“Look,” Nick said, “if you’ll just give me a minute to explain—” But as he said this he made the mistake of taking a step toward her. The instant he did, the three-legged dog seated peacefully beside her looked as if a surge of electric current had jolted its body awake. It widened its stance and lowered its head, barking and snarling and baring its teeth at Nick.

The witch snapped her fingers and the dog fell silent again. “Do not underestimate this dog,” she said. “She can do things with three legs that most dogs can’t do with four.”

Nick took a careful step back again. “I didn’t mean any harm.”

“I believe you—she isn’t so sure. I think you need to go now.”

“You know, I went to a lot of trouble to come up here.”

“You mean climbing my fence and trespassing through my woods? Sorry for all your trouble.” She raised her hands over her head and clapped twice.

Nick turned and looked in the direction of the fence; a few moments later he could hear the sound of the three huge dogs bounding back toward them. “I knew we should have taken my car. Now how am I supposed to get back?”

“That isn’t my problem. I didn’t ask you to come.”

“Yes, you’ve made that clear.”

The dogs returned now, panting like the bellows of a furnace. The witch turned without a word and started back into the woods with the four dogs accompanying her.

“I’m looking for a cadaver dog,” Nick called after her.

She didn’t reply.

“I wish you’d let me explain.”

She had almost disappeared into the shadows again.

“Hey! Hold on a minute!”

She turned and looked at him.

“I feel a little cheated. Aren’t you going to put a curse on me too?”

“If you wish,” she said, and once again made a slashing X across her chest, followed by a mystical flourish of fingers. “Satisfied?”

“What does it mean? I’m not very good at interpreting curses.”

She held up one finger.

Nick nodded. “Okay—that one I understand.”

6

6

“Morning, Deputy,” Nick said, ducking under the yellow barrier tape.

“Hi there, Nick. Sleep all right?”

“It was a short night but an interesting one.”

“Endor’s a nice little town.”

“Yeah, there’s no end to the fun. I see several cars in the parking lot this morning—who’s here?”

“Your people, mostly. A whole crew showed up first thing this morning.”

“Good. What about Marge and Bosco?”

“Yep—they’re here too.”

“Are they having better luck?”

“Can’t say. They been here since the crack of dawn, though. I sure hope they do better than yesterday.”

“Yeah, me too.”