Southern Curses

by Amy Boyles

“Gem of a man,” Betty muttered.

  Eva nodded. “But Donovan told me to wait in the store for a moment, that he’d be right back.”

  She cleared her throat. “So your uncle went to his office, I guess, I don’t know where, but he returned with a cage and in that cage—you’ll never guess what it was.”

  I leaned forward. “What?”

  Eva bit her bottom lip. “A falcon.”

  “What?” I said.

  “Hawk to us Southerners,” Betty said.

  I scowled. “I know what a falcon is, but it’s different from a hawk. Anyway, I’m confused. What was Donovan doing with one?”

  Betty snorted. “What was he doing ordering a dragon for you?”

  I clicked my tongue. “Good point. So what about this falcon?”

  Eva’s fingers flared. “The moment I saw it, I knew that was my familiar. The magic brewing between us was instant. It was a connection I’d never known in my entire life and wasn’t sure if I’d ever experience it again. So I nabbed it. My pa didn’t like it, but Donovan pushed, saying that the two of us were linked. That bird was meant to be mine, and I was meant to be its witch.”

  I nodded encouragingly. “And it saved your life? By being your familiar?”

  Eva shook her head. “No, by attacking my father one night when he raised a hand against me. The bird literally saved me. From that moment on, things were different between me and Pa. He left me and Mom alone, instead taking his rage out at the bar. I can’t tell you how grateful I was. If it hadn’t been for your uncle, I would be dead now, I just know it—either from my pa or because I would’ve wound up on the streets doing drugs and Lord knows what else. But instead I got my witch degree and worked hard. That was before I ever met Johnny.”

  She giggled like a little girl. “I know he’s a hard guy and maybe doesn’t always do what’s right, but I love him and he loves me. Isn’t that all most of us want in life, to love and be loved?”

  Tears stung my eyes. No, I hadn’t expected it, but Eva was something else—a breath of fresh air in a pet store.

  She dabbed her nose again and rose. “I’ve been gone for a while. Johnny’ll be looking for me.” She laid the glass on the counter. “If you see your uncle, tell him I said thanks, okay?”

  I smiled widely. “I’ll gladly tell him.”

  She gave me a stiff yet warm hug and exited the store. I leaned against the counter and glanced at Betty.

  “I didn’t expect that,” I said.

  She smirked. “I’ve learned not to expect anything. That way I’m always ready for whatever life throws at me.”

  “That doesn’t make sense in this case.”

  Betty shrugged.

  I guess she didn’t care.

  “It was a nice story,” she finally said. “I’m glad that girl found her way in life.”

  I raised my hands. “Wow. Was that so hard to admit? That you liked something?”

  “It wasn’t hard. I just didn’t feel like it.”

  The door swung open, and Axel walked in.

  “I almost forgot about you,” I said. Seeing the look of hurt in his eyes, I quickly added, “I didn’t mean it like that. What I meant was, we got carried away with the conversation. Eva had a lot to say.”

  He crossed his arms. “Tell me everything.”

  “How about I sum up—Donovan saved her life as a child by matching her with a falcon.”

  He quirked a brow. “Intriguing.”

  “Not really,” Betty said.

  I rolled my eyes. “You’re such a party pooper. Anyway, that was why she saved Donovan. Because once he saved her, and she returned the favor.”

  He frowned. “Why doesn’t Johnny know that Eva had met Donovan before?”

  I raked my fingers through my hair. “My guess is she’s ashamed of her past and doesn’t want it to hamper her future.”

  “Not an uncommon thing,” he murmured.

  “So who are you questioning next?” I said.

  “The von Trapp Family Singers,” Betty said.

  My gaze washed from her to Axel. “Is that true?”

  He nodded. “Yep. They’re giving a small benefit concert tonight.”

  “To benefit what?”

  “Themselves,” Betty said.

  I barked a laugh. “Are you kidding?”

  She shook her head. “Wish I was. That’s what the signs say.”

  I crossed to Axel and elbowed his ribs. “You taking a date?”

  He curled a hand around my shoulders. “As long as you’re saying yes.”

  Betty snickered. “If any kissing starts, I’m out of here.”

  “Okay,” I said.

  So she left. So did Axel. I finished up cleaning and went home, where I found Donovan on the back porch reading the paper.

  I leaned on the doorframe. “Garrick Young call you today?”

  He shook his head. “No, I think they’re still investigating. I’m surprised he hasn’t shown up to arrest me, though. Out of all the folks in that circle, I had the most reason to want to be rid of Carl.”

  I shook my head so emphatically I’m surprised it didn’t fall off. “Garrick’s not going to arrest you. You didn’t do it.

  Anyone can see that. But that’s not why I’m bothering you.”

  He folded the paper and set it down. “You’re not disturbing me. Sit. We haven’t had any time to chat. You’re my successor, for what it’s worth.”

  “It’s worth a lot,” I said. Then realizing that sentence made no sense, I added, “It means a lot to me. That’s what I’m trying to say.”

  He smiled. “I get it, and I appreciate you taking to the job so quickly.”

  I laughed. “It wasn’t so quickly. I wasn’t fond of animals at first.”

  “Well, there are worse things you could detest. Like what if you hated being stuck inside all day?”

  I balked. “You don’t think disliking animals is worse?”

  “Not really. After a while most animals grow on people. I had faith in you, and I’m glad I did.”

  I watched as he pulled that silver coin from his pocket and pressed it between his fingers. “A woman came in today and said that you saved her life when she was a girl.”

  He scratched his head in that absentminded way. “Oh? What did I match her with?”

  “A falcon.”

  “I remember her. She needed a familiar that would protect her.”

  I twisted a strand of hair. “You could tell that?”

  “Oh yes, you watch, you listen, you figure out a whole bunch about the witches you’re matching.”

  “I don’t feel like I would know anything like that about a person who walked into the store.”

  “You’d be surprised,” he said, tossing the coin in the air and catching it.

  No, I wouldn’t be surprised because I wasn’t kidding. I felt like I could match people, but to really go deep into what was going on internally in a witch, I didn’t feel like I had the talent to work that sort of magic.

  He palmed the coin. “I can tell by the look on your face you don’t believe me.”

  “Is it that obvious?” I said.

  “Like I said, I can figure out a lot about people. Sometimes it extends past when I’m matching them. I tell you what. Tonight I’ll teach you how to do it.”

  I leaned back. “You will?”

  “Sure. We’ll find a mark and work some magic. What plans do you have?”

  I clicked my tongue. “Funny you should ask because the Sensational Singers are giving a benefit concert in honor of themselves.”

  He rubbed his chin. “Sounds intriguing. I’ll come along, and we can do work afterward. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to go deep into people and animal minds.”

  I rubbed my thighs and rose. “I look forward to it. Thanks for teaching me.”

  “No problem.”

  I opened my mouth to say something and stopped.

  “What is it?” he said.

  “That coin. I was wond
ering about it,” I lied.

  “This?” he said, flashing it. “It just a token that I have. A bit of magic. It keeps me grounded. Ever since I rented my house out and can’t stay there, this little thing keeps me company.”

  “You rented your house? You’re supposed to be dead.”

  “Yeah,” he said, hanging his head in that embarrassed way of his. “The money goes to a trust that I have access to. That’s why I’m staying here. But anyway, touch the coin.”

  He dropped it in my palm. It hummed with energy. “Magic.”

  He nodded. “It’s very magical. For a time I lost it. Actually it was stolen from me, but I got it back and I’ve kept tight control of it ever since.”

  I handed it back. “I’ve never seen a coin like it.”

  “It’s one of a kind.”

  I smiled. “Well then, I’ll see you tonight.”

  I left the room, annoyed with myself for not asking the question that was really needling me—did Donovan plan on staying when all this was over? Would he want the store back? It was his, after all, and only mine by default.

  And if he wanted it back, where would that leave me? Stranded in Magnolia Cove without a business? What would I do? No one was hiring that I knew of, and to be honest, I loved my job—loved the animals.

  But what if Donovan wanted the store for himself? I’d be left unemployed. And the next question was—if I didn’t have the familiar shop, would I stay?

  My chest constricted. To me, my life here was tied to the animals. If I didn’t have them, I wasn’t sure I wanted to remain. After all, I’d feel like a loser—someone who was used for a short period of time without being appreciated.

  No. I made up my mind right then. If Donovan took the store back, I would leave town and head back to Nashville. After all, I could fight Rufus and win. I’d already done that. I wasn’t the strongest witch on the block, but I was getting better with each passing day.

  Yep. It was the right decision to make. If it came down to it, I’d be ready, willing and able to say goodbye to the town I loved.

  I’d just have to.

  NINE

  Axel picked me up around seven thirty. He looked dashing in a pair of slim jeans and a white button-down. That man could make a burlap sack look sexy. His muscles filled the shirt, his thighs bulged and the line of his back was straight with shoulders that looked like they could hold a small mountain.

  Okay, I’m exaggerating, but he was seriously hot and I was seriously hot for him.

  Which is why I only gave him a big smile, a dainty kiss on the cheek and did my best to ignore the cloud of testosterone that enveloped me.

  “You ready?” he said huskily.

  My knees slackened as the scent of his cologne danced up my nose. It was thick and musky and made me want to lick his ear. For all y’all’s sakes, I didn’t because I know you don’t want to hear about that.

  “Donovan’s going with us,” I said.

  He smiled. “Good.” His gaze flickered to my uncle. Axel extended his hand. “Nice to see you.”

  They shook hands, and Donovan squeezed Axel’s good shoulder. “It’s good to see you, buddy. Sorry we haven’t had a chance to talk.”

  Axel shrugged. “It’s okay. Pepper and I are going to interrogate the Sensational Singers, see what they know about Carl.”

  Donovan pushed up his glasses. “I’d like to know myself how they met him.”

  “Where are all y’all going? A rave party?” Betty waddled in and stoked the ever-burning fire in the hearth. “I heard that new club, Wicked Witch, doesn’t open for another day or two.”

  “I didn’t know a club was opening,” I said.

  Betty rolled her eyes. “It’s all Amelia’s been talking about. You should listen to your cousins every now and then.”

  “Well, we’re going to the Sensational Singers benefit concert,” I said. “Want to come?”

  Her eyes gleamed with mischief. “You gonna find out about the dad singer and Carl?”

  I grabbed my purse and slung it over one shoulder. “You know it. We’re playing detective.”

  “Well hallelujah, finally some excitement today,” Betty said. “I’ll just grab my pipe.” She shoved her pipe in the front pocket of her floral dress. “Y’all ready? Don’t just stand around with your mouths open catching flies. Let’s roll.”

  We headed over to the Magnolia Theater. It was one of those theaters you find in small towns. It had a lit marquee out front and deeply pitched stadium seating inside. I hadn’t been in the place since Mysterio the Magician had arrived in town and brought forth ghosts from folks’ past.

  Literally. My own mother had appeared in the theater with a message for me.

  But that’s another story for another time.

  We sat in the packed theater and listened for an hour while the seven entertainers sang beautiful songs, changed into clothes that made them look like they’d just exited an episode of Swamp People and even pulled out steel washboards and shakers and played music like they were living a century ago in the Smoky Mountains.

  Now before anybody takes offense, I’m not saying that’s how people in the Smokies used to play music. All I’m saying is that’s how the Sensational Singers looked—like musicians from years past.

  It was all part of the show, folks.

  Anyway, when they finished up, Axel started to lead me around back, but Betty grabbed his hand.

  “You gonna go back there and just start popping off questions to that man?”

  The man in question was the father—a tall lumberjack of a fellow who could sing like one of the three world tenors even though he was a bass. He also boasted a piercing look in his eyes that made me think he’d been in a bar fight or two—and had won hand’s down.

  Axel crossed his arms. “Why do I get the feeling you don’t think I should talk to him?”

  “Because Baron von Trapp or whatever his name is knows he’s a suspect in a murder. He also knows he sold Donovan a bad vampire bat. If you go in and start shooting, that man’s going to twist a story.”

  “And you know this how?” Axel said.

  Betty tapped her temple. “Just a sense I have.”

  Donovan scratched his head. “She’s right. He doesn’t come out and say things straight. He’s wily.”

  Axel glanced from Donovan to Betty. “You’re saying we need stealth to find out the truth about a man who travels the world with his wife and children singing Christmas songs.”

  “And Halloween ones,” Betty said.

  Axel scraped his fingers down his face. “If you want to question him, be my guest.”

  “Great,” Betty said, grabbing my arm.

  “But don’t put Pepper in any weird positions,” he said.

  Betty glanced over his shoulder. “I’m her grandmother. What do you think I’d do that for?”

  “Because you’re you,” he said.

  She swatted the air. “Trust me. We’ll come back with all the intel you need.”

  We shuffled out the front door. “Where are we going?”

  She snapped her fingers and pulled a pen and paper from the air, shoving them into my hands. “We’re going around back to have him sign your autograph book.”

  I stared at her. “What? How’re we supposed to get time with him if the man’s signing a piece of paper and running off?”

  Betty smiled. “Leave that to me.”

  My stomach flip-flopped at her words.

  We reached the back of the theater. The line to meet the Sensational Singers wasn’t long considering they’d received a standing ovation several times over.

  The back door swung wide and out stepped the father and patriarch of the troupe.

  “Thank y’all for coming,” he said. “We couldn’t do what we do without y’all.” He was a burly man with a booming voice.

  He signed a few autographs before Betty pushed me forward. “Can I have your autograph?” I said meekly. I had no idea what the heck we were doing. I figured if I
was following Betty’s lead all the way to hell, I’d just have to go with the flow of it.

  “Will you sign my granddaughter’s autograph? She just loves y’all,” Betty said.

  “Certainly,” he said.

  “Did I read in the program that your name is Baron Sensational?” she said.

  He smiled as he scribbled on the notepad. “That’s right. That’s how we came up with the name Sensational Singers.”

  Betty wiggled her way in deeper. “You’re not related to the Sensationals in Chattanooga, are you?”

  His surprised gaze settled on Betty. “Well, in fact we are.”

  Betty smiled proudly. “I had thought so. You’re the spitting image of a man I knew, Bernard Sensational.”

  “That was my father,” he said, his lips bowing to a frown. “He passed away a few years ago.”

  “Mmm,” Betty said. “I’m so sorry to hear that.”

  “How’d you know him?”

  Betty leaned forward. I could tell she was going in for the kill. “I once asked him to find me something very rare—a lightning bug enchanted by a pixie.”

  Baron’s eyes narrowed. “Hmm. He never told me about that.”

  Betty covered quickly. “Well, he tried to find it but couldn’t. Ended up selling me something like it, but not what I wanted. Course, I didn’t find that out until later, after the spell I needed it for failed.”

  Baron stared at her for a moment. “My family not only sings, but we also locate rare creatures. I’m sorry. We come as close as we can but don’t always get an exact match.”

  “That’s what he said, but then he mentioned that the man who sold it to him turned out to be a swindler. Said that man had swindled a lot of other folks and ended up dead.”

  Baron stopped. He studied Betty. A slow smile crept over his face. “You can’t screw over too many people in the magical world before it catches up to you.”

  “That’s what he thought, too,” Betty said, punching a hand in her pocket. “Boy, I just hope the man who got killed the other night hadn’t done something like that.”

  “You were there,” Baron said, his voice hitting a note of realization. “I saw you.”

  “And I saw you say that Carl had cheated you.”

  Baron chuckled. “All that story about my father so I’d get comfortable enough to tell you how Carl did it.”