Magic, Mayhem and Murder

by January Bain

  Mrs. Smith followed me to the front door. A sense of her breathing down my neck didn’t help. At the front door, I pretended to stumble and she reached out for me with one hand, grasping my arm. Good. And oh so scary. Be brave, I told myself, fear icing my veins. I closed my eyes to allow her thoughts to enter my mind as our bodies touched. Then I wished I hadn’t. A dark image of rage, hatred and revenge became clear. Oh my goddess. Let me out of here. I reached for the door knob, my heart hammering so loud I was certain she could hear it. Thumpa-thumpa.

  “What did you see, Charm?” she demanded, still holding tightly to my arm. I didn’t want to move quickly. There was no knowing what she might do, but I knew what she was capable of feeling. Feelings are no proof of guilt, though. If they were, the new Mountie would be strung up by his thumbs.

  “Noth—ing. I didn’t see anything.” My voice sounded like Minnie Mouse, too squeaky by half. I cleared my throat. “Got a frog in here.” I rubbed at my neck for emphasis. “I gotta go.”

  “I’m afraid I can’t let you do that until you tell me what you saw just now. And don’t lie—you’re not good at it.”

  “Just—just a bit of you being unhappy with your lot in life.” Why? Fred doted on her, by all accounts, and Alison had done everything in her power to be the daughter her mother wanted her to be. But was Mrs. Smith’s unhappiness enough to have her commit murder? Not once, but twice? That I still didn’t know. I was having trouble believing it. Who takes chances like that? She had so much to lose. Of course, that just might have made her more dangerous.

  “You’re young. When you’ve lived as long as I have, you gain a new perspective. You discover things about others you wish you didn’t know.”

  I glanced at her, trying to keep my apprehension from showing, noting the strange look in her eyes. Don’t give the game away. “Much as I would like to converse more, I should be going. Before I have another attack.”

  But still she held on, ignoring me.

  Then a voice rang out in the kitchen. “Mom, are you home?”

  Thank you, goddess. I let out a breath.

  Alison popped around the kitchen doorway, spotting us. She frowned, watching the odd tableau.

  “Mom, Charm, are you okay?”

  “I’m fine, dear. Charm was just leaving. She’s not feeling well.” She dropped my hand and I stepped back, opening the front door with trembling fingers. Freedom. It called my name something fierce.

  “I’ll walk you home, Charm, make sure you’re all right.” Alison hurried to join me. I couldn’t speak quite yet. Had I just escaped the clutches of a murderess? Only the goddess knew for certain. But if she was, she’d move the poison now, hide it somewhere no one could find it and wait for her chance to do me in. I might just have made things worse.

  Chapter Nineteen

  “Are you happy, Alison?”

  “Yeah, sure. I mean, I just got engaged to a great guy. Mom loves him.” She was defensive, twisted the ring round and round her finger.

  “But do you? I think that might be a tad more important.”

  She wouldn’t look me in the eyes. “He’s promised me a life far away from here. That’s good enough. I never want to live here ever again. Once we’re married, I’m gone for good.” The words were accompanied with a side of bitterness.

  “I’m sorry your life growing up was so hard.”

  “Well, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right?”

  “Maybe. Have you ever thought of therapy? Talking it out with someone can help. If you ever need an ear, I’d be happy to help.”

  “Mom would kill me if I ever let loose any family secrets. You know her, no dirty laundry in public.”

  “It wouldn’t be public knowledge. A therapist is sworn to confidentiality and I never tell secrets.”

  She snorted. “Well, tell that to your sister.”

  “Excuse me?” I was taken aback, confused. “What do you mean?”

  “Oh, so Star doesn’t share her secrets with you, either.”

  “Star. What did she ever do to you?”

  “Nothing. You want to know, ask her.”

  “I’m asking you.” I stopped walking and turned to her. “Why are you angry with Star?”

  She bit her lip. “You remember when we used to sing duets together in junior high?”

  “Sure. You were good. I never understood why you stopped.”

  She grimaced. “There was this radio program we had been practicing to sing on for weeks. JCAT. Then I got caught cheating on a test off your sister. She was partially to blame because she let me do it. I was grounded for a month and Star went on to sing on the program alone. She got all the kudos, won the grand prize. While I was left in the dust. We never sang together again. And I was just as good as her.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize that. What did your mother say about it?” I had vague recollections of the event, mostly remembering how proud we had all been of Star to have won such a big contest so young.

  “She’s not too fond of Star, if you get my meaning. She thinks she stole my big chance. She even thinks Star set me up to get caught cheating, but I told her that’s just crazy. No way she did that.”

  “No. Star would never set anyone up. It always bothered her you know, that you broke up. She loved singing with you.” I told the white fib with fingers crossed behind my back, praying it was true.

  “Really?” She grinned shyly. “Maybe we’ll sing a duet together one day, eh.” Her tone was filled with so much longing that I had to swallow over the sudden lump in my throat.

  “Sure. Why not?”

  We’d reached the alley that led to the café’s kitchen door. “You can get go back now if you like, I’m feeling much better, thanks.”

  She frowned, hesitating.

  “Really, I got this. The fresh air cleared my brain.”

  “Okay.” She smiled. “Nice talking with you, Charm.”

  “You too.”

  I turned and hurried toward the Tea & Tarot, praying no one had taken note of my absence. Like that would ever happen.

  I opened the back door against my better judgement, suspecting what awaited me. And there stood Granny, Star, Tulip, Mountie Jim and Mr. Hot Stuff, the latter glaring at me with enough energy to electrify the whole town during an ice storm power outage.

  “Where have you been?” Ace demanded. “We were just about to send out a search party for you.”

  “I’m obviously fine and here now. I needed to see someone.” I held my chin up high.

  “And pray tell what was so important that you defied my orders to stay with your family safe and sound?”

  “What is this, the inquisition? I just stepped out for a sec.”

  My sisters rallied round me, giving me looks of concern and support.

  “Consider yourself in protective custody for your own good, Miss McCall. I’m taking you down to the station for questioning.”

  “What? No way.” I crossed my arms over my chest, widening my stance.

  “Sweeting, you need to listen to Constable Collins,” Granny said. I glanced over at her and she was watching me, her expression serious. “You were told to stay here. I think it best you tell the constable all you know. You can be a lot of help when you want to be.”

  What could I say?

  I marched along beside Ace as he walked me out of the café, head held high. If you’re innocent, you’ll be set free, right? I got a twinge of doubt I tried to ignore. But I’d followed wrongful convictions in Canada, and, truthfully, they did happen.

  He remained silent for the short trip while I chewed off a couple of fingernails. He turned into the police station’s driveway. I tried to think of delaying tactics, really not wanting to go inside, innocent or not.

  “Did you know that Mrs. Smith has it in for Star?” I quickly explained what Alison had told me. “And have you had any luck with discovering what was going on with all the bank deposits? Anyone else being blackmailed?”

  “You just ha
d to go and do it, right, Charm? You didn’t have the faith that I had your best interests at heart.” He groaned, shaking his head. My heart fell into my shoes.

  “I just couldn’t sit around twirling my thumbs,” I sputtered. The freakin’ injustice of it all.

  “Like that’s ever going to happen. Now we’ve got more problems. The murderer is busy entrenching themselves. While I have been carefully collecting testimony and facts to find out the full story, you’ve been undermining the investigation with all your interference.”

  “But you do believe I had nothing to do with all this, right?” Though he had said so once before, my insecurity rose at being taken into the police station, adding a frisson of worry.

  He gave a huge Mountie sigh. “Of course. But you played right into their hands, darlin’. And my guess is next someone will plant a container of cyanide in your apartment, if they haven’t already done so.”

  “Then I need to help fix it! Get a search warrant for Mrs. Smith’s place. I think you might find evidence in her pantry. She’s locked it, which is really weird.” My voice came out louder than I intended.

  Thunderclouds were less threatening.

  “I was only trying to help.” I faltered.

  “Right. And the sun’s not coming up tomorrow.”

  “It could miss a day,” I muttered.

  I hazarded a glance at him. His lips were pressed so tightly together they were in peril of vanishing. Not to mention the tic flicking to its own rhythm under his right eye.

  “Charm, I hate that you’ve left me no choice in the matter.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Sitting in a jail cell sucked. Big time. I discovered this three minutes later.

  “Am I allowed visitors?”

  “Of course. All your family can come by.”

  “I’m hungry.”

  He sighed. “I’m taking care of that. Okay?”

  “Will you be checking out Mrs. Smith’s pantry? I searched all the closets, but I couldn’t find anything.” Funny how jail makes you want to spill all your secrets. Well, maybe not so funny. I’d watched that TV show about a woman’s prison, and oh boy, the inmates spill their guts there.

  “Have you considered a career in law enforcement, Miss McCall?”

  “No.” I shook my head. “Because then I would be hamstrung, doing things by the book. Right?”

  He didn’t answer but turned on his heel and strode off, the keys on his belt jingling ominously, leaving me staring at three bare walls and a barred door. Yikes. This was a tad too real. A cold shiver ran down my back. What if Mrs. Smith did manage to plant cyanide at the café? Had I really made her that suspicious? But I had no proof she was the one—others had motive. Sean could have done it. Maybe the pair were working together? I shivered again. It wouldn’t be the first time someone had murdered their best friend, though I still rejected it. The pair had been so tight since grade school.

  “Charm, you okay?” Tulip pressed her face to the bars like we’d been separated for months instead of minutes. Star hung back, looking less concerned, even a bit angry.

  “I’m fine.” I got up and slipped my hands through the bars. Tulip grabbed one and held on tight. Star relented and took the other.

  “Okay, okay. It’s not that bad, ladies.” Ace shook his head as he came into view, toting a basket in one hand and watching us play out the scene. “She’s not under arrest, only being detained for her own good.”

  “We’ve put a file in the pie,” Tulip stage-whispered, giving Ace the stink eye.

  He rolled his eyes. “They’ve brought supper.”

  “Yup, meatballs, fried chicken, potato salad, corn, biscuits and pumpkin pie with whipped cream.” Tulip was quick to point at the large basket he carried.

  “Great! Then let me out of here.” My mouth watered in anticipation. “But you still owe me a steak, Sheriff.”

  “You are staying in the cell for now. You’re not getting the chance to slink off again. And you will get a steak soon, just not today. I’ve got my hands full investigating a murder, if you remember?”

  I ignored the sarcasm and smiled at my sisters.

  “Then we eat in there with our sister,” Tulip said.

  “Suits me just fine.”

  He unlocked the steel door, plunked the wicker basket down on the bed and left us to our own devices, securing the door behind him. Not ten seconds later a loud commotion broke out in the hallway.

  “Where my friend Charm? I demand her!” Ivana’s voice rang, loud and clear.

  Ace escorted the angry Russian to the bars of my cell, letting her in with a loud sigh.

  “I’ll be back later. Settle down, all of you.”

  Ivana’s gray eyes were dark with emotion. She gave Ace the middle finger and turned to me. “This not right! We get you free. Now!”

  “I’m fine. Want some supper? Tulip and Star have brought a huge feast. More than enough to go around.”

  She hesitated, but the delicious odor of fried chicken must have convinced her. She plunked herself down between my sisters on the bed, accepting a full plate that I quickly dished out for her. She’d settle down with a good meal in her belly. At least I hoped so.

  “Ivana thank you.” She nodded gravely and tucked into the food.

  Munching and sighs of enjoyment soon followed.

  Another loud commotion broke out and we all looked up.

  This time Ace was escorting Christine to the cell.

  “You have another visitor.” He let her in, locking the door securely again. “Okay, we’ve hit the limit for now. No more visitors.” He was right about that. It was getting crowded in a jail cell meant for one, maybe two people. I wondered for a second where Emma was, surprised she hadn’t raced right to the jail. That would be her normal MO.

  “Charm is good girl. You let her out right now or my brothers—”

  “Are you threatening a police officer, Miss Petrov?” His voice hardened to steel, and even Ivana looked taken aback.

  “Not right,” she muttered in a quieter tone. It was the first time I’d ever seen anyone other than yours truly take the wind out of her sails.

  He gave all of us a stern look before leaving, but I did note the twitch in his eye had worsened. Small towns are not like big cities, are they, Officer?

  A loud repetitive chorus of, “Set Charm free! Set Charm free!” resounded through the building.

  What on earth?

  I jumped up and stood on tiptoe to peer through the tiny grille window. The holding cell faced the front of the detachment, meaning I had a good view of the street. I caught sight of my long-time friends getting prepared for the traditional lighting of the torch, done just before they burned someone in effigy. Oh. My. Goddess. Like at all such events held in Canada, from postal strikes to incinerating personal garbage in the backyard, a burn barrel was already lit, smoke and flame drifting upwards in billowing clouds to kiss the sky. All they needed were pitchforks to complete the picture.

  “It’s the other members of Northern Lights Coven,” Tulip needlessly explained. “They’re working on getting you out of here. Casting a release spell as we speak.”

  “I can see that,” I mumbled, unable to look away as my coven sisters lit the hastily concocted straw figure of a lawman with the torch.

  “Oh, can I join the coven?” Christine chimed in. “Wow, I’d love to be part of it. I mean, being in one is so in style.”

  I gave a very, very deep sigh. It was lovely to have such an incredible group of friends, but I had brought a little bit of this on myself, I had to admit. It wasn’t entirely Ace’s fault. Perhaps I did need protection from my own exuberance at times.

  “Of course you can, Christine,” I reassured her when I spied her downcast look. My sigh had sent the exact wrong message.

  “Okay, we need to come up with some plan to set things right,” I mused out loud. It wasn’t going to be easy, not with me being stuck in jail.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “Don
’t worry. We’ll have this wrapped up in no time with everyone on the case,” Tulip reassured me. “Hello, we want out of here!” she yelled to get someone’s attention. She kept up the din for at least five minutes, even banging the bars with a steel bread knife she had packed in the picnic basket. At least back on the outside, this group of supporters could be my eyes and ears.

  “Okay, okay, hold your darn horses.” Constable Jim made his appearance in front of the cell door, shaking his head at us while fiddling with the lock. The door opened wide and everyone trooped out. I tried to follow, pretending innocence, but he gestured me back. “Not you, Charm, sorry. I’ve got my orders to keep you under lock and key until Ace gets back.”

  I pouted, giving him my best puppy-dog eyes, but he just grunted and relocked the cage. Not nice. I grabbed the cell bars with my hands and pretended I could bend them like Houdini. My sisters laughed and even Jim gave a slight smile.

  “Anything you need, Charm?” he asked.

  “Nah, I’m good.” I winked at my crew. “Catch you later.” Maybe it was going straight to my head, but I admit, I was stoked with all the support pouring in.

  But then time slowed to a virtual crawl, while waiting for something, anything to happen.

  Footsteps echoed, coming in my direction. Halleluiah. I jumped up and waited by the cell door. Ace came into view, his expression inscrutable.

  “Miss McCall.”

  “Constable Collins. Have you heard the latest?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “The exoplanet Wolf 503b orbits its star every six days and is twice as large as Earth.”

  “And it’s one hundred and forty-five light years away in the Virgo constellation. Yes, I’ve heard. But I was a bit too busy explaining to my captain why an effigy of one of his officers was being burned out front of the station to garner any more facts.”

  Heat rose in my body. I couldn’t quite meet his intense glance.

  “Yeah, well, my coven does tend to get carried away. But in their defense, they were offering support. And once it was explained that I wasn’t actually under arrest but only in protective custody, they backed off, right?”