Witch's Bell Book One

leafy suburb, which backed up onto what looked like a forest reserve. There were giant oaks, elms, and spruces all about the place.
    Yes, that was how far Ebony had walked – all the way from the middle of the city, to the mountains.
    She couldn't guess what the time was. But Harry assured her that it was only late afternoon, and that Nate would still be out for hours.
    Ebony had no idea how Harry could know this, but she went with it. She didn't really have any other option.
    Still cursing the fact that Harry had not allowed Ebony to take a taxi, or even a bus – because he didn't like the smell of other people, he'd assured her – Ebony carefully walked up to Nate's house.
    It was quite nice really. It had two levels and a very wide timber veranda that skirted the whole place like a halo. In fact, the whole place was very woody, like a stylish Canadian-lodge. It looked homely, warm, and oh-so-inviting. It also seemed to sweep up into the forest behind it. With big old birches and elms standing sentinel by its sides, and a nice garden seeming to blend seamlessly with the forest, like complimentary colors blending on a canvas.
    Very pleasing to the eye really, somewhat like the owner itself.
    It also looked like it was locked to the teeth, and had an alarm system for extra roar.
    'Hmm, Harry, how do we get in?'
    'A rock through the window should do the trick,' the case guffawed with laughter. 'That should show the upstart. Or you could try keying the code into the alarm system. The dunce of a Detective had my book in his arms when he was opening the door.'
    'Yes, but surely we need a key to get in the front door-'
    'Ha, don't worry about that. I have a way with locks. I'll just blast it off.'
    Ebony shook her head desperately, ensuring she was well under the cover of a low willow – not wanting Nate's neighbors to spy the sketchy looking, shoeless woman with the large brown traveling-case hanging around the Good Detective's house. 'We can't blow the door up.'
    'Oh it will be a small blast, just a little one. Directed at the lock, like a Claymore really.'
    'Harry,' she said through gritted teeth, 'this better work, or-'
    'Oh it will,' Harry said with satisfaction. 'Just get me to the door, and I'll do the rest. Then we'll disarm the alarm and go cyclonic in the Good Detective's House,' the bag let out a throaty chuckle that rambled on entirely too long.
    Ebony stood under the protection of the tree for several more seconds before finally sneaking out and heading for the front door. She looked so cautiously this way and that, if anyone had seen her, they would have had no doubt she was a shoeless thief – no doubt at all.
    But she couldn't help it. Breaking-and-entering with a magical bookstore in a travel bag – it was new to her, and she wasn't quite sure how you went about pulling it off.
    Ebony held her breath as she walked up the steps, ignoring the mat before the door that said "welcome" in the same fantastic yellow that the police used on their flak-jackets. She couldn't help but think it was very ironic in her case.
    As she held up the bag to the lock, hoping that no peppy mother was out walking their equally-peppy dog - Ebony took a moment to wonder how Nate would react to this. Coming home to find a slightly bedraggled, barefoot Ebony holding up an old, big traveling case to his door. It would be comical, and terrible. His face would run the gamut of emotions until it set in anger and then.... Oh, he'd probably just shoot her.
    'Hurry up, Harry,' she whispered, dancing from foot to foot. 'Someone's going to see us!'
    'Nonsense. And if they do, they'll just think you're a dancing telegram considering this silly jig you're doing. Now hold still, almost got it,' there was a very sharp but not so loud pop, then a fizzle of smoke erupted from the lock. 'Got it! Now let's disarm that alarm before it calls more police. Because,' he laughed, 'we're still carrying around stolen items from Praytors.'
    Ebony shook, she'd almost forgotten that one. But she didn't have time to feel sorry for herself, she whipped open the door, went inside, and quickly spied the alarm panel on the wall. 'What's the code, Harry?!'
    In several more seconds, Ebony had finally keyed it in, her heartbeat dropping noticeably as she realized they were safe in the house for now. 'Gosh darn, that was thrilling,' she deliberately used Harry's turn-of-phrase, hoping he'd realize just how "thrilling" things really were.
    'Hmm,' the case rumbled