Hell of a Witch (Crypt Witch Cozy Mystery Series Book 2)

by K. E. O'Connor

  “You and everyone else in Willow Tree Falls.” I arched an eyebrow at him. “I hear you did not behave yourself last night.”

  “Where did you hear such lies?” Axel’s grin widened, although he looked sheepish.

  “You got some of my produce?”

  “Just a little. I promise it was a one-off, a treat because of the special occasion.”

  “It sounds like more than a little was used.”

  His shoulders slumped. “Sorry, Tempest. I let my hair down. I don’t remember much.”

  “That’s probably a good thing. Axel, you can’t do this. It sets back your detox each time you do.”

  “I won’t. Never again. I forgot myself. It won’t happen again, not with you helping me.” He lifted the box. “You can have a piece of pizza if you’d like.”

  I patted my stomach. I was way too full of Mom’s amazing pancakes. “Another time.”

  “It’s a date.”

  “No, not so much a date,” I said. “I have been meaning to check in with you. I might not be around much over the next few days, so you need to take care of yourself for a little longer. Did you hear about the discovery of a body in our cemetery?”

  Axel shook his head. “Nope, I only got to sleep just after dawn. Who died?”

  “No one you know. A journalist called Nick Saunders. I guess you could say I’m working with the angels to help figure out what’s going on.”

  “Tempest Crypt likes angels. Who’d have thought it?” Axel winked at me.

  “Just don’t let anybody else know, and the word like is not accurate. I tolerate them.”

  “I won’t, so long as you don’t point the finger at me like you did the last time you helped Angel Force.”

  I shrugged. “You were a good-looking suspect. I’d ruled out everybody else.”

  “You got the good-looking bit right.” Axel jutted out his bottom lip. “I don’t know how I’ll manage without you. You’re my rock.”

  Wiggles made an irritated sound in the back of his throat. “You should try. She can’t babysit your sorry-looking behind forever.”

  Axel glanced down at Wiggles. “She’s not exactly babysitting me. She’s lending me a hand with my mushroom addiction issues.”

  Wiggles made a show of strutting away and raising his leg against the side of a nearby building.

  “Don’t mind him,” I said. “He’s not happy because he didn’t get enough pancakes.”

  “I don’t think he likes me,” Axel said quietly.

  He was right. Wiggles had never been keen on Axel, even before he could talk and voice his disparaging feelings about him. He thought Axel was far too smooth and confident and always sure he would get what he desired. Wiggles did have a point; as a trust fund baby, Axel was never short of admirers and had never had to work hard for anything if you discounted his recent failed attempt at becoming mayor. Still, I felt like I owed it to him to help him with his overly keen interest in the mushrooms I sold.

  “I’ll check in with you in a few days,” I said to him. “Make sure you keep your nose clean while I’m distracted.”

  Axel saluted me. “You’re the boss. And any time you want to share a pizza, let me know. I’m always happy to super-size my order so there’s plenty to go around.”

  “I’ll bear that in mind. I don’t suppose you’ve seen any journalists around this morning? I need to speak to them about their dead colleague.”

  “I noticed people poking around the stones with a camera. They could be journalists getting some morning-after interviews.”

  “Thanks, I’ll check it out.”

  “I can help if you like. I’ve got nothing on today.” Axel’s grin held a hint of hopefulness.

  “No, you’re good. You enjoy your pizza.”

  The sound of a rumbling motorbike engine filled the air. A few seconds later, Rhett idled by on his custom-built Harley. I couldn’t help myself. My gaze shifted, and I watched as the bike drifted along the main street and turned the corner.

  “If I got a bike, would you be more interested in me?” Axel’s tone was light, but I noticed an intensity in his gaze.

  “Bikes don’t do it for me.” I didn’t want Axel getting the wrong idea about us. He was attractive, moneyed, and lived in a huge house, but he was not for me.

  “Hmmm. I’ve noticed Rhett around Willow Tree Falls a lot more over the last two months. Are you the reason he’s coming here more frequently?”

  “I never see him. I’ve got nothing to do with that,” I said. “Besides, I’ve got enough bad guy in my life with Frank. I don’t need any more.” As much as I tried to kid myself, Rhett looked magnificent in his leathers, sitting astride that powerful engine. I glanced at Axel. He had a good side too, despite what Wiggles thought of him. He’d proved to me he was more than an entitled trust fund boy. He had depth, but it was well-hidden behind his polished facade.

  “Is Frank tempting you to plant a few more kisses on me?” Axel waggled his eyebrows. “I won’t protest if he does.”

  “That won’t happen again.” I shook my head at the awkward memory of Frank lunging at Axel and having us lock lips. “I’d better head over to the stones before the journalists disappear.”

  I nodded goodbye, ignoring the look of dejection on Axel’s face as I headed away with Wiggles.

  “Do I smell a love triangle?” Wiggles asked.

  I glanced over my shoulder at Axel. “You most likely smell the trash from last night.”

  “He’s into you. You should take him for a ride.”

  I scowled at him. “What kind of ride should I take him on? Ferris wheel? Ghost train? Tiny steam engine?”

  “Axel’s got money. Think of the dog treats he’d buy me if you dated him. He’s desperate for me to like him. I could get giant bones every day on the proviso I leave you two alone for fun times.” Wiggles snapped his teeth together.

  “You don’t even like him. You’d hate it if Axel hung out at the apartment.”

  “But I love dog treats.”

  “I’m not dating someone because you’ll get extra treats.”

  “That should be on your non-negotiable list. If your future husband does not provide your faithful hellhound with a daily treat ration, he must be instantly dumped.”

  “I’ll bear that in mind when I revise my husband hunting criteria. But Axel will never be on that list. He’s just in a mess, and I’m helping him out of it.”

  “What about Mr. Moody Biker? I smelt the change in pheromones when he zoomed by looking all powerful and intense.”

  “You cannot smell my pheromones.”

  “I smelt something. Undisguised lust, perhaps? Whatever, you need to get your love life sorted out.”

  “My love life is fine.”

  Wiggles made a point of looking all around, twisting his head to the sky, and then snuffling the ground.

  I glared at him. “What are you doing?”

  “Looking for this perfect love life of yours. I’ve not seen you get any action for a long time.”

  “And you’re never going to.” I groaned and slapped my forehead with the palm of my hand. “Will you stop discussing my love life? Focus on your own.”

  “Don’t worry. I do. If I told you what I got up to last night, your ears would go pink.”

  “Then don’t. Keep your horn dog antics under wraps.” As we walked toward the standing stones, I had to admit my love life was non-existent. I was always concerned that bringing anybody into my life would cause problems, not just for me, but for them. The tricky thing was, when someone dated me, they also dated Frank. And I came with a talking hellhound with attitude. That was too much baggage for most people. Besides, my work kept me busy, and I was often away demon hunting. How would I find someone who’d put up with all of that?

  “I smell ambition and cheap cologne,” Wiggles said.

  In front of us were a half-dozen people. I recognized the other journalist, James. He wore a pair of dark jeans, boots, and a white shirt. His dark h
air was swept off his face, and he had a false smile on his lips as he spoke to someone.

  He turned as I approached, said a few words to the person he was talking to, and walked toward me. “Do you mind if I get a few words?”

  “Only if you share some with me.”

  James’s smile turned puzzled. “Sure, I’m always happy to talk. It’s part of my job, after all.” He chuckled to himself.

  “You used to work with Nick Saunders?”

  James nodded slowly. “I did. I heard what happened. And you are...”

  “Tempest Crypt. I’m helping with the investigation into what happened to Nick.”

  He held out a hand. “James Ranger. I’m a freelance journalist with the ITC. You’ve most likely seen me on the television.”

  “I can’t say I have. I don’t watch much television.”

  “Really? I always find it strange when people say they don’t enjoy the television. You can live such an exciting life by watching other people act it out.”

  I suppressed a snort of laughter. “Yes, that’s the reason I don’t watch it. I like to live my life for real, not through a bunch of actors.”

  James shook his head, the look in his eyes suggesting I’d said something incredibly dumb. “Well, whatever. I guess it takes all sorts. What do you want to know about Nick?”

  “How well did you know him?”

  “We’re in the same business, so our paths often crossed. ITC uses us as freelance reporters. He was a good guy but tended to jump the gun with a story.”

  “What do you mean by jump the gun?”

  “Nick would often rush things through, rather than getting all the information. He had a tendency to miss the right angle, the real meat of the story.”

  “You were rivals?”

  “We’re all rivals in this business, but it was a friendly rivalry. I liked Nick. I never saw him as a real threat to my career.” James brushed a speck of dirt off his sleeve. “I know the career path I’m on. I wasn’t being shoved off it, especially not by a nobody like Nick.”

  James had just stepped over the line from confident to an arrogant moron. “Did you see Nick last night at the celebrations?”

  “Of course. We were all there.”

  “When was the last time you saw him alive?”

  James ran his hands through his hair. “It’s hard to say. It was a crazy night. I was doing interviews and then edited several pieces to camera in the build-up to midnight. I can’t remember seeing him after that.”

  “Are those pieces to camera time stamped?”

  James’s smile wavered. “Of course. You don’t think I had anything to do with Nick’s death, do you? Wasn’t it an accident?”

  “Most likely not. You did say you were rivals.”

  James rubbed his chin. “It was nothing serious. I even helped the guy now and again. He was out of work for six weeks on one occasion. I got him a freelance gig covering a local dog show. We looked out for each other, even if we did chase the same work sometimes. If you need to check my alibi, you can watch the broadcasts on the television this evening. I’ll be all over it. You can see for yourself; I was standing by the stones just before midnight, filming the crowds and updating the audience on the exciting solstice fun.”

  “I might do that. How much longer are you staying in Willow Tree Falls?”

  “Another day. But if Nick was killed, I’ll stay a couple more days to cover the story. Do you really think he was murdered?” James rubbed his hands together, a gleam in his eyes.

  “That’s what I’m trying to find out.” Wow, this guy was a total jerk. His friend was dead, and all he cared about was getting a story out of it.

  “Can I interview you now? Get the inside scoop on the murder investigation?” James lifted his microphone.

  “No, and you can’t broadcast anything about it. Not until the ang—, I mean, the police have said it’s okay.”

  “Aren’t you the police?”

  “I’m a freelance consultant.”

  “Oh, right. This is getting even better. A consultant usually means something juicy, not your average murder.”

  I shook my head. “Don’t leave the village. I might have more questions for you.”

  “Not a problem. I’m going nowhere. I’m staying at the hotel if you need me,” James said, “for anything.”

  I scowled at him, making it clear I was never going to be interested in anything like that. I turned to leave, looking around for Wiggles, who had loped off into the stone circle.

  “Before you go, have you heard anything about this legend of a powerful ring in Willow Tree Falls?” James switched instantly into interview mode.

  I feigned innocence as my heart sped up. “A ring?”

  “It’s something Nick mentioned. You see, that was his problem all over. He was hunting the wrong angle. We were here to report on the solstice, and he was hunting some ridiculous legend.”

  “If you think it’s so ridiculous, why are you asking me about it?”

  James’s smile faltered. “Journalistic curiosity.”

  I knew I shouldn’t, but I couldn’t resist. James was a jerk, and jerks needed taking down a peg or two. “Now you mention it, there is a legend about a ring. Of course, it’s not to be believed.”

  James’s eyes lit up. “What does the legend say?”

  I stepped closer and lowered my voice. “There used to be a family who hoarded magic items.”

  James arched an eyebrow. “Magic? As in witches and spells, that kind of thing?”

  “Something like that. I expect, in reality, they were oddballs who didn’t fit in, so people made up mean stories about them, a bit like you do.”

  “I always report the truth. People have a right to know.” James scowled at me. “Go on. What about this family?”

  “The legend goes that this family stumbled across something that had power in it. It could control people.”

  James licked his bottom lip. “What did they do with this power?”

  He wasn’t fooling me. He believed what I was saying. “No one knows. The family disappeared. Maybe the power consumed them.”

  His brow wrinkled. “Does anyone from the family still live here? They’d be great to interview.”

  “No, but before they vanished, they hid the ring in the marsh at the far edge of the forest.” Most of our forest was lovely, but there was a small corner, the corner that dipped down before hitting the magic barrier, that was swampy and gross. Anyone who stumbled in there got covered in green, foul-smelling slime. It was the perfect place for James to spend the rest of his time and get the complete experience of Willow Tree Falls.

  “The ring is there?” James’s eyes gleamed with desire.

  “If you believe the legend,” I said, “which I’m sure a smart guy like you doesn’t.”

  “Oh, sure. Hasn’t anyone thought to go look for this ring? If it’s not got any power, it could still be worth money.”

  I rubbed my head and made a show of thinking about his question. “There have been attempts over the years. But it’s not true. Why would you spend time hunting for something that’s a fairy tale?”

  James pulled himself upright. “Of course, but my viewers love this sort of thing. They can’t get enough of magic nonsense and go crazy for things like unicorns and fairies.”

  I shrugged. “I don’t see the appeal.”

  “Hold on a second.” James looked around. “Jenny, get over here.”

  I was surprised to see Nick’s assistant hurry over, a harassed look on her face.

  “We’ve got a lead on the ring legend,” James said.

  Jenny glanced at me. She had deep shadows under her eyes.

  “You’re working with James now?” I asked her.

  “I guess so,” she said glumly.

  “Find me a map of Willow Tree Falls forest. Plot out the marshy area,” James ordered.

  “It’s in the north east of the forest,” I said, feeling a trace of sympathy for Jenny. I hadn’t
planned for her to go wading around in the marsh.

  “How big is this marsh?” Jenny looked appalled.

  “It’s big. It’ll take more than one of you to investigate it.” I looked at James.

  “She’s not going to find this ring. I have to break the story,” James said. “Jenny, map out the site and give me the details. Keep quiet about this. I don’t want anybody else getting wind of what I’m doing. Also, find me a pair of wellingtons and some waders and a metal detector.”

  Wow! James was going all out in his hunt for a ring he didn’t believe in.

  “I’m on it.” Jenny hurried away.

  I watched her go. “It’s good of you to help Jenny and keep her on the payroll.”

  “What else is she going to do? Jenny has next to no experience in journalism. She should be grateful for the chance to study a pro in action,” James said. “She’s a good girl and happy to take payment in kind if you know what I mean.”

  I wrinkled my nose, glad I’d told him about the marsh. I hoped he fell face-first in it and swallowed a couple of toads.

  “Good luck with your search,” I said brightly.

  “Will do. Thanks for the tip,” James said. “Oh, and as for Nick, I did see him with someone last night, someone he was getting friendly with.”

  “A woman?”

  “Yes, I’ve seen her around a few times, so I think she lives here.”

  “Not his girlfriend?”

  James shook his head and smirked. “If you can call Rachel that. Nick wasn’t keen on her. I guess he figured he’d found a better option and decided to forget about Rachel.”

  “Who was the woman he was getting friendly with?”

  “I didn’t see much of her face, mainly because it was rammed against Nick’s as they kissed. She was slim with blonde hair. She had a decent butt and an apron tied around her middle, like she was a chef or worked in a cafe.”

  My spine tingled as shock ran through me. He could be describing Tilly Machello. “Where were they kissing?”

  “Inside the door of that restaurant. It’s called something weird. What is it?” James tapped a finger against his chin.

  “Do you mean Bite Me?” That was Tilly’s restaurant. She couldn’t have been kissing Nick, could she?

  “That’s the one. They must have had a romantic dinner before getting spicy for dessert. She’s a fiery looking one, a lot better than that whining Rachel.”