"Just tell me this. Are you involved with him? Am I coming over tonight so you can break things off with me? Because I would have appreciated if you'd have told me that before you started seeing him."
"I'm not involved with Azriel,” I said, and it was true. "That's not why I was there, and no, you're not coming over so I can break up with you. There's an entirely different reason I was there."
He seemed to relax a little. "How long have you been going over there and spending time alone with him?" he asked as we crossed the street to my shop.
"I haven't been, Thorn. I went over there last night to help him with something. It was magic related. He called in his favor last night, and it was a spell. That's it."
That really wasn't it, but I hadn't made heads or tails of what happened between Azriel and me. How could I possibly explain it to Thorn? I had to get my head around it, and then I could talk it out with him. I planned to do exactly that once the vandalism stuff was handled. I told myself that I'd do the police report, call the insurance company, schedule the glass repair, and then I'd spend the afternoon figuring out what was next for me.
"You're not involved with him?"
"I already said I'm not."
"But whatever you did with him turned your hair black."
"I have an explanation for that,” I said. "And it doesn't involve me cheating on you."
Ugh, the feeling of just oily nastiness came over me. Azriel had kissed me, and I hadn't kissed him back, but it still felt like lying.
By that point, we were standing at the edge of the broken glass. It would have to wait.
"I think the shadow of the buildings is why no one noticed and called,” Thorn said. His voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
"What?"
"Your store was in the shadow of the buildings this morning. I think that's why no one noticed,” he said.
I walked back across the street to the square. He was right. Without the sun shining on the glass, it was easy to miss. Especially since no one was really on my side of the square yet. Most of the shops on that side were just getting ready to open.
"Maybe it's that,” I said. "Or maybe Astra cast a spell to keep people from noticing."
That part I said when I was already back across the street and standing right next to him. The fresh scent of his laundry soap mixed with his aftershave hit me, and it took all of my strength not to wrap my arms around him. Whatever had happened when I was near Azriel faded away, and Thorn felt like home again. A home I was probably going to lose because I'd been stupid.
"We should go inside and see if there is anything missing,” Thorn said. His words weren't as harsh as they were before, and the look in his eyes had softened.
"Okay."
"I'll go in first,” he said. "I doubt they are still in there, but just in case, you stay behind me."
Fortunately, whoever smashed the windows, and I still knew it was Astra, hadn't wrecked my entire shop. There was glass everywhere, but they hadn't damaged my shelves or my stock. It wasn't until we reached the stock room that I found what was missing.
The vandal was actually a thief. What they had stolen was all of the swag bags we'd put together for the Midnight Magic Festival and all of the decorations I'd made. The festival was days away and it was all gone.
"What is it?" Thorn asked, and I realized I was crying.
"She took all of the bags I put together for the festival. All of the decorations are gone too. People are going to be so disappointed, and I'm going to look like a fool,” I said with a sniffle. "I can't believe this is happening."
But I could believe it. I felt like I was being punished for using necromancy, but I'd done it for good. I wasn't trying to be evil, and I hadn't done it for personal gain either.
He pulled me in for a hug, and for a moment, I felt better. Then my guilt overwhelmed me. "He kissed me, Thorn,” I said and felt him stiffen. "Last night, Azriel kissed me. That's not why I was there, though. It wasn't a date or anything like that. It just... happened. I know that sounds so bad."
He held me at arm’s length, but Thorn didn't entirely let me go. "Is that? Is that as far as it went?"
"Yeah. It was just a weird confusing thing that happened. I have this connection to him."
That was enough to get him to let me go. "You have a connection to him?"
"It's like an empathic connection. I discovered it last night for the first time. I was there trying to save his dog,” I said. "It's a long story."
"I need to start the report for the burglary,” he said and turned to walk away from me.
"Thorn..." I called after him as he walked toward the door.
"Not right now,” he said without stopping. "You said we could discuss it tonight, and I think that's best."
At least he was still going to talk to me. I took that as a good sign. The night before, I hadn't been sure if I loved Thorn, but I knew right then I was terrified of losing him. I would not have handled it well if he'd never spoken to me again.
Chapter Three
While I was waiting for a man to come from a glass shop a few towns over to give me an estimate on the windows, I decided to go get a coffee and talk to Viv.
"Whoa. You look terrible,” she said as I stepped up to the counter.
"That's because the windows to my shop got smashed into oblivion and whoever did it stole all of my bags for the festival. The decorations I made too."
"What?" Viv asked.
"Yeah. Anyway, I need a bucket of hazelnut latte,” I said. "Also, did you not see the smashed glass all over the sidewalk when you opened this morning? It's just so weird to me that nobody called the sheriff."
"I parked in the back and came in through the kitchen door this morning, hon. I do most mornings. I didn't see anything when I opened this morning, but I wasn't really looking either,” she said with a frown. "I'm so sorry. You know I would have called Thorn and you if I had."
"Has business been slow this morning?" I asked. "Again, it's just so weird to me that nobody saw it."
"Now that you mention it, it has been kind of a slow morning. I wonder if any of the tourists saw it and didn't call it in,” Viv said as she went to work making the espresso for my latte. "Maybe they figured it was already handled or that it was none of their business. You know how people can be. Most of the people who work at the courthouse go in through the back too, and hardly anyone uses the library anymore."
"You're right,” I said. "But I haven't told you the best part. I found Astra's wallet in the smashed glass."
"No, you didn't!" Viv made half her customers jump when she hollered. "Sorry, folks. Just had a little too much of my dark brew this morning."
"Yeah, she did it. I know she did. I had evidence,” I said.
"Did Thorn arrest her?"
"No,” I said. "Get this, she said I stole her wallet. He did a report, but he said there wasn't enough evidence to arrest either of us."
"Wait, he considered arresting you? He believed her?" Viv asked.
"Yeah." I didn't elaborate further.
"You guys on the rocks?"
"I guess we are,” I said. "It's a long story."
"You can tell me while we're cleaning up the mess,” she said.
But I couldn't. I couldn't tell her the real reason I was over at Azriel's place. I couldn't tell her what I had done for him. I'd have to find a cover story, but nothing I came up with was going to make any sense.
"I've got someone coming in to clean it up,” I said. "But thank you for the offer."
It was a lie, but I couldn't tell her the truth about the cleanup either. I'd sweep the glass out front up by hand, but inside, I was going to use magic. I estimated I'd be done with the whole thing within an hour.
I just had to wait for the glass guy to come give his estimate. Castor was going to pay him with cash because he didn't want a claim on his insurance.
"Well, you call me if you need me,” she said and handed me my finished latte. "Actually, call me later any
way."
"I will."
We said our goodbyes, and I walked back over to my shop to begin the process of sweeping up the glass. Some days Meri stayed home because he thought the shop was boring, and that day I wished he was there.
Five minutes later as I was sweeping up glass fragments, Meri came galloping down the sidewalk. He plopped down on the sidewalk next to where I'd set my coffee and watched me sweep with a soft expression.
As I was sweeping up the last dustpan of glass, a truck with a sign that said Hartman's Glass pulled up in front of the shop. A couple of women approached the store from the square, but when they saw the broken windows, they hurried on.
The man in the truck got out and grabbed a small box from the bed of the truck. He was a burly guy dressed in a plaid flannel shirt and loose khaki cargo pants. His face was broad with a beard that was somewhere between "forgot to shave for three days" and an actual beard. While he looked to be in his late forties or early fifties, he had bright hazel eyes that looked far younger.
"Hello, ma'am," he called out cheerfully. "You Kinsley?"
"I am,” I said. "You're Dennis, right?"
"That's me,” he said and then looked at the broken front windows. He let out a long whistle. "This is going to cost a pretty penny. Castor's lucky he and I are friends."
Dennis chuckled. He set his box down on the sidewalk and pulled out a huge measuring tape and tiny notebook.
"I'm guessing they are expensive because I'll need custom panes?" I asked. "How long does that take?"
"It's going to take up to eight weeks for tempered glass replacement windows,” he said and I felt my stomach churn.
"Eight weeks..." I swallowed the lump in my throat.
"Don't worry, Kinsley. I'll go back to my shop and cut some laminate panes this afternoon. It's only a temporary fix, but unless there's a huge storm or something, they'll hold until I get done with the glass. I can come back tomorrow and put them in. I've got some plastic sheeting in the truck I'll put over it for now."
"Really?"
"Yes, ma'am,” he said with a smile. "But the plastic sheeting won't keep thieves out. Just the elements."
"Don't worry about that. I'll take care of all of that."
I hadn't really thought about how I would take care of all of that. I'd have to use magic, of course. I cursed myself for not having protection wards up around the store in the first place. Because I hadn't wanted to use spells, Castor was going to have to pay money for the repairs. I wouldn't make that mistake again. Protecting myself and my shop was a good enough reason to use magic.
Once Dennis was done measuring, he got huge sheets of plastic out of the bed of his truck. I watched quietly as he hung them. It was obviously something he was well practiced at. It seemed like it took him no time at all to cover the huge front store windows.
"Did you get that coffee across the square over there?" Dennis asked as he packed notebook and measuring tape back into his little toolbox.
"I did. Viv makes a great cup of joe,” I said.
"I smelled the place as I drove by. I think I'm going to mosey on over there,” he said.
"Well, tell Viv I sent you, and she'll give you your first cup for free,” I said. "But tomorrow, you'll have to pay. It'll get you hooked."
"I'm not one to pass up a free cup of coffee." Dennis put his toolbox back in the bed of his truck. "I'll see you tomorrow about this time to put up the temporary windows?"
"Thank you so much, Dennis."
"You're welcome, Kinsley."
He put his ladder away last, and then headed across the square to grab his coffee. I went inside the shop and magically directed all of the glass scattered around into a garbage can.
When that was done, I drew sigils on the doorframes with ink that turned invisible with a snap of my fingers. Astra Argent would never set foot in my store again.
I debated whether or not to open the store, but it didn't seem like there was much point. Who was going to come in with the giant plastic sheets hanging over the windows?
It was just one day, and I figured it wouldn't hurt to stay closed until Dennis came back and put up the temporary windows.
"What are you going to do?" Meri asked as I stood there staring at the front of the store.
"Let's go home. I can get on the internet and see if there's any way to replace what was stolen in time,” I said.
"You're going to buy it all again?" Meri asked. "I thought Thorn was going to try to get a search warrant for Astra's place?"
He was, but I didn't have much faith in it. He hadn't sounded confident he'd get one, and I wasn't even sure how hard he would try.
But, I had another idea forming in the back of my mind.
"It's just in case,” I said. "I think I might have another idea."
"What is it?" Meri asked enthusiastically. I think he'd picked up on the fact that I was locked, loaded, and ready for some mischief.
"I'll tell you on the way home."
My grand idea was that I'd go to Astra's shop in the middle of the night and do a little breaking and entering. If I found my swag bags and decorations, I'd just steal them back. What could she do? Call the sheriff and tell him I'd stolen what she'd stolen from me? The idea was laughable.
"What if you get caught?" Meri asked as we went inside the house.
"We're not going to let that happen,” I said.
"Oh, you think I'm getting involved in this drama?"
"Well, yeah. It's your job to protect me."
"Maybe you should just wait for the search warrant," Meri suggested.
"That sounds lame,” I said. "Are you going soft on me?"
"Whatever." Meri said. "Sure, let's go do a burglary later, but I want extra bacon."
The rest of the day, I spent shopping online for replacements for the swag and decorations. I didn't buy any of it because I hoped to get what I'd already done back. Plus, it would cost me hundreds of dollars in rush delivery fees to get things in time.
Late in the afternoon, I got a text from Thorn. He said he would be over later, but that he wouldn't be in time for dinner.
My stomach growled because I'd forgotten to have lunch. I figured if he wasn't coming for dinner, I'd just head over to the diner and have an early dinner or late lunch. Maybe I'd eat enough for both.
I grabbed some cash and stuffed it into my purse. "I'm going to the diner to get food. I'll bring you back bacon," I called out to Meri.
"Thanks, Creature,” he said.
It had been a long while since he called me that. I felt myself choke up a little, but I was too hungry to dwell.
I drove over to the diner and found the parking lot mostly empty. Reggie was inside at the counter rolling silverware up in napkins. She looked up and smiled as I came through the main entrance.
"Hey, I wasn't expecting to see you today,” she said and came out from behind the counter. "Sit anywhere you like. I'm the only one here until Leslie comes in for the dinner shift."
"Do you have to work tonight too?" I asked as I took a seat at the counter.
Reggie plopped down on the stool next to me. "No. Amanda's on tonight too. Her rent is due in two days, so she'll be in no matter what. When she's worried about getting evicted is the only time I can count on her, though."
"Have you ever thought about doing something other than this?" I asked as I looked over the menu.
"Like what?" Reggie asked and pulled the tub of silverware and pile of napkins over so she could keep rolling. "I have like three credits of community college and the only other work experience I have is two days of complete failure working as a secretary at the hospital. That did not go well. It's too bad too because the pay was good and there was insurance."
"I was thinking of hiring someone at the shop, you know,” I said.
"And?" she asked.
"Oh my gawd, Reggie. I'm trying to ask if you're interested,” I said and playfully punched her arm. "Of course, you'll have to wait until tomorrow to start. I'm obviou
sly not open today."
"Why aren't you at work?" she asked instead of answering me.
"I can't believe you haven't heard. Someone smashed the front windows out of my shop and stole all of my swag bags and decorations for the Midnight Magic Festival."
"I heard there was some sort of ruckus downtown, but we've hardly had any customers today. So the gossip train didn't pull into this station today. Do you know who did it?"
"That's the craziest part. I found Astra Argent's wallet at the scene."
"No way. That crazy... woman. Did Thorn arrest her?"
"She accused me of stealing the wallet. He said there wasn't enough evidence to arrest either of us, so he's going to try to get a search warrant for her place,” I said.
"That's nuts. How can that not be enough evidence to arrest her? You found her wallet there. I'd assume she dropped it."
"Because I didn't leave it there. I wasn't thinking, and I picked it up. I took it with me when I went over to confront her."
"Oops. Still, I can't believe Thorn didn't arrest her. Are you guys doing okay?"
"I think he's just stressed from working so many hours. He really needs to hire another deputy,” I said. I was going to tell her why Thorn was really upset with me. If she was going to work with me in the shop, I might as well come clean about who I really was, but I wasn't going to tell her about it in the diner.
"Any idea what you want to eat?" she asked.
"Chicken strips and waffles with a triple side of bacon,” I said.
"You want one of those sides of bacon to go?"
"You know it,” I said.
"Honey mustard for the chicken and blueberry syrup for the waffles?" Reggie asked.
"This place is going to miss you,” I said.
"How do you know I'm going to come work for you?"
"Because I'm going to pay you a decent wage and get you health insurance,” I said.
"What about my grandmother?" Reggie said. "Sure would be nice to get her off the state health insurance."
"You've got a deal."
"Really? You'd really do that? I was just joking around. Kinsley, you can't. It will be so expensive."
"Then I guess you'd better say yes."
Midnight Magic Page 5
