“I heard that new vet is spending a lot of time at your place,” Missy Tompkins calls as she carries a basket of gourds past us to her stand. “Did you put a spell on him, Ruby?”
I laugh, but pull my cape tighter, thinking about the potion I need to whip up. I’d really like to give it a test run tonight, but my time is sucked up with other duties for now. “Just giving him a proper welcome to town.”
The police station is a block away and I notice Robyn arriving for the day. She hikes over to check on the booths and greets us. It’s five minutes until we officially open and customers are lined up at the entrance to the park.
She lowers her voice and keeps an eye out for eavesdroppers as she speaks to me and Uncle Odin. “The second victim is from a group called Caught on Camera. Ghost hunters. They use various equipment, including night-vision cameras, to prove ghosts exist.”
“Ghost hunters?” Normally, I might find this entertaining. Today, it feels creepy, exploiting earthbound spirits to sell a TV show. “Any idea why he was in the woods?”
“He went by a stage name—Rambler Horseman—and I’ve reached out to the others in the group with little success. No one will pony up his real name, but from what one of the PIT fans told me last night, he used to be part of the investigators, just like Hargraves.” She shifts, eyeing the growing crowd. “There’s definitely bad blood between the two groups. It makes me suspicious.”
I straighten a line of apple cranberry soaps. “You think one of the members killed him?”
She has that look as she scans the gathered folks. Everyone’s a suspect right now. “No evidence to that, yet. But if someone was using a drone outfitted with a camera to try to capture activity in the woods, they might have caught the killer on video, as well.”
They might also have discovered Ren shifting. “What’s your plan?”
“I finally discovered several PIT members are staying at the hotel under false names. I’m waiting on warrants to search their rooms. Hargraves was sleeping in his car, so I’m also searching that once it’s impounded. One way or the other, I will find out what happened.”
Uncle Odin adjusts his bow tie. “And the live full moon ritual tonight? Do you think they’re trying to stir up the forest creatures in order to create something out of nothing?”
“I’ve asked the mayor to close off the woods up to the national forest, not only the crime scenes.”
“Good luck with that,” Uncle Odin says, sounding skeptical.
Robyn frowns and sighs, as if she knows it’s an uphill battle. “The Chamber is fighting me every step of the way. If it were locals in the morgue, they might be on my side, but as it stands, they want to keep the murders hush-hush and grab the publicity from the shows.”
“I’m sorry you’re in such a pickle,” I tell her.
“Thanks. I’ll talk to you later.” She says goodbye and makes her way to the station.
The clock in the square bongs, announcing it’s time to open. Folks rush the booths.
The morning is filled with customers, questions, and sales, but I manage to chastise Uncle Odin during a reprieve for sending Lenore to keep an eye on me the previous day. My familiar stays mostly on her perch as customers come and go, thankfully silent, even when young children want to pet her. She’s not overly affectionate, but she is tolerant, allowing them to do so.
My uncle smiles and winks at me, then tells the bird, “Good job, Lenore.”
Zelle brings us sandwiches from one of the food carts parked on Main Street for the event and gives me a break to grab inventory from our vehicle to restock the table.
As I’m placing cinnamon and vanilla scented soaps into the cart, Jenny appears. “Hey there, need help?”
I don’t, but Eunice comes into view and nods. “Sure,” I say, handing Jenny a stack of bags. “Could you carry these?”
I close up the van, and Lenore lands on the stacks of candles, soaps, and lotions. “I’m sorry to hear about the man in the woods. He was a friend?” I can’t exactly text Robyn without appearing rude and possibly scaring Jenny off. I might as well see if I can get any information from her.
She laughs derisively. “Hardly. He was trying to steal our spotlight. The Caught on Camera crew does that all the time. We’ve gained national recognition, and it eats them up.”
I play dumb. “Is there a lot of competition in your field?”
We start back toward the park. “Rambler—that was his name—and Wagner used to be best friends. They started PIT together. Rambler disagreed when Wagner wanted to expand and do more than ghost hunt. You know, we saw the bigger picture. We wanted to investigate old wives’ tales and local legends about werewolves, vampires, witches. All that fairytale stuff.”
I nod, and a passing neighbor says good afternoon. I speak to her, continuing to act like everything is normal. “Have you found evidence that any of that fairytale stuff actually exists?”
Jenny tilts her head toward the sun. “Well, sure. It’s fascinating, really. I mean, you and your sisters are witches. You believe magick is real.”
I decide to leave that alone for now. “What happened with Rambler?”
“He and Wagner fought, and Rambler took two of the other members and broke away from us. Problem is, they turn up every once in a while, attempting to steal our glory.”
“So that’s why Rambler was in the woods the other night? What about the second victim? Did you know him.”
“Sure, that’s Luther, his new partner. He and Rambler followed us here to see what we were doing, and find a way to interfere with our live show. They’ve gotten us banned from various haunted sites, so they could swoop in and get the story for their webcast.”
I pretend the cart is heavy and walk slowly, my mind spinning. “Did you tell Robyn— Detective Wood—this?”
She looks down at the bags in her arms, a bit sheepishly. “I don’t want to get Wagner in trouble, and he’s already angry with me. I mean, it makes him look sorta bad.”
Maybe for good reason. “You really should cancel tonight’s event. It’s too dangerous with a killer running loose.”
She shifts the items to one arm and reaches into her pocket to pull out a candy bar. “Sorry, I haven’t had lunch.” She peels the end of the wrapper, takes a big bite, and chews. “Gorgeous day, isn’t it?”
Everything inside me goes still. The wrapper is like the one I found on Wednesday. It’s probably nothing, since I already know she’s been in the woods with the others, but there’s something about it that feels like a red flag. Especially since she’s now trying to change the subject.
I glance around, hoping to spot my great-grandmother. Her presence would be a definite sign I’m on the right track. Unfortunately, she’s nowhere to be seen.
Despite the cool air, I’m sweating. Jenny doesn’t notice, but seems a bit flustered. “I know it’s not a great idea, but Wagner says the police can’t keep us out. He says we’ll honor Brady’s—I mean, Rambler’s—death and dedicate the show to him.”
I glance over at her, ignoring the slip up with the name. Robyn already knows about that. “But you just said they were enemies.”
She shrugs and swallows another bite, jamming the trash in her pocket. She won’t look at me. “Makes for good TV. Our viewers will love it. Some of them were big fans of Rambler back when we started PIT, plus the suspicious deaths only heighten the live event. People are begging for this tonight.”
We arrive at the table, and she still won’t glance at me. Anxious? Or is the reality of being in the woods tonight where two men have been killed beginning to freak her out? “It’s not worth your life,” I say in a voice I’ve learned from Cinder. “And there are no possessed animals for you to film, anyway.”
She hands me the bags and shoves both hands into her pockets. “We do dangerous filming all the time. Say, can I buy some soap?”
If I didn’t know she’s hiding fear, I’d think she has an attention disorder. Zelle begins unpacking the products and gives me
a questioning look. Holding in my frustration, I help Jenny with her purchase.
If I can’t stop her, I need to change tactics. “You know, I could go with you. Watch your back, so to speak. I’m quite familiar with the forest and the animals in it.”
Uncle Odin clears his throat and Zelle gapes at me.
Robyn will kill me, but maybe I can find out more about Wagner and Rambler’s relationship and help her solve this case.
Jenny accepts the bagged soap and hands me cash. “Oh, I couldn’t ask you to do that. We’ll be fine.” She waves as she starts to walk away. “Keep the change and thanks for the soap.”
When she’s out of earshot, Zelle shakes her head. “Are you nuts? What was that about?”
“Can you stay for another few minutes?”
“Sure, my next appointment isn’t until two-thirty.”
“I’ll be right back.”
I leave her and Uncle Odin once more to race to the station to tell my cousin what I’ve learned.
Chapter Twenty
Robyn is quite interested to hear about the falling out Wagner had with Rambler/Brady, and as we’re discussing it, a call comes in confirming the second victim is Luther Brandon.
She taps her pencil on the desk. “If Brady and Luther were running the Caught on Camera group, then it’s now devoid of its leadership.”
“Taking out both of them would undoubtedly stop some of the issues the two teams had with each other.”
Her eyes scan her notes. “Which makes Wagner my prime suspect.”
“Be careful,” I say as she walks me out. “If he’s the killer, he’s not afraid to do whatever it takes to stop anyone who gives him trouble.”
She reassures me she’ll be safe, but I wrap a bubble of protection around her all the same as I hug her.
The farmer’s market is supposed to be done at three, but plenty of visitors have kept the booths busy. Matilda shows to relieve me and help Uncle Odin clean up.
“I’m holding the full moon ceremony at the shop,” she tells me.
I cringe. “But I’ll have you-know-who upstairs,” I reply.
“Well, it looks like even the park here is off-limits tonight and I have to host the women somewhere.”
They’re a new thing she’s been doing for several months now, gathering ladies who are on the witchy side of life to get together, drink wine, and counsel each other. They’re harmless from what I’ve seen, but I still don’t want them downstairs, on the chance Ren shifts and starts howling. “Isn’t there anywhere else you could hold it? I thought you preferred being outside.”
She waves away my obvious concern. “It’ll be fine. The whole thing lasts an hour, then they’ll be gone. A few complain about the cold, so they’ll be happy we’re staying in.”
I stew as I walk to the clinic, but there’s really nothing I can do. It will be fine, I tell myself. As long as Ren isn’t threatened and doesn’t see the moon, he’ll stay in his human form.
The grand opening is off to a great start when I arrive. Local folks stream in and out of the small clinic, some with their pets, others without. I notice a few Story Cove residents who don’t even have any animal companions enjoying the commotion in order to meet the newcomer and see their friends.
Many carry paper cups filled with punch and sample bags with treats for their dogs and cats.
Ren is laughing and smiling, George seeming to relish the attention as well. The parrot greets people, and then talks trash about their outfits or animals. Most are good-natured about it and laugh it off while Ren looks slightly embarrassed as he chastises him.
“You made it.” He catches my arm and guides me out of the flow of traffic to the area behind the desk.
“I told you I’d be here.”
He playfully tugs on a lock of my hair. “I saw how swamped you were at the farmer’s market. I’m glad it was a success, but I worried you wouldn’t get a break.”
“Can I help with anything?”
“I never expected this many and didn’t make up enough goodie bags. Would you mind putting more together and handing them out?”
I shrug off my cape. “You got it.”
While I’m stuffing them, I overhear a group of young boys talking about the ghost hunters and the live full moon event.
I warn them to stay out of there, seeing in their eyes they have no intention of following the directive.
One of the chamber members, Mrs. Ollifax, waves off my warning as she approaches the desk. “Your cousin arrested the culprit a few minutes ago. All is well.”
“She caught the killer?”
The woman shushes me and nervously glances around to see if anyone heard. “Yes, and the mayor has permitted the event to take place in the area behind the park. That’s far enough away from the crime scenes, so as not to disturb them, and it’ll be quite safe, plenty of people about. Nothing to worry over now, and we welcome the paranormal investigators.” This last bit is said a little louder.
“That is good news,” I manage to force out, and then I lower my voice to a whisper. “Who was it? The killer?”
She pulls me farther behind the desk. “Robyn received an anonymous tip right before I came down here. I was at the station, talking to her about tonight. A man showed up with evidence proving a technician with the Caught on Camera team was trying to capitalize on the feud between them and PIT, and he killed both of those poor men. Robyn left to arrest him.”
As soon as she moves on, I call Robyn but get her voicemail. I leave a message, asking her to let me know if it’s true.
A group of three without pets are talking about getting on camera for the show, especially now that it’s right behind the park. They’re bringing their children, as well, and acting as though it’s a town party.
Over the next half hour, each of my sisters stops by before heading off for their Saturday night fun. Cinder and Finn are going to a live theater performance, and she’s dressed up, which I don’t see too often.
“You did great today at the market,” she tells me. “We made enough profit to pay for the new counter I want to put in.”
“We’re ordering it first thing on Monday.” Finn puts an arm around her. “Right after we pick up the generator.”
“That’s wonderful.” Our remodel is moving along more swiftly than anticipated. “Have fun at the show.”
Cinder adjusts a dangling earring, as if it’s bugging her. She rarely wears jewelry, and this piece looks too flamboyant to be one of hers. It must belong to Matilda. “We’ll need to double our wax order, too. The new Magical Forest and the Balsam and Cedar scents are huge hits.”
I smile, pleased to hear my take on two of Eunice’s recipes are adding to our bottom line. “I’ll make a note to do so.” I motion her to lean closer. “Did you hear that Robyn may have caught the killer?”
“No! What happened?”
I share what Ollifax told me, but I still haven’t received a call to confirm it.
“That’s a relief,” Cinder says, finally removing the earrings and shoving them in a pocket. “The woods are safe again.”
Maybe, I think.
Leo and Belle show as they’re departing. “We’re staying in at the mansion tonight to play board games,” she tells me, Jayne in her arms.
Leo towers over most people there. “As long as you don’t need us,” he adds.
My gaze falls on Ren, across the way, who’s talking and laughing with Belle’s boss, Daisy. “We’ll be fine. Sounds like Robyn caught the culprit, by the way.”
Belle’s hand goes to her chest. “What a relief!”
“If I need you, I’ll call,” I tell them. “Enjoy your evening.”
An hour later, Zelle enters, turning heads. She’s left her hair down and put relaxed curls in it, inserting a sparkling hairpin or two throughout. The color is a rich copper color and she wears a slinky, blue dress and matching heels, her beauty dazzling.
She stops at the desk, eyeing the remains of the gift bags, and my simple
navy skirt and tunic. “Looks like this is going well.”
“It is. I take it you’re going on a date?”
The Happily Ever After dating app has provided her with several potential guys in the past month, but none have panned out. She gives an offhanded shrug. “He’s cute and he likes to cook. I’ll give it a try.”
I can see in her eyes that she’s not interested in this fellow, but she keeps trying to find a relationship that will bring her happiness. The only man she’s ever loved left her when they were eighteen. I wonder if she’ll ever get over that heartbreak. “I hope you have fun.”
“Can you keep an eye on Rumpelstiltskin for me? They’re predicting storms again later and he gets so agitated when I’m not home and it thunders.”
“No problem.”
“Thanks. Have an…uneventful evening.”
Once closing time comes, Ren and I clean up the empty cups, wash out the punch bowl, and straighten the chairs. The night air is nippy as we walk to Enchanted, and I can smell rain in the air. The setting sun reflects off the glass panes of shop windows as we pass, and I feel relaxed, even happy.
I make potato soup and warm homemade bread as he relates stories folks told him about their pets. Rumpelstiltskin and McAllister take turns climbing in his lap for attention.
Uncle Odin has gone to get a spot to watch the live show and Matilda’s group won’t be here until seven, but she is bustling around in the new section downstairs, preparing for it.
“Your open house was a huge success.” I feed Lenore in her cage. “It was a great idea. A bunch made appointments and I wrote them in your calendar. I hope that was okay.”
“Of course.” He smiles, pleased. “I knew moving here was a good idea.”
We keep the conversation light as we eat. The various pets scrounge around looking for crumbs or trying to plead with me to give them sections of the bread.
Ren has a second bowl of soup. “Delicious meal. You’re an amazing cook.”
“Thank you. My mother was, too. I miss her.”
“You and your sisters have a fascinating heritage. I’m envious.”
Red Hot Wolfie Page 10
