by Kelly Ethan
Xandie tapped the bug and a small glowing amber light illuminated the old-fashioned brass lock she was attempting to pick. “Surely a flashlight would have been easier?”
Amelia shrugged. “Where's the devious Harrow details in that? This way it looks like a kid’s gadget if we get caught. Instead of a conspicuous and suspicious flashlight.” Amelia peered at the lock. “Are you sure you know how to pick it?”
“The library found me a book on how to pick a cursed lock. I’m hoping the mechanics are the same for a normal one.”
“Hoping. Great.” Amelia sat, her back against the door.
“Unless you have a skeleton key or a spell to open it, this is the only idea I've got to get into Mede's office.” Xandie had cut a piece of wire from one of her coat hangers. She bent it into a lock picking shape by creating a ninety-degree angle at one end. “I'm doing everything the book said to do, except getting it blessed by a holy man. I'm hoping it will get us into Mede’s office.” Xandie slipped the wire into the keyhole. She pushed a little further until the wire hit something, taking a deep breath she twisted.
Supposedly if she felt the lock bolt move, she was successful. No movement. Xandie removed the wire from the lock and wiped her hands on her black jeans. This was harder than the book had made it seem. She tried again, but no matter what Xandie did, nothing worked. No movement, no click, no open door. Xandie sat back on her heels and growled.
“This might work.” A white hand-carved key dangled in front of Xandie.
Xandie grabbed the key; it might fit the lock. She squinted from the key up to the person who dangled it in front of her. Her grandmother, Elspeth, wearing long, black pants, a long-sleeved black shirt and a dark scarf wound around her head. She even had black camouflage paint on her face. Xandie groaned. “Why am I not surprised you had a key? And why are you dressed like an elderly ninja?”
Elspeth sniffed. “First off, I am ashamed any granddaughter of mine couldn't invite me to a break and enter. Second, these are my felony clothing and third your Aunt Amelia squealed like a hexed rat.”
“Is there no secrecy between Harrows?” Xandie whined. She stared at the key; someone had carved white striations out of the material. Rounded at one end and curved at the other, the key had a skinny shaft connecting the two ends. “How’d you get a key to Mede’s office?”
Elspeth smirked. “I didn't. I made this one and added a few spell touches to it.”
Xandie peered at it. Something about the spindly whitish gray key freaked her out. She couldn't quite work out what. “What is it? What’s it made out of?”
“It’s a skeleton key. Literally made from of human bone. Auntie Rose would have been delighted to know she was breaking and entering.”
Oh God. Elspeth had dug up a dead aunt and carved the key out of her bones. Xandie dropped the key onto the floor and gagged. Her grandmother was a grave robber. Oh, the shame.
Elspeth tsked and picked the key up. “Grow a Harrow spine, girl. My aunt Rose lost a finger to a troll. They sent it back with an apology, but by that time she’d grown another one with the help from a frogspawn potion. She gave this one to me to practice on.” Elspeth gave a shimmy and unlocked the door. “Technically it's called a bit and barrel key, but I prefer skeleton key.”
“Still not touching it.” Xandie pointed at Amelia as she crept into the room behind Elspeth. “Not finished with you either, Auntie. No one likes a rat.”
“When it comes to my mother, it’s every witch for herself.” Amelia rolled her eyes.
“Can we focus, children? Let's get to it. I don't need any more charges on my rap sheet. And I don't plan to get caught.” Elspeth headed for a cabinet and started leafing through the files.
Xandie mouthed rap sheet at Amelia, but she shook her head. Xandie cleared her throat. “We’re after financial papers relating to SPAFS, anything to do with Shan resort group or the Mede’s finances.”
“Hop to it, jailbait. This is your rodeo.” Elspeth toasted Xandie with a hip flask after deserting the filing cabinet.
“Give it up. Everyone in town knows that’s iced tea in there.”
“Is it, Xandie dear?” Elspeth drawled. “If everyone says so, it must be right.” She drank deep and coughed. She thumped her chest. “Yep, damn good iced tea. Carry on girlies, carry on.”
Ignoring her grandmother’s antics, Xandie peered around the office. Malachi Mede was the complete opposite of Lorelei LaRue, a neat freak instead of a slob. Everything was color coordinated and lined up like little stationary soldiers. Xandie peered at the desk, but didn't bother touching anything. Mede would know if anything was moved and there were no personal papers or bank finance statements littering the surface. Xandie tugged on the desk drawers, but they were all locked. “Would Aunt Rose’s finger work on desk drawers too?”
“No point. He might lock it, but no one worth an ounce of brains would leave secret goodies in their drawers.”
Not going there. Xandie wandered around the offices. Amelia flicked through filing cabinets and Elspeth chugged on her flask.
“Nothing here Xandie. Personal files, orders, schedules, nothing about finances.” Amelia made a face and slammed the file drawer shut before moving to another.
Xandie shook her head. The difference between the everyday human world and the supernatural Point Muse one was more than obvious in this office. No computer sitting on the desk. Technology didn’t work reliably when around supernaturals and ley lines.
“This is a bust. Let's skedaddle before the fuzz catches us.” Elspeth hid her hip flask away.
“Hang on.” Xandie spun around. Something about this room felt off. She ran her hand along a wall hung with pictures, paintings and decorated shelving. Xandie stopped in front of an arched built-in bookcase. “Now in those old detective novels you like, Elspeth, what's the bet this is a false bookcase with something behind it?”
Elspeth chortled. “I told you those books would come in handy. Push it. Xandie girl.”
“You’re both crazy. Trust me, Xandie, insanity is not the trait you want to take away from Harrow blood.”
“You know what Aunt Amelia? Can't hurt to try.” Xandie pressed against the shelves, but they refused to move. Undaunted, she ran her hands around the edge of the bookcase and over the shelves. Nestled right on the back edge of a shelf was a raised bump. Xandie pressed it down, and the bookcase swung back a few inches.
“I take back everything I said.” Amelia crowded behind Xandie with Elspeth following on their heels.
Xandie stepped inside the tiny room. It was tiny, enough room her aunt and grandmother could stand side-by-side. Lengthways it was a compact closet space that only went a meter back. Every available wall had a shelf fixed to it and was crammed with boxes. “Well, well. Organization gone mad.” Xandie peered in a box, but could barely see anything in the dark.
“This might help.” Elspeth grabbed a string hanging from the roof and tugged. A small bare globe flared to life, illuminating the room and filling the space with a buzzing, electrical sound.
“Okay, we're looking for anything to do with SPAFS, Mede’s finances and anything to do with the Shan resort properties. Go Harrows.” Xandie took the end of the shelves facing the door. Elspeth took one side and Amelia the other.
Thank God, Mede was anal and labeled everything. Each box had a title ranging from products to schedules. Xandie ran her finger along the shelves, but most of the boxes on the top few shelves were all about ordering supplies.
Xandie read the titles along the bottom shelf.
“I got financials.” Elspeth waved the bank statement in the air.
“And I have betting slips.” Amelia joined in.
“I have nada, zip zero.” Xandie sighed and lent her head against a shelf. She peered down at her feet. She needed to find that pet show contract, but so far nothing on the shelves were remotely close. As Xandie moved away from the shelves a wedge of creamy white paper stuck under a box caught her eye. Interesting, Mede was
organized to a demonic degree. So why loose papers? Xandie tugged the papers free and scanned it. Bingo. The Supernatural and Pet and Familiar Show contract. The first few pages talked about the event, laid out basic stages of the show, venue rental fees, services provided by the resort venue. Setting up of marquees, provision of shipping and minimum food and beverage needs. Requirements for the animals, grooming, rest, safety, direction of the competing rings and arenas for each stage was also listed.
Xandie skipped to the back of the contract, where a SPAFS appointed organizer had signed. Under Malachi Mede’s name was an addendum to the contract. The resort would charge a substantial fee if SPAFS were to cancel the event. A policy that activated if the event was canceled after the start date. One hundred percent refund of all fees and expenses incurred by the venue plus a penalty fee of fifty percent of the final stated venue cost.
“Wow, Mede stands to gain if they cancel the event.” And look who witnessed the contract? Naruto Shan.
“And the Mede family need the cash.” Elspeth tapped the paper she was holding with an iridescent painted talon. “Says here the company is running on fumes. A resort built in Point Muse was expensive because of the ley lines. They had to hire experts and shore up wards and foundations of the building to combat any ley line movement or surges. That energy work is highly specific and anyone who practices it charges through the nose.”
Amelia flashed her own pile of yellow slips. “Then there are these. Mostly from the same racetrack, the major racing track Lorelei gambled at. And all in Hannah Mede’s name.” Amelia shook her head. “She was quiet and hard-working when she worked for me. I can't believe she’s a racing corn addict?”
“Happens to the best of us. You should see High Priestess Lilith now. She’s living on the streets in Boston. Complete mess.” Elspeth nodded in agreement. “Besides, it's always the quiet ones.”
“What about Shan? Did we find anything on him?”
Both Elspeth and Amelia shook their heads.
“Slippery fox likes to keep his name out of things, I think.” Xandie put the papers back in the same place she found them and stood. “Right, put everything back. And be careful, Mede might notice if something’s out of place. Tomorrow I track Hannah down and asked her what's going on.”
The women replaced the papers and filed out. Xandie pushed the bookcase back into place and Elspeth locked the door with Rose's finger.
Hannah Mede was a gambling addict, and her resort had almost bankrupted what was left of the Mede fortune. Was Hannah engineering her own accidents to get SPAFS to cancel and pay them? Whatever was happening was a lot more complicated than a killer on a bloody eliminate-the-competition killing spree.
Why couldn’t life in Point Muse be a little more cadaver free?
Thirteen
“You need to tell the truth. We're trying to help.” Xandie reached out and grabbed Hannah's hand, giving it a squeeze. She’d lain awake for hours last night going over every tragic moment so far. Every aspect, every piece of information learned and gathered. Everything pointed to Hannah being the culprit. But she couldn't see either of the Medes being cold-blooded killers. Shan, on the other hand...
Hannah shook off Xandie and glared at both her and Lila. “I keep telling you. I had nothing to do with the murders. And I've never gambled in my life.” Hannah paused for a moment. “Now you mention it? Scientifically? I could craft a mathematical equation that might help with analyzing and picking a winner.”
“Focus Mede. Geez, you can't polish the geek from the girl, can you?”
Hannah glowered at Lila. “I. Am. Not. A. Geek. It was an idea.”
Xandie made a timeout with their hands. “No need to name call. We found evidence of betting slips in your name and according to your financials, unless SPAFS cancels or you sell your resort to Shan, you're running on empty.”
Hannah shook her head. “Not possible. Malachi would tell me if we were in dire trouble. Yes, I wanted the resort here, but not if it’d bankrupt us.”
Lila paced from side to side of Hannah's office. “What about Shan? What do you know about him? What’s his deal with the resort?”
“Only that he's been hanging around a lot. He advised Malachi on the SPAFS contract and other business things. He’s being helpful but he just won't go away. Every time I turn around. He's always there, watching me.”
“He's protecting you.” Xandie offered, not believing her own words. Shan had a reason for attaching himself to Hannah, but it wasn't protecting.
Hannah snorted. “I may look blonde and fragile, but the one thing Point Muse taught me was look pretty, act deadly. As long as you don't get caught. It's all unicorn and magic rainbows.”
“Cynical, but appropriate for Point Muse.” Lila offered.
“Heard anything about Shan buying your resort?”
Hannah shook her head. “Not a thing. And with all the issues and accidents around this place, I'd happily sell to get away.”
“Maybe that's the plan?” Xandie wondered aloud.
Lila tapped a finger on the window behind Hannah's desk. “You think that's it? Force Hannah to sell because of bad luck? It stinks like motivation to me.”
“It's working.” Hannah made a face. “Galls me to slink out of town with my figurative tail between my legs. But I’ve had enough of this damn town and the resort.”
“Shan has an ulterior motive and this could be it. He's ruthless enough to be a killer, both financially and physically.”
“Well, Xandie. You better develop that killer instinct yourself.” Lila tapped the window again.
Xandie closed her eyes. Please don't let it be another dead body.
“Elspeth, Winifred and Colin are on the warpath, heading this way.”
“Almost as bad,” Xandie mumbled to herself.
“Slide out the back way, through the kitchen. You should be able to get to the grooming tent before they circle back around and catch you.” Hannah offered with a grin. “Pretend you've been there the whole time and bluff it out. They won’t be able to say anything.”
Lila whistled in surprise. “Who’d have thought, quiet, mousey, Hannah would be so devious?”
“Side effect of working with Harrows.”
“Well, this little librarian is off to avoid said Harrows.” Xandie risked a glance out the window. Elspeth was on the pet show warpath if that frown she was wearing was any indicator. Ducking and hiding it was. With a wave to Lila and Hannah, Xandie crept out the door and headed for the grooming tent. As she got closer, muffled voices drew her attention.
“Do you think you’ll get away with it? Someone will notice.”
“Who George? Sorry, should I call you Giorgio?” Lulu sneered at her ex-husband.
Lulu and George Moon fighting? Time to snoop. Xandie slowed her pace and moved out of sight. Pretending to tie her sneakers while she eavesdropped on the squabbling exes.
“Cut the crap, Lulu. I’ve been an idiot. Between LaRue and the name change, everyone’s laughing at me. But I’ve never seen you so obsessed that you’re willing to cross so many lines.”
Lulu grated out a rusty laugh. “What would you know about me lately, George? You’re the one who left, remember?”
“And I’ve regretted it ever since. I was an idiot to think LaRue would help me. But you must realize...”
“What? That you left me because she offered that damn potion to make your hair grow? Dangled it in front of you like a carrot. You would’ve done anything she wanted.”
“You don’t understand.” George wailed. “Baldness in a man is an evil curse. I wanted my masculinity back, my flowing locks.”
“Buy a wig. You’re sixty years old. Act your age.” Lulu hissed back at her ex-husband.
Sixty years old? George looked at the most in his forties. Supernaturals definitely aged slower than humans. She could barely comprehend it.
George changed the subject. “This isn’t about me. It’s about you. Lulu baby, you need to stop now before you do
something you’ll really regret.”
“The only thing I regret is not beating that obnoxious pug and getting rid of you earlier.”
Lulu stormed past Xandie, and then backtracked to stand in front of her. “What a surprise. Someone eavesdropping. You going blackmail me too? Seems to be a favorite sport around here.”
Xandie straightened from her crouch. “Nope, no blackmailing here. Just tying loose laces.”
Lulu curled her top lip. “You and your pug disgust me. My Princess is worth a hundred of that dog. I’ll show you. I’ll show you all what she can do. Whatever the cost.” Lulu spat at the ground where Xandie stood and then stormed off.
“Sometimes Colin disgusts me too. It’s the farting and the belching that turns my stomach.”
“I’m sorry, Ms. Meyers. Lulu is under a lot of pressure.” George Moon stood nearby, wringing his hands. Delicate wispy blonde hairs smoothed over a balding skull.
“She’s wound tight, but Lulu shouldn’t worry. Her rabbit is miles ahead in the rankings now.”
“Lulu’s always been competitive, but LaRue really pushed her buttons.”
“You mean since you left her for Lorelei?”
George sighed. “The biggest mistake of my life. But Lorelei offered to supply me with a hair potion and her condition was that I leave Lulu.” He looked down at his feet and shuffled a little, before meeting Xandie’s gaze. “I’m ashamed to admit I agreed. Once she had a hold over me. She started milking me for cash. I never even saw the potion, and I lost Lulu forever.”
“What has Lulu done that crosses a line?”
“Her Princess get anxious before she competes. Lulu’s helping her to deal with it...medicinally. I told her she’s obsessed and she’ll hurt Princess, but Lulu won’t listen to me anymore.” He slumped, dejected. “Why should she after what I’ve done? But I’ve scratched Lucifer, my golden goose. Your pug and Lulu’s rabbit are now the last competitors in the running. I hope she survives this fiasco and I can convince her to give me a second chance.” George nodded to Xandie and shuffled off, a broken man.
