by Tonya Kappes
“That sounds wonderful.” I pushed her door open and Lilith wiggled her nose just as King lunged at my ankles.
He squealed and ran back toward Mrs. Hubbard’s kitchen.
“I don’t know what it is about you two, but he is scared to death of you.” Mrs. Hubbard motioned for us to come in before she took off after him. “King, baby. Come to Mommy.”
“Look.” I pointed to the binoculars Mrs. Hubbard kept next to the chair positioned right in front of her window that had a perfect view of our house. “She sits here all day long and watches everything we do.”
“Girls,” Mrs. Hubbard called. “Why don’t you come in here because there’s not enough room for us in there.”
Lilith glared and pointed, looking down her finger like she was looking down a gun. “It takes every inch in my witch finger not to cast a spell on her that even Auntie Meme would be mad at me for.”
“Stop.” I pushed her hand down to her side. “She’s an old lady. Now you see why I had suggested her cakes for the diner. It keeps her out of Mom’s hair and sight, but now she’d done messed that up.”
“Coming!” Lilith called and motioned for me to go ahead of her.
The kitchen smelled so good. Her little cakes were cooling on a cooling rack. I couldn’t help but notice a few of them were burnt. Nothing like the ones she’d made for me a couple of months ago and far from the ones she’d made at The Brew.
“That’s a lot of cakes for a late night.” I sat down at the small café table in her kitchen. I reached for the plate she’d put in the middle of the table, but noticed the sides of them were burnt where there wasn’t icing.
“My house is falling apart.” She sat down. Her lips frowned. “I can deal with the faucets dripping, the water leak that made my ceiling in my bedroom fall, and the dishwasher is broken, but my stove.” She shook her head. Sadness crept up into her eyes. “I don’t know what I’m going to do if I can’t get that fixed.”
“I’m so sorry the cakes didn’t work out at the diner.” I felt a little responsible now that I new she really needed the money.
“It’s fine. I’m old and not many people want to hire me, but I guess I could go to that big box store and be a greeter.” She leaned over and rubbed her ankle. “I’m not sure how my feet will hold up, but I bet it will help pay for rent.”
“Rent?” I asked.
“Yes. I’m afraid I’m going to have to move off of Belgravia Court.” She sighed; her head fell to her chest.
Lilith and I looked at each other. There was no way I could ask about Joe. I didn’t want to make her sadder than she already was since I knew the date hadn’t turned out the way she’d hoped. At least that was according to Joe.
“Where is Brian?” Lilith asked.
I looked at Lilith and mouthed, “What?”
“Why on Earth would you ask about Brian?” I whispered in fear Mrs. Hubbard was going to bring up his drunken escapade.
“Now that your family is the talk of the court with all that police ruckus over there, they’ve all forgotten about how one of you got him drunk.” Her eyes dragged back and forth between Lilith and me. “But I’m going to put that behind me and enjoy him for the next few days until he has to go back to the city.”
She stood back up and walked over to her counter where she retrieved a stack full of sketchpads and set them on the table.
“He’s such a good artist. I tried to tell him that he needed to do art and not worry with all the gallery stuff.” She flipped pages of a sketchbook.
“You know that nothing was going on at our house.” Lilith had decided to get the rumors stopped that I’m sure Mrs. Hubbard had already started about the police.
“I wasn’t going to say anything.” Mrs. Hubbard wrinkled her forehead and put her teacup up to her lips.
Sure you weren’t, my mind said as my hand dragged one of the sketchpads across the table. I’d better occupy myself with Brian’s sketches so my lips wouldn’t get me in trouble.
“No, really. Mom has been dating this cop and they were over helping her get a huge Christmas tree out of the attic, that’s all,” Lilith lied. “You know Mom, she is bound and determined to win the Christmas tour first place.”
Lilith had struck a cord with Mrs. Hubbard. She was always trying to win every single competition Belgravia Court participated in. But with the unfortunate events of the status of her house and income, it looked like there was no way she’d be participating this year.
The two of them bantered back and forth and my fingers kept swiping the pages. Mrs. Hubbard was right. Brian was a fantastic artist and it did seem a shame that he wasted his talents seeking out other artists’ work to display when he should’ve been displaying his own.
My mind skidded to a stop as my eyes scanned the two-page sketch layout. It was a pencil design that I was positive I’d seen somewhere else. There was something written very small in the corner of the page. I focused on those words and used a little bit of magic to enlarge them.
“The Ville?” I gasped. Blood pulsed through my veins as I tried to suck air into my lungs. “Franklin?”
“Huh?” Lilith glanced my way. “Are you okay?”
I swung the book around to Mrs. Hubbard. “Mrs. Hubbard?” I jabbed the picture. “Who is Franklin?”
“My nephew.” She looked at me funny and drew back. “Well,” she let out a chuckle, “his real name is Franklin Bingo and he hated that name. So when he went to New York after high school, he decided to change his name to Brian Mingo. You know artists.”
“Where did he go to high school?” I asked.
“Louisville High of course.” She confirmed my worst fear. “His parents insisted he go there.”
“Do you happen to know when he graduated?” I asked, and when she told me the exact same year that Mick Jasper, Angela Fritz, and Big Stevenson had graduated, my gut churned. “And do you know where he is right now?” I closed my eyes.
“He said he was going to see an old friend at the Galt House and would be back later.” She tilted her head. “Why?”
“I’ve got to go. I’ll see you later, Lilith.” I grabbed the sketchbook and didn’t wait for her to stop me. I hoped I wasn’t too late to save Georgette because I was one-hundred-percent positive that was Franklin’s next move.
I just couldn’t believe it. This entire time the killer was right across the green from me and I had no idea. It all made sense to me. Angela Fritz had stolen his design and I’m not sure how, but it was his revenge.
As fast as I could, I ran across the green to grab whatever transportation necessary to get me to the Galt House.
“Mom!” I screamed as soon as I slammed the door behind me. I looked in the family room but all the herbs had been cleaned up and the snowmen were all lit up and smiling. “Auntie Meme!” I yelled running through winter wonderland and into the kitchen.
The back door was open and the outside twinkling lights Mom had strung across our outdoor living space and around the pool were swaying in the cool breeze. The sound of laughter that trickled through the sound of the rustlings leaves seemed to be coming from the garage.
“Mom?” I headed through her herb garden and out the gate to the garage where the Spell Circle had gathered around Vinnie and were drinking bubbling brew that I was sure they’d whipped up from a potion. “What is going on?” I asked and looked at the cups they were holding.
“You are not going to believe this,” Mom spoke with delight. “Our very own Flora knows how to work on cars. Her father was a mechanic.”
“This means that I’ll have Vinnie fixed up in no time.” Flora’s brown hair stuck up even more as she ran her hand down the side of Vinnie.
It was as if she’d put her head in an electric socket, only her hair did that most of the time anyway, it was just extra tonight. She circled the car a few times, keeping her hand on it the entire time. The more she went around Vinnie, the quicker her steps became. On her last lap, she grabbed Mom’s cup and when she made it t
o the gas tank, she poured the contents of Mom’s bubbling drink into the tank. Flora used her hand to rub into Vinnie’s panel the drips that didn’t make it into the tank. She did another lap and grabbed Charmary’s cup and repeated exactly what she’d done with Mom’s. She continued this process until all the cups of bubbling brew were inside of Vinnie’s tank.
A couple of times I tried to protest that Vinnie wouldn’t like the mess and tried to ask Mom permission to use her broom for an emergency fly, but was greeted with hushes and shushing.
“That was not fun, Maggie Park.” Vinnie’s lights blinked on.
Everyone, including myself, jumped with joy.
“We’ve got to go.” It was like Vinnie hadn’t skipped a beat. The driver’s side door opened, I gave Flora a big hug and kiss on the cheek before I got in the car.
“I’m so sorry,” I said to Vinnie as soon as he pulled out of the alley. “But I need you to take me to the Galt House as fast as you can. I’m going to make Franklin Bingo pay for not only what he did to those women, but what he did to you.”
“Thank you, Maggie. I think I tried to warn you.” Vinnie sounded a little vague. “At least I feel like I did. I am still a little bit groggy but I will be fine as soon as I get my pistons greased and that slop off the side of my car.”
“You did great. I’m sure you’ll be feeling back to old Vinnie in no time.” I assured him.
The air inside of me and the air in Vinnie was tense. I’d forgotten my cell phone on the counter in the kitchen.
“I need you to go get Mick as soon as you drop me off and bring him to the Galt House. Understand?” I asked Vinnie since he didn’t seem to be on top of his game just yet.
“Yes, Maggie. You listen to your necklace.” Vinnie skidded to a stop in front of the Galt House and opened the door.
“Listen?” I asked.
“Yes, Flora put in the new voice system when she fixed me. This allows you and me to communicate through voice instead of feeling.” That was going to make it a lot easier on me and quicker when I needed him.
“I’ll talk if I need you.” I jumped out of the car with the sketchbook in my hand and didn’t look back.
There must’ve been a big event happening at the hotel. There were ladies dressed in formals and men dressed in tuxedos.
I headed straight for the elevator fully prepared to do whatever magic I needed to do to get to the penthouse.
“Maggie?” The voice caught me by surprise.
“Mick,” I stood in shock that he was here and with a beautiful brunette on his arm whose royal blue sequin gown clung to her skin showing off a killer body underneath. “What are you doing here?”
“Dr. Artie’s retirement party is tonight, but he’s technically not retiring until January first.” He kept his eyes on me. I kept my eyes on her. “This is Lori Littleman, Dr. Artie’s daughter.”
“Nice to meet you.” I threw a grin on my face knowing that Brian was upstairs this very minute trying to kill Georgette, unless he already had. “Can I speak with you for a minute?”
“Lori. Mick,” Dr. Artie called from the entrance of the grand ballroom. We all looked at him and he waved them to come on.
“It’s time.” Lori patted Mick’s arm. “If you’ll excuse us. We are introducing Daddy to the party goers.”
“I’m sorry.” My head ducked front and back as I tugged on Mick’s coat. “I just need him for a tiny second.”
“Hurry up,” Mick pulled me out of earshot of Lori.
“You can’t go in there. I need you.” My heart was beating so hard I felt like it was going to pop right out of my chest. “Brian Mingo is really a guy you went to school with. Franklin Bingo. Do you remember him?”
“No.” Mick shook his head.
“Here.” I shoved the open sketchbook in his face. I looked over at Dr. Artie who was checking his watch and tapping the toe of his fancy shoe waiting for Mick. “You met him the other night at The Derby when you were there with me and Lilith. He’s Mrs. Hubbard’s nephew. Don’t you remember?”
“You know; I remember seeing him but I didn’t pay too much attention.” He shut the book and handed it to me.
“Anyways, long story short,” I had no time to tell him how I got the sketch book, “Mrs. Hubbard said that he was here to say goodbye to friend before he headed back to the city. Georgette is up there with the actual painting. Didn’t you say that Angela was having you look into Franklin Bingo?”
“He went to school with us.” He snapped his fingers. “You know that picture you put on the dart board at The Derby?” I nodded. “That other kid in the background was Franklin. I remember that he had a huge crush on Angela and she didn’t give him the time of day. One day,” it was as if Mick was putting together the clues as to why Mick was being targeted and anyone associated with him was being murdered, “she had me say something to the kid because he’d been stalking her and drawing all sorts of strange pictures.”
“But how did she get his design and why would she call it her own?” I questioned.
“Only one way to find out.” Mick jabbed the up elevator button and the door slid open.
“Mick!” Dr. Artie yelled as we started to step inside. “Where are you going?” He hurried over to the elevator and put his hand on the door to stop it from closing.
“You’re going to have to start without me,” Mick said. “I’ve got a job to do.”
“You are on leave and I’m not sure your mental health is up to it.” Dr. Artie didn’t worry about what his guests would think. “I think you need to come on in and tell Burt whatever it is that’s going on.”
“I don’t have time,” Mick looked at me and I touched the penthouse button with a little magic so it would light up since we didn’t have the penthouse access key.
“Then I’m going with you. I’m not going to let you destroy yourself.” Dr. Artie jumped into the elevator.
The closer we got to the penthouse, the hotter my necklace got warning me of danger. I rubbed my finger across it so Vinnie knew I was okay and recognized the alert. Mick watched as I did my witch thing, realizing that I had been communicating with Vinnie.
“Damn, I wish I had my gun.” Mick stared at the floor levels as they lit up. When we hit the penthouse, he looked at me and sighed, “You ready?’
“Yes.” I jumped out of the elevator door with Mick and Dr. Artie behind me. I knew that I was going to have to erase any witchy things Dr. Artie might see me do but Mick and I certainly could use the backup.
The door to Angela’s penthouse was slightly open. I pushed it with the toe of my shoe and looked inside.
“Georgette?” I called. When I didn’t hear a response, I walked a little deeper into the penthouse. “Brian, it’s Maggie Park, your aunt’s neighbor. Are you here?”
“Look around,” Mick said when we noticed the paper on The Ville painting had been ripped open and the painting was exposed. “Be careful.”
Mick picked up a candlestick from the side table next to the couch and held it like a weapon. He went in the opposite direction as me and Dr. Artie seemed to stay frozen at the door.
I walked into the bedroom and it looked like Georgette had been packing the suitcase that was lying on top of the bed. Next to the bed, lying on the floor was the black hat. A shifting noise barely sounded in my ear. I pushed open the bathroom door. The curtain on the bathtub was closed, but swaying.
“Are you in here, Brian?” I asked and took another step closer to the tub. I gripped the edge of the shower curtain and ripped it open.
Georgette and Brian were gagged and bound to each other. Both bright eyed and frightened. Brian had on the black coat.
“Oh my gosh,” I gasped. “How did you get tied up if you were here to kill her?” I asked, circling a finger around Georgette, untying her.
She grabbed the edges of the gag and pulled it down and over her chin.
“I don’t know how you did that, but get me out of here.” She jumped up and immediately turned
to Brian to help him.
“Wait.” I tried to stop her. “Isn’t he a bad guy?”
“No.” She jerked the gag out of his mouth.
“I just want what is mine. The Ville.” Brian pleaded, “Get us out of here before he comes back to finish the job like he promised.”
“But you’ve been following me around with that hat and coat.” I pointed out.
“I have because I was trying to find out where Angela was staying. I came to the diner to see my aunt Gladys that morning, but then I met you that night when I went to talk to Angela. She was talking to you. I figured you knew her and she refused to tell me where she was staying and had instructed her people to keep me at a distance.” He stood up.
There was no more time for a question and answer session. The actual killer had been here and we had to find them.
After we got Brian untied and while on our way out of the bathroom, I blew a little hot air out of my mouth, dragging my chin up and down to let the erasing spell seep into their entire bodies. They only needed to remember that I saved them, not how it was done.
“Mick, why are you just sitting?” I asked with dismay when I saw him just sitting on the couch like it was no big deal there was a killer on the loose.
“Because I told him to.” Dr. Artie stood in the bar area of the room fixing himself a cocktail. There was a gun lying next to the ice bucket. “I really didn’t want to kill him this way, but I guess I’m going to have to.”
“That’s the man that killed Angela,” Georgette cried out and buried herself in Brian’s arms.
“He’s the one who tied us up and said he’d be back to kill us.” Brian hugged Georgette to his chest.
“I guess I don’t know what’s going on.” I looked around the room. I thought for sure Brian was the killer. It had all added up. My necklace warmed. “A little too late,” I whispered hoping that Vinnie would hear me if it was true what he’d said about the voice thing.
“I have no idea what SKUL was thinking when they hired you. I knew Burt was an idiot, but when he proposed that he hire a citizen who could fit in, it just made him downright a fool,” Dr. Artie scoffed. “You see,” he picked up the gun and motioned for Georgette, Brian, and me to join Mick on the couch and we did. “I’ve been waiting all these years for the perfect time to kill the women in Mick’s life and make him feel the pain I have felt. I’d waited patiently for him to get married and have children so I could do to him what he did to my precious Marjorie.”
