“What could your instructor have to do with any of this?” Marley asks.
She’s got me there. “I’m not sure,” I say.
I’m too excited now for sitting, so I stand up. Turkey is already pacing back and forth in front of Marley’s open air kitchen, and I join him. Together, we must look like we’re doing some kind of strange reggae conga line, minus the little rhythmic steps out to the side. Oh, what the heck. Music is playing, so I decide to give a little side step.
“She wasn’t what I expected,” I say, while I traipse after Turkey. We reach the end of the kitchen and turn around.
Now, walking in the other direction, I say. “She doesn’t fit with anything I’ve experienced of Speedy’s. My online program was second rate. Not even that... It was third rate... or fourth. It’s known as the worst PI program in the country, actually.”
“Ooh... that’s rough,” Marley says.
“I don’t mind,” I say. “I got my license. That’s what counts.” Side kick.
“It’s just... why was she so put-together looking? Why was she so interested in me? Why did she pass me, even though I answered every single question wrong?”
We change directions. “And now the footprint outside of your van matches her fancy looking ankle boots. I’m going to try to figure this out.”
I fall out of step with my cat, and begin scrolling through my phone. I locate a number for Speedy’s Online Licensure Program, and dial.
“Hello,” I say, once someone answers. “I’d like to speak to Nadia Thomas, please.”
“Could you hold one moment, please?” the voice says.
I wait patiently while I’m put on hold. The fuzzy, muffled classical music is painful to listen to. I hold the phone an inch away from my ear, and roll my eyes over at Marley. “I’m on hold,” I say.
“I hate that,” Marley says. She’s cleaning the old coffee grinds out of her French press.
I watch her work, until finally the classical music stops.
“I have a contact number for Nadia Thomas,” the person on the other end of the line says. “Would you like me to give it to you, or connect your call?”
“Connect the call, please,” I say.
“Alright. Thanks for calling Speedy’s Online Licensure Program. Connecting your call now.”
I wait while the phone rings.
Come on... I say to myself. Come on, come on, pick up. Pick up!
The phone rings five times, and I’m almost certain that I’m about to find myself at another dead end. But at the last minute, the ringing stops, and a female voice answers.
The voice is soft, airy, and hesitant. “Hello?”
“Hi... is Nadia Thomas available, please?” I say. The tentative woman who has picked up is clearly not the same person that came to my door on Tuesday morning to administer my exam. Maybe it’s her daughter or something.
“This is Nadia,” says the wispy, shy voice. “Who is this?”
“Penny Banks,” I say.
There’s an awkward silence. I’m not quite sure where to go from here, and clearly neither is the woman on the end of the line. Since I called her, I feel the need to fill in the silence. “I’m a student in Speedy’s online program. You’re an instructor, right?”
“Speedy’s. Yes... I do some work for them from time to time. I do give the exams when they ask me to.”
“I know,” I say. “You gave me an exam on Tuesday. In Hillcrest, remember?”
I narrow my eyes, waiting for her response. This is too weird. Why does she sound so different on the phone? She really does sound like a different person altogether.
“Oh—Penny Banks. Yes, that’s right. I saw your name on my calendar. But then I got a message saying that you had the flu. The test was canceled. We rescheduled for... let’s see...” I hear pages shuffling on the other end of the phone. “Next Thursday,” she says. “I’m looking forward to the drive. Not because I especially like driving, but because I want the reimbursement money. The exams that are farthest away pay the most.”
“I didn’t have the flu,” I say. “You were here. You arrived on my doorstep.”
“I’m afraid not,” Nadia says.
We’re both quiet again. I’m trying my best to sort this out. She says that I sent a message saying I had the flu, but I definitely didn’t. So, who did?
“Nadia,” I say. “You said that you got a message saying that I had the flu. What kind of message was it? Email, voicemail, text..?”
“It was a voicemail,” she responds.
“Can you tell me what the phone number was?” I ask
“Yes... I suppose I could... Let me see if I can figure that out, here. Hold on one moment...” I hear a scratchy sound, like her hand or sleeve might be moving next to the phone speaker. There’s some fumbling around and then after a moment, she’s back.
“Do you have a pen?” she asks.
I don’t. “Hold on,” I say. I snap my fingers in the air to get Marley’s attention. She’s dancing as she stirs the French press. As I snap, she looks over.
“Pen?” I say.
She scrunches up her lips, and then nods. Soon she’s climbing through the van, on her search.
“Sorry,” I say into the phone. “Just one moment. I’m not in my office, you see. I usually have a pen with me, but I’m out in the field. Examining tracks and whatnot.”
Nadia sighs. She doesn’t sound impressed. I’m not sure why. I think that I sound very impressive.
At last, Marley emerges from the van with a pen. I don’t have paper, so as Nadia reads off the number, I write it on the back of my free hand. When Nadia and I hang up, I don’t waste a minute before dialing the number that she just gave me.
At first, no one picks up. Then, a voicemail recording starts up. “Hello. You’ve reached Simone Feur. Leave a message, and I will return your call as soon as possible.”
Now, this voice I recognize. It’s the woman that came to my door, saying that she was Nadia Thomas! It’s the woman that administered my exam! It’s the woman who was wearing the hoity-toity, Alphonso heels!
Not only that, but I know I’ve heard the name Simone Feur. It takes me only a split second to remember where I’d seen it before.
In Azure’s room—in the reflected scene on her mirror.
Ha! Maybe I don’t need to learn Max’s fancy memory technique after all. Who needs the Method of Locusts? I have a mind like a steel trap.
“I have to go talk to Azure!” I say, as I hang up the phone without leaving a voicemail.
“About what?” Marley asks.
“I think I’m onto something big,” I say. “I can’t explain now. Marley, can you keep an eye on those lights? If anything major happens, like an explosion or something... call me. Okay? Turkey, hop in!” I’ve shouldered my bag, and now I open up the pocket.
Turkey takes a running leap and lands in my arms. I set him down in my bag, close the flap over him so that just his head is poking out, and then head for my bike.
“We’re off to solve this case!” I say triumphantly, as I swing my leg over my bike. I take a seat.
“Good luck!” Marley calls out, just as I push off.
Soon, Turkey and I are cruising down the hill, back towards Blackbear Apartments. My wrist feels fantastic and I’m steering like a champ.
Maybe the medicine has kicked in, or maybe my good mood is helping with the pain. Whatever it is, I’m thankful that I can ride faster because I really didn’t like the look of those neon green lightning bolts up on Hillcrest Pass. I have a new sense of urgency. I need to crack this case, and I need to crack it fast.
Chapter Fifteen
“Azure!” I call out, as I pound on her door. “Azure, open up!”
Bam, bam, bam! I strike her door three times with my left fist.
I’m about to strike a fourth time when the door swings open abruptly. I almost hit Azure right in the nose. Luckily, I stop short.
“Azure! I’m so glad you’re home!” I say.
Azure is wearing bright purple, sparkly jeans. Her electric blue hair is back in a French braid. Purple, glittery shadow dusts her eyelids. She opens the door wider.
“Did you hear?” she asks me. “Silas is in jail! He called me this morning. I just went up to your apartment, but you weren’t home. I thought—”
“I was out, trying to find evidence that will get Silas out of jail,” I say. “I think I’m onto something!”
Azure steps aside. I have so much pent up energy moving through my body, that it’s impossible to stand still. I enter Azure’s house, brushing past her in the narrow hallway, though she hasn’t technically invited me in. We are going to be family soon, after all. Well, we will be family if I can get this case straightened out and patch my coven back together.
I’m moving quickly towards Azure’s bedroom. She’s following after me. “Last night, when I was in your room,” I say, “I saw something. It was in your mirror. I think my cat—”
“Your familiar,” corrects Azure.
“Right, my familiar, Turkey here, cast a similar spell. It’s a Looking Glass Spell, isn’t it?”
I push open Azure’s bedroom door. Inside her room, I rush over to her desk. The mirror is still lying on top of it.
“Yes,” Azure says. “I’ve been watching the Fire Realm. In particular, I’m keeping an eye on the leader of the Fire Coven. I know she won’t be happy about the marriage when she finds out about it and I’m afraid she’s going to make a move soon to try to interfere, somehow.”
“The leader of the Fire Coven—her name is Simone Feur, isn’t it?”
“Yes...” Azure eyes me, warily. “Why? What are you so excited about?”
“Azure—how long have you been watching Simone’s house in the Fire Realm?” I point to the mirror.
“Ever since I found out about Cora and Silas’s engagement and pregnancy,” Azure says. “Silas sent word to me immediately after he proposed. So... I’ve been watching her house since Sunday.”
“But you haven’t seen her there, have you?”
Azure shakes her head. Strands of blue hair fall loose from her braid. She pushes them behind her ear. “What are you getting at?” she asks.
“Azure, you haven’t seen Simone at her house because she’s here! She’s in the Earth Realm! I saw her.”
“You saw Simone Feur, here? When?”
“She came to my apartment on Tuesday morning. She was pretending to be an instructor from my private investigator’s school. She must have been spying on me somehow, and figured out that I was going to take the exam.”
“Did you do anything on your computer?” Azure asks.
“I scheduled the exam,” I say.
Azure nods. “Fire witches are extremely tech savvy,” she says. “She probably hacked your computer.”
I nod. “Yes! I bet she did. I think she stole my copy of ASBW while I was in my bedroom, changing. Then, we walked all over Hillcrest. She pretended to be an instructor, giving me an exam. I was nervous and I probably blabbed all about Marley and Cora and Annie while we were walking around. I know I mentioned that Cora kept her book at her law offices.”
“So you think Simone stole all of the books, and—”
I cut in. “And killed Hiroku while she was at it,” I say. “Poor Hiroku Itsu was a casualty. Simone was desperate to get her hands on our books, to prevent us from becoming powerful.”
I walk over to the mirror that is lying on Azure’s desk. “Is there any way to change the location of this thing? I mean—to spy on a different place?”
“If you know the exact coordinates,” Azure says.
I look down at my familiar. Turkey is looking up at me, his eyes twinkling. He likes the fact that we’re making progress, just as much as I do.
“Turkey,” I say, telepathically. “Do you remember the coordinates of Hillcrest Pass?”
Turkey pushes his paw free of my bag’s flap and lifts it to his forehead. He gives me a cute little salute as he transmits, “Yes, Penelope! Thomas Edison Fullbright reporting for duty! The coordinates are 37.93 degrees North and 107.81 degrees West.”
“Thanks,” I respond, silently.
Then, to Azure, I say. “Azure, can you plug in these coordinates, please?” I recite the exact coordinates that Turkey gave me, once again impressed by my own memory. I’m going to have to tell Max about the feats I’ve performed today! Maybe over a glass of wine, as we celebrate my success. Maybe this time he’ll come over to my place for dinner. I’ll have to clean first, but—
Hang on. I’m getting ahead of myself.
I watch as Azure changes the coordinates of her Looking Glass Spell. She spins around in a circle first, and then closes her eyes, murmuring phrases in Latin. Then, I hear her repeat the coordinates I’ve given her. Soon, the image on her mirror changes.
I see Hillcrest Pass appear.
“There’s something I want to show you,” I say to Azure. “Watch the mirror for a minute or two. It should happen any minute now. My cat—I mean my familiar —noticed it first. Didn’t you, Turkey Werky!” I give my messenger bag a little pat.
Turkey issues a complaining yowl. Oops. I don’t think he likes it when I call him Turkey Werky in public.
I have to remember not to do that.
Thankfully, the shifting image on the mirror takes attention off of my blunder.
The mirror’s image turns smoky green. Then, there’s a flash of lightning that is so bright, it’s almost blinding. I shield my eyes. After a few seconds, I lower my hand away from my eyes and see rocks and dirt settling back onto the road. A few tree branches are even strewn across the road.
“It’s getting worse,” Turkey communicates to me, silently.
“Much worse,” I respond to him.
Then, to Azure, I say, “Have you seen anything like that before?”
“Hmm...” Azure says, thoughtfully. “The color displays anger... fear... desperation. Someone is attacking Hillcrest Pass.”
“I cast a spell on the pass,” I say. “On Tuesday night. I locked it down, so that no one could go in or out. That was back when I suspected that you, Silas, or Max might be the killer. I wanted to trap you here.”
“And you haven’t unlocked it yet?” Azure asks.
“Nope,” I say. “Simone was here on Tuesday morning, to administer my exam. Then, she must have still been here on Tuesday evening. When Cora left the law offices, Hiroku was still alive. Simone went in to get Cora’s book at some point in the evening. I locked off the pass around midnight that night. With any luck, I trapped her here. It certainly seems that way, since you’ve been monitoring her house in the Fire Realm and haven’t seen her.”
Azure is watching her mirror carefully. “Penny,” she says. “I think you’re onto something. You know, I didn’t give you much credit as a detective. I thought you weren’t very good at it. I thought you just got lucky when you solved cases. But you’re actually kind of good at this.”
I twist my mouth to the side as I think over Azure’s words. ‘Kind of good at this’... hm. She didn’t say I’m excellent. Or talented, or skilled. She’s not even saying that I’m good at my job. Where does the ‘kind of’ come from?
What the heck. You know what? I’m going to count it as a win.
I smile. “Thanks, Azure,” I say. “So you think Simone could be the one attacking the pass? Maybe she wants to break the spell that I cast, so that she can escape with our books.”
“Definitely,” Azure says. “This certainly seems like a spell Simone would cast. It’s not particularly graceful. It’s blunt—direct—packed with action.”
“Fiery,” I say, catching on.
Azure nods. “And judging by the look of that last lightning bolt, she’s getting close to breaking your spell.”
“Oh, great,” I say. But before I can get too down about this, I speak again. “If she’s about to break my spell, we have to act fast. We have to figure out where she is... she can’t get away with this! She
can’t just waltz into Hillcrest, take our magical books, and kill off one of the members of this community!”
“But where could she be?” Asks Azure.
“I’m thinking,” I say.
I bite my lip as I begin replaying my conversations with Simone, when she was pretending to be Nadia.
“She doesn’t seem like the type who would just rough it in the woods for a few nights,” I say, thinking of Simone’s classy outfit and high-heeled ankle boots.
“No. I don’t think so either,” Azure agrees.
“I told her that the Hillcrest Inn was under renovations. They’re getting new carpeting put in, you know.”
“I didn’t know,” says Azure.
“Ah ha!” I say. “I mentioned that there was a cabin up by Rainbow Lake that was abandoned! I said that no one usually goes up there. I have a hunch that’s where she’s been staying!”
“Good!” Azure says. She rushes over to the bedroom door. “Let’s go!” As she reaches the door, I expect her to turn left, out towards the front door. Instead, she turns right, which leads farther into the apartment—towards the kitchen.
“Azure! Where are you going?” I call out. “We have to hike up to Rainbow Lake! I can bike to the trailhead... you can sit on the handlebars if you want to. Marley and I have done that before, in a pinch. My steering is a little bit off today, because of my wrist, but...”
Azure is running towards her kitchen. I follow her, still talking. “Wait a minute, maybe you don’t have to ride on the handle bars! We could take your car to the trailhead! But then we’ll have to hike from there. The only way to get to Rainbow Lake is to hike.”
Azure pulls open the kitchen pantry. “The only way?” she asks, raising her eyebrows. Then, she pulls out a broom, and hands it to me.
I accept it, puzzled at first. “Azure—this isn’t the time to sweep your—wait a minute...” As Azure pulls out a second broom, something dawns on me. “You’re not planning on sweeping your kitchen floor with these, are you?” I ask.
A Hillcrest Witch Mystery Collection Page 51
