“Jack is confident that Kevin Paul’s murder is related to the drug trafficking, but we’ll know more once he’s able to question the three individuals in custody. They all layered up, so it’s going to take time to get the answers we need and maybe some deals to be made. With that said, I’m sure one of them will want to try and sell out their fellow drug dealers for a lesser sentence. Enough shop talk, Miss Marigold. How about that ride on the Ferris wheel? It’s still early, the carnival is in full swing, and I actually have it on good authority that we can have the best seat overlooking Paramour Bay. That is, if I tip the ride operator.”
It was hard to resist an offer like that, yet there was a slight problem with that plan. Actually, two. Well, three, but I was really trying hard to find a way to make sure that I could enjoy the rest of tonight without feeling as though an energy bolt was going to escape my hand at the slightest twitch.
Speaking of twitches, I’ve got mental whiplash over here. I can think of ten to twenty problems with your whacked-out plan, but most of my issues all include keeping the fact that you’re a witch from the good ol’ sheriff. I’m betting your list of problems doesn’t include any of mine, am I right?
“Mom borrowed my vehicle to meet up with Beetle,” I said, setting the main problem on the plate first.
You just had to remind me.
“I’m sorry,” Liam said, a hint of laughter to his rich voice. I’m sure everyone would feel the same way once they saw my mother walking around the carnival with Beetle. With my luck, he’d even win her one of those oversized teddy bears. “I thought I heard you say that your mother was attending the carnival with Beetle.”
“I did,” I laughed, thankful that the murder mystery was wrapping up and that we could go back to enjoying our lives. If only the palm of my right hand agreed. “And that means I have no ride.”
Heidi always took the train into town from New York City, so she didn’t have a vehicle, either. We could technically walk, but it would take a while to get to the other end of town.
You want to walk into town on a road that is lined with nut-bearing trees, allowing Skippy and all of his minions to carry out their attacks at will? I don’t think so.
“I’ll swing by and pick you up. Ask Heidi to join us, but just make sure she knows I want you all to myself on that Ferris wheel ride.”
Liam and I had been growing closer and closer since the beginning of the year, and I can honestly say that no man has ever made me feel as if I were the only woman in the world. He had the ability to do it with just a glance, but there were times like now that his rich voice dropped another octave and sent goosebumps chasing one another across my sensitive skin.
“That’s sounds perfect,” I replied softly, ready to spend some quality time with Liam. Life had been a bit crazy lately, and it would be nice to slow it down a bit. “We’ll be waiting for you and your chariot to arrive.”
I feel a hairball stuck at the back of my throat.
“Jack and Liam made several arrests, the sting was successful, you have a message for me, and we’re going to the carnival,” Heidi summed up rather succinctly, not moving from the couch as she waited for me to convey Jack’s message. “Why do I get the feeling I’m about to play the role of third wheel tonight?”
Tell my sweet Heidi that she can stay home and keep me company.
“You’re not going to be a third wheel,” I protested, not sure Heidi was going to like being a lone wheel, either. “But you can use this opportunity to seek out Seymour to see what he looks like. Apparently, the drug sting went according to plan, but not one word was said about Kevin Paul’s murder. Jack wanted you to know that he’ll touch base with you after he’s through processing the paperwork.”
Jack. Who names their son Jack, anyway? Sure, he was nimble and quick, but what person in their right mind jumps over an open flame?
“Who was arrested tonight?” Heidi asked, stretching as she stood. Her cute slip-on shoes were over near the door, as were my knee high-boots that I could still get away with in this spring weather. I had no doubt that the night was a bit chilly, but nothing a knitted sweater couldn’t fix. “George?”
“I didn’t want to ask too many questions up front,” I fessed up, following Heidi over to the door. I removed my fuzzy slippers and began to put on my black knee-high boots. “Liam said that there were three arrests, so I’m assuming George and Olive. As for the third, maybe Clara? It’s possible that her involvement was what led Kevin Paul to do the same, resulting in his death. Unfortunately, that means whoever killed Mr. Paul is still free to kill again.”
Which is why I’m suggesting that we all stay in until the carnival leaves town. That would be safer for everyone involved. Sometimes I think I’m the only one in this house who has any common sense. Hey, I have a question. Is it possible to be in love with an inanimate object?
Leo’s question gave me pause. For a brief moment, I thought he was referring to Ted and the golem’s affection for the mannequin in Mindy’s boutique. Awareness dawned when I witnessed Leo rubbing his back all over the coffee table. He must be trying to reach those small fragments of catnip that had fallen into the grooves of the hand-carved wooden surface.
“When Jack said three arrests, was he only talking about those who work at the carnival? What about who they were selling to or buying from? There had to be more people involved.” Heidi reached into her purse, pulling out a hair tie. She was ready to get serious in her hunt for a man with a greasy combover. “There’s a good chance the man who murdered Kevin Paul is already in custody.”
Exactly. Now we can all have fun. I won’t wait up for you two.
“Well, I can’t think of a solid reason why we would ask Liam to see their mug shots.” I finished zipping up my right boot, having already done so with my left. I shook out my skirt to make sure that the fabric looked as good as it did when I’d gotten dressed this morning. The only thing left to do was freshen up, because I already answered my own question. “Heidi, I have the perfect rationale as to why I’d want to see who was arrested. I could simply say that maybe I would recognize someone from the night I tripped over Kevin Paul’s legs. Right? I mean, it makes perfect sense.”
Nothing you say ever makes sense. It’s alright to be defective, you know, as long as you take the first step and admit it to yourself.
“It does make sense, Leo. You’ve just consumed too much catnip to make any rational judgements.”
I was feeling more like myself now that we had a solid plan in place. Liam should be able to pull up some photographs on the computer in his truck, I’d be able to make an identification, and then we could ride to the top of the Ferris wheel just like the happy couple always managed to do in the movies. The evening could end on the perfect note.
Have we not discussed the dangers of dangling a carrot in front of fate? You might be feeling more like yourself, but I have a feeling that my quiet night at home with my catnip and pipe just went up in smoke.
Chapter Thirteen
“…was involved,” Heidi said chattily, having been discussing the drug sting since we’d gotten into Liam’s truck. It was the kind of F150 with a cab that had a backseat, and I had no doubt that Leo was back there with her. “It sounds like everything went smoothly in the end. I just wish whoever murdered that poor man is willing to confess and give some measure of closure to Mr. Paul’s family.”
“Jack is working on that as we speak,” Liam said, braking slightly when the headlights of his truck glared off a small animal in the brush alongside the road. “The three suspects who are in custody have all lawyered up, but I’m sure some minor plea deals will be offered in exchange for information once the prosecutor comes on board.”
Was it Skippy who was hiding in the brush alongside the road or one of his minions? I told you that furry rat has been monitoring my movements.
Leo was definitely in the backseat with Heidi, but I could tell by his breathless tone that he was working his way to the front where he c
ould be close to the windshield.
“Do you think that Kevin Paul was murdered because of the drugs that were being trafficked through the carnival?” I asked, peering over at Liam as he concentrated on the road. We were already a few streets away from where we would turn on the road to the carnival. “What if it was personal? Buttons did mention that Mr. Paul was dating one of the other carnival workers named Clara. Do you think it’s possible that something went wrong in their relationship?”
The good ol’ sheriff already said that things are taken care of, so could you leave well enough alone? It’s Skippy we have to worry about. It’s a conspiracy to eliminate feline familiars. I’m pretty sure those were his beady little eyes staring out at us from the side of the road.
“Anything is possible,” Liam said somewhat cautiously, releasing his hold of the steering wheel with his right hand to reach out for mine. His warmth enveloped me as we interlaced our fingers on top of a manila folder. “Don’t worry. Jack will keep me updated on anything that develops.”
I noticed that Liam didn’t say whether or not Clara was part of the three suspects currently in custody. He really did play his cards close to his chest. His level of caution made me worry that he might not trust me completely. It wasn’t like I had a right to be upset.
Skippy is the same way. Always with the open-ended options. I feel your pain.
“Enough about all that craziness,” Liam advocated with a light squeeze, flipping on the turn signal as we came to the intersection of River Bay and Oceanview Drive. “I wasn’t sure we’d get to enjoy the Spring Festival, but Jack has assigned a couple of his state patrol officers to keep their eyes on the carnival until Monday morning. With everything that took place, he didn’t want to miss anything should there be some loose threads that need to be dealt with.”
I’d normally give the detective credit, but I won’t. He’s not good enough for my Heidi, no matter how hard he tries.
Basically, Jack had lightened Liam’s responsibility with the added security. Yes, the carnival did employ a couple of security guards, but once the enterprise was compromised, none of their people could be trusted. Not to mention that the state police were armed. They also had considerably more training and their loyalties weren’t in question.
“Does that mean you are off duty for the rest of the night?” I asked, still trying to figure out a way to bring up the description of the man I saw during the spell I’d cast earlier this evening. The struggle was real. I shouldn’t have to lie to the man I was dating, and I could feel myself reaching the end of that rope. “I’m beginning to see a funnel cake in our future.”
Don’t worry. I have an endless stash of rope to keep feeding you. Remember, the council agreed to let the whole Heidi thing slide. Let’s not push them into taking action by having half the town of Paramour Bay realize that the supernatural realm really does exist.
Two people certainly didn’t make up the entire town, but I did receive Leo’s message loud and clear.
“With an extra sprinkle of powdered sugar, right?” Liam said, expertly maneuvering the truck into the spot he’d reserved for his emergency vehicle near the carnival. Two state police cruisers were parked nearby, bracketing the entrance to the park. He released my hand so that he could shift into park. “I did tell Jack that I’d check in with the officers he’d left behind to patrol the carnival grounds a couple of times until close. Other than that, we’ll see if I can’t win you a stuffed animal from one of the shooting games. I’m pretty sure it’s rigged, but I figured out the count of the metal targets by watching a few of the kids throwing their dollars away this afternoon.”
If the good ol’ sheriff gives me a couple of hours, I can have a few squirrels tied to those metal targets. Nothing like a little realism to stir the pot.
Had we been anywhere else, I would have given Leo a tap on the head. He talked a good game, but he’d never really go through with hurting a squirrel.
You keep telling yourself that, missy. You’ll end up waking up with Skippy in your bed. He’s pushed me to the edge of that proverbial rope you were talking about, and my entire stash is dedicated to you.
“I was thinking of visiting Bulldog for that relish recipe, so why don’t I catch up with you two in say…maybe an hour?” Heidi suggested, tapping the purse she’d brought with her. It was one of those small crossbody purses that she could keep close without fearing someone would steal it. “I think we got our signals crossed earlier today.”
“You mean when you and Raven took a stroll over to the trailers snooping around for Scott Larson’s camper?” Liam had commented in such a nonchalant manner that I almost missed the fact that he’d known all along we’d been caught red-handed. My attention was also on the fact that the manila folder that had been underneath our hands actually had something to do with the drug sting that had just taken place. “For your information, Scott “Bulldog” Larson was instrumental with the success of the arrests this evening. Let’s just say he might have mentioned that the two of you had a bit more interest in Kevin Paul’s murder than the average local citizen.”
You guys are so busted.
I fully expected Heidi to launch into one of her cover stories, but her silence spoke volumes. This was completely on me, and I wasn’t going to lie anymore.
Wait. What? Raven, don’t you dare—
“It’s true that Heidi and Bulldog had talked about relish recipes, but we had also run into Buttons. He’d told us all about the woman Kevin Paul was dating, and we decided to go talk to her. It was foolish in retrospect, but at the time it seemed like a good idea,” I said, keeping as close to the truth as I could. No more lies, despite Leo’s stress level rising to the point that he was choking up another hairball. Bottom line? Liam deserved better. “Liam, we were never in danger. We were just talking to the carnival workers, hoping that we would uncover something that could help your investigation.”
I never thought I’d go out by a hairball. I guess death can happen in the strangest ways. I mean, I’ve accepted that you’ll be the reason of my demise, but a hairball? Being taken out by Skippy would be a more honorable death. Where is that ninja and his acorns when you need him?
Liam had removed the keys from the ignition without really acknowledging what I’d said, causing a sliver of unease to slice through my heart. He got like this sometimes, and it was always when I stretched the truth about a situation regarding witchcraft. Let’s face it—magic and spells were a big part of who I’d become in these last six months.
Do I need to go find your mother? She’s not the most ideal person to bail you out of this situation, but at least she’d prevent you from doing something you’ll regret. Worst case, I’ll go to Skippy. I’m sure he and his band of merry rats can cause enough of a distraction to keep the good ol’ sheriff busy while we make a clean getaway.
“How about you leave the policework to me and Jack from now on?” Liam tossed a grin my way, which I caught due to the streetlight above. I could still sense that he knew there was something more to the picture than I’d painted, but it seemed that he wasn’t going to let it ruin the rest of the night. “I’d rather not go grey in my thirties.”
See? Nothing to worry about. He doesn’t suspect a thing. Not that I believed you’d bring our world crashing down around us. Not for a second.
Liam opened his door and stepped out onto the sidewalk. He closed the door with a wink, but his lighter outlook didn’t make me feel any better. It didn’t escape me that he hadn’t even asked why we’d do such a thing as to get involved with someone’s murder investigation.
“He knows something isn’t right,” I whispered, trying not to move my lips as Liam came around the front of the truck to open our doors. To find someone so kind, compassionate, and loyal was so hard in this life. If I wasn’t careful, I’d lose him and the promise of a healthy and wholesome relationship. “What am I going to do?”
Didn’t we just cover this?
“You’re going to enjoy this
evening and worry about it later.”
Heidi gives such good advice, doesn’t she? I just love that woman.
I hadn’t brought a purse like Heidi, but I had brought my cell phone, along with my identification and some money tucked in the back of the case. It had slipped a bit when Liam had held my hand, but I easily found it in the crevice of the seat. In doing so, the manila folder shifted and the corner of a sheet of pictures had glided out. The white glare of the artificial light beaming down from the street lamp made it hard to see anything else but the faces of three men.
A zap of energy hit my palm out of nowhere.
Don’t say it.
“Heidi, l—”
The passenger side door opened before I could finish my stunning announcement. Liam held out his hand, and I had no choice but to take his kind gesture. I dropped my cell phone back in my seat with every intention of reaching back inside the cab of the truck. My plan worked brilliantly.
Your definition of that word continues to baffle me completely. One of these days, we’ll have to sync up our internal dictionaries. Of course, that might totally destroy my understanding of the English language.
The line of photographs, six of them in total on the one sheet, didn’t contain any names…only random numbers beneath their picture. The man in the top corner was the individual I saw when I’d cast the spell earlier this evening. The case was solved…but only if I could somehow relate that to Liam without revealing my supernatural secret.
Chapter Fourteen
You’re looking at this wrong, Raven. If the man who killed Kevin Paul is in that group of pictures, doesn’t it stand to reason that the man is now in custody? One of the others will most certainly cut a deal to reduce his or her sentence by turning state’s evidence on Mr. Greasy Combover.
Yes, but Jack and Liam didn’t technically know that for certain. Maybe, just maybe, the man would confess after being questioned by Jack. Apparently, the murderer had worked at the carnival all along. Granted, many people were required to be employed by a carnival in order to keep it functioning on such a high level. I hadn’t met every single employee or even seen them all, so it only made sense that I hadn’t run into the man before now.
Spellbinding Blend Page 13
