Witch's Bell Book One

inch.
    'Say that the Grimshores aren't upstanding people. Try and say it.'
    She looked at him askance, hoping he realized how mad he sounded. 'Okay. The Grimshores are upstanding people.' It took her several seconds to realize what she'd said. 'No, sorry – they aren't upstanding people,' she managed with considerable effort.
    Nate put his coffee down on the desk. 'I'd say that's pretty weird, wouldn't you? Not being able to say a word against the Grimshores?'
    Ebony, lips parted, just nodded.
    'Almost sounds magical,' he crossed his arms, still staring down at her.
    Ebony chewed at her lips. 'This isn't good, Nate, in fact, this is very, very bad.'
    'Strong magic?'
    'Very strong magic,' she sat back from the files, staring up at him, not really knowing what to do or say next.
    'Then that's good, right?' he shrugged, smiling down at her.
    'Sorry, how is that good?'
    'Because we now have a lead. You think it's a coincidence that a Grimshore just happens to be involved in the crime that gets you slapped with a wild punishment you don't deserve?' he put both hands down on the desk, as if to emphasize his point.
    'Oh,' Ebony managed, voice blank, 'right,' she found herself using the same word Nate always did.
    Her eyes followed his arms down to the desk, for some reason, and she took a moment to stare at what was there.
    'Oh my goodness,' she said slowly, voice tiny.
    'What's is it?' Nate's voice was quick.
    Ebony picked up one of the files, gently plucking a photo out from between the pages. She'd seen this picture earlier this morning, but she obviously hadn't properly looked at it. 'Nate,' she looked up at him, her eyes wide with shock. 'I've seen this before!'
    He probably resisted the urge to crack a joke, and just nodded at her quickly. 'Where?'
    She swallowed. 'In the crypt.'
    Very suddenly Ebony's arm began to ache. Her wound from the crypt suddenly erupted in a dull, persistent pain. She rubbed at it, but didn't put down the photo. 'Nate, this was on the cover of the book the man from the crypt was using for his spell.'
    'That's the Grimshore family crest,' he said automatically. 'But Ebony, what book are you talking about?'
    Ebony blinked rapidly. 'The book, from the crypt. The one that contained his spell for the future – the whole reason for summoning Death. You must know what I'm talking about,' she laughed uneasily, 'Nate?'
    He shook his head. 'We never recovered a book, Ebony. Just the guy and Cecilia Grimshore.'
    Ebony kept blinking, for some reason. 'But the book-'
    'This is important, isn't it?'
    She nodded, wiping at her mouth. 'Kind of, yeah. The book was the whole point of his spell. I mean...' her voice trailed off. She was suddenly starting to feel very cold, and very alone.
    Maybe Nate noticed, because he reached out a hand and placed it lightly on her arm. Instantly her flesh began to warm with a pleasant tingle.
    And maybe he'd also started to notice that Ebony was feeling alone, because at that exact moment, he leaned further over the desk, face angling her way.

Chapter Sixteen
    E bony stopped thinking about all her problems, the Grimshores, the world, magic – and any other manner of things. In fact, every single iota of attention she possessed concentrated to a point, and that point was Nathan Wall.
    The sun that had shone bright and full all morning, had managed to heat up the wood veneer on Ebony's desk. A fact she noticed as her fingers touched lightly against the wood, her body leaning forward. Her once-wild hair slipped over each shoulder, dangling before her, as her hands planted themselves firmly on the desk.
    As he pressed forward, so did she.
    Finally they kissed.
    Lips touching, faces brushing cheek to cheek. She could feel her breath strike against his warm skin, only to fall back against her own.
    For just a second, he was all she was aware of. For just a second, Ebony Bell only had enough attention for Nate Wall. But in just another second, none of that mattered.
    His phone rang.
    Ring, ring, ring.
    Nate paused, receded back like a wave tracking back to the ocean, and delved a hand into his pocket.
    Ebony simply stood there for a moment, body pressed up and over the desk, face still dangling there like a Christmas decoration still up in the middle of July.
    Then she took a deep breath, as that was the only thing she could possibly think of doing right now.
    'Detective Wall here,' Nate said, voice completely normal.
    Ebony blinked automatically, her attention and