Read wicked witches 07.5 - christmas witch for Free Online

you’ll get all the applause.”
    Clove preened under the suggestion. “Really? Do you think people will clap?”
    “Absolutely. You’ll probably get more gifts, too.”
    Clove moved in front of me, resigned. “Okay, but this has to be quick. If I go to jail for this, I’m going to be really mad.”
    “Duly noted,” I said, sliding the window open with a little magical help. I laced my fingers together and inclined my chin toward them. “Put your foot in there.”
    Clove did as instructed, and even though she was tiny, it took all of my strength to hoist her over my head. Bay and Thistle had to step in and help. The added muscle propelled Clove through the open window and we heard her crash into something as she landed on the other side.
    “Are you okay, Clove?”
    No answer.
    “Clove?”
    I couldn’t hear a thing inside of the house.
    “Clove, this isn’t funny,” I said. “If you’re hurt, you need to give me a sign.”
    “How is that going to work if she’s knocked out?” Bay asked.
    I shot her a quelling look. “She’s not knocked out. She’s … .” Oh, Goddess, please tell me she’s not knocked out! If I have to call an ambulance and explain this, not only am I not going to save Christmas, I’ll probably be forced to eat whatever the jail calls turkey for Christmas dinner. No one wants that.
    “She probably has a big cut in her head and she’s bleeding all over the place,” Thistle said.
    “She’s probably dying,” Bay chimed in.
    I seriously hate kids! “Clove, if you don’t answer me right now, I’m going to … .” What? What was I going to do? I couldn’t threaten a hurt child, could I?
    Clove picked that moment to pop into view, and although she had a disgusted look on her face she appeared none the worse for wear.
    “Why didn’t you answer me?” I asked.
    “Because I was trying to figure out where my head was because it almost hit the dresser in here,” Clove replied. “And I landed on a pair of underwear. Do you know how gross that is?”
    I did. Bernard had a tendency to sleep with the dregs of society. There is no way I would tell her that, though. “They were probably clean.”
    “They aren’t clean,” Clove said, wrinkling her nose. “There are things on them.”
    “Gross,” Thistle and Bay said in unison.
    “I’ll buy some of those clean wipes when we get out of here,” I said. “It will kill all of the germs.”
    “I want candy, too,” Clove said.
    I narrowed my eyes. I was being shaken down by a child. It was insulting. “Maybe I’ll just leave you in there and let you explain to the cops why you’re breaking into someone else’s house.”
    Clove’s eyes widened. “I knew we were breaking the law!”
    “Go open the back door,” I ordered. “We’re coming around. Be quick about it.”
    By the time Clove let us into Bernard’s house she was practically beside herself. I pushed Thistle and Bay inside, shutting the door behind me to lock out prying eyes, and focused on Clove. “What’s your problem now?”
    “There are bugs flying around in the kitchen,” Clove replied, horrified. “Big ones.”
    That didn’t sound good. “They’re not the type of bugs that go with dead bodies, are they?”
    “What kind of bugs are those?”
    “What kind of bugs are you seeing?”
    “The kind that pop up on food when you don’t finish eating it and leave it on the counter for days at a time,” Clove replied. “It’s gross. I can never eat again. I hope you’re happy. I’m going to starve to death and die.”
    “If you don’t stop complaining I’m going to make you eat that food and then you’ll really have something to complain about,” I threatened.
    Clove snapped her mouth shut, disgusted.
    “You’re a horrible babysitter,” Thistle said.
    “Maybe that’s because you three are horrible babies.”
    “Whatever.” Thistle rolled her eyes. “Where should we start looking for clues?”
    That was a good question. “I don’t know,” I