by Tonya Kappes
“It was all planned out. I had the map that Patrick thought his brother had drawn, but I knew better. I’d heard of the myth of the diamond at Tulip Island and I did a little research. You really shouldn’t put photos and names of your tourists on your site because I knew I could get my claws into Patrick. I moved across the states and made sure I was everything he wanted in a woman. Caring toward his brother and all too happy to take guardianship of Peter. Now that Patrick is dead, Peter will be sent off to an institute where he will rot forever. Or. . .” she glanced back. “Like I said, dig for the treasure only to slip and fall after the diamond is safely in my hands.”
“Why did you kill his parents?” Violet wanted all the answers while I just wanted to get out of there.
“Peter! Come on! It’s time to get the treasure.” Her voice echoed loud and clear as the rain stopped.
Off in the distance, the lightning and storm seemed to have blown off.
“It was really the father I wanted. I want the P&P stores and all the jewels. I want wealth. The money. But when he rejected my womanly offerings, he told me that he was going to tell Patrick about me trying to seduce him and that I only wanted Patrick for the money.” A smile curled on her lips. “He was a fool. He told me that I had twenty-four hours to break it off with Patrick and go away quietly or he was going to tell Patrick. Plus, it didn’t help that it was on camera where I’d been snooping around for the map.” She drew her hands in the air, the knife dangling. “The rest is history.”
Peter shuffled up past me.
“Don’t do this, Peter.” I glanced down at my cat in hopes he’d stop Peter somehow.
Peter stopped for a brief second.
“Come Peter.” Juliette encouraged him. “You can help me find the treasure.”
Peter nodded. The wet hoodie clung to his head. I could feel the panic rising from my gut to my throat. I rubbed my finger and my thumb together, trying to get my thoughts in order so I could cast the right spell from my finger.
Before I could even put a thought together, Peter was next to her. He grabbed her by the wrists and tried to bring her to the ground. She flailed. The knife went flying. Her nails ripped at Peter’s eyes, ripping the hoodie off of his head.
“Oscar!” I screamed and scurried over to the edge of the volcano. The lava shot into the air like a cannon, exploding into the sky. “Oscar!”
It was apparent that Oscar had seen Peter and switched clothes, but how was I going to save him. I couldn’t string two words together, much less a thought spell.
I shot a look back at Mr. Prince Charming; he was doing figure eights around Violet’s ankles. She lifted her arms in the air. A swirl of neon orange lifted out of the volcano. In the bottom of the swirl was the diamond. The treasure. Violet brought her hands together, a thunderous clap echoed, shattering the diamond into tiny specks of dust.
Juliette had let go of Oscar. He crawled to safety as she tried to grab the diamond dust out of the air.
“No!” she screamed out and leaned a little too far over the edge. The swirl circled her and she disappeared into the depths of the volcano.
Chapter Seventeen
“I hope you have enjoyed your stay on Tulip Island.” Mr. Victor stayed his pleasant self even after Juliette had killed Patrick and fallen to her death in the active volcano.
The sea was once again calm. The full moon was out and the stars once again dotted the amazing tropical sky. The tiki torches were lit and the food smelled divine.
“The past couple of days have been really nice.” Oscar was such a gentleman after nearly losing his life.
After we’d all come back down from the volcano, everything had made sense. Mr. Victor was like Darla. He’d met Violet’s mother who was a Fairiwick like Eloise. They’d lived in a village and Violet’s mother died during childbirth with Violet. She wasn’t built to have mortal children and her body gave out on her. Like me and Darla, the council from his village allowed him to move Violet out of the village as long as they kept an eye on him.
That was when he’d decided to live alone on Tulip Island. That was how the Elders knew to send me and Oscar there on our honeymoon, only they didn’t factor in that crime happens everywhere.
Mr. Victor had tried his best to shield Violet from the world, but a young Patrick had stolen her heart and given her a child. Only at an early age, Mr. Victor could tell that Gene was not mortal. He too had gotten his mother’s spiritual gift and was a wizard like Oscar.
Violet was unable to keep it a secret when she saw Patrick that they had a son. Patrick told her that he wasn’t going to marry Juliette and he and Peter were going to stay on the island with her, Gene, and Mr. Victor. Patrick told Juliette that he wasn’t going to marry her when he’d returned from the night snorkeling excursion. After he told her, he grabbed his scuba equipment to do a quick dive on the coral reef right beyond the shoreline. Juliette snorkeled her way over and cut the scuba tube, drowning Patrick.
But not before she’d stolen my brush from the beach and took out Violet’s red hair strands and planted them on Patrick. She had the perfect plan and thought she was going to get away with it.
The local police had recovered Juliette’s charred body from the erupted volcano and had taken Oscar’s statement about her killing Patrick to gain his fortune. The case was solved and closed.
Mr. Victor and the Order of Elders were nice enough to give Oscar and I a few days alone on the island while Violet and Peter recuperated. Constance and Patience, along with Mr. Prince Charming, were sent back to Whispering Falls. Tonight was finally our tiki dinner.
“We have very much enjoyed the last couple of days.” I reached over the table and placed my hand on top of Oscar’s. “You’ve made us feel very welcome.”
“I guess we are all sort of family.” Mr. Victor nodded, leaving Oscar and I to enjoy what little time we had left on the island.
Which wasn’t a long time. Our bags were packed and we were taking the red-eye straight back to Whispering Falls. It was by choice because I didn’t want Oscar to look out of the plane’s window and down into the ocean. And I couldn’t help but put a little Mr. Sandman Sprinkles in his dinner cocktail.
It might’ve been illegal to do in Whispering Falls, but not on Tulip Island and it was for the sake of our marriage.
“Are you ready?” Gene walked up to us. He held our bags in each of his hands. “The plane has landed on the beach and everyone is waiting to see you off.”
Oscar stood up and helped me out of my chair. He stood behind me with his arms around my waist and we looked out at the ocean. He rested his chin on top of my head. I could feel his heart beating on my back.
“Even though we had a little snafu, I still enjoyed our time.” He gave me a squeeze.
“Thank you for taking me to see the ocean and letting me put my toes in the sand.” I wiggled my bare feet underneath me, feeling the grain.
Hand-in-hand, Oscar and I followed Gene to the propeller plane where we’d make our connection to the red-eye once we got on the mainland.
Just like he said, Mr. Victor, Violet, and Peter were standing on the shore waiting for us.
“So all that potion and stuff was because you are a real witch?” Violet asked.
“It is. Just like you.” I ran my hand down her arm. “It’s an exciting time for you, now that Mr. Victor is no longer taking mortal tourists, you can use your spiritual gift.”
I didn’t know what her gift was and I wasn’t quite sure she knew. The one thing I did know was that Mr. Victor had promised her that he’d tell her all about her mom and make sure it wasn’t too late for Gene to learn about his true spiritual calling.
Peter was going to stay on the island with Mr. Victor who would adopt him like Madame Torres had predicted, only I was so caught up in finding something bad about Mr. Victor, I failed at using my intuitional gift of seeking out the good. I made a promise to myself that I was going to get better at that.
I buried my toes one last tim
e in the sand before I stepped on the plane and put on my shoes. I had a sneaky suspicion that I wasn’t going to be coming back to the beach for a long time.
Chapter Eighteen
The faint ring of the chains brought me out of my sleep. Oscar was happily snoring away in our bed and it felt so good to wake up and be home. The Karima sisters had picked us up at the airport in the middle of the night and they were still fussing about nothing important.
After they dropped us off at our cottage, I loved on Mr. Prince Charming and decided to leave the unpacking for the morning. Only I didn’t want to unpack. I wanted to run down the hill and watch Eloise bless the town that I loved and missed so much.
I quickly put on a pair of capri jeans, a white tee-shirt, and slipped on some flats. I couldn’t wait to tell Eloise about our trip. I loved this time of the morning when the burnt orange sun was peeking over the mountains, the sunlight putting its first touch on Whispering Falls and when Eloise blessed each and every shop.
The sound of the chains connected to her incense burner echoed down Main Street and up the hill with each swing. The smell of lavender and sage filled the air. A cleansing smell. It was an elegant exciting smell that told me I was home and safe.
Mr. Prince Charming darted around the buildings before I even reached the back of A Charming Cure. I ran my hand along the side of my shop and felt the sheer energy go into my fingertips. My honeymoon might’ve started out a little stressful, but I was energized and ready to get back to work.
When I turned the corner between my shop and Magical Moments, there was a crowd gathered down near Bella’s Baubles. I made my way to the front and found Izzy, Gerald, Petunia, and Chandra standing behind Eloise. Baby Orin cooed from the pouch hooked on Gerald’s back. I patted his hiney.
Eloise wore a long green cloak that was pulled over her head. She swung the incense side-to-side in a fluid motion. Smoke barreled out on the downswing sending the smoke up into what looked to be a new business coming to town.
“Fortune, health, and wealth,” she chanted in a monotone voice. “Fortune, health, and wealth.”
It was pretty much the same cleansing ceremony she did every morning, but this morning she was focusing on the new shop.
I turned around when I felt a hand on my back. Petunia nodded for me to follow her along with the rest.
“How was the end of your trip?” Petunia asked. She tilted her head to the side and an empty bird’s nest fell out. Everyone looked down at the ground. “They left the nest this morning.”
“My trip was wonderful.” I wanted to keep some things to myself. “And you wouldn’t believe that Tulip Island is run by a mortal man who has a Fairiwick for a daughter.”
“Oh yes we would.” Petunia took a step forward and the crowd parted.
The newest shop in Whispering Falls was complete. Instead of a sidewalk walking up to the shop and entering through the ornamental gate, there was a wooden swinging bridge that led you through the ornamental gate and up to the red cottage shop. The red and purple awning flapped in the morning wind. Hidden Treasures was written in yellow and in the front display window was a shelf full of what-knots, candles, and frames along with a dress form. There was a dress on display that I’d seen before but couldn’t place.
The front door of the shop was in the shape of a sewing needle and instead of the oval shape where thread would feed through, it was in the shape of the sun.
Everyone stood silent as the door opened and a young boy popped out alongside the cutest red-headed, freckled-faced woman.
“Welcome to Whispering Falls, we are a charming community.” Petunia took her job as Village President very seriously. She pulled a copy of the by-laws out of her cloak as she walked across the bridge and handed the manual over. “On behalf of the village council, we’d like to invite you to your first smudging ceremony tonight at dusk at The Gathering Rock.”
The sunshine broke over Gene’s face and he stared at me, a big smile on his face.
“Hi, June!” he called and waved. I smiled and waved back.
Mr. Prince Charming darted across the bridge and did figure eights around Gene’s ankles.
Everyone clapped to welcome our newest resident—as everyone knows that Mr. Prince Charming was the real welcoming committee.
About the Author
For years, USA Today bestselling author Tonya Kappes has been self-publishing her numerous mystery and romance titles with unprecedented success. She is famous not only for her hilarious plotlines and quirky characters, but her tremendous marketing efforts that have earned her thousands of followers and a devoted street team of fans. Be sure to check out Tonya’s website for upcoming events and news and to sign up for her newsletter! Tonyakappes.com
Also by Tonya Kappes
Olivia Davis Paranormal Mystery Series
SPLITSVILLE.COM
COLOR ME LOVE (novella)
COLOR ME A CRIME
Magical Cures Mystery Series
A CHARMING CRIME
A CHARMING CURE
A CHARMING POTION (novella)
A CHARMING WISH
A CHARMING SPELL
A CHARMING MAGIC
A CHARMING SECRET
A CHARMING CHRISTMAS (novella)
A CHARMING FATALITY
A CHARMING GHOST
A CHARMING HEX
A CHARMING VOODOO (Fall 2016)
Grandberry Falls Series
THE LADYBUG JINX
HAPPY NEW LIFE
A SUPERSTITIOUS CHRISTMAS (novella)
NEVER TELL YOUR DREAMS
A Laurel London Mystery Series
CHECKERED CRIME
CHECKERED PAST
CHECKERED THIEF
A Divorced Diva Beading Mystery Series
A BREAD OF DOUBT SHORT STORY
STRUNG OUT TO DIE
CRIMPED TO DEATH
Bluegrass Romance Series
GROOMING MR. RIGHT
TAMING MR. RIGHT
Women’s Fiction
CARPE BREAD ’EM
Young Adult
TAG YOU'RE IT
A Ghostly Southern Mystery Series
A GHOSTLY UNDERTAKING
A GHOSTLY GRAVE
A GHOSTLY DEMISE
A GHOSTLY MURDER
A GHOSTLY REUNION (available for presale)
A GHOSTLY MORTALITY (available for presale)
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Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2016 by Tonya Kappes. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information address Author Tonya Kappes, P.O. Box 176988, Ft. Mitchell, Ky. 41017
