Charming Blend (A Paramour Bay Cozy Paranormal Mystery Book 5)

by Kennedy Layne

  Good thinking. Good ol’ Desmond could have been having an affair with Bree Stonehedge, devised a plan where his entire staff embezzled money from the malt shop, and intended to have all of them fly to Cancun so he could kill his co-conspirators while sailing away with Bree on a yacht.

  I recently recalled Ted saying something about being hooked on afternoon soap operas. Leo must have popped in on Ted a time or two, because his version of what could have happened was a wee bit dramatic.

  “Desmond is still out of town,” Cora stated with a haughty tone. I hadn’t meant anything by my suggestion, other than that he was part owner of the shop. Cora seemed to think I proposed she call her husband because she couldn’t handle this situation by herself. “I’ll speak to Liam myself and see that this is all straightened out.”

  “I’m sure you’ll get your chance,” I muttered, grateful when Leo had taken the lead and not-so-gracefully guided everyone through the storage room, through the ivory-colored beads, and into the main area of the tea shop. Sam and I were bringing up the back, giving me time to throw a few questions his way. “Sam, why do you think Bonnie or Roger are the ones who set the fire? If they talked you into helping them, just come clean with Liam. I’m sure he’ll understand, and you telling the truth will only help your case.”

  I think what you’re doing is called entrapment.

  “I didn’t have anything to do with the fires, but Billy and I were inside the malt shop when the first blaze happened,” Sam confessed underneath his breath so that the women in front of us couldn’t hear what he was saying. “Roger had come into the malt shop that morning, but he’d left within the hour because he hadn’t been feeling good. That was the reason Bonnie had to work that morning.”

  You know, I never did like the game of Clue.

  “Would someone please tell me what is going on?” Bree asked in disbelief, having waited right inside the ivory-colored fairy beads to help me navigate her nephew to a stool at one of the high-topped tables. “Sam, I’ll call your mom. It’s going to take her a while to get here from New Haven, but you really should have some type of proper representation.”

  You should tell Bree that she should take her own advice.

  I wasn’t going to do any such thing, and I was saved from having to get into a mental debate with Leo when the bell above the front door of the tea shop signaled Liam’s entrance. I breathed a sigh of relief that he would now be able to sort through all the stories…one was guaranteed to be false.

  Or most of them. I still think my theory about Desmond could be a real possibility.

  “Would someone like to tell me what is going on?” Liam asked with a frown, his brown suede jacket framing his wide shoulders perfectly. His air of authority came naturally and was something to see, but our date hadn’t officially started yet. It was best to help him crack this case so that our Valentine’s dinner could still take place. “Raven?”

  Do tell, Raven. Explain how you got us into this mess.

  I couldn’t help but shoot Leo an exasperated look before explaining what had taken place in the alleyway. It wasn’t like I had purposefully exposed myself to an arsonist. Sam was all of nineteen years old, and it had been natural for me to commence small talk. I hadn’t forced him to act odd enough for me to take notice.

  You could have walked away, Raven. You could have walked away.

  “I had been taking out the garbage for the evening when I saw Sam in the alleyway.” I shrugged with a bit of an apology Sam’s way, who was currently lifting up his injured foot on the other stool that Bree had moved closer. “I’m sorry, Sam. You were acting a bit strange.”

  Everyone in this town is at least fifteen percent strange.

  “Because I think Bonnie or Roger has been stealing money from the malt shop,” Sam exclaimed, true panic written on his features now that he was being confronted by a police officer. “I swear, Mr. Drake. I didn’t set those fires, but I’ve heard the stories about Beetle being the target. I put two and two together, and I’m pretty sure that Bonnie or Roger are—”

  Leo and I were now swiveling our heads back and forth between those talking, every now and then focusing on Liam’s reaction. With every second that ticked by, I could see our special dinner being postponed.

  “Sam, how can you think that I had anything to do with something so horrible?” Bonnie cried out, casting a pleading look Cora’s way. “Mrs. Barnes, I’ve been working for you since I was eighteen years old. I wouldn’t steal from you. You’re just trying to throw suspicion off yourself, Sam!”

  Leo had made himself comfortable on the counter near the cash register. I had too much adrenaline flowing through my body to sit on the stool, so I leaned against the side and attempted to figure out who was lying.

  It’s impossible to say who is lying in this situation. It comes so naturally to them, doesn’t it? You know, that says something about this younger generation—all out for themselves.

  “Sam wouldn’t make up a story like that,” Bree countered, doing the honorable thing and defending her nephew. I did give her props for being loyal to her family. “Cora, you’ve known our family your entire life. You know that Sam would never steal from you.”

  That’s what they all say.

  “Everyone just stop for a moment,” Liam ordered, remaining where he was, most likely in order to keep an eye on everyone. “I’ll ask the questions. Cora, have you noticed anything amiss with the malt shop’s receipts?”

  Point for the good ol’ sheriff for gaining control of the situation. I don’t believe I give him enough credit when it comes to the detective side of his job.

  Cora’s hesitancy was enough to tell everyone that there might have been a problem.

  “Beetle mentioned yesterday that he’d been thinking about the fires, and how most of them seemed to be when he was around,” Cora explained warily, her sideways glance landing on me. I straightened my shoulders defensively, ready to protect myself. “It appears that Raven suggested the fires had something to do with someone stealing. Beetle told me that he’d only been able to glance at my paperwork, but that he noticed the nightly deposits being a bit short every now and then. He made a note to look deeper into the problem, but…”

  Now the truth of it all comes out.

  “Beetle never got around to it,” Liam stated, clearly having already known this piece of information. “I’m not asking what your tax preparer’s view is on your finances, Cora. I’m asking you if you’re missing any money.”

  The good ol’ sheriff doesn’t mess around, does he?

  Chapter Eighteen

  I HAD TO admit, it was interesting to watch Liam in action. He still maintained his authoritative position by the door, although his tone reassured everyone in the shop that he would treat them fairly if they were honest with him.

  The good ol’ sheriff carries a badge, a pistol, and a pair of shiny handcuffs. If I were these folks, I’d be negotiating a deal right about now.

  “Cora?” Liam prompted the woman, tilting his head slightly so that he could get a better look at her. She pressed her lips together in a combination of frustration and embarrassment. She clasped her hands in front of her, clutching the brochure she must have picked up outside before we’d ventured into the tea shop. “Do you have any reason to believe that one of your managers stole from the malt shop?”

  “Desmond has been traveling a lot lately, and I’ve had my hands full with the ladies’ auxiliary and the rental properties we own on the bay.” Cora lifted her right hand to brush her rather stiff bangs to the side as she continued to give an explanation of why she hadn’t been monitoring the malt shop’s financials with a magnifying glass. An idea began to form which might very well allow me to have that dinner with Liam, after all. “There’s a reason I hire competent managers, so no—I don’t believe that either Roger or Bonnie stole from me.”

  Idea? No, no, no. The good ol’ sheriff has this covered. We’ve completed our sleuthing abilities for the approval of the afterl
ife. There’s no need to go past the point of no return…meaning our own deaths. One of these people might have a flamethrower hidden in their underwear. Oh, and did you notice the way Cora just threw Sam underneath the same bus that he was driving earlier? One should never leave the driver’s seat unsecured.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Barnes,” Bonnie muttered, giving Sam a sideways look that clearly spoke of her forthcoming retribution.

  If I were Sam, I certainly wouldn’t drink any malts that woman made me anytime soon.

  “Who does the brochure belong to?” I asked, causing all heads to swivel in my direction. Had no one considered the evidence? I realize that Liam hadn’t seen the so-called proof that Sam thought he had found, but what if the young man had been trying to throw all of them off his trail? “Sam, is it yours?”

  Bree Stonehedge looks more likely to me that she’d rather hang out with those scaly lizards than Sam.

  “No!” Sam denied emphatically, grabbing ahold of his aunt’s hand. Had Bree set her nephew up to steal the money with the promise of some extravagant trip? “I saw a few of them in the office over the past month, and then I finally put two and two together. I swear it’s not mine!”

  “It’s not mine, either,” Bonnie interjected, defensively wrapping her arms around her waist. “If you found it in the office, it could be Roger’s brochure.”

  “Sam, please explain to me in detail why you believe that Roger or Bonnie would steal money and then try to cover up their crimes by trying to destroy the evidence,” Liam coaxed, crossing his arms across his chest as he settled in to hear Sam’s theory. “These are serious accusations you’re making.”

  I couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought of this earlier, but if that brochure had anything to do with the reason why the money had been taken and the fires set to cover up the crime, there was a simple spell that would reveal who owned the brochure.

  Spell? Simple? I was quite enjoying myself, Raven. Now you have to go and ruin a good whodunit show. You’re liable to have every one of them on a plane in under an hour, headed for Lizard Island. I don’t want to end up as collateral damage.

  I quietly stepped back and made sure that I was behind the counter. The last thing I needed was for someone to hear me muttering a chant.

  Chant? Oh, no! You aren’t doing that aura thing again, are you?

  I wasn’t going to pry into the auras in this room, especially with Liam in the mix. I would have experienced guilt for my entire life had I betrayed his trust in that manner. No, I was going to cast a simpler spell that only required three lines. After Mom had explained the utility of using cantrips to my advantage, I’d done quite a bit of reading that night. I was more than pleased with a few of the cantrips I’d found, and one of them could be used right this minute.

  No, no, it can’t be used right this minute. I don’t want to end up on Lizard Island! Those things eat cats there, you know!

  You and Leo can rest assured that I wasn’t going to make anyone go where they didn’t want to go. The cantrip only included three lines. Even if said incorrectly, I’m almost positive that there wouldn’t be any repercussions.

  Almost? This is not a game of horseshoes, you know.

  I flexed my hand to ensure that I could easily gather enough energy, mindful that Sam was still explaining why he believed one of the managers could be the arsonist. He still claimed that he wasn’t the guilty party, thereby unknowingly declaring innocence on Bree. It wasn’t like I could tell Liam that she had a safe full of cash and extra passports without revealing how I’d come by that bit of information.

  Outing ourselves is sounding better than being eaten on Lizard Island.

  All eyes were currently trained on the young man, freeing me to be able to cast the cantrip without anyone being the wiser.

  You don’t have to do this, Raven.

  It was too late.

  I was already drawing heat into my hand, allowing the energy from the earth to use me as a conduit. When I had enough potency to use the energy pooling within me, I began to mutter softly underneath my breath.

  To whom it belongs

  Let it be shown

  Don’t let the name be wrong

  I never once let my focus stray from the brochure in Cora’s grasp. If all worked out right, the name of the one who owned the brochure should appear somewhere on the glossy paper.

  Over and over, I recited the couplet until Leo gave me the heads up that Sam was about done giving his account of Roger and Bonnie’s concern over the malt shop’s business during the winter months.

  Well, we’re all still here and in one piece. I don’t have the urge to join the lizards, so maybe you succeeded in that bit of magic without sending these few occupants of this town into chaos.

  “…not enough to accuse someone of stealing or setting fires around town, Sam.”

  “May I suggest something?”

  I was a little bit out of breath, but sometimes casting spells did that to me. I didn’t want to get off topic, but I was thinking about doing yoga again. Heidi and I used to take classes when I lived in the city, but no one had that type of business here in Paramour Bay. I should bring that up in our next town hall meeting.

  Could we finish this story before you grow the town’s chamber of commerce and advocate for more businesspeople? You realize expansion of the local community attracts more crime, right?

  “Raven, this doesn’t concern you,” Cora pointed out, completely ignoring the fact that we were standing in my tea shop or the fact that my shop was the first to be damaged by the subsequent fires. She seemed to forget that I was the one who’d lost some inventory, and that my only employee was now working out of a bakery because his office had burned to the ground. “Liam, I’ve known you since you were a toddler. Would you please allow me to reach out to my husband and discuss with him what has taken place? I’m not even sure how this situation got so blown out of proportion.”

  Me, either. I think my short-term memory issue just kicked in.

  “Sam was acting strange, and it was then that I saw the brochure fall out of his apron,” I said, filling in the holes of the story so that Liam could follow along with what had happened here. “In Sam’s defense, he immediately claimed innocence of any theft.”

  They all do…

  “Cora, may I see the brochure?” Liam asked, holding out his hand and giving Cora little choice but to hand over the pamphlet. At least I didn’t have to push the issue, because then I might have to explain how I was aware someone’s name had been written on the paper. “Cancun? Do you know if any of your employees were…”

  Ahhhh, he knows who wanted to go to Lizard Island.

  I’d been holding my breath when Liam’s voice finally trailed off. He’d conclusively seen the name of the person interested in going on vacation, but that didn’t prove that he or she stole the money for the trip.

  It does show that the employee has bad taste in vacation spots. Cancun isn’t even an island, and it’s pretty far from the Caribbean. These people really need to learn their geography.

  I still had yet to inhale some oxygen, so my sharp inhalation could be heard the moment Liam announced the name.

  “Bonnie?” Liam lifted his disappointed dark gaze from the brochure in his hand to the young woman. “Is there something you would like to tell me?”

  Chapter Nineteen

  “NO,” BONNIE SAID, drawing out the last letter of her denial. I would have felt bad for her had she not gone so far as to set fires around town. Cora was right when she confronted Sam earlier about their potentially being someone seriously hurt by such a horrible deed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. You know, the more I think about it…I’m pretty sure that Roger was talking about vacations. He could easily have set those fires. He’s been out sick most of the week.”

  It’s sad to see Bonnie try and wiggle her way out of this. Well, not that pathetic. She did almost burn up my stash of catnip. It’s a good thing that Beetle keeps my supply at his hou
se. With that said, she did try to burn that to the ground, too. On second thought, I’m not sad at all.

  The other individuals inside the shop had no idea why Liam had suddenly focused on Bonnie, but it was now very clear to everyone present who was trying to lie her way out of the situation.

  You realize this doesn’t clear up the loose threads regarding Bree Stonehedge and her safe.

  “Bonnie, you wrote your name on the brochure,” Liam pointed out, holding up the evidence for all to see. He shook his head in disappointment, clearly having known her family for some time. That was the thing about a small town…everyone knew each other. “I’m going to ask that you come over to the station with me. Cora, you too, since it seems you’ve suffered some monetary loss. We’ll contact Beetle and see if he can’t pinpoint the errors on the receipts where I expect we’ll find the lost revenue over the past month or two.”

  Look at that. Another mystery solved. Hey, go ask Bree why she has all that cash.

  I wasn’t going to pry into the woman’s personal business. Bree Stonehedge seemed nice enough, and I could truly respect her inherent need to protect her nephew. So what if she kept cash in her safe and a couple of passports that might not even be hers?

  If you must know, I do want an answer. I don’t like unfinished business, Raven. You know this.

  Another thing that reassured me that I wasn’t a bad person was that everyone seemed to have their own little secrets. It made this whole witch thing a little more bearable.

  “Liam, is it alright if I take Sam to the hospital to get his ankle looked at?” Bree asked, now that her nephew’s name had all but been cleared.

  “Of course.” Liam tapped the brochure against the palm of his hand. “Just keep your phone handy in case I have any follow-up questions. And Sam? The next time you are suspicious of someone committing a crime, please come to me.”

  You might want to tell the good ol’ sheriff that Bree could very well use those passports to avoid any type of future interview or interrogation.