Wicked Witches of the Midwest Mystery Box Set

by Amanda M. Lee

  I couldn’t drink my tea because I was certain it would make me heave. “She was the only family you had?”

  Landon slid me a look. I could tell he wanted to pet me, but he wisely refrained. We weren’t on a date.

  “She was.” Stephanie’s smile was rueful. “She was always a free spirit, that one. She had big dreams. They were almost as big as her heart.”

  “I knew her.” The words escaped before I thought better of them. “She was a counselor at the camp I went to when I was a teenager.”

  “That’s why I brought Bay with me,” Landon said hurriedly. “She was with me at the camp when the first body was discovered. Then, when we got confirmation on the second body, she remembered your sister and wanted to come.”

  If Stephanie was bothered by a civilian being present, she didn’t show it. “It’s nice that she made enough of an impression that you wanted to be here.” Her smile was sincere. “My oldest daughter looks like her. I found out I was pregnant a month before she went missing. That was the only thing that kept me going while we were looking for her.

  “I didn’t want to believe she was gone back then,” she continued. “I thought something had happened. I convinced myself that she went on an adventure and didn’t tell me. I kept sending her messages so she would know the baby was close. And then, when I went into labor and there was still no notification from her, I knew she wasn’t coming back. The moment I saw my baby I knew that Vicky was gone and that I would have to accept it.”

  Tears pricked the back of my eyes. “You named your daughter after her.”

  “It seemed the only thing I could do.”

  “Did you have your sister declared dead at some point?” Landon asked.

  “I didn’t see a reason for that. I guess there was still a modicum of hope she was out there. It seems silly because I just told you I knew she was dead when I saw my baby, and that’s true. The longer she remained missing, all that hope fizzled, but before … . It’s weird to know she never left the camp. I kept imagining her on the road, traveling and seeing new places. She wanted to visit so many places.”

  It was only when her voice cracked at the end that I realized she was crying. “I’m so sorry,” I said. “I feel I should’ve known something bad happened to her. We were supposed to meet her for coffee in town, but she never showed. We assumed she forgot.

  “When we went to the camp to make sure, the other counselors said she’d left,” I continued. “We didn’t think to question why. If she really said that or just didn’t return to her bunk the night before, I have no idea … and I’m so sorry.”

  “Oh, you shouldn’t blame yourself.” Stephanie was sincere. “She wouldn’t want that. She was a good girl with a giving heart. She wouldn’t want you carrying this around.”

  The fact that she was consoling me when she’d just found out about the death of her sister ripped a small tear in my gut. “Thanks, but I still feel guilty.”

  “We’re going to find who did this,” Landon promised. “The thing is, we need information. We’re working under the assumption that one person is responsible for both the bodies we found in the pool. The problem is that we don’t have proof of that and we’re dealing with a huge time gap.”

  “I don’t know what I can tell you,” Stephanie said. “Vicky wrote me once a week while she was serving as a counselor. I think it’s because she thought it was the thing to do and liked to get mail. I always wrote her back, and sent care packages. She was technically an adult, but I knew how much she loved those care packages, so I had as much fun putting them together as she did opening them.”

  “She must have told you about the people she worked with,” Landon pressed. “Did she mention having any trouble with anyone? Or perhaps seeing someone following her? Was she dating anyone?”

  “She wasn’t dating anyone that summer,” Stephanie replied without hesitation. “I know that for a fact. Once the summer was over she planned to travel and she thought it was a waste of time to start a relationship with someone because it would have to end before she hit the road.

  “Her plan was to travel and then be back in time for me to give birth,” she continued. “I was on her to get a permanent job, something that could lead to better than minimum wage. She had wanderlust, though, and she didn’t want to settle for a job when she could sample the world.”

  “She sounds like a lovely individual,” Landon noted. “I wish I could’ve met her. Still, she must’ve said something. Can you think of anything that stands out about the correspondence she sent you that summer?”

  “Not offhand, but I can look. I have the letters stored in my safety deposit box. I didn’t want to lose them and keeping them around the house with small children seemed risky. I can go to the bank and get them tomorrow.”

  “I would appreciate that.” Landon leaned back in his chair. “I won’t lie. Right now, we’re at a loss. We don’t know who could’ve been at the camp ten years ago to kill your sister and again two months ago to kill Hannah Bishop. The entire thing is ... something we’re trying to untangle.”

  “I have no doubt you will.”

  Stephanie was so serene I had to ask her the obvious question. “You don’t seem upset. Why is that?”

  “Oh, I’m upset.” Her eyes flashed sad. “I don’t want to cry in front of my children.” She inclined her chin toward the toddler on the floor, who was peeking through her fingers at Landon and smiling. “I don’t want them to associate Vicky’s name with tears because then they’ll never bring her up.

  “They didn’t get a chance to meet her, but I make sure they know her,” she continued. “I have photographs and we talk about her all the time. I will save the tears until my husband is home and can give me a few minutes away from them.”

  “You are very strong.” I slowly got to my feet. “Your sister was lucky to have you.”

  “No, I was lucky to have her. Hey, now that you mention it, I do remember Vicky writing about one of the other camp counselors. She didn’t like him. The only reason it stands out in my head is because she liked everyone. She didn’t mention him being inappropriate, just that he had a bad attitude.”

  “Did she mention a name?” Landon asked.

  “Not that I recall. I’ll check the letters again and let you know.”

  “I greatly appreciate that.” He dug in his pocket and pulled out a business card. “Call me anytime if you remember anything.”

  “I will. Um ... about my sister’s body; when will I be able to claim it so I can have a proper funeral?”

  “The medical examiner has her right now. Call me tomorrow and I’ll have more information for you. I’ll make sure that you get your sister in a timely fashion. I think you’ve waited long enough.”

  “Thank you.”

  I managed to hold it together until we were in Landon’s Explorer and then I started to cry. He was expecting it, so he pulled out of Stephanie’s driveway and parked down the block, out of sight from her home. There, he pulled me in for a hug.

  “I feel so sorry for her,” I admitted. “Her sister was all she had. I never realized Vicky was alone.”

  “You couldn’t have saved her, Bay. You were basically a child. You couldn’t have known what was going to happen to her.”

  I didn’t know if that was true, but I mourned her all the same. “Can we just sit like this for a minute?”

  “As long as you want.”

  “Maybe five minutes.”

  “It’s okay.” He smoothed my hair. “I need to think anyway. There’s something off about this entire situation and I’m not sure where to look next. Go ahead and cry. I’ll be here.”

  “Thanks.”

  “That’s what I’m here for.”

  Fourteen

  Landon left me at my office once we returned. He didn’t seem keen on it, but I needed some quiet time. He was there to pick me up promptly at five, though, and I smiled when I saw him waiting for me in the parking lot. He wordlessly grabbed my computer bag, kis
sed me and then helped me into the passenger seat.

  He seemed to be in good spirits as we drove, which helped bolster the sagging ones I was struggling with. I figured now was a good time to drop a difficult decision I’d made on him.

  “I need to spend the night at the camp.”

  Landon kept his eyes on the road, but I noticed the exact moment his shoulders tensed. “Why?”

  “I need to talk to Vicky. She’s obviously hanging around out there. She wasn’t at her sister’s house, which makes me sad. She might be happy if she hung around there. Instead, she’s obviously haunted by her death ... and traumatized. That’s why she refuses to talk to me.”

  Landon let loose a long sigh. “I don’t understand why that means we have to stay the night.”

  I didn’t miss the fact that he changed “I” to “we.” That was so ... Landon. Even before I broached the subject, I knew he would include himself. There was no way he couldn’t. I was fine with that. In all honesty, I would rather have him with me.

  “She’s more likely to come out if we’re there for an extended period,” I replied without hesitation. “Plus, tomorrow is the waxing moon. That’s the strongest celestial occurrence we’re going to have for a long time. I need to try to make contact then.”

  He was quiet for a long beat. “You know that you could just go out there tomorrow morning and force Vicky to talk, right?”

  I immediately started shaking my head. “No.”

  “Because you knew her?”

  “That and it’s rude. Most ghosts only stay behind because something traumatic happened to them. Something so terrible it ripped their souls from their bodies and confused them enough that they had no choice but to stay behind, often re-living what happened to them over and over again. I don’t get pleasure out of traumatizing them twice.”

  “I know that, Bay, but it’s for a good cause. We have a killer to find.”

  I folded my arms over my chest and stared out the window. “You don’t have to come. I know you have work to do. I figured I would go up there tomorrow — I’ll ask Thistle and Clove if they want to come, but they might not be able to join me until later in the day — and try to get her to materialize. The longer I’m there, the more likely she is to trust me.

  “I understand you have other things to do,” I continued. “I don’t expect you to sit up there and hold my hand. I’m a big girl. I’m not going to cry or anything ... at least not again.”

  “Oh, don’t be like that.” He made a face as he turned on the highway that led to The Overlook. “You’re allowed to feel what you feel, Bay. I have no problem with a few shed tears. I get it. You knew her and you feel guilty. That guilt is misplaced. There was nothing you could’ve done to save her. She was gone before your scheduled coffee appointment. I get why you feel guilty, and I don’t blame you for it.”

  “But you’re clearly angry.”

  “I’m not angry. I’m thinking.”

  “About what?”

  “How I’m going to explain to Chief Terry that I’m spending the entire day — and apparently the night — at the camp with you. He’s going to think I’ve lost my mind or something.”

  I slid him a sidelong look. “You don’t have to go.”

  He snorted. “Please. We both know I wouldn’t have it any other way. There’s a potential killer up there.”

  “I can take care of myself.”

  “I’m well aware of that. There’s strength in numbers. Besides, I wouldn’t mind a chance to give that entire area a good search. We had a team up there and they took a cursory look around, but they were obviously focused on the pool. This would allow me a chance to branch out.”

  “So ... you really want to go?”

  “That’s a hard question to answer. I really want to spend time at the camp ... but the aftermath of a murder isn’t exactly what I would call an ideal time. I really do want to look around to see if I can find anything in some of those other buildings. I really don’t want to be separated from you.”

  “You’re not exactly a fan of camping.”

  He made a face. “Who said anything about camping? They have beds.”

  “They have bed frames,” I corrected. “There are no mattresses.”

  “And I have one of those inflatable air mattresses. Before I bought an actual bed, I slept on it for a month. It’s fairly comfortable.”

  I was surprised at the way he smoothly changed the topic to the mundane. “Why did you sleep on an air mattress for a month?”

  “I was so excited to start my new job that a bed didn’t seem important.”

  “Are you still excited about your job? I mean ... I know you’re good at it. I know you get a charge out of being the hero. Are you still as excited as you were at the start?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know. Are you still as excited about your job as you used to be?”

  “I like being the boss.”

  He grinned. “I’ve noticed. It’s not the same as when you first started, though, is it? As you mature, the excitement wanes. I still like my job and want to be good at it. But other things excite me now.”

  “Like bacon?”

  “Bacon has always excited me. I was talking more about you.”

  He was open with his feelings, which I appreciated. Still, the simple statement caused my heart to flutter. “Are you saying you’re more excited about me than work?”

  “Yes. That’s not even a hard choice.”

  “Oh, that’s kind of sweet.”

  He snickered as he shook his head. “I like how I can still woo you with words.”

  “I’m not sure I like you using the word ‘woo.’ It seems dated.”

  “Suck it up.”

  “Okay.” I exhaled heavily to center myself and then turned back to the earlier conversation. “Are you really okay with us going out there? I don’t expect you to spend the whole day with us. You can go to work and then join us after if you want.”

  “I need to talk to Chief Terry, but we’ll figure it out. I’d prefer being up there with you guys for the duration. It’s not that I don’t trust Clove and Thistle. I simply would prefer you have more backup if we can work it out.”

  “That’s kind of sweet.”

  “I’m a sweet guy.”

  THE INN BUSTLED WITH activity when we arrived. No guests had checked in yet — although from the way Marnie was carrying on behind the front desk that was imminent — but the family had taken over the main floor and apparently the Winchesters were in a yelling mood this afternoon.

  “I didn’t overbook,” Twila screeched from somewhere deep within the inn. “I know how to use the computer. Stop saying I overbooked.”

  “You overbooked,” Marnie snapped. “We have an extra couple, which means we’re going to have to use the attic room. We haven’t been up there to clean it since Belinda moved out.”

  Belinda Martin was a part-time maid who started her own business. She lived in the inn for months so she could get back on her feet financially. Then, because she figured it was more “normal,” she took her daughter Annie and moved to a place not far away. Annie was still a popular figure at the inn, but Belinda was strict about only bringing her to work on weekends. She obviously wasn’t here to take a side in the argument.

  “I’m betting Annie cleaned her room before she left,” I offered as I slipped out of my hoodie. “It probably won’t take much to get it to your lofty heights.”

  Marnie shot me a pointed look. “I wasn’t talking to you.”

  “No, but you’re my favorite aunt, so I decided to answer anyway.” I beamed at her. “That’s how much I care about your emotional well-being.”

  “I heard that crack about her being your favorite aunt,” Twila snapped, poking her head into the lobby. “Don’t think I’m going to forget it.”

  “You’re my favorite aunt, too,” I reassured her. “It’s Marnie only fifty percent of the time.”

  “Whatever.” Twila didn’t look as if she had the patience to
play games. Instead, she pinned Marnie with a dark look. “I don’t overbook. You’re counting wrong.”

  “I know how to count.” Marnie rolled her eyes so hard I thought she might fall over. “I’m the one who taught you to count.”

  “Right. You taught me to count.” Twila’s reaction was so exaggerated I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing. “You were a year older than me and an educational genius. You got your teaching certificate when you were four.”

  I left them to their bickering and nudged Landon out of the room. He appeared ready and willing to sit around and watch them snipe at each other, but I had other plans.

  “I want a drink,” I announced.

  “Now we’re talking.” He slipped his arm around my waist and led me into the library. There, Thistle and Marcus were already seated in chairs and entertaining their own argument.

  “I’m just saying that a wolf would be a cool animal to have at the petting zoo,” Thistle said. “I’ve always thought my spirit animal is a wolf, so we should definitely get one.”

  Marcus didn’t look impressed with the suggestion. “No offense, but if my insurance is off-the-charts for a goat, what do you think it will be for a wolf?”

  “Those goats are menaces,” Thistle argued. “They butt people with their heads and chew shoes. A wolf wouldn’t do that.”

  “Right. A wolf would just rip your throat out.” He flicked his eyes to us as we walked into the room and immediately headed for the drink cart. “Would you guys tell Thistle that a wolf is a bad idea for the petting zoo?”

  “I think it’s a fabulous idea,” Landon countered. “I’ve always wanted to see a live version of Little Red Riding Hood. How many people do you think a wolf could eat before you get arrested?”

  “Ha, ha, ha.” Thistle glared at Landon. “You’re supposed to take my side when conversations like this pop up. Just for the record.”

  “I had no idea that was the rule.” Landon mixed two martinis before directing me toward the couch. “I’ll keep that in mind from now on.”

  “You should definitely do that,” she agreed, moving her eyes to me. “Where did you spend the rest of the day? I stopped by the newspaper office to see you but you weren’t there.”