I opened my mouth to reply with something witty but snapped it closed. “I like you too.”
“That’s a start. I’ll take it.”
Silence lingered as my mind wondered back to Ryder. I could like both men, couldn’t I? Each held an air of mystery. Ryder knew all the ins and outs of magic la la land, and King, everyone and everything in town. If I ever had to make that decision, it would be hard.
I showed King into the attic and fell asleep in the settee while he did the exact same thing I’d done, staying up all night to review the evidence Mildred and John had been collecting. When I woke, I was tucked into my bed beneath the covers. I must have been exhausted not to have awoken while being carried down to the second floor.
I slid out of bed, showered, and got ready for the day before descending the stairs in search of coffee. I’d just started a fresh pot when I heard knocking on the French doors. I opened them to find Barry, one of the carnies, staring up at me.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“Don’t be silly. You’re more than welcome to come inside anytime you want. You’re a guest here,” I said, walking back to the coffee pot. “Can I make you a cup of coffee?”
“Actually, if you don’t mind, we’d like to start coming in to take showers and get cleaned up. The festival doesn’t offer those amenities.”
“Oh absolutely. There are three showers so far that I’ve found. You can use all three and take turns. I’m not sure how much the hot water tank holds, but have at it.”
“Thank you, Tess.” He turned to leave and then stopped and stuck his hand in his pocket. “I forgot that we found this just beyond the well by the greenhouse where Mildred grew her special herbs.”
I took the necklace from him, the word Foxy written on the charm. “I’m sorry, what special herbs?”
He gestured with his thumb toward the backyard. “You know the greenhouse hidden just inside the trees.”
I met his gaze. “Will you show me?”
“Of course.” He nodded, and we both walked into the woods, with him leading the way. We stopped when we came to a greenhouse just out of view and hidden behind bushes. He gestured to the door hanging half open. “The lock was already broke when we found it.”
I opened the door even farther and stepped into the room. It was littered with dead plants and wilted leaves. There wasn’t a single flower in bloom and what few herbs had survived didn’t need much in the way of care. I slowly made my way to the back of the building, where fresh flowers had started to bloom, and not just any fresh flowers but belladonna. Buried next to them in the soil was a red-stained rag sticking out of the dirt. My hand flew to cover my mouth and I grabbed one of the dusty sheets and tossed it over the herbs to cover the evidence.
Was Mildred selling the same flowers that killed her? Was that where her money came from?
I slowly walked backward toward the doorway and tripped over a blood covered bat propped against a table. “What the…”
I spun on my feet and ran for the door to find Barry had vanished. I ran past the others and across the street, barely taking time to look both ways, and hurdled the fence like a fleeing thief fleeing the cops.
I banged on King’s door, knocking excessively until he opened. He was shirtless, wearing only lounge pants, and rubbing the sleep from his eyes, his hair mussed.
“I….” I snapped my mouth closed and fought the urge to run my fingers over his pecs.
“What’s wrong, Tess?” he asked. “You want to come in?”
“No.” I stepped backward. If I went in, I knew what would happen. I’d be a hussy and jump his bones, unable to form a coherent sentence without his clothes on. I turned, giving him my back. “Mildred had a greenhouse, and there is belladonna growing in it and a bloody towel buried in the dirt.”
“You think someone used her own supply?” he asked.
I glanced over my shoulders and licked my lips. “There was a blood covered bat. I think I’ve found a second murder weapon.”
“Let me put on my shoes.” He turned to leave and paused. “Don’t leave.”
I saluted him the way Livvy would, making him smile.
I stood on the porch and glanced over at Livvy’s house to find her sitting on the front porch with a book and petting Friday, who was perched in her lap.
King returned with a T-shirt now covering his chest and shoes on his feet. He had his gun, badge, and phone as he led me back over to the yard. He was a bit startled to find the carnies’ tents in the backyard and gave me a questionable look.
“Guests of the inn”
He nodded, and I led him to the greenhouse.
“Did you touch anything?” he asked.
“No, just some of the dead plants when I first walked in and the sheet I used to cover the evidence.”
I pointed to the other end of the greenhouse to where a sheet lay over the belladonna. “I covered the herb. The bloody towel is buried beneath the soil. You’ll see it sticking out.”
He eased the sheet up to take a look. “Someone has been taking care of it. Otherwise, it would have wilted and died just like the other stuff.”
“Kind of creepy to think someone has been on the property without me knowing or seeing them.”
“I agree,” he said, pulling out his phone. “I’ll get forensics back here to get this stuff processed. Everyone will be at the festival today, but tomorrow, I’ll call and get a security tech out here to start outfitting a plan for security cameras and feeds.”
“I know my cue. I’ll go finish my coffee and then take Livvy to the festival. You look like you might be here awhile. You can meet us when you’re done.”
“I haven’t heard back from my sister yet. I thought she’d be back by now.”
“It’s okay. I’m sure she just got hung up with work. Livvy and I will meet you there unless she shows up first.”
“You’d do that for me?”
“What are neighbors for?” I headed back into the house to find the carnies gone from the yard and the house empty. I walked out of the front door to find Livvy sitting impatiently on her swing with a cell phone in her hands. I walked over to her house.
“Aren’t you a little young to have a cell phone?” I asked, taking a seat next to her.
“My mom calls me on it when she’s out of town, and she hasn’t called yet today to tell me when she’ll be here.”
“I’m sorry, Livvy,” I said, patting her leg. “And King is going to be late, so I thought you and I could go together. You mentioned something about a science project you wanted to show me, and besides, you’re my only friend.”
“Uncle King is your friend. He was late leaving your house. Did you have a sleepover? Did he build you a castle out of sheets like he does for me? Did he wear his tutu?”
“No, I haven’t graduated to friends with castles, yet.” I chuckled and rose. “How about you get your bike and I’ll get mine, and we’ll ride to the festival. I could use the practice.”
“Really?” Her eyes lit up.
“Absolutely. I’ve already had my coffee, and I’m functioning today.”
Chapter 15
Livvy and I walked around the high school gym for over an hour looking at all of the science projects. None were as impressive as hers. That was why she was sporting a gold medallion medal around her neck for first place.
We ditched the projects and headed for the fun outside where the carnival stuff was set up. It wasn’t a typical small-town carnival put on by school PTA members with douche booths where you have to spend five dollars in a ring toss to win a 2-liter bottle of Coke that would have cost a dollar at the store.
Nope, this was a town function with actual rides, and the best part was all of the different food trucks and things to do. I’d asked my dad once why he never sent me to the mainland to public school so I could experience these types of things, but I guess I didn’t have to go to public school for that. He brought the carnival to us that same year.
Now I un
derstood why. The thought of him keeping me on the island for protection still sat heavy in my gut, but at least I understood why. Still, it wouldn’t stop me and Livvy from having some fun.
I took a page from King’s book and made her enjoy her youth. With enough junk food in our system to give us a sugar rush, we got our faces painted. Hers was a butterfly, and mine well, I chose the dragon to display. No sense in hiding the crazy in my family. It would match the lawn ornaments.
The sun had started to set. The fair was almost over and the evening cookout about to begin. King’s delay had turned into almost a full day. We were on our third trip to the Ferris wheel for one more spin when King called Livvy’s phone and asked to talk to me. She handed her phone over.
“Hey, I didn’t have your number.”
“You’re a cop, you find things, and you found me. Are you calling to tell us you’re going to be later?”
There was a hard pause on the line, and I knew instantly something serious was wrong. I moved Livvy over out of the crowded foot traffic. “What’s wrong?”
“You have Livvy, right?”
“Yeah, what’s wrong, King? Did you find something else?”
“My sister’s not coming.” His voice cracked as he spoke.
I turned to face the building, giving Livvy my back. “What do you mean she’s not coming? Livvy has been waiting for her all day.”
“I don’t know how to say this. I still can’t believe it.” He cleared his throat.
“Tell me, King. Is she okay?”
“She’s dead. She was in a car accident, and she’s dead.” I could hear the grief in his voice. I could feel it down to my core.
“She’s dead?” I asked. “Where are you?”
“I’m at the police station. They needed me to identify her.”
“I’m so sorry. I’ll bring Livvy right home. You’ll meet us there?”
“Thanks, Tess, and please don’t tell Livvy. I should be the one to break it to her.”
I spun around to find Livvy nowhere to be seen. “I’ll get her and meet you there.”
I hung up. Not that I didn’t want to be empathetic to my only town friend, but he would blow his lid if he knew I’d just lost his niece.
“Livvy.” My voice came out in a shrill cry as my gaze darted from person to person and each booth. She was nowhere to be found.
“Livvy,” I called again, this time shoving through the crowds and grabbing each small person I could find.
One of those small people was Barry. “Sorry, Barry, have you seen my neighbor, Livvy? She’s seven, and I’ve lost her.”
“Yeah, I saw her. She was crying and running toward the entrance.”
Oh God. She must have heard me. I ran for the entrance to find Marcus carrying items to his truck. “Marcus, have you seen Livvy, King’s niece?”
“No, but let me check with Foxy when she gets back from getting more herbs for the barbecue sauce.”
I grabbed his arm. “Foxy?”
“Yeah, it’s Rene’s nickname. I’ve called her that since we were kids.”
My hand flew to my heart. “And the herbs?”
“She makes me a special blend.”
“Where does she get it from?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. She just comes home with it in those little plastic pouches.”
I ran for my bike and hopped on, not surprised to find Livvy’s not there. She’d gone home. I knew it; I could feel it. What little girl, hearing her mother died, would go anywhere else? I pedaled like my life depended on it and dumped the bike in the yard, running straight into Livvy’s house. Not even the smelly babysitter was inside. Maybe King had given her the rest of the day off. Livvy’s mom had been due home and Livvy was supposed to spend the day with her uncle. The house was empty.
I ran back out of the house and over to Mildred’s and busted in the door to see if Livvy was inside. No sign of her. I ran through the back to find Livvy inching out on the tree branch with tears streaming down her face. Friday was next to her in puma form with his teeth barred at Rene, who was climbing the tree. Cuss words and death threats sprang from her lips.
“Rene, it’s over,” I shouted.
She glanced over her shoulder. Sweat strained her brow. “No, it’s not. Without this kid, you have no witness.”
“Rene.” I headed for her, only pausing when Rene waved her knife toward Friday.
“Stay back.” Her eyes were wild.
“Just tell me why you killed Mildred.”
“She found my stash. That stubborn woman didn’t even use the greenhouse. All of her herbs were dead, but she found mine, and she wanted a cut from what I made selling it.”
“You could have given the money.”
“Mildred didn’t need the money, not like Marcus and I do. He wants children, and those hormone injections are expensive. I was only going to sell the belladonna to the crew at Shady Grey just until I was pregnant, but nooo, she had to blackmail me, and now it’s all gone.” She gestured in the direction of the greenhouse. “And it’s all because of this little brat.”
Rene lunged just as Livvy backed up and lost her footing. She’d started to fall when I yanked the pendant free from my neck and conjured a bubble to catch her in. Pointing my hand, I held her suspended in the air.
“I knew you were a witch,” Friday said as he lunged for Rene, knocking her off too.
I caught her in a bubble and held them both suspended in mid-air just as King came around the corner.
“What….”
“I’ll explain later,” I said, moving closer to Livvy’s containment. “I’ll get Livvy, and you arrest Rene.”
“Arrest? Why?”
“She confessed,” Friday announced, jumping down out of the tree. As his paws landed on the ground, he shifted back to a small house cat.
“Your cat...” King’s words trailed off as if he didn’t know what to say.
“I’ll explain later.”
He hurried to Rene’s bubble, and I broke the connection, catching Livvy in my arms. I held her to my shoulder. Her body shook in silent sobs as I carried her around to the porch and sat with her in the swing.
“You scared me, running off like that,” I said.
She sniffed. “Is it true? Is my mom dead?”
I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and squeezed her close. “I’m sorry, kiddo. I know how it feels, and it sucks.” I kissed her forehead. “King isn’t going anywhere. He’ll always be here for you.”
“And you?” she asked, wiping through her tears.
“I’m not going anywhere either,” I said, resting my head against hers.
Chapter 16
Two months later and without another single premonition
Everyone had shown up for dinner, only now there was an extra seat added to the table and a new name in the register book. Livvy was now a new addition to our dinners, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Livvy was still hurting but healing more each day. The letters on the door had stopped with no explanation. Rene was waiting for her day in court, and poor King. He was trying his best to figure out how to be both an uncle and a new parent.
I held the door open just as the caterer stepped onto the porch. No matter the surprise on her face, I could see the underlying smile beneath her scowl. Yeah, I was making friends left and right, well, not really, but I was determined this caterer and I were going to get along.
I stayed out of her way, even as the others had already taken over the table when the last server left. The caterer walked out onto the porch, and to my surprise, she stopped. “I added an extra cookie for Livvy.”
“Thank you. That was very kind of you,” I said, clasping my hands.
She nodded and stepped off the porch. I stepped after her. “I’m sorry, but you’ve been coming here feeding all of us and I never caught your name.”
She glanced over her shoulder with a sparkle in her eyes. “My name is Blythe Hexford, but you can call me Auntie B.”
&nbs
p; My mouth parted as a smile formed on her lips. “All this time and you never told me you were related to Mildred.”
“I’m Mildred’s youngest sister and I didn’t tell you my name, because all of this time you’ve never asked, Contessa.”
“You know my full name.”
“I know much more than that, dear.” She chuckled. “I do believe you should hurry with dinner before it gets cold. You have another appointment tonight.”
“There was nothing in the book.”
“There is now.” Laughter filled the quiet evening as she climbed into her catering truck and pulled away from the curb.
My guests lingered over dinner a bit longer than normal, and for once, I was okay with that. The conversation had lifted everyone’s spirits, including mine. I walked with King as he carried a sleeping Livvy on his shoulder. He’d since moved from the house across the street and into Livvy’s house. He didn’t want to uproot her normal any more than necessary, and I couldn’t blame him.
“You want to stay for a beer?” he asked as he opened the door.
“Wish I could, but Auntie B told me I have another appointment. You guys should have told me who she was.”
“It wasn’t our place. She and Mildred had a falling-out years ago, and things had never been the same between them. I figured she’d eventually tell you.”
“Give Livvy a kiss for me.”
Friday scurried by my feet and into the house before I could stop him. “You want me to get him?”
“Nah, he’s been sleeping with Livvy like a guard cat.”
I grinned. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Have a good night, Tess.”
I headed back to the inn and locked the door behind me. I went in search of the book and found Franklin in the kitchen. “You just missed him.”
“Him who?” I asked.
“Mr. Stephens.” He held out an envelope. “He asked me to give you this.”
I took the envelope and watched Franklin head for the basement door. I called out after him. “What do you do all day down there?”
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