Collards & Cauldrons

by Bella Falls

  I reached out to touch my grandmother, no longer able to hold back my own heartbreak. Hearing similar words of wisdom and love being exchanged made me regret my ability to solve the mystery at all.

  A door in the back of the room slammed open. “My sister didn’t do it. I did.”

  Wiping the tears from my eyes with the back of my hand, I watched Molly cross the span of the room on her short legs. The other brownie slowed to a stop as she stood next to Meg and Peyton.

  “Non ho capito. Now there are two confessions?” questioned Agent Giacinta.

  Molly stood with her arms crossed. “No. Only mine. I did it. I killed Priscilla, and that’s the final word. You can arrest me and take me away, but my sister stays.”

  Nana and I exchanged glances, unsure of what to do and glad we didn’t have to make the final decision. “If you committed the murder, then tell us how you did it,” I insisted.

  “While Priscilla and Peyton were arguing in the ballroom upstairs, I brought them both glasses of champagne. I had slipped a lethal dose of belladonna into the one Priscilla took.” Molly hardly blinked as she explained the act that killed a person.

  I conferred with Nana. “Does that match Priscilla’s death?”

  “Belladonna,” my grandmother repeated. “Also called Deadly Nightshade. In small doses, it can be medicinal, but it doesn’t take much to kill a person. And it can burn the throat, cause hallucinations, flushed skin, and can constrict airways. Yes, it’s definitely possible that’s how Priscilla died.”

  “It’s how it was done,” Molly insisted. “I killed her because of her horrible treatment of people like me and her hold on my sister.”

  “I didn’t stay because of the mother,” Meg protested, unhappy at the turn of events.

  The left side of Molly’s lips curled up in a sad grin. “I know that now.” She cleared her throat. “So, you’ll be arresting me and not my sister.”

  Agent Giacinta flapped her wings in agitation. “This is most irregular. I have ways of forcing the truth, but I am torn as to what to do in this situation.”

  Chief Huxley snorted. “I say arrest them both. Throw their tiny behinds in jail where they can rot for the rest of their lives.”

  “Which is why you have been relieved of your position, sir,” the fairy agent retorted. “If you refuse to do your job to the letter, then you force others to step in until a suitable replacement can be found. But for the moment, I wish to confer with Deputy Inspector Pine.”

  She sent an agent to retrieve him from handling the deaths of the two pixies on the floor below us. While we waited, Nana held the chief in her intimidating glare.

  “What? What do you want?” he grunted.

  “I think you have something that doesn’t belong to you.” My grandmother pointed at his pocket.

  He rummaged around and pulled out the item. “Oh, yeah.” The chief held the ring up, the emerald flashing bright green.

  “The Ravenel ring!” Peyton exclaimed. “Where did you find it?”

  Nana looked to Agent Giacinta as she threw out her accusation. “I believe the chief planted it in my room for me to find so that he could use it to justify arresting me.”

  “I did not put it in your room,” the corrupt head warden claimed. “I did, however, respond to a call that suggested we search you for the ring.”

  Nana’s eyebrows raised high on her forehead. “And that didn’t sound suspicious? Like somebody was trying to set me up? Or did you just accept it because it fit your plan.”

  He sneered. “Doesn’t matter now, does it?”

  Deputy Inspector Pine arrived, surveying all of us with subjective scrutiny. “What have I missed?”

  “They think they have the authority to remove me from my position. Tell this fairy she can’t do that, Pine,” the chief demanded.

  “I can’t do that, Huxley.” The deputy inspector shook his head and pursed his lips, sending an unspoken message that quieted the chief. He turned to listen to Agent Giacinta, getting caught up on the two confessions.

  “Is it me, or does the WOW inspector seem a bit too friendly with the corrupt chief?” I asked Nana.

  “That might be something to remember to check out later,” my grandmother agreed. “For now, I think they’re coming up with a decision.”

  We watched the two brownie sisters hug each other. Molly whispered something in Meg’s ear that made the shorter one crumple into her. The two comforted each other and waited to be told the decision.

  Agent Giacinta addressed the two. “I would like to state for the record that I do not believe that the differing confessions were given in order to confound or obstruct justice. I would ask both of you to confirm that you are offering to accept your culpability in the murder of Priscilla Ravenel Legare.”

  “I do confess as her killer,” stated Molly.

  “And you?” The fairy agent turned her attention to the shorter of the brownies. “Do you confess to the murder as well?”

  “I do not,” Meg protested. “I wish to clarify my false confession.”

  Gasps and murmurs of surprise echoed throughout the room. I watched Molly as her sister changed her story.

  Meg held onto Peyton with one hand and her sister with the other. “I wrongfully confessed because I suspected this beloved child to have committed the crime. I know it was wrong, but I couldn’t bear for her to be taken away and found guilty of killing her mother when I could have saved her all along. I am sorry to find that my sister was the one to poison Priscilla, but I cannot lie any longer.”

  Meg’s eyes darted to check with her sister, and I observed a shared intimate silent message sent between the two. Molly squeezed her sister’s hand and let go. “There you have it. I’m the killer and Meg here stays with Peyton. That’s the end of it.”

  Agent Giacinta sighed. “Then I believe we have a resolution to the murder, although I do not feel as if justice is truly being served.” She directed her agents to collect Molly but held them back to allow the sisters to say goodbye to each other.

  “Why do I get the feeling that the wrong person is going to be arrested?” I spoke out loud.

  “I can’t blame the poor brownie. Sometimes, we’ll go to great lengths for our family. There isn’t much I wouldn’t do to protect you or your brother.” Nana bumped my arm with hers. “And I know how much you’ve done for me here. Thank you, Birdy.”

  I caught the chief trying to sneak out while the agents were distracted. “We’re not done quite yet,” I said, pointing him out to the fairy.

  An agent blocked the chief’s path to freedom, and he shambled back to his seat, refusing to sit down and staring at me.

  “What do you mean?” Nana asked. “We’ve managed to break the spell that oppressed a considerable population of fae in this city and solved a murder. What else is left?”

  Mason entered the room, dragging Abigail with him. My cousin caught sight of me and tried to run, but the detective held onto her tighter. Bringing her closer to us, he insisted she sit down in a chair behind my friends.

  “If the chief didn’t plant the ring, then who did?” I asked, glaring at my cousin.

  The conundrum I faced frustrated me. I both wanted to know Abigail’s involvement and didn’t at the same time. But my instincts told me I couldn’t leave parts of the web tangled and be satisfied. Even if it changed everything, I needed to know the truth about my family by blood.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  After the agents cleared out most of the room, I beckoned Mason to bring Abigail forward to join me.

  My cousin held up her hands. “Charli, I swear—”

  “Don’t,” I stopped her. “The only thing I want to hear out of you right now is answers. Did you plant the ring in my grandmother’s room?”

  She shook her head. “No. That wasn’t me. I really did want to help you find the ring, but when I realized where it must be, I couldn’t go through with it.”

  “With what? Helping me? Or something else?” I pushed.
>
  Abigail’s face fell. “Please don’t ask me any more questions.”

  Nana walked over to her. “I’ve been more than patient with you. Didn’t address the fact that I couldn’t find any records of an Abigail Wilson anywhere, which tells me either you appeared out of thin air or you’re lying. Based on your behavior, I’m choosing the latter.”

  Matt stepped up to join her, blocking my view of my supposed cousin. “Are you even related? Or was that lie supposed to get you close to Charli?”

  “I swear, we’re related. I knew it the second I saw her,” she called out.

  I placed my hands on my brother and grandmother and moved them out of the way. “I saw it, too. But maybe I imagined we looked a little alike. When did you first become aware of me?”

  Abigail stood a little straighter. “That part I told you about. Our family got word about someone with tracking powers using them and solving mysteries in your town. I can’t say a whole lot, but my first time seeing you was during the weekend of the barbecue event. I was too scared to talk to you in person, so I left you the note instead.”

  “Why can’t you say more?” Nana pushed. “What’s stopping you?”

  “Is it your parents? Siblings? I’ve been thinking about the few times you’ve slipped up, Abigail, and there’s something you’re not saying about our family,” I accused. “What is it about them that has you so scared?”

  Her eyes darted about her, and she shrunk into herself. “Please. If I fail them even more, you have no idea the consequences I’ll face.”

  Matt took pity on her. “If you do tell us, maybe we’ll be able to help. But if you keep lying to us, then there’s nothing we can do for you.”

  “Who were you talking to in your room? I know I heard a male voice coming from inside, and you tried to cover that up. Who was it?” I insisted.

  Abigail gasped. “If I tell you, he’ll tell Grandmama.”

  “Well, this grandmother may make sure you don’t ever make it out of this town if you don’t answer Charli’s question,” Nana threatened. When she got to the point where she played dirty, I knew trouble had arrived with a capital T.

  “Since phones weren’t working during the time we were here, I used the mirror to communicate with a family representative,” Abigail explained. “He told me I had failed to collect evidence and that he would be employing his back-up plan.”

  “You mean, the ring? If you were trying to find it, too, then why did you stop using your magic with me?” My frustration grew with her cryptic answers.

  “No. The use of the ring had two purposes. One, seeing what putting your grandmother under deeper threat would do to you and your magic. And two, using the quest for the ring to test your abilities.” My cousin swayed on her feet, overwhelmed by the truth. “I never wanted to hurt you, Charli. Not after I got to know you. But you can’t refuse the family.”

  “You keep saying that word as if it’s a weapon or something being held against you,” Matt observed. “Or as if it’s some sort of illegal organization.”

  Abigail scoffed. “They hire many people to make sure whatever they do is never found illegal.” Realizing she’d said too much, she threw her hand over her mouth.

  I kept thinking back to the night of the murder. Although it had just happened, it seemed so long ago after all we’d gone through. “I remember that night you saw something that surprised you.”

  “I’ve never seen a person die before,” she admitted.

  “No, I know what shock over death looks like. That wasn’t it. You recognized someone you didn’t expect to see. Who else was there?” I tried to picture everyone on the balcony.

  “A family representative.” Abigail ran her hand down her face. “Oh, what’s the use in protecting them any longer. When they come to fetch me, I’ll be in trouble anyway. What you saw was my reaction to seeing my cousin Ethan as part of the crowd around the body. He’s also who was talking to me through the mirror. He was supposed to be in the hotel with us, but he got locked out when they enacted the ward.”

  I tried picturing all of the men I’d seen that night and couldn’t come up with an image. “Why was he here?”

  “To observe my interaction with you and to make sure we tested your magic.” Abigail spoke without restraint, a little manic from her decision to risk everything. “It’s one thing to hear the stories. He was supposed to report back as to how strong you actually were. When I told him you no longer possessed your powers, I was actually glad you wouldn’t be of use to them.”

  “What if I did get them back? Like when you and I worked together. Did you tell Ethan my magic worked a little?” I tried not to scream in agitation.

  When would my tracking powers ever stop being a minefield for me to navigate? Perhaps Abigail had the right idea. Not having them might be a better alternative than having to live with threats because I possessed the special talents.

  My cousin shook her head. “I didn’t tell him anything at all. As far as he or any of the rest of the family knows, you lost your abilities due to a misfired spell. As long as I stick to that story, you should be safe.”

  “For now,” pushed Matt. “But will they be watching her the rest of her life?”

  Her face fell again. “I don’t know, but they won’t send me again. I probably should say goodbye to you now because it’s very unlikely we’ll meet after today.”

  Anger, confusion, and longing mixed together until I didn’t know which way was up. Pulling a chair closer to me, I plopped down into it. My friends tried to console me, but I pushed them all away. Nana spoke to them quietly while Matt kept a hand on my shoulder, allowing me to stew.

  “I have a question,” Nana raised her hand. “Who put the ring in my room if your cousin Ethan was locked out? There’s another missing piece to the puzzle.”

  Abigail’s brow furrowed. “I’m actually not sure who did it. It wasn’t me and it wasn’t him.”

  “I know who it was,” David stated, joining us. He escorted the very unhappy pink-haired half-fairy I’d met on the roof. “Rayna has something to tell you.”

  “No, I don’t have anything to say to these witches.” She spat on the floor.

  David pushed her forward and pointed at her. “She’s the one who put the ring in the room. And I think she killed Flit and Fleet.”

  My brother let go of my shoulder and adopted his warden authority in his voice. “Is this true?”

  “I don’t have to tell any of you anything. The money I was paid bought my silence,” she crowed. “He promised if I got into trouble, I was to call him, and he would come.”

  “Was it Ethan who promised you that?” Abigail sneered. “Good luck getting him to follow through on a promise like that. Ethan looks out for Ethan.”

  “That’s not true, cousin,” a deep male voice called out from the back of the room. “Your words cut me to my core.”

  Ethan wore an impeccably tailored dark gray suit. He approached us while taking off the designer sunglasses he kept on while inside. When he stopped next to Abigail, she cringed away from him and he smiled with smug satisfaction at her reaction.

  Reaching in his breast pocket, he pulled out a card. “Ethan Wilson, head advocate and legal advisor.”

  “See?” Rayna smirked. “I told you he would come to get me out of trouble.”

  The new cousin barely considered the half-fairy. “I’m sorry, but I’m not sure I know who you are. Have we met before?”

  Rayna’s face dropped. “But you paid me to hide the ring. Gave me instructions on how to put it in the mirror.”

  Ethan considered the accusation. “No, I’m not sure what you’re talking about. And if you were paid any money, I guarantee there would be no way to connect me or any of my family to it.” He chewed on the end of his sunglasses. “And as for you killing two others, well, my office doesn’t directly represent murderers.”

  “Ha!” The noise gushed out of Abigail, and she covered her mouth again.

  Rayna panicked. “I on
ly killed Flit and Fleet because they were going to ruin everything. You wanted that old woman there to be arrested. You told me so. If those two pixies talked to a warden, everything I’ve worked to gain would be over.”

  Agent Giacinta hovered closer after she’d returned to the room. She nodded at the agent with her, and he came to collect the half-fairy. Rayna’s undersized wings flapped in frustration as she struggled to get away. Pity for another victim of the treatment of the fae in this city flashed for a moment until I remembered the lifeless bodies of the pixies. Needless deaths for needless reasons.

  “As for you, cousin, I’m truly disappointed. Grandmama wants me to bring you to her ASAP. So, run along and get your things,” Ethan commanded.

  “Which cousin?” I challenged. “It seems to me if you’re a cousin of Abigail’s, then you and I must be related as well.” I stuck my hand out to shake his.

  He eyed it with a bit of disgust. “No, I don’t believe we will be claiming you after all. Everyone in my family has a particular talent that we share. According to Abigail, the rumors surrounding your so-called abilities were just that. Rumors.”

  I clenched my fingers into a fist, wondering how many bones I would break if I punched him in the face. Then again, I wouldn’t want to leave that as my final impression for the family.

  “Well, in my family, we don’t require anything of anybody except to care for and look out for one another,” I stated.

  “And where has that gotten you? Stuck in a small Southern town with very little to your name whereas I am part of one of the richest witch dynasties,” Ethan boasted, taking out his handkerchief to clean a spot on his sunglasses. “Too bad you’re not going to be a part of it.”

  “My family is mine even though I don’t share their DNA. In fact, I consider myself pretty rich in comparison. After all, I get to choose my family.” I glanced around at my grandmother, my brother, and my friends. “A family made from love is stronger than blood anytime. That’s something you can choose to learn, Abs.”

  My cousin perked up at my nickname for her, but Ethan snapped his fingers. “Abs. How quaint. Well, Abs will be bound by her promises to us and will return to the fold as she is told to do.”