Page 68 of The Witch

Nay, it could not be.

Elias Fenn comes to the stand next—the first testimony from somebody that I have interacted with regularly. His eyes are cold as he settles into a chair next to the magistrate’s table.

“Goodman Fenn,” Putman says, “pray state your complaint against the accused.”

“I observed Mistress Eldridge consorting with Hitty Atkins, a known witch,” he says. “They were friends, and on many occasions, I watched them exchange potions.”

They were but herbs from her garden! The words are on the tip of my tongue, but I cannot bear to be admonished by Putman again or risk removal from the courtroom. So I remain silent.

“How did you know they were potions?” Putman asks.

“I saw the vials with smoke coming out of them.”

I nearly gasp at the outright lie. How could he say such a thing?

“And then on one occasion,” Elias continues, “I passed by the house of Hitty Atkins late in the evening. I saw that she had built a fire in the back of her house, and Goodwife Atkins and Mistress Eldridge were dancing around it, naked and chanting.”

This revelation stirs a loud commotion of gasps and murmurs in the courtroom. Putman strikes with his gavel, but the clamor continues. I cannot bear to look at Elias, but when I glance back at Archie, his head is bowed.

Archie cannot believe such a thing, could he? That I would prance beneath the moonlight, bare, to call forth the devil’s spirit? Surely he must realize what folly this is.

But my husband will not look at me. Instead, it is Molly Howe who finally raises her eyes to meet mine, and it is at that moment that I realize there is much worse to come.

50

PRESENT DAY

JULIA

I arrive at the Woodhaven Museum carrying a large tote bag with a human pelvis inside.

I was careful about it. I didn’t want to just walk around flaunting a human bone. What if I got pulled over by the police? So I took the time to wrap the bone in one of those extra blankets Ethel gave me. I’m sure she would be thrilled to find out what I’m doing with her linens.

But she’d also be grateful that I didn’t call the police to tell them I found human remains on the property.

I waited until Mick got home to take off, making up an excuse about going on an errand. After losing my grandmother and nearly calling 911, there is no way I am ever leaving her alone again. I spoke to my father briefly about my concerns, and we’re going to have to discuss it with Ethel. I’m still not sure what the fate of Pemberton will be.

When I enter the museum with the tote bag hanging off my shoulder, that same girl from the first day is there, scrolling on her phone like she hasn’t moved an inch since the last time I was here. I approach her with the bag clutched close to my chest.

“Hi,” I say.

She looks up at me briefly, doesn’t acknowledge me, then goes back to whatever she’s doing on her phone.

“Um, I’m here to speak to Henry Ziegler.” I called Henry using the number he scribbled on the back of Dixon’s card and asked if he could do me a “small favor.” I didn’t tell him what the favor entails, because I thought it might be harder for him to say no to my face. “He’s expecting me.”

The girl looks up at me with an irritatingly blank expression on her face, but thankfully, Henry rushes out from beyond the inner doors at that moment. His face lights up when he sees me.

“Julia,” he says. “Great to see you again! How’s the ghost hunting going?”

I laugh at his little joke. Oh man, he’s not going to be happy when he finds out why I’m here.

“Um.” I glance at the girl, who doesn’t seem to have the slightest interest in us, but that might change if I whip a human bone out of my tote bag. “Is there somewhere we can talk in private?”

He raises his eyebrows but then nods. “Sure. Follow me.”

I follow him through the museum, taking a similar route to the last time I was here. “That girl at the front seemed to have no idea who you are, you know,” I point out.

Henry glances over his shoulder. “She’s new.”