Broomstick Blend

by Kennedy Layne

  “Allergies can be such a nuisance. I mean, Becca just had a rash on her leg earlier today. I wonder if those storms we’ve been having recently didn’t stir something up in the air.”

  Suspect alert! The same woman who talked about hiding evidence had a rash on her leg, and probably from the poison she used to kill that poor sheriff. He—

  Leo gasped, and I immediately followed the path his mind had taken from thinking he had a simple allergy to somehow being poisoned with whatever had taken Sheriff O’Leary’s life. A quick glance around the kitchen afforded me the ability to see Princess’ bowl. Sure enough, the dry food was the kind that had dye added to the mix—the same dye that Leo told me he was allergic to the first time I ever tried to feed him.

  I did? I am? Phew! This short-term memory issue does a number on my heart, sending adrenaline rushing through my overworked body. How is it that I’m not losing weight?

  “It’s nice to see that your sister has so much emotional support.”

  “My sister and I don’t always get along, but it’s times like these that bring a family closer,” Kathleen responded as she continued to rummage through a cupboard that must double as their medicine cabinet. “Here we are. This antihistamine should clear up that rash right away.”

  Is that in pill form? That better not be in pill form.

  “Was Deputy Wilson here earlier this morning?” I asked, taking the bottle from Kathleen’s hand. I took my time opening it so that I could ask a few questions without Deidre and the other women overhearing our conversation. “I noticed that your sister has his handkerchief. I was just wondering, because Liam and I are heading to the station next. If Deputy Wilson plans on coming back here, then we could save ourselves a trip.”

  I know what you’re thinking, and it’s a plot for one of those daytime dramas that Elsie and Wilma follow every weekday. You’re also trying to figure out a way to get me to take that pill that’s clearly meant for draft horses. Not happening. My throat isn’t going to allow me to take that thing. I’ll itch to death first…challenge accepted.

  Of course, it had crossed my mind that Deidre and Deputy Wilson were having an affair. How could it not, especially the way Deidre had been clutching that handkerchief to her chest. One theory could be that Deidre and Deputy Wilson killed Sheriff O’Leary, but then why would Becca be wanting to cover up evidence? What if by evidence, she meant something completely innocent? Then all fingers would still point toward Deidre and Deputy Wilson.

  Seriously? That brunette had a rash on her leg. The poor dead sheriff died from ingesting poison. Remember, one plus one equals two. And don’t think I missed the fact that you put a pill into the palm of your hand. Stick that choking hazard back in that bottle right this minute, Raven Lattice Marigold!

  “I’m not sure how Deidre got ahold of Roger’s handkerchief,” Kathleen said with a frown on her face. “Maybe Becca had an extra one in her purse. Truthfully, I haven’t seen Roger since Pat was murdered, but that’s not surprising given that the responsibility of the sheriff’s office now falls on his shoulders.”

  Another motive. Check. Becca and her deputy husband are most likely the guilty parties. We can go home now. Leave the boulder masquerading as a pill while you’re at it. I’ll just itch for the next twelve or so hours until the allergic reaction fades.

  “It’s never easy losing someone we love.”

  “Claire hasn’t been helping in the least,” Kathleen shared with a disappointed sigh and a shake of her head. She took the antihistamine bottle from me and set it back inside the cabinet. I palmed the pill that I would have to somehow trick Leo into swallowing, not wanting to take the chance that his allergic reaction wouldn’t get worse. “You would think she’d put aside any hard feelings about that speeding ticket, but she’s still sitting on the couch and whispering things to Becca like the rest of us don’t notice.”

  Worse? You’re just trying to get me to make this easy for you, but that’s not going to happen. No way, no how. I’m not swallowing that horse pill.

  “Speeding ticket?” I inquired, looking on as Kathleen closed the cupboard before walking over to the sink. Her bracelets clinked together in harmony. “Oh? When did Sheriff O’Leary stop Claire for speeding?”

  Huh. Look at that. The antique lady is getting you a glass out of the cabinet. I’m so sorry to have to tell you this, but you’re just going to have to take one for the team. She’ll know something is up if you don’t swallow that rock.

  The antihistamine I held in my hand wasn’t a horse pill. As a matter of fact, it wasn’t even close. The tiny tablet was no bigger than one of Leo’s kitty treats back at the house that I’ve seen him swallow whole on more than one occasion.

  Size is relative.

  “Rightly so that Pat stopped Claire speeding in that little Mustang of hers, and right in the middle of town. She’s going to kill someone if she’s not more careful.” Kathleen warned, having retrieved the glass and was holding it against a lever that was built into the refrigerator. “No one should get special treatment from the law just because he or she is friends with the sheriff. This happened a couple of months ago, and Deidre’s been saying how tense their card nights have become since then. My sister really does need to start choosing her friends more wisely.”

  A muffled thud came from across the room, no doubt Leo trying to reach that itch on the back of his neck. I quickly continued the discussion with Kathleen to take her mind off the distraction.

  “I did notice their heads together and a bit of whispering going on between them,” I admitted, making sure there was a bit of reluctance in my tone at sharing such a rude act during such a tragic time. “I take it that Becca agrees with Claire that Sheriff O’Leary shouldn’t have conducted the traffic stop?”

  Incoming!

  Leo’s warning came a bit too late, and I’d already finished asking my question aloud. I winced at how insensitive I sounded talking out of turn in the kitchen of a grieving widow.

  “Go ahead and tell her Kathleen,” Deidre said in disdain, though there were tears gathered in her eyes. “Everyone thinks that just because we were born into money that everyday problems don’t plague us. I fear we might deal with more in our relationships.”

  They aren’t dealing with an itch from an allergic reaction that might have me losing my…oh, no! It’s back!

  Leo was referring to Princess, whose tail was currently puffed larger than pink cotton candy on a stick. He was going to have to make a run for it, because there was little I could do in the presence of these two sisters. Plus, a break in the case might very well be on the horizon.

  “You don’t have to—”

  I’d been about to protest Deidre’s request from her sister to share with me something that was obviously painful, even though it might very well solve this murder mystery. Kathleen stopped me by handing me the glass of water and talking over me.

  “There was a rumor circling a few weeks ago that Pat was having an affair with Becca.” Kathleen pursed her lips as Deidre dabbed her eyes with Deputy Wilson’s handkerchief. Had Deputy Wilson known about the affair? “Between the speeding ticket and hurtful rumors, the group just hasn’t been the same.”

  “Kathleen, I need to go lie down for a bit,” Deidre exclaimed in exhaustion, leaning down and scooping up Princess before the agitated kitty cat could locate Leo and air out his presence. No wonder the poor woman didn’t know how to handle her husband’s death. “Will you see our guests out?”

  This just went to show that appearances were never quite as accurate as one might guess. Deidre had all but shouted the support of her friends from the rooftop upon our arrival, but it had all been done to keep Liam and I from seeing the truth. Having to do so any longer seemed to have been too much for the grieving widow, and she’d gotten to the point where she needed to take care of her own physical well-being.

  “Of course,” Kathleen responded, true sympathy laced inside those words. Tragedy did have a way of bringing family together.
“I’ll bring you in a cup of tea shortly. Raven, you take that antihistamine before your rash gets any worse. I’ll meet you back in the sitting room.”

  I mumbled a thank you and an apology all at once, noticing that the palm of my hand hadn’t tingled in the slightest since the three of us had begun talking in the kitchen. Did that mean that Deidre and Kathleen had nothing to do with Sheriff O’Leary’s murder?

  It could mean the storm has passed, seeing as we’ve been here for hours already. Your danger meter has been a little wonky lately. Oh, look at that. My itch seems to be better. You can throw that horse pill down the garbage disposal, Raven. No need to take any medication now that the itch is gone. Shall we head back home?

  “You can stop with the delay tactics,” I whispered, emptying out the glass of water into the drain. I set what had to be a cut crystal tumbler in the sink, careful not to tip it over. “I can hear you rubbing your back against the corner of the stool. At least let me scratch your back before we join the others.”

  Fine, but only a scratch. Don’t you dare come near me with that horse pill.

  If I’d had the time, I would have concocted an enchanted blend of catnip for Leo to ingest in order to get rid of his allergic reaction. He definitely wouldn’t have complained then, but I didn’t have the right components…and generic catnip was definitely out of the equation.

  “Come here, big fella,” I encouraged, using the center island as a shield from either entrance someone might come through unexpectedly. His whiskers continued to twitch, and I’d swear his left eye was trained on my left hand. I wiggled the fingers of my right in enticement. “I’ll scratch your back if you come closer.”

  You can’t fool me, woman. I’m going to keep my incisors closed tightly together, so no need for your tricks.

  Leo sighed with contentment as I slid my fingers through his fur, scratching until he finally let his guard down a little. I didn’t feel bad in the least when his mouth parted, and I used the opportunity to plop the itsy-bitsy pill onto his tongue. Scooping him up in my arms to prevent him from spitting out the capsule was another thing altogether. I’m pretty sure we looked as if we were on some high school wrestling team, with arms and legs entangled every which a way. I happened to come out victorious when I was able to wrestle him on the ground and threaten to change my PayPal password so that he wouldn’t be able to order his premium organic catnip from Honduras.

  “There,” I managed to say as I leaned back against the lower cabinet to catch my breath. I’m pretty sure Leo was close to thirty pounds, and it wasn’t as if I worked out on a daily basis. I’d even go so far as to say that our skirmish constituted my exercise for the month. “Give it twenty minutes, and you should get a bit of relief from that itch.”

  I was saved from hearing a long-winded lecture from Leo when Liam came around the corner. It was a good thing no one else had joined him, because neither Leo or I had the strength to move.

  “What on earth did you do to him?” Liam exclaimed in horror as he took in the view before him. A quick glance revealed that Leo looked a bit worse for wear, with his fur tufting in places where it was usually smooth. His head was tilted at an odd angle, and he was rubbing his tongue on the roof of his mouth as if he could somehow spit the pill out onto the floor. It certainly made for an odd sight. “Do we need to take him to see Dr. Jameson?”

  “No,” I murmured with relief, taking Liam’s hand when he offered to help me stand up from the floor. I had Leo’s fur all over my shirt and skirt, as well as some of it sticking to my skin. On the bright side, my arms were a bit irritated from the skirmish. The slight redness gave the allergy story a bit more credibility. “I got Leo to swallow the antihistamine, but it sure wasn’t easy.”

  You’re slowly making your way onto my nemesis list, you oath betrayer.

  “I love you,” I corrected Leo, setting my hands on my hips to give my declaration a bit more oomph. “And the last thing in the world I can handle is losing you over some red dye in some generic cat food. There are things that you tell me for my own good, and I reciprocate. We’re each other’s responsibilities, and we must never forget that…even when it means an itsy-bitsy wrestling match every now and then.”

  Leo seemed to be contemplating my words while going to the extreme and attempting to hack up the pill. Thankfully, nothing come up.

  Raven two…her trusty familiar still one thousand and two. I’m not worried, and I’m going to pretend today didn’t happen.

  “Are you two always like this?” Liam asked in what appeared to be a very serious question. He had no idea what Leo was thinking, and I had to remember that he’d only just found out earlier this afternoon about my abilities, along with the fact that Leo was my familiar. “Don’t answer that. Listen, we need to drive back to Paramour Bay. I have some questions for Lydia. Jack is meeting us there, too.”

  I blew Leo a kiss, which I’m pretty sure had him rolling that left eye of his before we began making our way back to the sitting room. There were many things we needed to talk about on our trip back to Paramour Bay, such as the fact that the residents of this town suspected Sheriff O’Leary was having an affair with Becca Wilson. And when the time came, I still needed to share with Liam that Ted was a wax golem. I hadn’t wanted to reveal too much, too soon.

  Karma.

  Leo was going to one-line me all the way home, but the fact that he wouldn’t go into some type of true asthma attack made it all worth it. I, on the other hand, might need some sort of inhaler while waiting for Liam’s reaction on the whole wax golem thing.

  You wouldn’t be saying it was worth it if I had choked on that horse pill. And just so you know, you also still have to explain how the broomstick was stolen right out of the good ol’ sheriff’s office inside a locked police station. I’ll have a front row seat on the middle console with the cool air from the vent blowing right in my face the whole time.

  Well, maybe Leo wasn’t going to be one-lining it all the way home. I had a feeling the drive was going to be very, very long.

  Chapter Fourteen

  I hate feeling bad over something. It’s like when I’m chasing Skippy through the neighborhood and he inadvertently lands in Newt’s yard with that big old English bulldog just waiting to join in on the chase. It’s a wonder Skippy hasn’t lost a limb or two from those accidental close encounters.

  Leo wasn’t the only one feeling bad over the fact that Liam was still trying to absorb the fact that my mother had actually broken into the police station and stolen evidence from an active investigation. His knuckles had no color in them now that he was gripping the steering wheel hard enough that it was a wonder it hadn’t snapped in two.

  Speaking of snapped, it’s a good thing you left out the Ted bombshell until later. That might have been enough to shatter the good ol’ sheriff’s sanity into a billion pieces. He’d be foaming at the mouth by now, and we’d all die when he ran off the road. I can’t believe this. I’ve got a front row seat to seeing your mother hauled off to jail, and it’s completely free of charge.

  “How am I going to explain that I’ve lost a major piece of evidence in a homicide investigation to Jack?” Liam asked, an underlying hint of anger breaking through his tentative composure. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him get mad before. “I signed the broomstick out of the state evidence locker, Raven. I’m responsible for it. Me. You need to call your mother and have her put the broomstick back on my desk before we arrive at the station.”

  Your mother sure knows how to throw those monkey wrenches around, doesn’t she? Someone was bound to get hit in the head sooner or later.

  The thing of it was…I actually understood Liam’s total frustration. He could lose his job over my mother’s thoughtless choices. Something like this could ruin his reputation in the law enforcement community, and it wasn’t like anyone would believe him should he start spouting nonsense about witches and hexes.

  Again, now you’re just making me feel bad. I can’t take it anymore. Just
call your mother and have her fix this horrible situation. After all, this is her mess to clean up anyway.

  I let the deafening silence fill the cab as I retrieved my phone from my skirt pocket. Purses weren’t my thing, so I kept my license and credit card in a small pocket attached to my cell phone case. I constructed a quick text, mindful of saying too much. There was just enough instruction for my mother to understand the severity of why she needed to fix this problematic situation.

  The only way my predicament could go further south was if Mom had decided to return to the city. I wouldn’t put something like that past her, especially when I’d told her to stay clear of the antique shop. Granted, she’d probably love spending time playing house at the tea shop with Beetle, but she wouldn’t want to stay too long for fear of running into me.

  I’ve been thinking about the time Regina worked on that homeschool project your grandmother had assigned to her all those years ago. The details are still fuzzy, but Rowena was so darn adamant she’d never heard of such a hexed item associated with the Barnes family. Trust me, nothing gets past that woman.

  I would have asked Leo more questions on that topic, but Liam was already too much on edge. He’d taken the entire story about witchcraft, casting spells, and invisible familiars in stride, but my mother’s side adventure of breaking into the police station to steal evidence had proven a bit too much for one day’s adventures.

  “Liam, I would never let my family’s history of witchcraft ruin your life. Never in a million years.”

  He remained silent, checking his rearview mirror a time or two, but I’m pretty sure that was just to give him something to do so that he didn’t have to talk to me right now. The intake of information today had been overwhelming even for him. For the most part, he’d taken everything in stride. Now all I needed was for him to believe that I would never allow a fouled-up magic broomstick to take away his career as sheriff.