do you think that?” Her eyes flared for a second, and she pulled at the neckline of her sweater.
“You husband works on barrier spells, so I assumed he might be working on it.”
“You really shouldn’t make assumptions. Thought I find the wall interesting, I can’t imagine how he could be a part of it.”
Honora wasn’t buying Jane’s naïve routine. “What about family and friends? Any luck with them?”
“Jonathan doesn’t have any. He’s an only child, and his parents passed away years ago. As for friends, he keeps to himself. It’s just Rex and me. We are all he’s ever needed.”
“What about your relationship with your husband? How’s that going? Any problems? Has your husband ever cheated in the past?”
Jane’s eyes widened. “No, we’re fine.” Her eyes welled with tears. “We’re perfect together. He’s the greatest man I’ve ever known. We never even argue.”
Honora shifted in her seat. “Do you mind if I take a look around? I’ll need to see Jonathan’s office, where he worked, and his personal space. I don’t mean to intrude on your privacy, but it’s important that I look through his things to see if I can find any clues as to what happened to him.”
“Whatever you require. I’ll cooperate fully. His office is in the back, and our bedroom is upstairs. Feel completely free to look around, and if you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to ask.” Jane sniffed. “You’ll find his office and his things exactly as he left them. I haven’t moved a thing.”
Interesting, Honora thought. If she had a husband who went missing, she’d have torn the place apart, looking for evidence of an affair or something. At least Jane was cooperative. Snooping around was a lot easier with the homeowner’s permission.
Rex raced around the room in tiny circles, but Jane ignored him again.
“Um, I think he needs to go outside and do his business.” Honora raised her brow at Jane, who let out an exasperated sigh.
“Not again. It’s seems like all I do is walk that dog.” She gave him a nudge with the toe of her shoe when he tried to get close to her. “He’s Jon’s dog,” she said, not hiding the annoyance in her voice. “Taking care of Rex was his responsibility.”
Honora was sensing some irritation from the witch. “He’s cute.” She smiled. “He’s a tiny pain in the butt.” Jane walked toward the door and grabbed the leash hanging on the coat stand.
“Not a dog witch?” Honora followed, and Rex danced around her, so she bent down. A few scratches under his chin quieted him, but his gaze was imploring. He whimpered softly.
“I’m not an animal person.” Jane attached the leash to Rex’s collar. She wound the end around her hand a few times and tugged the dog
“Are you suggesting the council was involved with his disappearance?” Honora sat up straighter, digesting Jane’s innuendo. “Have they tried to intimidate you or have they made you feel threatened in any way?” She leaned forward and gave Jane a reassuring look. “You can trust me.”
“Sometimes I wish they had; at least it would be something. The council acts like I don’t even matter. And that affair they cooked up was just pathetic. Do you see why I had to come to you? I had to take finding Jon into my own hands.”
“You’re certain they made it up?”
“Who else?”
Your husband.
But if an employee had gone missing under dubious circumstances, the council would keep the search as low-key as possible, even if that meant keeping Jane ignorant of the progress they were making. After reviewing Jonathan’s résumé, however, Honora had to agree with Jane. The affair felt staged as a deflection, but by whom?
“Do you think his disappearance has anything to do with the witching wall?” Honora asked, directly watching for a flicker of recognition from Jane.
“Why do you think that?” Her eyes flared for a second, and she pulled at the neckline of her sweater.
“You husband works on barrier spells, so I assumed he might be working on it.”
“You really shouldn’t make assumptions. Thought I find the wall interesting, I can’t imagine how he could be a part of it.”
Honora wasn’t buying Jane’s naïve routine. “What about family and friends? Any luck with them?”
“Jonathan doesn’t have any. He’s an only child, and his parents passed away years ago. As for friends, he keeps to himself. It’s just Rex and me. We are all he’s ever needed.”
“What about your relationship with your husband? How’s that going? Any problems? Has your husband ever cheated in the past?”
Jane’s eyes widened. “No, we’re fine.” Her eyes welled with tears. “We’re perfect together. He’s the greatest man I’ve ever known. We never even argue.”
Honora shifted in her seat. “Do you mind if I take a look around? I’ll need to see Jonathan’s office, where he worked, and his personal space. I don’t mean to intrude on your privacy, but it’s important that I look through his things to see if I can find any clues as to what happened to him.”
“Whatever you require. I’ll cooperate fully. His office is in the back, and our bedroom is upstairs. Feel completely free to look around, and if you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to ask.” Jane sniffed. “You’ll find his office and his things exactly as he left them. I haven’t moved a thing.”
Interesting, Honora thought. If she had a husband who went missing, she’d have torn the place apart, looking for evidence of an affair or something. At least Jane was cooperative. Snooping around was a lot easier with the homeowner’s permission.
Rex raced around the room in tiny circles, but Jane ignored him again.
“Um, I think he needs to go outside and do his business.” Honora raised her brow at Jane, who let out an exasperated sigh.
“Not again. It’s seems like all I do is walk that dog.” She gave him a nudge with the toe of her shoe when he tried to get close to her. “He’s Jon’s dog,” she said, not hiding the annoyance in her voice. “Taking care of Rex was his responsibility.”
Honora was sensing some irritation from the witch. “He’s cute.” She smiled. “He’s a tiny pain in the butt.” Jane walked toward the door and grabbed the leash hanging on the coat stand.
“Not a dog witch?” Honora followed, and Rex danced around her, so she bent down. A few scratches under his chin quieted him, but his gaze was imploring. He whimpered softly.
“I’m not an animal person.” Jane attached the leash to Rex’s collar. She wound the end around her hand a few times and tugged the dog
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