Her heart twisted at the memories of their date, the second kiss they’d shared on the boardwalk, how sweet and kind he’d been to her. Then she’d gone and screwed everything up at Enid’s, and he’d walked out without saying good-bye. Issy hadn’t seen him since. For all she knew, he’d packed up and left town again. Maybe that was for the best, though, since the incident at Enid’s had proved to her that things between them could never work out.
Dex’s story about a freak lightning storm causing the damage had worked with Owen. Too bad Issy was afraid Dex might have believed it himself because he was in denial about what really happened. It was obvious that Dex would never accept magic, and she was what she was. Not that she would change that—not even for him.
Of course, there was the little problem of them being soul-bonded now, but that was an old wives’ tale, wasn’t it?
They were all just sitting around, enjoying the peace and relaxation of a warm summer Sunday, when Luigi Romano came around the corner, brandishing yet another pizza box.
Leary after what had happened at Enid’s, Issy straightened and held Bella back from sniffing the box too closely. “Having lunch?” she asked, forcing a smile.
“No,” Luigi said, flipping the box open. “Try my new recipe.”
Issy glanced over at Enid, who smiled encouragingly. “I gave him some help.”
Each of the Quinn cousins took a slice, and Issy did have to admit it looked really good. The melty cheese mixed with the spice of the peppers and the rich flavor of sausage and roasted mushrooms. Plus, the sauce held just a hint of sweetness, and the crust all but melted in your mouth. They’d soon devoured the whole pizza.
“So no big fallout with the committee over this, Luigi?” Raine asked tentatively.
“You guys got off lucky. I managed to smooth things over, and Enid won a lot of points because she was the one who sent the demon back. Proved it was unintentional.” Luigi nodded at Enid. “You managed to contain the demon in short order. That went in your favor. And, well, let’s just say I pulled in a few favors of my own, though I have to say I’m not exactly the committee’s favorite field agent.” Luigi frowned.
“Really? Did you do something wrong?” Issy remembered him alluding to the fact that he wasn’t in their good graces earlier, but with a rogue demon on the loose, she hadn’t had time to delve into it. The thought of Luigi being on the outs with the committee somehow made Issy feel better. Maybe she didn’t need to always be worrying about him watching what she was doing, after all, if he wasn’t a big committee go-by-the-books man.
“Let’s say I’m a little unconventional.” Luigi brushed pizza crust crumbs from his long beard.
“So they sent you here as punishment?” Ember asked.
Luigi bristled. “No. I mean, not really. It’s just that the job here isn’t the most exciting, so none of the top wizards wanted to come. Nothing much ever happens here. Unless the rumblings I hear are true…”
“Rumblings?” Gray asked.
Luigi shrugged. “Some kind of magic feud. A disruption in the balance. Thought it might be you guys and those Southies. Especially when I saw that Knight girl on this side of town, but I guess all is well. Probably just an unfounded rumor.”
“So are you staying?”
“Oh yeah. I’m here for the duration. Not much good anywhere else.” His eyes turned sad for a split second, then his attention snapped back to the table and his empty pizza carton. “But, hopefully, I won’t have to take any drastic action as long as you people keep things on an even keel.”
“We’ll do our best,” Gray said.
“Good, then. Did you like the pizza?”
“Yes.”
“Delish.”
“Best one I’ve ever had.”
Brimming with pride, Luigi took the empty box to the trash then excused himself to head back to his kitchen.
They waited until he was gone, and Issy turned to Enid. “So you didn’t get into trouble? No witch house arrest or familiar lockdown?”
Enid winked. “Not even a slap on the wrist.”
“Really?” Issy grinned. “How’d you manage to get back in his good graces?”
“Well, I told him he knew better than to suspect I summoned that demon on purpose.” Enid squared her shoulders. “My spells were off, that’s all. I’m feeling much better now, thanks to these juices.” She held her Turquoise Special high in a toast to the Quinns, her eyes twinkling. “And, besides, where else is Luigi going to get the special mushrooms for my pizza sauce recipe? Only witches can see the mushroom field, not warlocks. I’m his only source. And, honestly, he’s not such a bad guy. He overdoes it a bit with the doom and gloom, but he’ll come around.”
“One problem solved, then, I guess.” Issy sat back and sipped her own Pineapple Express before glancing up to see DeeDee approaching. “Howdy, Deputy.”
“Hi, Quinns.” DeeDee pulled up a chair to their table and took a seat between Issy and Gray. She was dressed in a cute sundress today instead of her normal police uniform. “How’s everyone on this gorgeous day?”
“Good,” Issy said. “We were remarking on how quickly Enid has managed to patch things up with Luigi so there’ll be no repercussions from the committee.”
“Yeah. Now, if we could take care of Owen and the murder investigation just as fast, we’d be all set.” Raine took a sip of her bright-orange Sunrise Delight. She seemed normal now, but Issy thought she detected something forced about her demeanor. As if she was feigning happiness. Truth was, the past two days, she’d been somewhat guarded and reserved. Not her usual self. Though Issy imagined that was to be expected from one who had recently been possessed by a demon.
“Not a problem.” DeeDee leaned back in her chair and slipped on a pair of sunglasses. “Starla Knight talked to him this morning. Told him she’d tracked down the other person she’d sold that same charm to, and it turns out that person is wanted for murder in two other states. And his modus operandi is to slip a stick-and-straw doll in with the victim.”
“Seriously?” Ember sat forward, a tiny kitten in each hand. “That seems awfully convenient.”
“Hey.” DeeDee shrugged. “Maybe Owen should double check certain things. Funny thing, though, Dex Nolan was there and apparently checked back with the FBI and convinced Owen that there was a voodoo serial killer recently caught and it was the tourist Starla sold the charm to.”
“Really? There was?” Ember asked.
DeeDee shrugged. “I couldn’t find anything about it. Not sure why Dex would lie to Owen unless he was trying to protect a certain witch and her cousins.” DeeDee shot Issy a pointed look.
Issy squirmed in her chair. “I doubt he would do that. He is an FBPI agent, after all.”
“Yeah, well, then why hasn’t he brought anyone in? He was at Enid’s that night.”
Issy didn’t have an answer for that one. Why hadn’t he brought any of them in? Was he covering for them?
DeeDee continued. “I think Owen is a little too trusting, but if it gets Enid and Raine off the hook, I’m all for it. It’s no harm to anyone since the real killer really is no longer on the loose. Owen was disappointed he couldn’t make the arrest, though. I’m just glad we can finally close this case.”
“But what about Dex Nolan?” Raine slid a sideways look at Issy. “He saw everything happen. Now he knows about magic.”
“Maybe Luigi erased his memories like he did after the Vonner incident,” Issy said.
“No.” Enid slipped a piece of pizza crust to Becky. “I asked him about that, and he said it was too risky seeing as he’d just erased his memory less than a month ago. So he should remember everything.”
“He’s probably in denial,” Issy said. “You heard him say it was all because of lightning. Can’t bring himself to believe in magic, I bet.”
Ember touched her arm gently. “I don’t think that’s it at all. I think he just needs some time to come to terms with it.”
“Whatever. As long as he
doesn’t bring us to Area 59, he can think what he wants.”
“You need to give him a chance.”
Issy decided to change the subject. She turned to DeeDee. “So, Starla just wandered in to talk to Owen, huh?” Issy glanced over and caught Gray’s gaze before he looked away fast. Yep. He’d definitely been behind that. “That’s weird, right? For her to come all the way over from the south side entirely of her own accord.”
“Uh-hmm. Not entirely of her accord.” The voice came from near her feet, and Issy looked down to see Brimstone blinking up at them. “That’s right. I haven’t just been sitting around doing nothing while you guys have been doing all the work, you know.”
“Oh really? Was it you that got Starla to play nice? I thought it was Gray.” Ember slid her eyes over to Gray, who simply shrugged.
“I did go and visit her, but she seemed awfully easy to convince,” Gray said. “I thought it was just my boyish charm.”
“Don’t flatter yourself, buddy.” Brimstone’s voice was low so that the other patrons couldn’t hear him. Though many people in the town were paranormal and wouldn’t bat an eyelash at a talking cat, the human population would think it was quite strange. “It was all my doing. And I’ll have you guys know I had to wine and dine a certain orange tabby female this whole week to get her to telepath those thoughts into Starla’s head.”
“Well, thank you. Whatever you did worked,” Raine said.
Brimstone sat on his haunches and licked his paw, preening behind the ears. “No problem.” He glanced at Bella and then at Endora and Bellatrix, who lay curled around each other like a furry yin and yang symbol, snoozing. “Somebody has to take the reins and get things done.”
Issy plucked an orange hair from his tail. “I bet it wasn’t all hardship, though, was it?”
“A gentleman never kisses and tells.” Brimstone flicked his tail and strutted away.
“What about you, Gray?” DeeDee teased. “Was your involvement all business, or is there something you won’t tell?”
“For the last time, there’s nothing going on. She’s a Knight. We’re practically enemies.”
“Hey, as long as we caught the real guilty party and that demon’s gone for good, it’s all cool.” DeeDee pushed to her feet. “Be right back. I’m going to get one of those yummy Pomegranate Passions.”
Issy kissed Bella’s head then watched as the wolf shifter made her way up to place her order with Karen. At the counter, Luigi was selling slices of his new pizza to the juice bar’s patrons. It seemed as if he’d be sticking around Silver Hollow for a while too. Which, considering he’d given Enid a pass and helped Karen open this shop, wasn’t all bad. “I think maybe Luigi Romano isn’t so awful after all,” Issy said. “We should give him a chance.”
Raine and Ember turned around to stare at the huge bearded man before facing Issy once more.
“Okay,” Ember said. “I suppose it could be worse.”
“Yeah.” Raine snorted. “Like falling head over heels for an FBPI agent.”
Issy gave her cousin a look from across the table. “I know you’re not talking about me.”
“Since you’re the only one of us Quinns with a love life right now, I guess I am.”
“No love life here.” Issy ignored the hollow feeling in her chest and turned her thoughts to more practical matters. They’d all gotten off lucky. Perhaps too lucky, if she thought about things too hard.
Now that things were back to normal, she supposed she should focus back on her everyday life. She still had to work on her pet store slogan. At least now there would be no distractions. The demon was gone, Enid and Raine were free women, and all was right with their little Silver Hollow world.
The only question was… how long would it stay that way?
__________________
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More Books in the Silver Hollow Series:
A Spell of Trouble (Book 1)
Also by Leighann Dobbs
Cozy Mysteries
Silver Hollow
Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series
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A Spell of Trouble (Book 1)
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Mystic Notch
Cat Cozy Mystery Series
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Ghostly Paws
A Spirited Tail
A Mew To A Kill
Paws and Effect
Probable Paws
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Blackmoore Sisters
Cozy Mystery Series
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Dead Wrong
Dead & Buried
Dead Tide
Buried Secrets
Deadly Intentions
A Grave Mistake
Spell Found
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A Zen For Murder
A Crabby Killer
A Treacherous Treasure
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Lexy Baker Cozy Mystery Series
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Lexy Baker Cozy Mystery Series Boxed Set Vol 1 (Books 1-4)
Or buy the books separately:
Killer Cupcakes
Dying For Danish
Murder, Money and Marzipan
3 Bodies and a Biscotti
Brownies, Bodies & Bad Guys
Bake, Battle & Roll
Wedded Blintz
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Ice Cream Murder
Mummified Meringues
Brutal Brulee (Novella)
No Scone Unturned
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Something Magical
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Contemporary Romance
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Reluctant Romance
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Sweetrock Sweet and Spicy Cowboy Romance
Some Like It Hot
Too Close For Comfort
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Regency Romance
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Scandals and Spies Series:
Kissing The Enemy
The Unexpected Series:
An Unexpected Proposal
Dobbs Fancytales:
Dobbs Fancytales Boxed Set Collection
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Western Historical Romance
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Goldwater Creek Mail Order Brides:
Faith
American Mail Order Brides Series:
Chevonne: Bride of Oklahoma
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ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
WRITING AS LEE ANNE JONES:
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The Rockford Security Series:
Deadly Betrayal (Book 1)
Fatal Games (Book 2)
Treacherous Seduction (Book 3)
Calculating Desires (Book 4)
Wicked Deception (Book 5)
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling author Leighann Dobbs has had a passion for reading since she was old enough to hold a book, but she didn’t put pen to paper until much later in life. After a twenty-year career as a software engineer with a few side trips into selling antiques and making jewelry, she realized you can’t make a living reading books, so she tried her hand at writing them and discovered she had a passion for that, too! She lives in New Hampshire with her husband, Bruce, their trusty Chihuahua mix, Mojo, and beautiful rescue cat, Kitty.
Her book "Dead Wrong" won the "Best Mystery Romance" award at the 2014 Indie Romance Convention.
Her book "Ghostly Paws" was the 2015 Chanticleer Mystery & Mayhem First Place category winner in the Animal Mystery category.
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This is a work of fiction.
None of it is real. All names, places, and events are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to real names, places, or events are purely coincidental, and should not be construed as being real.
Spell Disaster
Copyright © 2016
Leighann Dobbs
http://www.leighanndobbs.com
All Rights Reserved.
No part of this work may be used or reproduced in any manner, except as allowable under “fair use,” without the express written permission of the author.
Spell Disaster (Silver Hollow Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series Book 2) Page 14
