Max laughs again. “My relationships never end badly,” he says. “When it’s time to move on, we part as friends. Usually, the feelings are mutual. I’ve been waiting for one special someone, and I always knew that she hadn’t arrived in my life, just yet. It was easy to move on. I had to keep searching.”
He looks at me tenderly.
I feel myself melting.
I straighten my spine. There’s no time for these mushy, romantic feelings at the moment. I need to remember that I’m here on business.
I long to ask him if he thinks I’m that special someone, but I manage to resist the temptation. Instead, I steer the conversation back to the investigation at hand.
“So you don’t hold any kind of deranged, murderous grudge against Hiroki Itsu,” I say.
“Not in the least,” Max says.
“Okay,” I say. Then, I think of my missing book. I’m here, and Max did want my book in the past, so I might as well ask him directly if he stole it.
“Max,” I say, trying to sound as intimidating as I possibly can. I lift my chin and square my shoulders. “When you first moved to Hillcrest, you asked me if you could buy my copy of ‘The Art and Science of Becoming a Witch.’ In fact, you visited Hillcrest expressly for the purpose of tracking down the book. When I refused to sell it, you told me that you would keep trying to acquire it.” As I speak, I begin to lose nerve. By the time I get to my question, my voice is soft and trembly. That’s because even though I’m forcing myself to ask this question, I don’t really want to know the answer.
It would crush me to find out that Max has been feigning interest in me, just to get his hands on my book. “Did you steal my copy of ‘The Art and Science?’” I ask.
“No! I wouldn’t dream of taking that away from you,” Max says, softly.
Relief washes over me. He steps in a little bit closer. Now he’s just a foot away from me. I swear, I can feel this field of energy tingling between our bodies, as if there’s some kind of electricity passing between us.
“I enjoy watching your transformation, Penny,” he says. “Yes, at first I wanted to buy the book from you, but that was before I knew you. That was before I knew how funny, and smart, and warm-hearted you were. That was before I could see what a wonderful witch you would become. You were destined to inherit that book. I’m sure of that.”
His voice is soft.
I feel unworthy of his compliments. I look down at my shoes. “I don’t know if I’d say I’m becoming a wonderful witch,” I say, softly.
Max waits for more.
I look away from the floor, and up into the dark pools of his eyes. “I may have messed up,” I say.
“What do you mean?” Max asks, gently.
“Well, I don’t think I’ve been as careful as I should have been with my copy of ‘The Art and Science of Becoming a Witch.’ You told me how rare and valuable it was. You told me that whoever had it could develop their powers, and in the wrong hands, it could do great harm. You told me all of that, but I left it out in my apartment. I should have locked it up in a safe or something.”
“That’s a very wise idea,” Max says. “See? I told you, you were smart. You know, if you like, I can help you build a vault into one of your closets. That’s the best thing, you know... better than a safe. Have it built right into the wall. That way—”
“No, Max,” I say, cutting him off. “It’s too late for that. My book is gone. I can’t find it anywhere. I think—I think someone took it.”
Max’s eyes become wide. For the first time today, I think I’ve said something that surprises him. “Are you sure?” He asks.
“Pretty sure,” I say, glumly.
“Oh, Penny. That’s not good.”
“I know,” I say. “I think that maybe the same person who took my book might have killed Hiroku Itsu. I’m not sure, but the timing is right. I cast a spell last night to seal off the portal. Now no one can go in or out.”
“That’s a good first step,” Max says. “What spell did you use?” He perches on the side of his desk, casually. He’s intent on the issue at hand, but still seems relaxed. His tone is rich with curiosity, as though he’s waiting for me to reveal one of life’s great secrets.
“The only one I could remember,” I say. “Actually, to be honest, my cat remembered it.”
“You have a smart familiar,” Max says with a relaxed grin.
“I’m lucky,” I say.
“It’s not luck,” Max says. “It’s destiny. What spell did Turkey remember, then?”
“The Lock and Key,” I say. “Do you know it? It begins, In my mind I close this gate...”
“Ah, yes. I know the one. It’s powerful,” Max says, nodding. “No one will be getting in or out of the portal. When did you cast it?”
“Last night, at about twenty past midnight.”
“And Hiroku was murdered at eight?”
I nod.
“The murder might be connected to your missing book. Two crimes in one day seems like more than a coincidence. Your book went missing... when?”
“I’m not sure,” I say. “I was out of my apartment all day. I left at about 11:30 in the morning and didn’t get back until about midnight.”
“More than 12 hours...” Max says, thoughtfully. “Anyone could have done it. And the missing book might have something to do with the lawyer’s death.”
“Not anyone,” I say. “Only someone who knew about the book—someone with a background in magic.”
“Me?” Max raises his brows and looks at me with an amused twinkle in his eyes.
“Yes. You’re on my list,” I say. “Also, Silas and—” I’m about to list Azure, but Max interrupts me.
“Silas Switchback?” He asks. “Why would he want your book?”
“I don’t know,” I say. “But I do know a reason why he might want Hiroku out of the picture.
I push my glasses up on my nose. “It’s kind of complicated, though. See, Silas bought this piece of land, up by Beaver Pond. You know how if you keep going down this road, you eventually get to that curve and then—”
Max looks down at his watch, and I stop short. “I’m rambling, aren’t I?” I ask. You don’t have time for this. I’m sorry. You probably have papers to grade, or—respond to...”
“Actually, I have a class,” Max says. “At ten fifteen.”
“Is it ten fifteen, already?” I ask, backstepping towards the little office’s door.
“I want to hear more about this case” Max says. “How about you tell me all about it over dinner, tonight? We’ll light some candles... I’ll serve filet mignon, a bottle of wine... some dark chocolate to satisfy that addiction to sweets that you have...” His voice is soft and deep, and in an instant I’m imagining sitting down at an intimate, candlelit table across from him.
He continues. “After dinner, I’ll take you to the Stinky Socks Hot Spring I found in the woods, up past the Mill Creek meadows. Don’t worry about the name... it’s an absolutely wonderful spot. The spring is very secluded, Penny... you’ll love soaking under the stars...”
“I wish I could,” I say, dreamily. He’s just listed off three of my favorite things: good food, wine, and chocolate. Soaking under the stars doesn’t sound bad either. Not to mention, I’d get to look at him the whole time, which is a feast for the senses all on its own.
“But I have knitting circle at five. It’s going to be a long meeting, I’m guessing, what with all that’s going on.”
“Tomorrow, then,” Max says with a smile. I’m standing close to him, and I can smell his aftershave.
His arm brushes mine as he reaches for the doorway.
A jolt of heat passes through me.
“Tomorrow,” I repeat, in a total mental fog. “That would be nice.”
“Great. Come over at six,” Max says.
“Okay.” I agree, as Max pulls open the door.
I step out into the bustling hallway, and then navigate my way back to the lobby in a complete daze. It�
��s not until I reach my bike that reality hits, like a much-needed slap to the face.
Did I just agree to a romantic dinner with one of my suspects?
I did, didn’t I?
Oh, crap.
Chapter Seven
By the time I arrive at Silas’s building site, I’m huffing and puffing. The road was much steeper than I expected, and my bike isn’t made for climbing. I’m sweaty, tired, and thirsty—which is to say, not in the best state for conducting an investigation.
Beaver Pond is a dark, inky brown color due to the thousands of pine needles that fall into it all year round. I’ve never liked swimming here—it’s a bit too cloudy, and the bottom is mushy and weedy and kind of freaks me out, to be honest. In the winter when it’s covered with ice, it makes a great skating pond. The landscape is dotted with pine and aspen trees, and in the middle of the biggest clearings, there stands a small, whitewashed round building: the old one-room schoolhouse.
There are at least six trucks parked on the side of the road. I park my pink cruiser behind them, and then begin hoofing it onto the building site.
As I make my way across the muddying clearing next to Beaver Pond, I spot Silas. He’s pounding a stake into the ground, not far from the schoolhouse. I watch him remove some flagging from his pocket and then tie it to the stake. Then he pulls a notebook from his pocket and begins jotting down some notes.
Look at him write! I should have a notebook like that. I do have my Book of Shadows at home, but nothing small and compact like what Silas has. A little notebook like that would be perfect for investigations.
There are also other men and women standing around the site, talking amongst themselves. I recognize Herve Miller, Dusty Clifton, and Susan Stapleton, all of whom are big shots on the Hillcrest construction and landscaping scene.
The other half a dozen men and women are also familiar, though I won’t bother identifying them by name. I also recognize a few Town Council members.
I approach Silas.
As I near him, he waves. “Hi, Penny,” he says. Silas is tall and handsome. I can see why Cora fell for him so hard. He has a dark beard that he keeps cropped close to his strong jaw. He’s wearing a grey beanie, a plaid flannel shirt with a hood sewn in, and construction-worker canvas pants. The corners of his eyes crinkle as he smiles at me. “What brings you out here?” He asks. Then, a shadow of concern passes over his face. “Is Cora alright?”
“Cora’s fine,” I promise. “I wanted to talk to you about a case I’m working on.”
“Now’s not really the best time,’ he says. “I’m about to have a meeting.”
“I see that.” I motion to the others scattered around the site. “Are these guys going to help you build your cabin?”
“I hope so,” Silas says. He pushes his notepad and the flagging into his pocket. “I’m about to get the go ahead from the Town Council Zoning Commission. Then I’ll tell the contractors what I’m looking for. A few different crews will put in their bids. I can do most of the carpentry myself, but I’ll need help with the foundation, plumbing, electrical, and landscaping. If all goes well, I’ll get my team squared away today.”
“Good for you,” I say. “Sounds like you’re going to get this place move-in ready for you and Cora. I heard your big news.”
“She told you?” He asks.
I note some tension lines forming on his forehead, between his brows as he asks me this. Interesting.
I nod. “You’re going to be a father,” I say.
Some of the wrinkles between his brows fade as he grins. The change only lasts a minute. Soon, the tension is back. “I’m going to do my best to have it all finished by the time the baby arrives,” he says. “But that means we have to start now. The snow will start to fall soon, so we have to get the frame up as quickly as possible. Once the walls are up we can work inside, but until then, we’re going to be weather dependent.”
“I hear you’re tearing down the schoolhouse?” I ask, pointing over to the little white building a few yards from us.
Silas nods.
“Can I borrow your notebook for a minute?” I ask.
Silas frowns. “Can this wait, Penny?” He asks. “I called all of these people up here for an 11 o’clock meeting.”
“I just need five more minutes,” I say. “Please. And your notebook.”
He sighs, and hands over the notebook.
“And your pen,” I add.
He hands over the pen.
“Great,” I say, flipping to a blank page. I poise the pen over the page. “Now, Silas. I heard that the Historical Society was upset that you were going to tear down the old one-room schoolhouse.”
“Oh yeah,” Silas says. “Big time. Totally upset. More than that—they were furious.”
“Furious.” I jot down the word as I repeat it back to him. “In fact, they were mad enough to try to stop you, is that right?”
I look up at Silas.
He nods his head.
“They hired Hiroku Itsu to stop you from getting the permits that you would need to start building... correct?”
“I think so,” Silas says.
“You think so?” I repeat.
“Penny—you don’t think I killed Hiroku Itsu, do you?” Silas asks.
I let the pad of paper fall to my side as I sigh. “I don’t know,” I say. “I don't want to think that you did, but I have to face the facts. You had motive.”
“Look, I wasn’t happy about the fact that Cora’s boss was going to file a lawsuit against me,” Silas says. “But I’m not a murderer. I would have handled it in another way.”
“Like what?” I ask.
Silas shrugs. “Maybe I would have gotten a lawyer... I don’t know. I was going to cross that bridge when I got to it. I knew Hiroku was just doing her job. It was business. I didn’t have anything against her personally. ”
“Oh really?” I say, narrowing my eyes and examining Silas.
He looks right back at me. “Really,” he says. I believe him, so I move on.
“Why did you cancel your dinner plans with Cora last night?” I ask.
He frowns, and stuffs his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “I—I don’t want to talk about that,” he says.
“Why not?” I press. I lift the notebook up, and poise the pen over the page. “Cora said that you told her you were tied up with something that was going to be best for the whole family. What were you tied up with, Silas? What was so important that you had to miss dinner with your new fiancée?”
His eyes widen. He opens his mouth, and then closes it again.
“What?” I say again. “Were you eliminating Hiroku Itsu, so that your plans for this cabin could progress?”
“I – I—” Silas stammers. “No! That’s not it. But I can’t—”
“Tell me,” I beg. “This is really important. I have to clear your name, Silas. I only have three suspects in this case, and unfortunately, you’re one of them. Max has an alibi for last night. That leaves you and one other. I don't want to suspect you, Silas. You’re going to marry my friend. If you could just verify where you were last night, I’ll stop bothering you. Then I could focus on Azure.”
“Azure?” Silas says. His eyes widen. Something about that name has really affected him. “What does she have to do with this?”
“Do you know Azure Spincraft?” I ask.
“Know her? No... why would I...?” He laughs, nervously.
“So you don’t know Azure Spincraft?” I say.
“Right,” Silas says. “I—I have to go. Everyone’s waiting on me.” He points, and indeed I see that all of the workers and council members are gathered up now. Many of them are staring in our direction.
“We’ll talk another time, Penny,” he says. “I promise, I can explain myself. I can tell you where I was last night. I’ll explain everything. I just need to get a few things in place before I do.”
Like what? I wonder, as he walks away. Is he just buying time, so that he can come
up with a viable lie?
He’s halfway between me and the cluster of workers when I remember that I still have his notebook in my hand. “Silas!” I shout. “Your notebook!”
He shows no indication that he’s heard me, so I break into a brisk jog and head towards him. That is, I try to head towards him—except a rock gets in my way. I trip over the rock and go flying onto my hands and knees. “Oomph!” I shout, as the heels of my palms dig into the dirt. My fake glasses fly off my face, and the notebook lands in the dirt by my side.
I peel myself up off of the ground and do my best to dust myself off.
From the cluster of workers, I hear some muffled laughter. The laughs turn to bigger guffaws and soon everybody’s cracking up at my expense.
My cheeks are on fire as I lean down to pick up my glasses. Then I reach for the notebook. The page has flipped during my fall. Instead of my single note from my interrogation, ‘Furious,’ I see a place and a time.
‘Unit B,’ it says.
8:30 p.m..
As I read it, I forget all about my embarrassment. I quickly flip the page so it’s back to my notes, and then speed walk over to Silas. As I hand him the notebook, I eye him carefully.
He looks right back at me, but this time I’m not fooled by his direct gaze.
I’m not fooled by his laid back surfer attitude.
I am looking into the eyes of a liar.
I’m certain of this now, because of what I’ve just seen written on the page. Unit B.
I know that address.
Unit B is right below mine. Do you know who lives there? Azure Spincraft, that’s who.
Silas just told me that he doesn’t know Azure, yet now I see her address in his little notebook! He also acted so nervous when I brought up her name. I think he does know her.
Why would Silas lie to me? What is he trying to hide?
He takes the pad of paper from me, and I back away slowly.
“Hope your meeting goes well, Silas,” I say, though I don’t mean a word of it.
A Hillcrest Witch Mystery Collection Page 42
