Heart of the Witch (Witches of Keating Hollow Book 2)

by Deanna Chase

  The cart came to an abrupt halt in a drainage ditch at the bottom of a small slope.

  The wheels spun, and mud kicked up, splattering the cart and the three of them in a layer of grime.

  Everyone was silent for a few seconds while they processed what had just happened.

  “Holy hell,” Noel finally said, shakily climbing out of the cart. “What happened?”

  “My cart!” Abby cried, emerging from the back seat covered in mud. “Oh my… look at what we’ve done! Her wheels are submerged.”

  “The brakes locked-up. I’m so sorry, Abs,” Yvette said, tears glittering in her eyes again. “Oh my god, I almost killed us!”

  “We’re fine,” Noel said, grabbing her hand. “Other than an impromptu mud bath and needing a tow out of here, we’re perfectly fine. No need to panic.”

  “Where’s my phone?” Abby said, frantically searching her pockets. “I think I lost my phone. Son of a—how are we gonna get out of here? It’s a good five miles back to Dad’s.”

  “Relax. I’ve got mine right here,” Noel said and stared at her contacts. “Is Clay available?”

  “He should be,” Abby said.

  Noel pulled up his number and hit Call. Only the voice that answered was not Clay. “Deputy Baker,” Noel said. “Is there a reason you’re answering my future brother-in-law’s phone?”

  “Yes,” he said, sounding amused. “Clay and I were just getting ready to have a beer, and your name popped up on his screen instead of mine. I might’ve gotten a little jealous.”

  “Jealous?” she echoed as she rolled her eyes. “Come on now. Don’t be ridiculous.”

  He chuckled. “There’s no controlling the heart, Noel. Now, tell me what my buddy Clay can do for you that I can’t?”

  “It’s not… Um…” Crap. She didn’t want to tell him they’d crashed into a ditch. The minute she did that, he’d be on his way to help, and she looked like some dirty sea creature from the black lagoon.

  “We need a tow,” Abby yelled. “Get in your vehicle and get over here.”

  “Abby!” Noel said in a hushed whisper. “Shhh.”

  “What? We need help. If he’s with Clay, he’s going to find out anyway.”

  Noel sighed. Her sister had a point.

  “What’s that? You need a tow? Where are you?” he asked, suddenly alarmed. “Did you hit another car? Are there any injuries? I need details, Noel.”

  “No one is hurt,” she said. “We were out in the golf cart and—”

  “You were golf cart racing.” His accusation made her grimace, and she felt like she was sixteen all over again and she’d just gotten caught stealing the family car.

  “Yes, but we didn’t crash while racing,” she said defensively. “In fact, we beat the pants off Wanda and Hanna.”

  “But you did crash? How?”

  She sucked in a breath, winced, and said, “Yvette was doing donuts.”

  Chapter 17

  “Our women are stuck in a ditch,” Drew said to Clay after he ended the call with Noel.

  “Seriously? The golf cart is in a ditch?” Clay asked. “I knew something like this would happen. Abby has lost her mind when it comes to that thing.”

  “Abby wasn’t driving,” Drew said, sliding off his stool. He’d stopped into the Keating Hollow Brewery just before closing time on his way back into town from Eureka. They were getting ready to partake of a few beers when he’d seen Noel’s name flash on Clay’s phone. “It was Yvette.”

  “Good lord. She’s infected her sisters with her crazy golf cart obsession.” He grabbed his keys. “Let’s go haul them out. Where are they?”

  “Down by the river.” Drew followed him out of the brewery.

  “Of course they are.” When they got outside, they glanced between Clay’s Jeep and Drew’s SUV. All five of them weren’t going to fit in the Jeep Wrangler. “I’ll follow you,” Clay told Drew. “We won’t all fit in my vehicle, but we’re gonna need it to haul the golf cart home. It’s lucky I haven’t returned the trailer I borrowed when we picked it up last month.”

  “Lucky indeed,” Drew said with a chuckle. “I’m guessing you should just buy your own, considering this turn of events.”

  “You have a point,” his friend said. Then he narrowed his eyes at Drew. “Our women? Does that mean Abby and Noel?”

  Drew had hoped Clay had missed that little slip of the tongue. He wasn’t sure when he’d started to think of Noel as his, but there it was and there was no turning away from it now. He figured it was better to just own it. Clay wasn’t going to let him off the hook anyway. “Yep. Abby and Noel.”

  “Since when is Noel your woman?” Clay asked as he unlocked his truck and climbed into the driver’s seat.

  “I guess since earlier today. We uh, had a moment.”

  “A moment?” Clay laughed. “Is that code for slept together?”

  “Get your mind out of the gutter, Garrison.” Drew shook his head and retreated to his SUV. “It just means that we might be finally moving out of the friend zone. We have a date tomorrow night.”

  “Well, it’s about damned time,” Clay said. They quickly got the trailer attached to the Jeep. Then Clay slammed his door and took off toward the river.

  It didn’t take them long to find the Townsend sisters. Yvette had used her magic to build a small fire, giving the men an easy beacon to follow.

  Drew pulled his SUV to a stop beside the women, who were standing around the makeshift fire pit. “Need a lift?”

  Noel’s face lit up with a smile, and Drew had to stifle a laugh. She was a complete mess with mud covering half her body and streaked in her hair. But that smile… she radiated with joy. “You have no idea just how glad I am to see you.”

  He jumped out and opened the door for her. “Get in out of the cold. I’m going to help Clay free that party cart.”

  Noel started to climb into the front seat but then stopped and turned back to him. “I’m going to get mud everywhere. Do you have a towel or something?”

  He shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. The leather seats will clean right up.”

  She groaned. “I’m sorry about this.”

  “I’m not.” He winked at her and turned to Abby and Yvette. “You’re welcome to join her.”

  Abby shook her head. “I’m gonna help Clay with my baby.”

  “And I’m going to make sure you have light,” Yvette added.

  “Geez. I can’t just sit here while you’re all working,” Noel said, pushing the car door open.

  “You’re fine, Noel,” Abby said. “I’m not sure there’s anything else to do anyway. We’ll holler if we need anything.”

  She hesitated for a moment, but when Drew reached in and turned on the heater, she sat back and said, “Okay. I’ll sit this one out.”

  Damn, she’s adorable, Drew thought as he stood there and gazed at her. The fact that mud was smeared down her cheek and her hair was a clumped-together mess just made her all that more real. A vision of stripping her out of her clothes flashed in his mind. What he wouldn’t give to be the one who got to wash away all the mud covering her flawless skin.

  “Earth to Drew,” Clay called. “Wanna get this done tonight, or do we need to reschedule?”

  He jerked his attention to his friend. “Huh?”

  “Golf cart?” Clay pointed at the vehicle tilted at an angle in the ditch. “Want to hook up the chain so we can haul this thing out of here?”

  “Right.” He cast one more glance at Noel, smiled, and then got to work.

  Twenty minutes later, they’d loaded the cart onto the trailer. Luckily, her “baby” had only suffered a flat tire, and Clay had promised Abby he’d have her up and running in the next day or two.

  “You’re the best,” she said to her fiancé then nodded to Yvette. “You can kill the fire now. We’re ready to go.”

  “You got it.” The firelight winked out, and Yvette started to make her way toward the SUV.

  “Vette, we’ll give
you a ride,” Abby said. “Your house is on the way.”

  The reality was that Yvette lived about equal distance from both Abby and Noel, so it really didn’t matter who gave her a lift. But it was pretty clear Abby wasn’t going to take no for an answer.

  “Besides,” Abby added, “I left my private reserve wine sitting on your counter. I have plans for it tomorrow night.”

  Noel shook her head and muttered something under her breath. Something that sounded a lot like the word bullshit.

  “Right,” Yvette said and climbed into the Jeep. Clay honked as he took off.

  Abby leaned her head out the window and called, “Have fun you, two. And when I say fun, I don’t mean Scrabble!”

  “Your sister is trouble,” Drew said after he climbed into the SUV.

  “She’s had a little too much to drink.” Noel fastened her seatbelt. “I bet she pays for that tomorrow.”

  Drew put the SUV in gear and followed the Jeep lights down the golf cart path. “Doesn’t she have a hangover potion or something?”

  “Well, sure, but only if she’s in decent enough shape to make one. If she’s trashed, her magic likely won’t be up to snuff.” Noel smirked. “It serves her right. Look at what she got us into.”

  Drew glanced over at her, thoroughly enjoying her company. She was relaxed and letting him see her with all her guards down. He couldn’t help but want her even more. “You had a good time, though, right?”

  “Sure.” She threw her head back and laughed. “The best time. I have a feeling we’re going to be telling that story for years.”

  Drew nodded and silently hoped he’d be by her side to hear it.

  All too soon, Drew parked the SUV in front of the inn. Before she could say anything, he jumped out and rushed to open the door for her.

  “You didn’t have to do that, Drew,” she said, giving him a shy, vulnerable smile.

  “If it means getting another one of those smiles, then yes, I did.” He gently took her hand in his and walked her to the front door.

  In the glow of her porch light, she glanced down at herself and grimaced. “Oh, my goddess. I can’t believe you’re seeing me like this. I look like a swamp creature.”

  “You look adorable,” Drew said and cupped her cheek with one hand. “And, Noel?”

  “Yes,” she said breathlessly.

  “I’m really glad you’re okay.” He tilted his head down and brushed his lips over hers.

  She hesitated for just a moment, but when he gently parted her lips with his tongue, she swayed into him, pliant in his arms. He circled one arm around her waist and pulled her in so that he could feel every inch of her soft body pressed against his.

  “So perfect,” he whispered and kissed her again, enjoying her faint lime taste.

  She giggled and pulled back slightly. “Perfect? I think your standards are a little low, Deputy Baker. It appears I’ve gotten mud all over you.”

  Glancing down at his jeans and T-shirt, the plain clothes he’d changed into before heading off to Eureka that afternoon, he shrugged. “I’ll happily get dirty with you anytime, Noel.”

  “Good answer,” she said softly. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and this time when her lips met his, they were full of so much passion, Drew was certain he’d never be able to let her go.

  Chapter 18

  When Drew woke the next morning, he could still feel Noel’s lips on his. It had taken every last ounce of his willpower to not follow her into her home. God knew he wanted to. But it wasn’t time. Not yet. He didn’t want to get that involved while he was still working the case to find her ex. At least not while she was out of the loop. He’d tell her that night on their date.

  After a quick shower, he dressed in plain clothes, grabbed a cup of coffee, and called the office to let Clarissa know he’d be out of town for the day. Then he took off for Yachtsmen’s Harbor to follow up on the lead he’d gotten from Sally at Pies, Pies, and More Pies. When he pulled his SUV into the parking lot, he spotted a sign for Pacific Cove Boat Rentals. He nodded. That made sense. That was the other place Xavier had been spotted besides the Moon River Inn.

  The sun was out, a rare occurrence for the coast in early December, as Drew made his way to the rental kiosk.

  A young brunette was perched on a stool behind the counter. She gave Drew a huge smile and a finger wave, and said, “Well, hello there, handsome.”

  “Hello…” Drew peered at her nametag, “Whitney. I’m hoping you can help me with something.”

  “For you? Anything.” She leaned forward, putting her weight on her elbows. “Need a boat? Are you headed out to do a little fishing?”

  “No. Thank you. I’m Deputy Sheriff Baker, and I’m actually looking for someone.” He first pulled out his ID then Xavier’s photo. “Can you tell me if you’ve seen this man?”

  Her flirty smile fled the instant her gaze scanned the photo. “Yes. That’s the guy who killed Xavier.”

  Drew’s eyebrows shot up. “You mean the man who was found on the beach in Trinidad?”

  “Yeah. Him.” She jerked back and crossed her arms over her chest. “He went by Victor.”

  Drew eyed her for just a moment then asked, “What makes you think he killed Xavier?”

  “It’s always the quiet ones you have to watch out for,” she said. “You know, they act all sweet and then BAM! They end up being a stalker or some douche who sleeps with your best friend.”

  Whoa, Drew thought. This one has an issue or two. Ms. Perky had been replaced by Ms. Irrational. “I see. Can you tell me, when was the last time you saw Victor?”

  “The day he and Xavier were here to rent the boat. They were supposed to go tuna fishing. The boat went out, but it never came back in.”

  “Did you see them get on the boat together before they left?”

  She shook her head. “Nope. I just do the paperwork. Ralph down at the docks is the one to ask.”

  “Got it.” Drew made a few notes. “You’ve been very helpful, Whitney. Is there anything else you can remember about that day you think might be important?”

  Her eyes narrowed, and her voice turned hard when she said, “Yeah. Xavier deserved what he got. I’m not sorry he’s gone.”

  The fine hairs stood up on the back of Drew’s neck. “What did he do to you?”

  Her expression turned stony. “Let’s just say he got handsy.”

  “And what about Victor?”

  “He wasn’t here when it happened, but since they were buddies, I’m sure he wouldn’t have given a shit. Men suck.”

  Drew couldn’t argue with her on that one. He’d seen far too much bullshit on the job. Some men did suck. He just nodded. “I’m sorry that happened to you. And again, thank you. You’ve been a big help.”

  “You’re welcome, Deputy Baker. I hope you catch the other one and put him behind bars for the rest of his life.”

  “I’ll do my best, ma’am.” He gave her a kind smile and walked down toward the boats. As it turned out, Ralph couldn’t even remember Xavier or Victor, so getting a confirmation that they’d been together that morning was a complete bust. If Xavier had killed his partner, he’d done a damn fine job of making sure there weren’t any witnesses. Not that he was trying to prove there was a murder. All he needed to do was find Xavier. The rest was up to someone else in the chain of command.

  Drew climbed back into his SUV and sat behind the steering wheel, feeling slightly frustrated. The only leads he had in finding Xavier had been a complete bust. He wasn’t even sure where to start looking next.

  He pulled out his phone and was just about to give Noel a call to find out how she was doing when a call from Clarissa came in. He answered on the first ring.

  “Hey, boss. I have something for you,” she said.

  Drew grabbed his pen and notebook and said, “Shoot.”

  “I got the information from the wallet John Doe had on him. The driver’s license is completely fake. It’s a made-up number, and the address doesn’t even
exist.”

  Drew ground his teeth. “Anything else?”

  “The credit cards are all prepaid. There haven’t been any charges since three days before John Doe was found, which makes perfect sense since they’ve been sitting in the evidence room. Are you ready for what records we did find?”

  “Yep. I’m all ears.”

  “Sunshine Hotel on East Street. Last charge was made a week ago. There’s also a few charges to some place called Pies, Pies, and More Pies.”

  “Anywhere else?” he asked.

  “Yeah, some place called Lilies and More. Looks like a flower shop.”

  “Strange.” Drew jotted down the information and said, “Thanks, Clarissa. How are things in town?”

  “As boring as ever. Pauly is pricing out jaywalking cams. I keep telling him they aren’t in the budget, but he says they’d be cheaper than paying a physical person to keep an eye on things. I’m not sure he understands that he is actively advocating for tech to take over the only thing he’s good at.”

  Drew couldn’t help the snort of amusement. “Figures. No one ever said Pauly Putzner was playing with a full deck. If he brings it up again, tell him I vetoed it and that it’s time to get to work.”

  “Will do.”

  Drew ended the call and pointed his vehicle north on Hwy 101 in the direction of the Sunshine Hotel. The Sunshine, as the locals called it, was a large Victorian in the heart of downtown. It was a bed and breakfast, not unlike Noel’s place, only larger. It couldn’t have been more different from the Moon River Inn if it tried.

  Since there was no parking lot, Drew parallel parked his SUV on the street about a block away and headed toward the hotel. He was about twenty feet from the entrance when a familiar blond-haired man ducked out onto the sidewalk. Drew studied the man for just a second before he called out, “Xavier?”

  The man paused and glanced back. Recognition washed over his troubled gaze when he spotted the deputy sheriff. Drew waved as he started forward, intending to act as if they were just old friends bumping into each other, but Xavier wasn’t falling for it. Suddenly he bolted, taking off across the street right into oncoming traffic. One car swerved, barely missing him. Another driver slammed on the brakes, and a third laid into his horn, shouting obscenities out the window.