by Kelly Ethan
Chief Braun slouched a little and dropped his arms. “Fine, but we still need to interview your aunt, Xandie. If you see her, please ask her to come in for a talk.” Zach scowled. “Now, please leave my crime scene alone and deal with that evil pug of Elspeth’s.”
As much leeway from Zachy ‘bear’ Braun as she was likely to get. Xandie straightened and wiped a hand on her jeans. She needed to find Colin, anyway. Who knew what Elspeth and Winifred had planned for today? And she needed to make sure Hannah was okay after her weird fox attack. The library might even have some information for her. Plus, she needed to find that missing diary. “Well, I guess I'll leave this murder in your capable hands. Aggie.” Ignoring Zach, Xandie air kissed Aggie goodbye. As she moved away Zach grumped to his mother about how no one respected his title.
Xandie snickered. When one had a mother as capable and hard-working as Agatha Braun, it must be hard to measure up.
“Xandie, thank God. We heard you found another body.” Lila grabbed Xandie and spun her around in a bear hug. “See, I told you all we needed was another body to prove mom's innocence.”
“Only if the evidence works in Aunt Amelia's favor. Aggie’s on the Harrows’ side and that's half the battle.” Xandie glanced around, but chaos and mayhem were currently on the down low. No Colin or Elspeth hanging around could be bad or good.
“Calm, Meyers. The agility stage is still on, but later in the afternoon. Between the vomiting yesterday and the murder today, they want to get the show done before anyone else dies. Agility today and last stage, talent, tomorrow. Then the announcement of the overall winner not long after. Colin and the purple angora rabbit are equal so far.” Lila slapped Xandie on the back. “Almost done and then you can wash your hands of Colin, preferably with disinfectant.”
Xandie grimaced, but followed Lila out of the car park. “Only if I win. If I lose, I'll be hearing about it for a very long time.”
“Only until Elspeth dies.”
“She hexes people and snorts evil energy like a drug. How long do you think she’ll last for?”
Lila unlocked the bakery van. “Excellent point. You better win.”
Win the contest with a witch tampered pug and find out who was killing contestants before her aunt ended up in jail or until Xandie and Colin became the next casualties.
Piece of cake…
Ten
“Another body to add to your list. What a surprise.” Theo rolled his eyes as he batted Horatio, his pet imp, around the floor with both front paws, claws retracted - this time.
“Not my fault. I'm not the killer.” Xandie had bolted inhaled some food and was now cleaning and shelving in the library before she headed back to the competition.
“You’re a body magnet. Anyone would think you were the Banshee obsessed with death, not your cousin.”
“Holly isn’t obsessed, it's her job.” Xandie shelved two possessed scrolls that had chased the imp around the room earlier.
“You say tomato...” Theo snickered and dropped Horatio, instead stretching out flat on the floor. “You could show some love.”
Xandie wrinkled her nose. “One, you're not touchy-feely and prefer to be worshipped from afar. Two, I know you used to be an ancient Greek teenager. That's kind of off-putting.”
“Fine.” Theo sat upright. “But you better not leave me for that barking, four-legged monstrosity.”
“Ha.” Xandie snapped her fingers. “I knew it was pug jealousy.”
Theo tilted his nose up in the air. “There's no such thing as pug jealousy. But if there was, it would be reasonable, since you're spending all your time with him.”
Finally, some librarian love from her snarky talking feline. Xandie crouched down and rubbed behind Theo's ears, dodging the paw he jabbed at her defenseless forehead. “Not leaving you, feline. Just undercover. I swear Colin’s hygiene habits have nothing on yours.”
“Well, for the library's well-being, I think that's a smart idea.”
Xandie straightened. Speaking of the library. “Library. What do you know of fox shifters?”
A fiery red book with black lettering flew across the room to drop with a bang at Xandie's feet. “Thanks library.” Xandie blew it a kiss and flicked through the book. “Family lines and hierarchy of Kitsune migration,” Xandie read aloud.
“In answer to your silent question. Kitsune are Japanese fox shifters. Each clan has different characteristics and coloring.”
“Did you eat a dictionary on fantastical creatures? Or have you been lurking on Witchpedia?”
“I keep telling you, just because any old witch can change or add to the information doesn't make it any less reliable.”
“Your addiction to the Witchweb discombobulates me.”
“Now who swallowed a dictionary?” Theo sneered at Xandie.
Xandie ignored her petulant cat and ran through the contents page, detailing the different clans. One name snagged her attention. Shan. Wasn't that the name of the businessman Malachi Mede had been having a secretive meeting with?
Xandie flipped to the Shan clan chapter and read out loud.
“The Shan Kitsune clan has origins dating back to the twelfth century when the clan settled in the mountainous regions of northern Japan. Kitsune’s are intelligent beings, with different clans possessing unique abilities. All Kitsune possess the ability to shift between human and fox form. The Shan clan Kitsune form is that of a red fox, with a white-tipped tail, yellow eyes and a narrow face. They do not resemble nine-tailed Kitsune as depicted within Japanese and Chinese mythology. The Shan clans’ gifts are intelligence, long lives, financial acumen and they are gifted with finances and making money. The Shans’ are known for their shrewd wisdom in the property market. They own the Shan Resort Group, which is a resort chain catering to only supernatural customers. They are amongst the top five wealthy Kitsune clans.”
Xandie pondered the fox shifter. Why would Mr. Shan attack Hannah? Shan was in the resort business. Was he here to convince the Mede’s to sell Point Muse Resort Springs?
“I know your furry book must be riveting, but you've got a body on the doorstep.”
“What?” Xandie jumped up and raced to the front door, peering out.
“This one’s alive and kicking at the moment, but I thought the word body added drama and impact. Plus, your wobbly butt got moving twice as quick.” Theo snickered and galloped upstairs with Horatio hanging off his leather saddle on Theo's back like a cowboy.
Some days she could throttle her talking cat, but who knew who the library would saddle her with next. Xandie peered through her front window at the immaculately dressed Mr. Shan, resort owner and fox shifter. Her number one suspect.
“You aren’t stepping inside my house, mister.” Xandie mumbled beneath her breath before grabbing her bag and stepping out, locking the front door behind her. Elspeth had given her an immobilizer hex ages ago. If Shan got out of hand, she'd hit him with it and run for help. Xandie acted surprised to see the shifter on her doorstep. “Why, Mr. Shan? What a surprise? Can I help you?”
The Japanese Kitsune bowed a greeting. “Not much of a surprise, considering you’re probably already executing library research on my family name.”
Xandie spotted a small slice on his cheek. “I notice you have a cut on your face? Hope nothing serious happened?” Xandie grinned with all of her teeth on show. First salvo to her.
Shan dropped his head back and guffawed, his polite officious image shattered. Recovering, he nodded. “Nothing serious, but kudos on your aim, Ms. Meyers. I was impressed and I'm sure your actions relieved Mrs. Mede.”
“Why bother to menace and intimidate her?”
“The Medes, or at least Malachi, is a friend of mine. I was helping him.”
“You’re beating around the bush. Cough it up. Why did you hurt Hannah?”
Shan looked affronted at Xandie. “I had no intention of hurting anyone. Sometimes the hunt can get out of hand. And Mrs. Mede was exerting too much prey response for a pr
edator not to have a nibble.”
“I'm sure Mede doesn't want you chewing on his wife.”
“No. That wasn't the plan.” Shan flicked imaginary lint off his jacket. “Mrs. Mede has expensive taste and sometimes people can get themselves into trouble when owing a debt to unsavory characters. I was shadowing her for her protection. But the incident got out of hand. I wanted to let you know so you could reassure Mrs. Mede that I mean no harm.” He smiled a blinding white teeth grin.
And there was the charm offensive. Did he think she was stupid enough to fall for it? Or his lame explanation?
He produced a business card with a number on it. “If you need to ask me any more questions. Any question. Please ring.” Nodding, he wandered off toward an expensive silver car. He waved as he slipped into the car.
Wow, he thought she was susceptible to his charms. Xandie pocketed the card and pondered her next move. Colin’s agility stage was next on the pet show agenda, but after that she needed to speak to Hannah about her finances.
A detective's job was never-ending.
Xandie wiped her sweaty palms against her jeans. Nerves were getting to her. She couldn't see Elspeth in disguise or out in the crowd anywhere. But the back of her neck burned, so she knew her grandmother was there somewhere, watching. At least she hoped it was Elspeth. ASP agents were still hanging around, but she hadn’t spotted the black SUV again.
The judges, including the newly press-ganged Dorothy Johnson, octogenarian witch hairdresser, lined up at the agility ring, whispering.
The host, Alex Pennywort, conferred with the three judges, then stepped up. He performed his weird finger exercises again and his voice boomed over the crowd. “Welcome again, to the agility section of our competition. This is the second last stage, and we have had a recent addition of judge Dorothy Johnson to replace the late Velma Mystic, may she rest in peace.” Alex bowed his head for a split second in a sort of respectful way but then clapped his hands to get started. “The judges in this round scrutinize the animal competitors on their ability to navigate various obstacles, both magical and non-magical, without handler interference.”
The course looked easy enough. A tunnel, a dog walk, a jump, a teeter-totter and a tire jump. The magical obstacles included an aerial ring that hovered in the air for those who could fly, and for ground animals a cloud of pixie dust contained near the ground. A small cloud of sparkling glitter particles. The other side had weave poles, a pose table, and a collapsed tunnel. Magic wise, a wind jump hovered ten inches above the ground and bobbed up and down.
A puddle of fluorescent yellow magic sand, the final magical obstacle. The more magic the animal used, the quicker you sank.
Winifred had explained the rules, each refusal or dropped bar resulted in a time fault, totaled at the end of the course. Judges awarded points, taking into account all faults. Fewer faults meant more points and would equal a winning place.
Other competitors had placed small ornate canopies or awnings over the side of the agility ring for shade. A lot of them had sponsor names emblazoned in glitter across the top.
“You sure you've got this?” Xandie asked Colin. Again. “The course looks complicated.”
“Please. I could run this course blindfolded,” he panted, raring to go.
Alex Pennywort cleared his throat. “Let's get to it. First competitor up to the starting area, please.” Alex swept his hand over a taped off area.
The purple angora bunny limped to the starting point. Lulu kneeled down and patted the rabbit on her fluffy head before backing away. A low tone beep indicated the start. The bunny bounced off at a ferocious pace. Whatever anxiety the bunny had been experiencing over the last few days had evaporated. Xandie couldn’t believe the change; maybe the bunny had turbo thrusters under that cute purple tail?
The rabbit made it through the first four mundane obstacles, no sweat, but paused for a few seconds at the magical obstacle before charging into the purple pixie dust. The little animal thumped at it with big back paws until the dust disappeared. And then hopped around to the other side of the ring, barely pausing at the non-magical obstacles until it reached the winged jump. Taking a bunny run up, Princess threw herself at the jump. But having no?? wings, the jump fluttered out of the rabbit’s reach and the animal hit the ground with a slam.
“I told you so. The bunny’s cooked,” Colin crowed to Xandie.
“Don't count your angora yet. Check it out.” Xandie pointed to the rabbit.
The bunny adjusted his stride and took the jump again, nailing it this time. Without slowing down, the bunny reached the final magical obstacle, the yellow sand. The rabbit launched itself up into the air and cleared the sand with inches to spare. Lulu and the purple angora received a tumultuous standing ovation.
Colin sniffed. “Wait until they see a real performer.”
“Well, settle back. We’re the last to compete. Four more animals ahead of us.”
The host spoke to the judges for a moment as he consulted his papers. “Apologies competitors and onlookers, but we have last-minute scratching’s. There will only be four competitors in total for the agility section.”
“Better odds anyway.”
Colin, always the optimist. “Right, that means you’re next now. You got this pug. Good luck.”
“No need for luck, toots.” Colin sauntered up to the start, then yawned, bone cracking wide. At the start tone, the pug confidently trotted out onto the course. He ambled through the tunnel, but amped up his speed as he came through the other side. His little brown legs pedaling fast. Onto the dog walk and Colin balanced like a gymnast as he crossed. But as he approached the teeter-totter, his confidence wavered. He crept on, but froze as the obstacle shifted forward and back.
“Come on, Colin. Come on.” Winifred squealed from behind the edge of the ring.
Colin jerked as he heard her and swayed precariously on the obstacle, back legs scrabbling for balance. The crowd gasped as Colin forced one leg in front of other until he cleared the other side.
Xandie crossed her fingers for luck. Colin had incurred a time penalty for wavering at the teeter-totter. He needed to nail the other obstacles to be in the running for first place.
Colin sped up, sailed through the tire jump, ignoring the magical jump he powered into the cloud of purple pixie dust. Where he stayed. The only part of Colin now visible was his drooping brown tail.
She covered her eyes. After Colin’s reaction to Elspeth’s potion that included pixie dust, she dreaded to think what the poor pug would look like on the other side of the dust cloud.
First one paw, then another, appeared. Colin dragged himself out of the cloud, covered in nasty, glittering, purple patches. The pug picked up his pace and moved through the other side of the course, speeding until he hit the magical sand.
Xandie crossed her fingers behind her back as the crowd fell silent.
Colin backed away from the sand, carving a run up. He took a deep breath and galloped as much as his gravity-heavy body would allow, then leaped. The pug sailed over the sand, his legs pedaling like he was riding a bike in the air.
Colin was going to make it. Xandie couldn't believe the pug got air. At least for a little while.
Then he dropped like a rock at the edge of the sand, paws scrabbling for solid ground. He slid back into the sand and let out a defeated groan as he disappeared.
Xandie slapped a hand over her mouth and darted toward the judges. Ready to demand a rescue, but with a belching pop the pug dragged himself out of the sand and collapsed on the ground, panting.
“Come on, Colin. Bring it home for the Harrows.” Elspeth’s pathetically disguised voice boomed over the spectators. With a shake, he pushed himself up and trotted across the finish line and collapsed again.
Xandie bolted for her grandmother’s mouthy pet. No matter how annoying the dog was, that course had exhausted the poor thing. Xandie crouched next to the exhausted pug. “You okay, Colin?”
He cracked open an eye an
d then let it fall closed. “Nailed it.”
Xandie picked Colin up and then held him away from her body. “Phew. That sand stinks when mixed with pixie dust and eau du pug.”
Winifred rushed up. “Brave Colin. A warrior’s heart.” She snatched the pug off Xandie and cuddled him to her chest regardless of the mess.
Colin let out a deep sigh and sagged against Winifred. “Bacon?” He let out a weak, pitiful groan.
“Whatever you need, Colin the magnificent.”
Xandie rolled her eyes. The pug was working her aunt big-time.
Alex Pennywort conferred with the judges, then stepped forward. “The judges have conferred and we have a clear winner. The judges award first place to Lulu Moon and her sparkle angora rabbit for winning the agility phase. Congratulations and commiserations for those who haven't placed. We’ve scheduled the talent section for tomorrow morning, with final judging in the afternoon.” Pennywort bowed to the crowd before shuffling back to the judges.
“No.” Elspeth jumped the ring, flinging her disguise hat to the ground. “They robbed us; our win stolen. Didn't you see his masterful performance on the field?” Elspeth eyes glowed amber.
Wolf shifters closed in on Elspeth. Hulking men in tight black security shirts would normally have Elspeth pinching up a storm, but at the moment, the stolen victory consumed the Harrow grandmother.
Elspeth spun around; hands outstretched. “You'll never take me alive, suckers.” She smashed a small balloon on the ground. Red smoke wreathed her in small circles and grew thicker and thicker until it completely obscured her corner of the competing ring.
The shifters threw themselves at the smoke and disappeared from view. Until a wolf body flew out and landed smack bang in the magic sand. Three other wolves bounded out of the smoke haze, yelping and swiping at their furry noses.
Winifred, holding the pug, backed away. “Since I've got Colin, I'm afraid you’re on crazy Harrow duty.”
