That included recently when Landon purchased the piece of property she’d had her eye on right out from under her. I’d made sure to avoid her since that news became public. I’d heard from the bank owner that she was on a rampage.
“I’m surprised you’re cavorting with your fellow witches outside,” she offered calmly. There was no hint of mayhem in her eyes, which I found suspicious.
“I’ll visit with them later. They’ll be here for days.”
“Yes, they will.” She returned to her dusting. “Is there something specific you need?”
She sounded on edge, which made me wonder if she expected me to be the one to strike first blood. She would enjoy that, of course. She liked to retaliate so she could play victim. I wasn’t keen on facilitating that.
“Actually, there is. I’m sure you heard about Adam Harris’s death yesterday.”
Surprise crawled across her face. Clearly she was expecting me to bring up the campground that she wanted so she could lease the property to the township for a financial killing. Landon wanted the property because that’s where we’d met years ago — even though we didn’t know it until recently — and he was incensed at the idea of her taking what he believed should be ours. With Aunt Tillie’s help, he secured a mortgage and closed on the property in almost record time — although I had a feeling Aunt Tillie worked a little magic to make that happen. It was a done deal before Mrs. Little found out about it. Her rage was legendary and I was still waiting for her to react. She would blow eventually.
“You’re here to talk about Adam?” Mrs. Little’s expression was quizzical. “I don’t understand. It was a fire. I keep trying to get the fire department to tell me if we should all be worried about gas leaks, but the chief won’t respond to my calls.”
“He probably has other things on his mind,” I replied dryly. “You know ... what with the building that’s falling down and the dead body inside.”
Mrs. Little’s demeanor turned icy. “If there’s nothing else ... .”
“It wasn’t an accident,” I volunteered, taking her by surprise. “He was murdered before the fire was started. That wasn’t a gas leak either. Accelerants were used.”
I didn’t feel all that guilty about sharing the information. It would be public knowledge within a few hours anyway. Hemlock Cove never met a secret that could be kept. Even the ones that were buried under a mountain of time and a name change couldn’t remain hidden forever.
“You’re kidding.” For the first time since I’d entered the store, she showed real animation. “I hadn’t heard that. Why are they keeping it secret?”
“I don’t know that they’re keeping it secret,” I said. “They had to call in an arson investigator from the state and he only confirmed it this morning. I was there when he talked with Landon and Chief Terry.”
“You were there?” Mrs. Little’s disdain was evident. “I’m on the town council and I wasn’t invited to the party. Why were you?”
“Oh, well ... .”
“Never mind.” She waved her hand imperiously. “You don’t have to answer that. I already know why you were invited. You have a special ... power ... over those two men.”
I didn’t like what she insinuated. However, if I picked a fight with her now I would never get the information I needed. “I’m actually here for a specific reason,” I stressed. “I’ve heard through the grapevine that Adam might’ve been having an affair.” There was no way I would mention Dani’s name. Mrs. Little would spread that information through the town in five minutes flat. The family was dealing with enough. “I was wondering if you’d heard anything.”
“Me?” Suddenly Mrs. Little looked like the poster child for the Innocence Project. “Why would you ask me that question?”
“You’re a wise woman.” I decided to blow smoke even though I wanted to choke on it ... again. “You know a lot of things. People confide in you. You’ve got your finger on the pulse of Hemlock Cove.”
“I do indeed,” she agreed, her gaze speculative. “I know almost everything ... except when certain individuals plan to buy property I’ve had my eye on for a great deal of time.”
Oh, well. It was bound to happen eventually. She couldn’t keep her mouth shut forever, no matter how she plotted to punish me otherwise. “I’m not here to talk about the camp. I know you’re upset, but ... Adam’s murder is more important. We have a dangerous individual on the loose.”
For a brief moment I thought she was going to laugh. Instead, she pulled herself together and offered me a watery smile. “I’m not upset about the property. I mean ... I might’ve been at first. I’ve had some time to think about it, and I believe it’s good that you and Landon own the property.”
I was instantly suspicious. “You do?”
She bobbed her head. “That property is important to the history — and future, for that matter — of Hemlock Cove. You will take care of it, keep it in the family so to speak. That’s important to me.”
She was lying. I had no doubt about that. But if she wanted to save face I wouldn’t begrudge her the opportunity. “Well, thank you for that. I appreciate the sentiment. Back to Adam ... .”
“Yes, Adam.” She made a tsking sound with her tongue and shook her head. “Adam has been a bad boy. I heard the whispers, too. He wasn’t very discreet when cheating on his wife. It’s a travesty really.”
“Do you know who he was cheating on Lorna with?”
“I never saw them together,” she cautioned. “But I know others who did.”
Finally, we were getting somewhere. “And?”
“Sheila Carpenter.”
“Sheila? Are you kidding me? She’s married ... and a deacon at the church.”
Mrs. Little held her palms out and shrugged. “I don’t make the moral decisions for the denizens of this town. I only report what I’ve heard ... like you.”
I was insulted by the comparison, but held it together. “Are you sure?”
“Like I said, that’s what I heard.”
“Okay, well ... thank you for your time.”
“Don’t mention it. Oh, by the way, I hope you and Landon have endless happiness in your new home.”
Something was definitely off here. That was for pondering at another time, though. For now, it was best left ignored. “Thank you. We will.”
Eight
I wasn’t what you’d call a regular church-goer. That was surprising to absolutely no one who knew me. We were witches, after all. Our version of worship came on different altars and under the full moon. Still, I was familiar with the local church. It was non-denominational and Christian. That’s all I knew about it.
As far as I could tell, everyone who attended the church was a good person … other than Mrs. Little, I mean. They donated their time at festivals and didn’t go out of their way to make problems for people. Sure, there was the occasional jerkwad who couldn’t stop himself from being an asshat, but in general I’d never had a problem with the congregation.
I still felt like an outsider walking through the front door.
“Hello, Bay.” Denise Pritchard greeted me with a happy wave when I slipped into the coolness of the shade. The weather in Michigan hadn’t yet turned hot and humid, which was a bonus, but the air conditioning felt nice ... especially because my cheeks were burning.
“Hey, Denise.” I felt out of place and hated what I was about to do. “How’s it going?”
“Good.” The woman, a mother of two who spent all her time volunteering for various functions, fixed me with a puzzled smile. “Do you need something specific?”
That was a loaded question. I swallowed hard. “Actually I’m looking for Sheila Carpenter. Is she here today?”
“Sheila?” Denise’s eyebrows drew together. “She’s here. She’s in the main office working on the books. Can I perhaps help you instead?”
“No, I really need to talk to Sheila.”
“Can I tell her what it pertains to?”
Absolutely not. “It�
�s private.” I shifted from one foot to the other, uncomfortable. “I don’t want to take up much of her time but it’s important that I talk to her.”
“Is this for the newspaper?”
“Yes.” That wasn’t technically a lie. I was most certainly digging into Adam’s personal life because of the way he died and I was writing an article for the newspaper. How much of this would be included was up for debate. “It’s for a story I’m working on.”
“Fair enough.” Denise’s smile never wavered as she motioned for me to follow her. She led me through the rectory, not stopping until we were at the back of the building. “Hold on.” She knocked on the closed door and poked her head inside when a voice beckoned. “Hey. Bay Winchester is here and she wants to talk to you.”
I couldn’t see Sheila, but I could picture her face. It wasn’t a pretty scene. She invited me in without hesitation.
“Go ahead.” Denise encouraged me to slide around her and into the office. “I’ll be out front if you need anything.”
I had no idea if she was talking to Sheila or me. It didn’t matter. I planned to get in and out as fast as possible.
“Hello, Bay. Close the door.”
I was happy to accede to her wishes and found my palms sweaty when I sat in the chair across from her desk.
“What can I do for you?”
Ah, well, so much for pleasantries. I was certain I would have to engage in some ridiculous idle chatter before getting to the meat of the conversation. Apparently, I was wrong.
“So ... um ... I’m here about Adam Harris.” Playing games seemed a waste of time so I cut straight to the heart. “I understand you were close.”
“Adam and me?” She looked legitimately puzzled, which caused me more discomfort than I’d envisioned. “I heard what happened to him, of course. What a tragic accident.”
“Yeah, it wasn’t an accident.” Obviously she wasn’t yet up on the newest gossip. That didn’t surprise me. It wasn’t as if she ran in the whispering circles that Mrs. Little ruled with an iron fist. “He was murdered.”
“I’m sorry?” Genuine shock reverberated through the room. “I heard it was a fire. A gas leak, in fact.”
“There was a fire, but it was set to cover up what happened to Adam. He was stabbed ... in the back.” Saying it out loud made me realize there was quite possibly some symbolism attached to that act. That was something to ponder at a different time. “It wasn’t discovered until after his body was removed from the building.”
“Well, that is absolutely terrible.” Sheila shook her head. “I had no idea. I assumed it was an accident. I feel horrible for Lorna and the kids.”
For some reason, that struck me as funny. “I bet.”
Her forehead wrinkled. “I don’t understand why you’re here.”I licked my lips and pushed forward despite my unease. “I know about your relationship with Adam.”
“My ... relationship ... with ... Adam.” She repeated the words, as if trying to absorb them rather than delay responding to them. “I guess I’m not getting your meaning.”
Oh, geez. She was going to make me spell it out. I kind of wanted to pull her hair for that, or at least make her eat dirt. I didn’t like it one little bit. “The affair you were having.”
I expected denials, maybe a few choice words. Instead, Sheila barked out a laugh that was so raucous it caused me to jolt. “Affair? You think I was having an affair with Adam?” She snorted through her nose, the sound unladylike ... and yet I was the one who felt uncomfortable. “May I ask where you heard that?”
This was starting to feel wrong. Way wrong. “Margaret Little.” I felt no compulsion to protect the woman. “I was just at her store and she told me that she heard you and Adam were, um, an item.”
“I see.” She made a clicking sound as she moved her jaw back and forth. “I don’t know how to tell you this, Bay, but I believe Margaret might’ve been having a little fun at your expense ... and mine. This probably stems from the fact that she wants to give the sermon next week — the pastor will be out of town and there’s a competition of sorts brewing to see who will be in charge of the service. Margaret was ruled out by the deacons because ... well ... you’ve met her.”
Things slid into place. “That horrifying witch,” I hissed. I should’ve seen this coming. She was far too easy to get along with. I should’ve known it was a trap. “I’m sorry,” I said hurriedly. “You probably frown on the name-calling.”
“It’s not something we embrace, but in this particular instance I don’t believe it’s out of line.”
“It’s definitely not out of line. I’m going to ... .” I mimed ripping an invisible head off someone I violently disliked, earning a genuine chuckle from Sheila. “I’m sorry. I just can’t believe I fell for it. I knew she was being far too helpful.”
“It doesn’t surprise me that Margaret tried to damage my reputation. That’s who she is. I am a little disappointed that you believed it, but ... well ... I guess that’s on me.”
“No, it’s not on you.” I felt like a complete ninny. “I voiced disbelief when she told me. It was my initial reaction. But she was very convincing.”
“Yes, well ... she’s a piece of work,” Sheila said. “Was Adam really murdered?”
“Unfortunately, yes. It’s also come to my attention that there’s a possibility he was stepping out on Lorna. I was trying to ascertain who with and keep it under the radar to cause as little strife as possible, but apparently I went about it in the wrong manner.”
“I would definitely say so. The thing is ... I know who Adam was with.”
I wasn’t expecting that. “Are you serious?”
She nodded. “I don’t like idle gossip, you understand, but a lot of people have been talking about it. Adam was a regular parishioner here ... as is Lorna.”
“I know. Can you tell me who it was?”
“I would rather not.”
I decided to change tactics. “I need to know. It would be better if you told me. If Chief Terry and Landon have to come calling, things will get worse. If there’s a chance I can talk to this woman before them ... well ... it might be easier coming from me.”
She cocked her head to the side, considering. Finally, she offered me a slow nod. “That actually makes sense. I would prefer the information not be tracked back to me if you can help it.”
“Sure. You’re not Mrs. Little. I never divulge a source ... unless that source happens to be evil. You don’t fit that bill.”
She chuckled. “That’s good to know. It’s Lisa Newman.”
I was taken aback. Lisa was a local seamstress. A lovely person, she made costumes for all our festivals. Two years ago, her husband had fallen ill and died a few days later. I couldn’t even remember what he died from. It was sudden, though, and Lisa was an absolute wreck for months.
“Are you sure?” I felt mildly sick to my stomach.
She nodded. “I know what you’re thinking. Her husband Barry was best friends with Adam. My understanding is the relationship grew out of their mutual grief.”
In my mind, that didn’t make it better. “Do you know how long it’s been going on?”
“No, but I’m pretty sure it’s been more than six months.”
Well, great. “Okay. Thanks for letting me know.” I slowly got to my feet. “As for Mrs. Little, don’t worry about her. I’ll handle it.”
“And how will you do that?”
“Send Aunt Tillie after her. She’s always looking for a reason to torture her.”
Sheila laughed so hard I thought she might cry. When she finished, she simply nodded. “If there was ever an apt punishment, it would be that.”
I couldn’t agree more.
IT DIDN’T TAKE LONG TO find Aunt Tillie. She was zipping around the downtown area on her scooter, casting scathing looks in Hazel’s direction. For her part, the top witch of the gathering was doing a remarkable job of ignoring Tillie’s antics. It was a master class on how to derange Aunt Tillie. I would
’ve applauded her under different circumstances.
“Aunt Tillie ... .” I tried to get her attention as she zoomed past me, but she didn’t as much as glance over her shoulder.
When she did it twice more, I outright glared ... and then grabbed her by the back of the shirt when she tried to fly past me a fourth time. She lost contact with the scooter during the process and it smacked into a garbage receptacle, causing her to howl in fury.
“What are you thinking? Are you trying to kill me? I swear, Bay, it’s as if you want me out of your life.”
I didn’t bother hiding my eye roll. “Cut the drama.” I released her shirt so I could retrieve the scooter. “I need to talk to you.”
“Oh, like I’m going to talk to the person trying to murder me. By the way, you’re on my list. Be thankful that someone else has the top spot reserved because otherwise, whoa baby, you would be crying.”
I was thankful for that. I knew I wouldn’t last long on her list, though, because I was about to give her a big prize. “I have a mission for you.”
Her glare was withering. “Oh, now you want me to be your errand girl. Won’t happen. Besides, I have other things going on.”
“It’s about Mrs. Little.”
No matter how focused Aunt Tillie was on Hazel, Mrs. Little was her true nemesis. Nothing would stop her from torturing her if the opportunity arose. “I’m listening.”
I told her about what happened with Sheila, leaving nothing out and embellishing just a little so Sheila looked particularly pathetic in the scenario. Aunt Tillie hated it when good people were trampled upon.
“I think you should split your focus,” I offered. “Mrs. Little needs a good lesson.”
“She does.” Aunt Tillie looked thoughtful as she switched her attention to the Unicorn Emporium. “Why do you think she went after Sheila that way?”
“Sheila said it’s because there’s some sort of competition to see who gets to deliver the sermon next Sunday. Pastor Mark is going to be out of town and it’s apparently a big deal.”
Wicked Witches of the Midwest Mystery Box Set Page 66
