by K E O'Connor
“He was with us,” Ian said.
I shook my head. Of course, they would use each other as alibis. It was less than perfect, but Josh had a whole gang on his side, and there was nothing I could do about it.
“Have you heard enough?” Rhett asked. “Or do you want to take us in for questioning?”
“I’ve heard enough for now,” I said.
Rhett caught hold of my elbow and walked me away from Ian and Josh. “Tempest, you need to be careful coming into the forest on your own.”
“I’m never on my own. I have Wiggles and Frank, as you’ve seen tonight.”
Rhett rubbed a bruise on his cheek. “Yes, I’m intimately acquainted with Frank.”
I shrugged. “At least I know your gang won’t mess with me unless they want a taste of Frank’s fist again.”
“They already know that. They were protecting me.” Rhett touched the broken skin on my knuckles and held my hand gently. “And it wasn’t Frank’s fist. It was yours. Your demon forgets you can be broken.”
“He doesn’t forget. He just doesn’t care.” I eased my hand from his grip. “I know they’re your gang and you’re loyal to them, but did Josh and Ian tell the truth? Dark magic killed Serath. Somebody out there has a serious amount of power. It’s only going to get worse if they don’t keep their powers in check.”
“My gang is not involved in this. Josh told me about Serath and his buddies coming into the forest and him giving them the brush off. He didn’t need to do that. Nothing freaky went down between them.”
“And Josh really was with you the night of the murder?”
“He was. We were having a few beers and hanging out. He was there the whole time. We packed up just after midnight and headed home.”
I nodded. It seemed unlikely that Josh would use such dark magic on someone who’d asked a few dumb questions.
Rhett and his gang were still on my radar, though. They knew these woods and might have seen or heard something and weren’t connecting it to the murder, or didn’t want to, in case it got somebody in trouble.
“Tempest, I’m happy to lend a hand if you want to find the real killer. I can ask around and see if anybody knows anything.”
I shook my head. “It’s fine. I don’t need your help.”
Rhett smiled tightly. “You always say that.”
“Because it’s always true.” I turned and walked away. I couldn’t get Rhett involved in this investigation, especially since he might be implicated in what had happened to Serath.
I needed to figure out the next step alone. No gorgeous biker allowed.
Chapter 9
I yawned as I rolled out of bed the next morning. My dreams had been full of images of Serath in the ground, with that frozen scream on his lips. I wished I’d never seen him like that.
Wiggles clambered to his feet from his bed in the lounge he occasionally used as I wandered in to make coffee.
He scratched his belly with a back paw. “What’s for breakfast?”
“Dog kibble for you, and...” I looked in the fridge. A sad, wrinkled orange and a stale piece of cheese stared back at me. I went to the cupboards. “Hey! I’ve got chocolate chips. We can have pancakes.”
“Excellent. Tip the dog kibble in the trash and let’s do chocolate chip pancakes.”
“The dog kibble stays. You can have one pancake, no chocolate.”
Wiggles grumbled as he made short work of the bowl of food I gave him.
I set to work on the pancake batter as the coffee brewed. “I’m still no closer to figuring out what went on with Serath.”
“My genius input is always available,” Wiggles said. “If you give me two pancakes, I might crack this case wide open for you.”
I nodded as I tipped the first batch of batter into the heated pan. “The obvious suspects are Serath’s friends, Dewey and Bart.”
“Yup. They were seen fighting after they left Cloven Hoof,” Wiggles said.
“But when I discovered them in the crypt the next day, they seemed clueless.”
“That could be their default position,” Wiggles said. “Those two don’t strike me as Einstein clever, more Homer Simpson on a bad day.”
“But they fought. Dewey and Bart had injuries on their hands.”
“Serath wasn’t killed in a fist fight. He was killed by a curse,” Wiggles said.
“Which means we’re looking for someone with powerful magic,” I said. “Someone who can handle the dark stuff without it eating them alive or, at least, doing an amazing job of hiding their true nature.”
“And again, neither of those guys struck me as geniuses when it comes to magic use.”
I flipped over the pancake. “There’s also Puddles to consider. An ultra-protective auntie who’d do anything to keep her precious Dewey safe.”
“And Puddles has a dark side,” Wiggles said. “Maybe some of that darkness has slipped back, and she used it on Serath. It was a punishment for him bringing black magic paraphernalia into her house.”
I pursed my lips as I watched the batter bubble. “She decided Serath was not fit to be around her nephew and got rid of him.”
“There’s potential in this theory. Puddles snuck out of her house late at night, made sure Serath was separated from everyone else, and then killed him,” Wiggles said. “Then she dug a grave to put him in without anyone seeing what she was up to.”
“Someone with a love of unicorn colors is never discreet, but it’s not impossible.” I flicked the first pancake out of the pan and cut it in half. “Puddles lives alone, so no one would have noticed if she did slip out.”
Wiggles grunted, his gaze on the pancake. “Leave me at least one chocolate chip.”
I shook my head as I picked them out of his piece. “I don’t see Puddles skulking about in the forest and digging a grave. She’d break her pink nails.”
“Maybe her unicorn colors are a front. She could be some bad-ass black magic-using witch just biding her time. Waiting for the right kind of sleazebag to come into her life so she can use her dark powers on him.”
“Serath would fit that category.” I set his chocolate free pancake down and sat at the table to enjoy mine alongside a freshly brewed mug of coffee.
“So, we’re not scrubbing Puddles off the suspect list,” Wiggles said.
“Not just yet. But we also have to consider her darling nephew, Dewey.”
“A dodgy character.”
“The problem is, he went off with Bart.”
“Who is also a suspect.”
“He is, although Suki swears she saw them both part company with Serath after they got flung out of Cloven Hoof.”
“It doesn’t mean they didn’t meet up later,” Wiggles said. “Maybe Dewey and Bart decided to get revenge against Serath and arranged to meet him in the forest.”
“As you said, they don’t come across as competent magic users. They didn’t even use magic when they were fighting me.”
“We’ve also got the big, bad, bearded Josh and his naughty mushrooms,” Wiggles said.
I narrowed my eyes. “I’m still not impressed with him for doing that.”
“It’s clever,” Wiggles said. “He’s making money and keeping on the right side of your rules.”
“It still doesn’t look good. He’s taking customers away from me.”
“Only in the short term. When people realize his mushrooms don’t work, they’ll come back to you.”
“I bet he’s undercutting my prices, as well.”
“Moving on from your obsession with Josh’s mushrooms and back to our murder, could Josh have killed Serath?”
I let out a sigh. “I’ve always seen Josh as a gentle giant. His size is intimidating, but he’s not as malicious as some of the guys Rhett runs with. I’d be surprised if he used such dark magic.”
“And he has an alibi.”
“Which can’t be relied upon,” I said. “The gang members will say anything to cover for each other.”
“Which
leaves us with nobody’s favorite suspect, Izzie,” Wiggles said.
“Not a chance. There’s no way she used dark magic on Serath.”
“We don’t know what was said between them,” Wiggles said. “Serath could have insulted her, and she hunted him down after work.”
I scowled at him. “I thought you liked Izzie.”
“I love Izzie. She gives the best belly rubs.”
“No, it’s not her. She was at the bar until the end of her shift. Serath could have already been dead before she even left Cloven Hoof.”
Wiggles raised one ear. “Shall I pencil her at the bottom of the suspect list?”
“Use an invisible pencil. We’re not hounding Izzie about this. But we need to check in with Angel Force and see who they’re favoring before they arrest an innocent bystander like Granny Dottie.”
Wiggles snorted. “There’s nothing innocent about her.”
I smiled. He was right there.
After we’d finished our pancakes, we headed to Angel Force. As I pushed open the door, I felt the air buzzing with excitement.
I glanced over my shoulder to where Wiggles was sitting outside, waiting for me. The angels still had the sign up saying no hellhounds allowed.
I hurried to the desk. “What’s going on?”
Cassiel grinned at me, looking so pleased with herself she was almost floating with joy. “We’ve made an arrest.”
“Who did you arrest, and for what reason?”
“Serath’s killer.”
My eyes widened. “Who do you think killed him?”
Cassiel glanced over her shoulder. “I should wait for Dazielle to update you. This is her arrest.”
A flicker of worry ignited in my gut. The angels were enthusiastic, but they often got things wrong. “She won’t mind. Who is it?”
Cassiel clasped her hands together. “Josh, from Rhett’s gang.”
I took a step back. “Are you certain? I talked to him yesterday. He’s got an alibi.”
“It can’t be a good alibi. Dazielle is sure he’s involved. And it might not just be him. The gang rarely works alone. This could be the opportunity we’ve been waiting for to take down the whole gang.”
Rhett’s gang was shady, but he was always clear. They weren’t killers. “What evidence has Dazielle got that Josh did it?”
Cassiel chewed on her bottom lip. “You’ll have to ask her.”
I scowled as I tapped my fingers on the desk. This didn’t feel right, and it was happening too fast. “I’d like to see Dazielle.”
Cassiel frowned. “She’s very busy. You’ll have to wait. She wants to oversee Josh’s interview personally.”
“No problem. I’ll wait.” I needed to make sure the angels didn’t charge the wrong person and leave a killer on the loose.
***
After a long wait and several stale doughnuts that I shared with Wiggles, I finally got to talk to Dazielle.
“I can give you two minutes.” Dazielle gestured me through and strode along the corridor.
I hurried after her. “I’m after information about why you arrested Josh.”
She gestured to a seat in the main office before sitting opposite me. “He has a terrible reputation, a lousy alibi, and admitted to seeing the victim before he died.”
“I don’t disagree with any of that, but that doesn’t make him a killer. My reputation isn’t great, I don’t have a fab alibi, and I also saw Serath before he died.”
“Don’t tempt me.” Dazielle arched an eyebrow. “Or do you have something you’d like to tell me?”
“What I’m saying is that you need more than that to charge Josh.”
“It makes him the most likely suspect, so far,” Dazielle said.
“What does Josh have to say about it?”
“He’s pleading his innocence. He said he knows nothing about it.”
“Which could be true.”
“Or he could have killed Serath and his gang is covering for him. Why the skepticism?”
“Because there are other people involved. Puddles, for example, she also has a lousy alibi and a dark past.”
Dazielle gave an unangel-like snort. “Puddles Lavern has nothing dark about her.”
“Not true. I’ve heard from a reliable source that Puddles dabbled in the dark stuff.”
“Who’s your source?”
I hesitated before answering. “My Granny Dottie.”
“Had she been drinking when she told you this?”
“No!”
“Puddles can’t be involved. Maybe she ran wild when she was young, but she’s a model citizen.”
“A model citizen who broke into my apartment a couple of days ago.”
“She did? Why would Puddles do that?”
“Well, she might have had a key, and she might have been worried about where Dewey was, but that’s beside the point. She did something illegal. It shows she can’t be trusted.”
“Puddles is your landlady. It’s okay for her to come in during an emergency. That does not constitute a break-in.”
“I didn’t consider it an emergency. Nobody wants to be woken to find Puddles standing by their bed.”
“That doesn’t matter now,” Dazielle said. “Josh is in custody, and we’re questioning him. It’s only a matter of time before he lets slip what happened.”
I wasn’t convinced. “So, this is over? You don’t need my help?”
Dazielle glanced at the door. “We can handle things.”
Annoyance shivered through me, but I was glad Cloven Hoof and my staff were no longer of interest to the angels.
I stood from my seat. “Let me know what happens with Josh.”
“You’ll hear about it soon enough.” Dazielle already had her head buried in paperwork, making sure I knew I’d been thoroughly rejected.
I left the building and collected Wiggles from outside before heading to Cloven Hoof.
“Case closed?” Wiggles said as he trotted beside me.
“If you believe the angels and their incredible deduction skills,” I said.
“I fear those beautiful creatures couldn’t deduct their way out of a paper bag with a map, compass, magic spell to light the way, and an experienced guide.”
“It seems too convenient. They discover Josh is involved and their attention lasers on him. They’re ignoring anybody else, people who have better motives than Josh.”
I pushed through the door of Cloven Hoof to find Merrie and Izzie behind the bar getting things ready for the evening.
“I’ve had good news,” I said. “Angel Force has arrested someone for Serath’s murder.”
Izzie made a show of wiping her forehead with the back of her hand. “Thank the goddess. They’re not chasing after me anymore?”
“No, not that they should have been anyway. The case is closed, according to Dazielle.”
“We need to celebrate.” Merrie grabbed glasses and a bottle of champagne.
Blaze and Ginger walked out of the back room, carrying cases of booze.
“Get over here you two,” Merrie said. “Izzie is an innocent woman.”
“As if you ever had any doubt,” Izzie said.
“Not for a second.” Merrie filled the glasses and handed them around.
“Here’s to freedom,” Izzie said.
“And here’s to no more angels poking around,” I said.
We all raised our glasses in a shared toast.
Merrie was pouring another round when the door opened behind me. I turned and saw Rhett walk in, his expression dark.
“I’ll be back in a minute,” I said to the others. I walked over to where he waited by the door.
“It’s a little early for you,” I said to him.
Rhett stuffed his hands into his pockets. “I need your help.”
“I’m almost afraid to ask. What do you need me for?”
“You’ve heard Josh has been arrested for Serath’s murder?”
“I spent most of the afternoon trying t
o get information out of Dazielle, but yes, she told me she thinks he killed Serath.”
“He wouldn’t do that.”
I shrugged. “Josh was passing off fake goods. He’s not squeaky clean.”
“That was nothing. Just because he did that doesn’t mean he’s expanded his skills to murder. Josh wouldn’t use a curse like that. He hates curses.”
I tilted my head. “Is there anyone who actually likes curses? They never end well.”
Rhett shook his head. “No, I mean his mom was killed with a dark curse. He was a teenager, and it happened in front of him. He swore off that kind of magic. He knows how toxic it is.”
I blew out a breath. “I’m sorry to hear that. It still doesn’t mean he’s in the clear. Serath could have come back and confronted Josh about his dodgy goods and things got out of hand.”
“That didn’t happen. We weren’t lying when we said Josh was with us the night of Serath’s death.”
“Even so, I’m not sure I can help you.”
“Tempest, you must. He’s innocent. You’ve dealt with Angel Force before, so you know how they work. I have to clear Josh’s name.”
I shook my head. “No, this has nothing to do with me.”
Rhett’s gaze cut to Merrie and the rest of the bar staff. “Your crew is in the clear, and that’s all that bothers you?”
I bristled at his words. “Pretty much. Dazielle was pointing the finger at Izzie, so I made sure that stopped. And I can’t see this place get a bad reputation. If rumors get around that people wind up in a shallow grave after a night out at Cloven Hoof, it will be lousy for business.”
Rhett glared at me for a second before sighing, the tension seeping out of his shoulders. “I get it. You don’t want anything to do with the shady biker gang. But I promise you Josh is sound. He didn’t do this. Now that the angels have him in custody, they won’t let him go. You know what they’re like.”
Unfortunately, I did. Even when they had the wrong suspect, they kept hassling them. “Talk to Dazielle. See if you can get her to keep asking questions. She might find new evidence that clears Josh. She made it clear she doesn’t want me involved anymore.”
“There’s no way you’re getting me through the doors of Angel Force.” His intense gaze settled on me. “I know you go there.”
