Brin pushed herself off her chair and stood up. “I’ll deal with that. You go back to the hotel and continue with your investigation.”
“But you’ve got Blythe to look after,” I protested.
“She’ll be fast asleep for the next few hours. I could do with a bit of fresh air. I’ve been stuck in this house for days. I know enough magic to get Esther’s cellar door open. I’ll tell Esther about this latest murder too.” She gave me a serious look. “And when Esther asks me about Blythe, I shall lie convincingly. I’m an excellent liar. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m sure Esther could get the truth about Blythe out of you in a very short time.”
I nodded. “She would. Gran has a way of looking at me that makes me confess to things I haven’t even done.” I stood up. “If anything is wrong with Gran, will you let me know immediately?”
“Of course.”
Stanley and I reluctantly left Blythe’s house. I kept my gaze firmly turned away from the direction of the cellar door as we turned left at the end of the path.
Stanley said quietly, “I’m sure Esther is okay.”
“You don’t sound convinced,” I replied.
He sighed. “I’m not convinced about anything today. There’s a weird feeling in the air. Again.”
Chapter 15
We trudged back to the hotel and I wished I had my broomstick with me. I was tempted to call on Luca to see if we could collect it from his apartment. But if he was catching up on his much-needed sleep, I didn’t want to disturb him.
As we headed along the driveway to the hotel, I was deep in thought about the questions I would ask Ovrid. I jumped as someone suddenly called out my name.
Stanley hissed at my side, “Who said that? Was it Astrid? Is she sneaking up on us? I’m ready for her.”
“It wasn’t Astrid’s voice. It came from that creature over there. The one who’s waving at us.”
We turned to face the creature who was sitting on the bench that Luca and I had sat on earlier. He was wearing a tartan dressing gown over blue pyjamas. Fluffy slippers adorned his feet. He waved cheerfully at us, and I waved back.
Stanley whispered, “He’s got the face of a dragon but the body of a human. What is he?”
“I don’t know,” I whispered back. “But we can’t just stand here waving at each other.”
We walked over to the waving creature and I said hello.
He said, “Hi Cassia. Hello Stanley. I’m Ovrid. I understand you’ve been looking for me.” He sighed and a puff of smoke floated out of his nostrils. “I can’t believe Augustus is dead. And murdered too? What a shock.”
I took a closer look at Ovrid. Even though he was sitting down, I could tell he was slight of figure. His skin was a pale shade of green and his eyes were amber. I discreetly aimed my attention at his back and saw wings folded up neatly in that area.
Ovrid caught me looking and said, “I’m a two-legged dragon if you’re wondering. I can fly and do the whole breathing fire thing, but I can also walk around happily on two feet. I prefer to walk if I’m honest. Mr Collins told me about Augustus, and that you wanted to talk to me. What can I help you with?” He shifted along the bench making room for Stanley and me.
I sat down and Stanley took up a position at my side.
I began, “Can you tell me more about yourself, please? How did you get your job with the hotel?”
“I was approached by Mr Collins,” Ovrid explained. “He was looking for bed warmers for his hotel and he knew about the special gifts my clan has. Did Mr Collins explain about us? We’re extremely hot-blooded and leave a lot of heat behind in whatever area we sleep in. I’m more hot-blooded than most and I’ve caused a few fires in beds in my time. These specially made pyjamas help to regulate my heat. When Mr Collins talked to me, he said I would be perfect for the job at his hotel.”
“When did he talk to you?”
“A few months ago. I think he’d been speaking to some of my friends who told him I was one of the warmest dragons in the area.” He gave us a bashful smile. “I do have another gift too. Soft music makes me fall asleep instantly and increases my body heat. Mr Collins liked the idea of that. He said it would mean I could do more jobs at a quicker pace.”
I kept my tut to myself. “Do you like working here?”
“Oh, yes. The other members of staff are lovely. Not that I see them much because I’m usually working.”
“Do you miss your family?”
Ovrid looked down at his dressing gown and picked a bit of fluff off it. His voice was quiet as he said, “I miss Mum. I only get to see her now and again. I put in a lot of hours here. I’m grateful for my job.” He looked up and gave me a bright smile. “Did you want to talk about Augustus now? I saw him early this morning when I was on my way to a job. It was just after four.”
I asked, “How did Augustus look? Was he worried?”
Ovrid shook his head. “He looked his usual grumpy self.” His hand flew to his mouth. “I shouldn’t have said that, it was mean.” He lowered his hand. “But he was a grumpy goblin; everyone said so.”
“How did Augustus feel about you?”
Spots of colour appeared in Ovrid’s green cheeks. “He didn’t like me. He accused me of stealing his clients. I explained his former clients had asked Mr Collins for my services. I didn’t have a choice about who I worked for. He accused me of lying and I told him to speak to Mr Collins about it.”
“And did he?” I asked.
Ovrid nodded. “It didn’t go well.” He looked at his watch. “I must be going. I don’t want to be late for my next job.”
“Just a moment, please. How do you know the talk between Augustus and Mr Collins didn’t go well?”
“I accidentally overheard them as I was walking along the landing above the reception area. Augustus said Mr Collins had no right to bring another bed warmer into the hotel, and that Augustus didn’t have as many clients now. Mr Collins said it made financial sense to hire me as I could do more jobs in a shorter time. Augustus argued that I didn’t leave a goblin smell behind in the bed like he did. Mr Collins replied that most of his guests preferred that. Mr Collins went on to say that it wasn’t just goblins who were requesting the hotel’s bed warming services. Many beings liked the idea of getting into a warm bed but didn’t want the bed to smell like a goblin.” Ovrid swallowed nervously. “Can I go now?”
Stanley gave me a small nudge. He was picking up on the same thing I was.
I said to Ovrid, “There’s something you’re not telling us. We’re dealing with a murder investigation here, and we need all the facts. Please tell us everything.”
Ovrid gave us a small nod. “Okay. When Augustus was arguing with Mr Collins, he said he wanted an increase in his wages to make up for his lack of jobs. Mr Collins laughed and said if Augustus wasn’t happy, he could leave the hotel. Augustus said he would never leave the hotel and Mr Collins couldn’t make him because Augustus knew his secret.”
“His secret?” My eyebrows rose. “Did Augustus say what that secret was?”
Ovrid shook his head. “Mr Collins mumbled something that I couldn’t hear. Augustus laughed in a nasty way and then walked away. I heard him whistling to himself as he did so.”
“When was this argument?”
“About two or three weeks ago.” Ovrid frowned. “After that argument with Mr Collins, Augustus stopped accusing me of stealing his clients. He seemed happy enough with only having a few clients. Perhaps he was making plenty of money from those clients? Maybe Mr Collins gave him a raise?”
Stanley said darkly, “Or maybe Augustus was blackmailing Mr Collins over his secret.”
“Blackmail?” Ovrid said. “I don’t like the sound of that.” He stood up. “I really have to go. If I’m late, Mr Collins will take money from me and I need every penny for – ” He abruptly stopped talking, waved a hand in farewell and jogged away.
We watched him go.
Stanley said, “I think we need to talk to Jeff Co
llins again.”
Chapter 16
When we entered the hotel, I saw Dilly perched on a stepladder polishing a mirror. I thought it would be a great opportunity to speak to her, so I headed in her direction.
I didn’t get very far.
“Cassia Winter! I want a word with you! Stay right where you are.”
It was Jeff Collins. There was anger on his powdered face as he stormed over to us.
“Why’s he so angry?” Stanley mumbled.
“We’re about to find out,” I replied.
Jeff Collins came to a stop in front of us. The smell of apples was overpowering and I could feel my eyes stinging.
He wagged a finger at me. “Was it your idea of a joke?”
“A joke? I don’t know what you’re talking about. Please, stop wagging your finger at me.” My eyes smarted with the sour smell and I could feel a tear escaping. I took a step back and noticed Stanley doing the same.
Jeff lowered his accusing finger. “The body! The dead, decaying body of that goblin!”
“Yes? What about it? Has Augustus turned up yet?”
“Cut that out right now! I’m not in the mood for another one of your jokes. As if you don’t know where the goblin’s body is! The cheek of you.”
I frowned. “I’ve no idea what you’re talking about. Can you explain yourself?”
Jeff threw me a look of disgust. “There’s no point acting the innocent. I know you took the body.”
“The body? I didn’t take his body. Why are you saying that?”
“Because it’s true. You sneaked his body out when I was busy on reception. Then you pretended you hadn’t so that I would look bad. You wanted me to lose bookings. You wanted me to lose money.” His eyes narrowed. “Everyone wants to take my money away. Everyone.”
“I don’t care about your money!” I declared. “I did not take Augustus’ body away. When I left here earlier, I went to the mines with Stanley and Luca.”
“She did,” Stanley confirmed.
I continued, “Then we came straight back here to find the body had gone.”
“That’s what you say. You could have come back, made yourself invisible and sneaked past me on reception. You’re a witch; you can do that sort of thing.”
Stanley stepped forward and lifted his furry chin. “Cassia is not a sneaky person. And she doesn’t know how to turn herself invisible yet. So there.”
I gave Stanley a nod of appreciation before looking back at Jeff Collins. “Why are you accusing me of taking his body?”
Jeff said, “You were seen.”
“Seen? Where? When? By whom?”
“You were seen inside Augustus’ room just after you supposedly went to the mines. You were waving your arms about and the goblin’s body was moving upwards.” He turned his stare to Stanley. “You were seen there too.”
“What?” Stanley’s tail shot up in indignation.
Jeff went on, “Rod Deathrunner saw you two. He’s just told me about it.”
“Who’s Rod Deathrunner?” I raised my finger now. “And why was he near Augustus’ room when I told you not to let anyone near it?”
Jeff let out a nervous laugh. “Rod’s a ghoul. He might have got the wrong end of the stick when I told him the room was out of bounds. He might have accidentally wandered over to it by mistake.” He pulled at his shirt collar and gave me a small smile.
I folded my arms. “Did Rod accidentally pay you too? Tell me the truth.”
“Money was exchanged. I think it was more of a donation.” He shot me a defensive look. “The point is, you were seen in Augustus’ room whisking his body away. Then you later told me someone else had taken it. But it was you two all along!”
I shook my head. “It wasn’t me.”
“And it wasn’t me,” Stanley added.
I looked around the hotel foyer. “Where is Rod Deathrunner? I’d like to speak to him. I’ll get the truth out of him.”
Jeff turned to the left and said, “He’s sitting over there with his friends. Try not to upset him. I don’t want him to demand a refund.”
Jeff gave me a stern look before walking away.
I looked down at Stanley and said, “If Rod’s telling the truth, it sounds like someone’s been impersonating us.”
He shuddered. “I feel violated. Who would do such a thing?”
My eyebrows rose. “Perhaps a shapeshifter?”
“Astrid? You think she’d do that?”
“I wouldn’t put anything past her. She must have had help if both of us were seen in Augustus’ room.” I steered my focus to the left and said, “Let’s have a word with Rod Deathrunner. I wonder if that’s his real name?”
We went over to a seating area which contained two sofas facing each other. A young man sat in the middle of one sofa, and four similar looking men sat opposite him on the other sofa. They were all pale-faced and skinny. Each one wore black jeans and a black T-shirt. As we got closer, I could make out images on the T-shirts: gravestones, skulls, cemeteries, the grim reaper. They had a gruesome theme going. The man sitting on his own was holding his left hand out and the others were staring at it reverently.
I came to a stop and gave a polite cough. The young men jumped and looked our way. One of them hissed, ‘It’s the witch! She’s come back for you, Rod!’
The man sitting alone with his hand out raised it protectively in the air and said to me, “Don’t shout at me again!”
“Again? I’ve never met you before. Are you Rod Deathrunner?”
Rod gave me a nervous nod and glanced at his companions. “Don’t leave. Don’t let me be alone with her. She’ll carry out her threat. I know she will.”
His companions huddled closer together on the sofa and gave him a nod in acknowledgement.
One of them said to me, “Is it true you’ve seen dead bodies? How many have you seen? What did they look like?” Eagerness crossed his features and he licked his lips. “Did you touch them? Smell them? What did they smell like?”
“Len!” Rod shot out. “This isn’t the time for fun. Cassia and her familiar are here to carry out her threat, just like she said she would.”
“Sorry,” Len mumbled. “I can’t help it.”
I said, “Rod, it wasn’t me who you saw earlier. Someone was impersonating me.”
“And me,” Stanley said.
“Yeah, right. You’ll be telling me next you didn’t take that bloated goblin’s body away.” He kept his left hand elevated as he talked.
“I didn’t. I was at the mines with Stanley and a friend of mine when that happened. I’m dealing with Augustus’ murder investigation and I’d like you to tell me what you saw earlier.”
Len rubbed his hands together and said, “Tell her how the body looked, Rod. Tell her about the awful smell coming from him. The smell of death. Tell her how blue his skin was.”
“Blue? He was pink when I last saw him,” I said. I wondered what was affecting Augustus’ body in that way. Poison?
Rod said, “He was blue. You were there. You made a comment about it. I don’t know why you’re lying about it now. Is this a trick? Are you going to punish me if I say the wrong thing?”
I rubbed my forehead. I’d had enough of this nonsense.
I pointed to the four men on the sofa and demanded, “Did any of you see my imposter?”
As one, they shook their heads.
“And did any of you go to Augustus’ room after he died?”
Another shake of their heads.
“Right. Then I want you out of here while I talk to Rod.” I glowered at them. “Now, before I turn you into something small and slimy.”
Len’s face lit up at that, so I corrected myself and said, “Something cute and cuddly.”
Len recoiled and got to his feet. “Come on, lads. Let’s get a beer.”
“Hey! Fellas! Don’t leave me alone with the witch!” Rod implored.
Len looked at me and said, “If you’re going to kill him, give us a yell before
you do anything. We don’t want to miss it.” He gave me a chilling smile before walking away.
I sat down on the sofa opposite Rod. Stanley sat at my side and we stared at the ghoul.
I began, “I don’t have time to waste. I’m going to ask you questions, and you’re going to respond without any preamble or nonsense. Okay?”
Rod nodded.
“Why were you outside Augustus’ room after he died?”
“Mr Collins said I could, if I was quick.”
“Did you pay Mr Collins?”
“I did. A good amount too.”
I nodded. “What did you see when you got to the room?”
“I saw you and your cat. You were standing next to the body with your hands held out over it. You were mumbling to yourself and the body was lifting off the bed.”
“What did the body look like? You mentioned it being blue.”
“It was blue. I’ve seen Augustus around the hotel, and I know his skin colour used to be green. But it was blue; a dark blue.” Rod still had his left hand in the air.
I said, “You said I threatened you earlier. Like I explained, that wasn’t me. What did the Cassia you saw say to you?”
Rod pursed his lips in disgust before saying, “She wasn’t very nice. She saw me at the doorway, told me her name and boasted that she was the best witch that had ever graced the town of Brimstone. When I asked what she was doing, she said she had better things to do than deal with a dead body and that she was going to dispose of it somewhere. She told me not to tell anyone or else she’d put a hideous curse on me that would turn my skin inside out.”
I exchanged a look with Stanley.
Stanley looked at Rod and said, “Cassia would never say anything like that. Did the cat say anything?”
“She did.”
“She?” Stanley asked. “I’m not a she! Can’t you see how macho I am?” He puffed his skinny, grey chest out.
Rod shrugged. “The cat definitely had a female voice when it spoke. She told me to clear off and mind my own business. The witch didn’t like that, and she told the cat to shut up.”
I said to Stanley, “Maybe the shapeshifter who was impersonating you didn’t know you were male.”
Brimstone Witch Mysteries - Box Set 1 Page 38
