“What’s wrong?” Roman asked.
“I just wish we could figure out who did this.”
“Do you have any suspects?” Officer Gates asked. “It appears we know the day the pencils were delivered, and I believe this school has a surveillance system outside. We can watch who came and went.”
I nodded. “You bet I do. It’s a long shot, but my neighbor Brittany Fleming—Matthew’s mother—is clearly against having an enchanted object shop right beside her church. Then there’s Natalia Young, the reporter who keeps twisting my words in the paper. Also, it might not be good to accuse the Mayor, but she’s made it clear she didn’t want Ettie’s Enchanted Effects in Watersedge.”
Principal Prusa shook her head. “I don’t think we need to watch the tape. This past Tuesday was career day. We had both Mayor Raab and the newspaper here.”
“Do you know which reporter came from the newspaper? And how about Mrs. Fleming?”
“Mrs. Fleming drops her son off at school every day. I’m not sure if she came inside. And I’m not sure which reporter was here.”
“Then we watch the tape,” Officer Gates said.
Soon we were all huddled around a computer monitor in a back room off the principal’s office, watching at triple speed, people come and go from the school.
“It’s important to let me know anyone you recognize,” Officer Gates said with a notebook in her hand.
The first person we saw was Mrs. Fleming, and she did indeed step inside the school. She had a large enough purse to be hiding anything in it. Still a suspect. Officer Gates wrote her name down along with the exact time she appeared on the recording.
Next, the Mayor arrived as well as the reporter I suspected, Natalia Young. Each had big bags.
“Everyone brought props and giveaways for the kids to get them excited for career day,” Principal Prusa said.
I nodded, watching the screen intently, pointing out a few people I recognized from the shop, including the overly tall, handsome older man who had purchased the jade keychains to rekindle his relationship with his son.
“Wait,” Roman said, with his jaw agape. “What’s my father doing here?”
“Your father?” both Principal Prusa and I asked at the same time.
I turned to Roman and asked my question again. “He’s your father?”
Roman nodded. “Clear as day. He’s been coming to your shop?”
“Twice. Only bought something once.”
“Hmm…Months ago, I invited him to come over and meet you, but he ignored me. Instead, he secretly visited you at your store. Peculiar, but he’s always been a bit eccentric.” Roman looked at the principal. “Any idea why he came to this school?”
“Um,” Principal Prusa fluffed her curly hair. “I’ve been dating him.”
Roman’s eyes bugged out. “He’s been dating you?”
She nodded. “I didn’t know he was a warlock. I mean, he must be because you’re one.” She took a deep breath. “Not that it matters to me.”
“And he’d be angry if word got out that he was a warlock. He’s big on keeping it a secret. It’s why he stays away from me,” Roman said.
“He came to see you last Tuesday?” I asked.
“He picks me up every Tuesday and Friday.” Principal Prusa’s eyes narrowed at the screen. “And he always has that messenger bag.”
Officer Gates wrote his name down on her pad of paper. “I guess we have to add him to the list of suspects.”
“Joe wouldn’t do anything like that,” the principal said.
“Really?” I raised my eyebrow. “You didn’t even know he was a magic practitioner.”
The principal tightened her lips but gave a nod as she sat back in the plastic chair. Officer Gates hit play on the video again, but we didn’t find anyone else I recognized.
Officer Gates clicked her pen closed and slipped it into her pocket. “I have lots of people to check alibis on and do some investigation. Ettie, Roman, I appreciate your help on this case. I think it’s a good thing to have witches in town. Nobody would have ever suspected the pencils.” She stood and shook both Roman’s and my hand.
As we left the school, Roman looked at me with a little mischievous look on his face. “Where to next?”
I smiled. He had to have known what I was thinking. “The church. I need to confirm Matt is tail-free.”
Roman smiled with a twinkle in his eye, laying on the dry sarcasm. “I didn’t expect this epic adventure to be over already.”
Chapter Thirteen
When we pulled into a parking spot outside Ettie’s Enchanted Effects, Brittany Fleming was hard to miss. A long, aluminum ladder leaned against the front of her church, ending right where her giant billboard hung. One by one, Brittany plucked each black letter from the sign. Down went her most recent warning to protect your children from the devil’s hex.
Her tail- and whisker-free son knelt on the church’s top step, pushing a toy car along the railing and my chest filled with pride. I had reversed the curse.
The car door clicked closed behind me, and I called up the ladder, “What are you going to put up there now?”
Brittany twisted around, giving me and Roman a full view of her scowl. “Maybe, Witch Reverses her Curse.”
“That’s good,” I laughed. “Smooth.”
“How about, Witch Saves the Day?” Roman suggested. “You can check with Officer Gates. Ettie figured out how to fix the children.”
“It’s easy to reverse a spell you caused,” Brittany snapped back, reaching to take down another word. “My son might be back to normal, but it’s only a matter of time until the town sees the truth.”
“And what’s that?” I asked.
“That you don’t belong here.”
I wrapped my arm around Roman and leaned my head on his shoulder. “Oh, I think I found exactly where I belong.”
“Let’s go home,” Roman coaxed. “We’re not going to change her mind. Besides, we need to get in touch with Mayor Raab to open Ettie’s up again, and we should alert Natalia Young to run a new story.”
I shook my head. “Not that reporter. They have to have a different one. In fact, perhaps I’ll write my own newspaper article. Never rely on someone else to get your story out.” I headed towards the shop’s glass entrance, needing to grab a few items to take home. Ettie’s might stay closed for a few days while this situation was sorted out, but it wouldn’t be the end. I hadn’t had a big grand opening event, and now, with a few free days, it was time to plan a massive witchy party to celebrate that Ettie’s Enchanted Effects was here to stay, no matter who didn’t want it. All that mattered was that I was going to make this home.
Behind me, soft footsteps fell on the sidewalk.
“Mrs. Ettie,” Matthew said. “Are you really going out of business?”
I shook my head. “No. Not if I have any say in it. I’m just getting started.”
“Hmm. My mom says she’s going to find a way to shut you down.”
I laughed. Was it as good as a confession? Not quite. It was in that moment that Brittany noticed her son had left the front porch and was within feet of Ettie’s entrance.
“Matthew, come back here! We don’t talk to the neighbors.”
“Mom, you were just talking to Ettie.”
Brittany twisted on the ladder, but then her foot slipped. Her collection of black letters flew up into the sky as she attempted to right herself, clutching onto the rungs. The ladder slid across the front of the church, falling edgewise down on its side. Brittany’s ear-piercing scream filled the air as she clung on tightly as it fell.
I waved my hand, pulling all the magic I could to freeze the ladder in place, despite the exhaustion I still felt. Beside me, Roman snapped his fingers in the air with the same idea.
Brittany now dangled from the cocked ladder that was suspended in the air.
“Mom!” Matthew exclaimed, rushing beneath his mother.
“Matt, stop! Stay away.” I rushed forw
ard, taking the boy in my arms. I spoke softly. “It’ll be okay. Roman and I have this under control.” I called over my shoulder. “Shall we let her down?”
Roman rubbed his chin. “I’m not sure. She can’t cause trouble while up there.”
“Don’t toy with me,” Brittany snapped. With the strength of her determination, I bet if she was on solid ground, she’d be shaking her fist at us. “Get me down.”
“Hmm,” I said. “I could help you, but it’ll involve ‘devil’s magic.’” A few people stopped on the sidewalk, seeing the oddly angled ladder. I knew Roman and I playing with her might have been viewed as irresponsible from the passersby, but in reality, we had the situation under control. Only the mortals of Watersedge, who didn’t know enough about magic, might be a bit nervous by the half-cocked ladder Brittany hugged like a long-lost relative.
Brittany’s glare softened, and her eyes widened. “You want me to make a deal? Fine. I won’t put anything up on this bulletin board relating to magic or Ettie’s anymore, but the war isn’t over.”
“I didn’t know we were at war.”
I could now see the whiteness of her knuckles. That was probably enough. “Let’s let her down.”
Roman and I snapped our fingers in unison, slowly lowering the ladder down onto the sidewalk. Brittany righted herself, brushing off her jeans.
“I think your mom could use a hug.” I guided Matt in his mother’s direction. Once Brittany had her arms around her son, I pulled the keys from my purse to unlock the shop’s door. Somehow, I didn’t think that would be the last of Brittany, but at least I had something to hang over her head. Maybe it’d soften her some.
I laughed.
That’d be nice.
Before Roman and I stepped foot inside, a man cleared his throat as he stepped around the corner.
Both Roman and I froze in place, seeing the tall gentleman.
“Nice of you to let me know you’re visiting Watersedge, Dad.” A tendon in Roman’s jaw pulsed.
“Yes. My only son got married. Of course, I wanted to meet your new wife.”
“All you would have had to do was knock on our door.”
“What would be the fun in that? This way, I had the opportunity to get to know the true Ettie, and Roman, I approve.” He turned towards me, outstretching his hand. “Joseph Sunward at your service.”
I shook his hand and smiled. “You already know who I am.”
The tension on Roman’s face softened.
“Don’t take my approval of your wife too far,” Roman’s father said. “I might approve of your bride, but I don’t approve of how you’re living your life with magic out in the open like this. It’s only a matter of time until some fanatic does something to all of witchkind.”
“Sometimes, you need to stand up for a cause you believe in,” Roman said, pulling me at his side.
“Well, only time will tell.”
“How long are you visiting Watersedge?” Roman asked, and I could feel the tension in his muscles.
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I’ve been staying at Slumber Inn right outside the city limits, but I’d like to make this stay a bit more…permanent. I mean, you two will be having little ones soon, right?”
I looked at Roman. Sure, that was why I became a mail-order bride. It was our duty to keep the pure-blood magic going, but it was too soon. “We’ve only been married four months,” I said. I had barely started sleeping in the same bed as Roman within the last few months, not that Roman’s dad needed to know that.
“Nonsense. Ruth and I had Roman before our one-year anniversary. I thought I’d stick around to make sure things go well with you being…well, out of the broom closet so to speak, but I need a place to stay until I find something more permanent. Something homier than the hotel.”
Roman glared at him.
His father added, “I’ll pay rent.”
Rent? A bit of cash to take the pressure off Ettie’s succeeding? Even without that, Joseph was family, no matter what a mess his and Roman’s pasts were. My mother had taught me to be a welcoming host. “We’d love to have you stay with us. It’ll give us a chance to get to know each other better and we have the room.”
“Is that okay with you, Roman?” Joseph asked.
Roman didn’t say anything, but I tapped his foot with mine. “Yes. That’s fine. Short-term only.”
Roman’s father clapped once. “Good. It’s settled then. I’ll be over tomorrow night.”
He turned and disappeared behind the corner he had come from, probably transporting himself back to the motel…or to Principal Prusa’s house for whatever relationship they had going on.
But I couldn’t help but wondering if it was all a set up. Was this part of a bigger plan? He didn’t like magic out in the open, but then why patronize the store?
How had he found the principal to start dating, anyway? And the odds that he just happened to visit the school at the same time as the enchanted pencils were placed was slim.
And now, I had just welcomed him into my home, but what was the saying? Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
Living under the same roof was as close as you could get.
Roman had said we were in for an adventure.
Boy was he right.
Chapter Fourteen
By noon the next day, I was back in business. As soon as Roman and I arrived home, I wrote that newspaper article about the pencils at the school, stating that the police were still looking for the perpetrator, but they had some suspects and it was only a matter of time until the guilty party was apprehended. In the end, no true harm was done, but there were a lot of people caught in the crossfire.
The paper published my unmanipulated editorial right beside a front page spread of a giant image of Brittany Fleming being lowered to the ground on a ladder. Right there on the side of the photo was a photo of Roman and me snapping. The title was, “Local Witches are Heroes.”
I had never been called that before, but the Mayor’s secretary called, stating that City Council overruled Mayor Raab and Ettie’s could open again.
As I arrived at the store, the crowd of people outside had my stomach turning. Were they back to protest? Or was it something else?
After I parked, I approached the building to find Officer Gates and Officer Duncan standing in front of my entrance. I expected a protesting mob chanting boos and curses, but instead, there were smiles and claps.
My cheeks heated, not expecting this welcome. The crowd made way for me to unlock my door.
“They were all going to leave when they saw the closed sign,” Officer Gates explained as the three of us slipped inside, keeping the customers outside for a moment. “But I told them to stay put. I was certain you’d be informed of the revocation of the Mayor’s order on your building.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“We came down here to give you an update on the suspects in the ‘pencil plunder.’” Officer Duncan snickered, giving me a different view of him. Perhaps he was a bit of a goofball after all. I could get to like him.
I chuckled at the name they gave the crime. “Did you find out who did it?”
“No, but you were right with all your suspects. Mayor Raab lost one of her children to a magic addiction a few years back and has despised magic ever since, Brittany Fleming recently made a purchase from the magic community, but it was shielded pretty well. We’re working on figuring out what it was for, and Natalia Young? Well, she’s not from Watersedge. She lived over in Crystal Caverns until she was arrested for protesting a magic store there. She was forced out of their community.”
I shook my head. “That’s not all your suspects. You still have Roman’s dad, Joseph Sunward…err…Joseph Sun. He changed his last name to keep himself separated from all the Sunwards who were out of the broom closet. Joe hates it that magic is out in the open. He visited the store twice—not telling me who he was.” I cringed, turning in a family member, but if someone was sabotaging me, all ni
ceties were off.
“We’ll look into him as soon as we get back to the station, but for now, we’ll take off. It looks like you have a pile of customers who can’t wait to get inside.”
I looked out the window and smiled. Sure, we didn’t know who was sabotaging the store, but thankfully it wasn’t working. I had a bigger crowd now than ever before and even ended up with good press out of the situation. The culprit would be revealed, and it was only a matter of time.
Until then, I had a store to tend.
And a life to concentrate on here in Watersedge…with Roman.
This whole adventure had taught me that it’s easy to give up, but it’s harder to stay focused.
And if Ettie’s Enchanted Effects was something I wanted to succeed, all I had to do was stick with it. People would come.
Just look out my window.
The Mail-Order Witch series is not over yet. Help Ettie and Roman solve the mystery of who is sabotaging their enchanted objects shop in “The Mail-Order Witch, Episode 2” available exclusively in Wayward Magic.
About the Author
Joynell Schultz manages the family zoo (literally!) and writes paranormal fantasy, mystery, and science fiction in her (nearly non-existent) free time. She's a pharmacist by training (boring!) but prefers to hang out with zebras and bears or some imaginary characters. Oh, and she (finally!) hit the USA Today Bestsellers list.
Grab the FREE pilot episode to The Mail-Order Witch (showcasing how Ettie & Roman met) or learn more about the author’s other books on her webpage:
http://www.joynellschultz.com
Don't forget to grab your copy of the next anthology, Wayward Magic.
Great Sun Trilogy, Part I
Bands of Gold
William C. Cronk
“Bands of Gold” centers around the Sun based culture of the Seven Peoples. A young boy from the wadi tribes, and his older cousin, fight against accusations that could have dire consequences. Along the way, they discover that one of them has a hidden magic that has never been seen before. Old enemies become allies as the climatic conclusion reveals truths best left hidden.
Hidden Magic Page 17
