He shrugged and took a step toward me. “Liz did all the heavy lifting. I just provided the supplies.”

I took a step back. “What I don’t understand is why didn’t you sue before now? Why not contest your father’s will?”

“Lack of funds.” He adjusted his grip on the shovel. “Maureen’s daddy’s business has remedied that, though, so it’s full steam ahead. Now, Mary, why don’t you go wait for us by the gates, dear.” He looked back at me. “She hasn’t been quite right since everything happened with Connie, and I’d like this to go as smoothly as possible.”

“You can’t possibly think you’ll get away with killing me.”

“Killing, no,” he said, shaking his head. “But I think I can come up with a plan that will make everybody believe you left town. It’s common knowledge you’ve been despondent since your husband’s death. Then add to that all the stress of your aunt being accused of murder. It would be a lot for anyone to take. Too much really.” Rip stared at me, waiting, probably for me to begin quaking with fear, but I was too drained for that.

I replayed the last few minutes in my head. Had I covered everything? Did I have all the answers? I was hoping I wouldn’t need them. But, again, I wasn’t taking chances. Not anymore.

“You’re a tough one,” he said with an ugly smile. “I’ll give you that.” Rip took another big step toward me. “But foolish. You never should have come to this graveyard alone.”

Just then a cold wind rushed through the headstones, swirling fallen leaves into the air. Following close behind came the sound of unearthly laughter.

Liz took a step toward her mother and clutched her arm. Rip’s eyes flashed around, looking for the source of the laughter, but it seemed to be coming from everywhere, all at once, even though the graveyard was empty of all other souls.

Well, empty until my aunts materialized just feet in front of Rip, dressed all in black, hair loose and flowing in the wind.

I couldn’t see their faces, but I knew their eyes would be glowing bright green.

Rip dropped the shovel as his mouth gaped open.

Izzy stepped toward him. “I’m afraid you’re the one who’s been foolish,” she said in a voice that did not sound like her own. “You just said my niece shouldn’t have come to the graveyard alone, but there’s something you should know.”

Nora came to her sister’s side.

“Our niece is never truly alone.”

Chapter 44

How did you do that?” Rip stammered. “What are you?”

I’m not sure how my aunts would have answered those questions, but they didn’t have to. I distracted everyone by dropping to my knees.

I was exhausted. The magic required to keep a glamor spell like that going since we had entered the graveyard was a little more than I could manage after not practicing for so long. Of course, my aunts had done most of the work, but in order to make people disappear, everyone who knows they’re actually there has to participate in the spell to keep them hidden or the illusion disappears.