12
Tonya was leaving when Donna Ashton led her elder brothers, Marvin and Stephen Jr., up the central aisle of the store with Tonya’s parole officer and former jail guard, Miranda, trailing behind. They all wore Ashton Security gray, except for Donna in her black skirt suit and red blouse.
Tonya telepathically alerted Helen on the third floor. The Ashtons are here. Shouldn’t your wards have kept them out?
What wards? Using magic would give them ammunition against me.
“Bring us Helen Lennox.” Donna grinned, patting her back-combed mane with ruby-tipped fingers.
“Why?” Tonya stalled to let Helen escape.
“She’s a wanted criminal by order of City Council.”
“Why now?” The investigation concluded that Tonya had accidentally destroyed Waldock with her uncontrolled powers.
“We released you because Helen confessed to murdering Jack Waldock.”
“She’s innocent!” Tonya blurted.
“Is she?” Miranda stepped so close Tonya could see the jailor’s freckles. “Be careful what you say. An eyewitness says you murdered Waldock together.”
“No.” Tonya kept her voice calm. “My friends vouched for her at the hearing.” But that was before Ashton Security wiped their memories. “Helen settled a revenant, and that’s not murder.”
“According to what witness?” Donna asked.
The only one who hadn’t suffered a memory wipe. “Roberto Alvarez.”
“Helen tried to charm him.” Donna smirked. “But he came to his senses, and now the good people of Loon Lake are going to come to theirs. It’s time to sweep out the corruption and reform Loon Lake.”
Tonya trembled, fists clenched at her sides. This wasn’t about clearing out shady politicians. Her whole life, the truce between Pures and Trads had prevented Old Families from using magic. It protected the Mundanes and kept the Mods in check, which they hated. Before they took charge of security, the Ashton family had been poor and powerless, but not anymore. Tonya guessed they had enough clout to make the City Council prosecute Helen for using magic, no matter if it had saved Loon Lake.
Old Loon Lake had stamped out open magic use a hundred years prior. The long-standing tradition got reinforced in the 1990s when Jack Waldock and his pal, Len, intimidated citizens. If businesses and farms refused to pay their gang protection money, flames razed their assets. Loon Lakers knew the fires were arson, but the Mundane fire marshal couldn’t find proof. Waldock’s gang paid frightening visits to witnesses who suddenly refused to testify.
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It was a terrible time, and a business opportunity. Stephen Ashton Sr. saw that Mundane law enforcement was powerless against magic. He offered private security to the Old Families who could scarcely refuse. Peaceful times returned, while the Ashtons grew fat off the council coffers. In his final years, Stephen Sr. scarcely left the family compound, but Donna and her brothers expanded the business and built jail cells under City Hall.
Junior Ashton puffed out a mountainous chest, his tiny head perched like a pebble. “Let’s lock them both up.”
Marvin deflated his brother with a look. As tall as Junior, he was slimmer and softer spoken. “Logically, you were guilty until Helen confessed. Either she coerced you into helping her murder Waldock.”
“Or you did it together.” Donna’s smile reminded Tonya of Marta.
Helen came downstairs, her head held high. “Tonya did nothing.”
“Council should strip their powers and banish them both.” Marvin took up position beside Helen as he and Junior marched her to the front of the store where Donna and Miranda waited.
Tonya stood in their path until Miranda whispered, “Don’t. If you resist, they can charge you, too.”
“I have to do something.”
“Breaking your parole won’t help.”
“Hands behind your back and turn around.” Junior looked to Marvin.
“Good job, bro. Put on the handcuffs.”
“You should be giving Helen a medal.” Tonya wanted them to know she knew. “She saved our city even though Waldock was killing her with cancer.”
“Sounds like a motive.” Donna tapped on her phone.
What should I do? Tonya asked telepathically.
Helen’s interior voice was calm. Let them take me, then tell the witch’s advocate. My spare keys are in the drawer under the cash register.
But if they put you in a cell, Donna can use the Staff of Storms to steal your powers !
Helen’s voice in Tonya’s head sounded deadly calm. Tell the witch’s advocate to see Mayor Thornton. He opposed jailing you and wants to stop the Ashtons from controlling Loon Lake.