A Spell of Murder: An Ella Sweeting Aromatherapy Magic Cozy Mystery (Ella Sweeting: Witch Aromatherapist Cozies Book 2)

by Lisbeth Reade

  “Rory always smells like paper, trees and snacks,” Trouble hissed back.

  Livvie clouted him over the head with her paw. I sighed inwardly Good to know I wasn’t getting any support from the cats, either. My aunts had stopped talking and it was becoming uncomfortable.

  “Well,” Van Sinclair said into the frosty silence, “Ella, why don’t we get going. The night is young.”

  He gave me another dazzling smiled offered me his arm. I took it gracefully. Let them judge. It was nice to be treated like a lady.

  Van Sinclair was driving an Aston Martin. He opened the door for me and I beamed at him. After I slid in, he closed the door gently, so as not to catch my dress. He hopped in and smiled at me. He smelled like freesia and fresh mown grass.

  “I have amazing plans for us tonight,” Van said. “I’ve reserved us a table in the best restaurant in town. I’ve got an in with the owner.” He winked saucily. “Not only that but I have tickets to a show afterwards— very exclusive, completely sold out— and if that goes well, we can have drinks…”

  “That sounds fine,” I said, nonplussed. That was an awful lot of things for a first date. I would have been happy with just dinner. Still, how nice! I hadn’t been to a show in months. First I’d been busy learning aromatherapy and then there’d been plenty of sleuthing to take up my time.

  “The show stars a girl I knew from college. She got me tickets. She was a bit jealous when I told her I was bringing a date,” he confided.

  Great.

  “But we’re just friends,” he finished. “Anyhow, I am going to be the best date you’ve ever had. Ella, you will not regret this.”

  I already was… a bit. I bit down a retort and decided to give Van an honest chance. If nothing else, Mother would be please I’d at least tried to socialize like a ‘proper lady.’ Besides, it wasn’t Van’s fault that Rory was being so Rory about things.

  “Your father and mine do business together,” Van was saying, “Perhaps that means we’ll end up doing business together when our fathers hand over the reigns to us. That would be fun…”

  “Is there much call for aromatherapy in sales?” I asked cheekily.

  He gave me a blank stare. “No,” he said, considering, “Why?”

  “It’s what I do,” I admitted. “I’m an aromatherapist.”

  “Yeah, but that’s just a hobby,” he said dismissively.

  I see. I stopped talking and glanced out the window. Rory would have laughed. Maybe Van didn’t get that I was teasing him? I saw the coffee shop and the tree-lined path that led to LaBeck. Oh no!

  “Here we are,” Van said with flourish.

  “You know Carl?” I asked. This was not where I wanted to be. I felt trapped. This might get me in more hot water with Garza. Not to mention that Rory was walking up the steps and into the restaurant.

  Wait— Rory? What was he doing here?

  “Oh, this is so not my night,” I whispered.

  “Hm?” Van said.

  Rory turned, as if he could preternaturally sense me in the Aston Martin. I ducked. Van came around to my door and opened it to see me scrunched down in my very expensive royal blue dress. He raised an eyebrow.

  “Oh,” I said, “My shoe slipped.”

  Ugh, that was so lame. He offered me his hand and I let him help me out of the car. The valet hopped in and my escape route vanished into the parking garage. I didn’t see Rory anymore, but even so, my heart sank. There was no way Rory wasn’t going to see me once we got inside. Gritting my teeth into a warrior’s smile, I let Van lead me into the restaurant.

  My heart must have been trying to break free of my chest, it was pounding so hard. I scanned the room searching for Rory in the crowd of diners, but I didn’t see him. I felt a confusing mix of relief and disappointment. Where was he? He wasn’t by the bar or at one of the tables. Where did he go?

  Van beamed at the ma��tre d’. She led us to the same table Rory and I had had on our doomed first date and I felt like I was going to swoon. The sense of d��j�� vu was overwhelming. Van pulled out my chair with a flourish and I sat down. He sat opposite of me grinning. I couldn’t help it, I grinned back.

  “I hope you don’t mind,” Van began, “but I ordered for us. I know it’s gouache, but I didn’t want us to miss the show because we were dithering over oysters verses lobster.”

  “I guess it’s okay, just this once,” I said amicably.

  Carl walked over to our table. I beamed at him.

  “Ella! Good evening,” he said. “Van here has excellent taste. He’s taken care of everything for you tonight.”

  “Carl,” I said, “I’m sure whatever Van selected will be marvelous.”

  “I know, I told him that you loved the food here,” he said. He waved over a wine bottle. Carl offered the cork to Van to sniff and I wanted to die from the pomp of it. I hated being made a spectacle of in public. They poured for me.

  When Carl walked off to deal with another table I asked, “What was that all about?”

  “Oh, you caught me,” Van said with a wink. “Carl and I had a business meeting earlier in the week about some new wines. I mentioned I was taking a beautiful lady to dinner. When he found out it was you, he insisted we come here. Carl said you would love anything on the menu.”

  “Well aren’t, you clever,” I said. “And isn’t he just the best marketer around.”

  “This is your favorite restaurant, isn’t it? I can’t see Carl lying to me,” Van said, looking genuinely upset.

  I patted his hand. “No, he’s right. I keep finding myself here.”

  “Good,” he said. “I have thought you were delightful since school. I just, ah, never had the courage to ask you out before. I hope my invitation wasn’t too pretentious.”

  “No,” I said and touched his hand. “It was very proper. My mother was thrilled. I don’t get note cards as often as I used to when we were younger. There’s something to be said for being old fashioned, though, isn’t there?”

  He beamed at me and I could see the appeal. I had never even considered Van asking me out. We just didn’t have the same group of friends. Rory and I had always thought he was over-the-top rich. But that was when Rory still had money.

  I sipped my wine. It tasted a little sweeter than usual but it was a classic vintage. Sinclair held his glass up for a toast, saying, “To never missing an opportunity!”

  I clinked glasses with Van’s. Speaking of opportunities…Where was Rory? If he had gone to the office or the restrooms he should have come back by now. Oh, I had to know!

  “Excuse me ,Van, I’ve got to powder my nose before dinner,” I said.

  I stood up and so did he. What impeccable manners! I smiled at him nervously and fled the table for the back. The hallway where Hank Stillwater’s body had been was sparkling and clean but I felt his presence haunting the space. A server popped out of the kitchen and for a moment I thought it was Thomas. But it was a younger man who just excused himself as I passed.

  I reached the women’s restroom and walked passed it and saw the men’s was open. Rory wasn’t in there. Was he snooping around Carl’s office? That would be like him to try and get more clues on his own. I opened the door and stepped into the office, sure he would be there and I could whisper, “Gotcha!”

  The office was empty. Disappointed, I sighed. I took a step backwards and crashed into someone I didn’t have a chance to see. Whoever it was was large and strong and grabbed me. Before I could get breath to scream something that smelled sickeningly sweet was pressed against my mouth.

  My knees buckled. Then the world around me went suddenly and completely black.

  Chapter 11

  “Wake up, Ella.”

  The voice sounded so familiar, and yet it seemed so far away. An awful taste filled my mouth and my head ached. I felt someone bump into me.

  I opened my eyes as memory flooded back. I was somewhere small and dark, and staring into a familiar face.

  “Rory? What are you d
oing here?” I asked.

  “I could ask you the same thing,” he said.

  “Why are you tied up?”

  “Why are you in an evening gown?”

  “It’s a cocktail dress,” I corrected absently. “I was on a date with Van Sinclair at LaBeck.”

  “Finally, a man whose wallet size is appropriate for you… Your mother must have been thrilled.” Rory’s tone was sour.

  “Oh, come on,” I said, hurt. “I don’t understand you. Why is everything about money with you? I really like you, you know, but I can’t put up with your prejudices any longer. Your attitude really stinks.”

  “Mine? You’re the one out on a date with the richest man in town,” he groused.

  “And whose fault is that? I wanted to go out with you! But you have a problem with rich people and think we should all stick together right? To stick it to you. So why shouldn’t I go out with someone who doesn’t care about my bank account more than he cares about me?”

  My eyes stung. I couldn’t tell if it was the aftereffects of the drug or my temper. Rory just stared at me for a few seconds before ducking his head away from me.

  “You’re right,” he said at least.

  “I am?”

  “I guess I’m bitter and I need to get over it.” He paused. “Did you really want to go out with me?” he asked wistfully.

  I rolled my eyes at him. “Don’t be an idiot. I only date rich people.”

  He was stricken for a second before I winked. Rory laughed at himself.

  “I am an idiot! Forgive me?” he asked.

  “Yes,” I told him. “Mostly because Van Sinclair is a bore! Also because I think we have more important things to worry about. Where are we?”

  “The trunk of Carl’s car. Can you untie me?”

  The sounds around me suddenly made sense. We were moving— and fast. The car had to be luxury because despite the speed we were barely being jostled. I reached out as Rory rolled so his back faced me. It was hard to move in the trunk. He ended up half on me as the car took a turn and we rolled along with it.

  “Tell me how you got here,” I said, getting to work on the ropes around Rory’s wrists.

  “Thomas called me,” Rory said. “The police dragged him in because Neil is missing.”

  “I know. I was there when they brought him in. Neil called Joe and there was a gunshot… Evelyn was there.”

  “Are they dead?” He asked.

  “No idea,” I told him. “There were no bodies at Neil’s apartment when we got there.”

  “Well, he called me with his one phone call and told me a few things,” Rory said, and then grunted when I pulled the wrong rope end and actually tightened the ropes. Oops.“Thomas said he suspected Carl.”

  “Carl? Why Carl?” I pulled the opposite end of the rope and Rory’s hands came loose.

  Rory shook his hands out and rolled so we could face each other. He smelled sweaty but nice underneath, like a pine forest. We grinned at each other. He reached down and pulled at the ropes on his legs.

  “Thomas said that Carl fired him because Thomas was in his office rooting through his love letters. But he was only doing it because he had found out about June. He wanted to know more about Hank’s sister and how she died. Thomas thought that had something to do with the murder. Carl had caught him at it and fired him,” Rory said. He glanced around at the inside of the trunk. “We have to find a way out of here.”

  I agreed. Most cars had a release cord built into the trunk. We searched around.

  “So how did Thomas end up at Neil’s apartment?” I asked.

  Rory found the remains of the release cord. It had been cut.

  “Looks like we’re not getting out that way,” he sighed. “Thomas said he got the idea from you. Said you asked about a graduation ring. I’m not sure. I got off the phone with him and I wasn’t sure what to do. You weren’t talking to me. I had no one to bounce ideas off of. And then Carl called.”

  We were facing each other again. It was nice being this close, even if it was in the trunk of a fast moving car with certain death looming. Our foreheads were practically touching. Rory took a breath, leaned in and kissed me.

  Wow. I melted into the kiss, our breaths mingling for a minute. I felt warm all over. We parted and I had to gasp for air. I would have swooned if we were standing.

  “Sorry,” he said, with a sappy grin on his face. “I just… had to kiss you. Totally inappropriate timing. But…we might die so…”

  “Yeah.” I laughed. “So…Carl?”

  He reached for my hand and held it tightly.

  “Right. Carl called and told me he wanted to see me. Said he had some information about the case. Asked me to come by the office and talk about it.”

  “Why would he ask you and not the police?” I asked. “No offense,” I quickly added. I liked things being good between Rory and me again, and wasn’t sure if his feelings were a bit sore.

  “None taken. I thought the same thing. But I was too curious not to go. Speaking of the police, we need to call them before Carl stops.”

  “I don’t have my purse,” I told him. “It’s probably still at the restaurant with Van Sinclair.”

  “I had my phone, but when I got to the office to talk to Carl, he knocked me out and took it,” Rory told me.

  I bit my lip. “So then how are we supposed to call the police?”

  “I was suspicious of Carl, remember? I’m curious but I’m not crazy. I can’t really maneuver enough to get it. But I taped my dad’s old pay-as-you-go phone to my chest. Lift up my shirt and grab it,” Rory said.

  “You’re doing this just to get me to touch your chest,” I told him.

  Laughing, Rory braced his hands against the trunk lid so he wouldn’t wobble. We were making more turns now. The trunk smelled like old windshield wiper fluid and motor oil. I would kill for some fresh air. But it was fun to lift his shirt and see the slim phone taped to his lean stomach. I ripped it free.

  “Ouch! Careful,” Rory complained. “Ugh, and to think I wanted you to touch my chest.”

  “You sort of deserved it. Next time get it yourself.” I patted his lean stomach by way of apology. I flipped the phone open and dialed 911.

  “Nine-one-one operator. What is your emergency?” A calm woman’s voice said.

  “Hi, I’m currently trapped in the car of a murder suspect. Can you send help?” I said, trying to sound breezy.

  “Ella?” The voice shifted to one of deep concern.

  “Ruby? Oh thank goodness! Ruby, Carl from the restaurant knocked me unconscious and stuffed me in the trunk of his car. Rory’s here with me. Carl also knocked him out and tied him up. Can you find us?”

  “Stay on the line,” Ruby said. In the background I heard her calling to another officer. “Ella, do not hang up. We’re going to try and use your phone to track Carl… Are you guys okay?”

  “Banged around a little bit, but we’re fine,” I replied.

  “Rory too?”

  “I’m fine Ruby,” Rory said loud enough for Ruby to hear. “But we’ve been driving for about twenty minutes.”

  “Ok, I’ll expand the radius around town,” she said. It was silent for a few minutes. “We’ve put an APB out on Carl’s car. It’s registered as a black 2013 Dodge Challenger. That’s a big trunk, but you two must be absolutely cramped. Can you breathe okay,” Ruby asked.

  “Fine,” I told her. I heard Ruby conferring with a few people.

  “Are they going to be able to find us?” Rory slipped his hand into mine again.

  “Alright! We’ve got a lock on you guys. Stay on the line, but don’t worry if your battery dies. Carl’s car has a GPS in it and we’re using it to track him. You should hear sirens any minute. Detective Garza was closest to your location. She’s going to rescue you.”

  “She better hurry,” I told Ruby. “Carl is probably going to kill us.”

  We were silent for a few minutes. We heard sirens.

  “Great,” I said,
relieved. “Garza will save us.”

  The car surged forward jostling us.

  “Did she say Dodge Challenger?” Rory asked. I nodded. “This thing tops out at 182 miles per hour.”

  “What about Garza’s cop car?” I asked with a sinking feeling.

  Rory frowned. “Is it a Crown Victoria? Because those clunkers top out around 128 miles per hour…”

  “Oh, they’re never going to catch up to this thing,” I said, frightened. “What if we die in the trunk of this car?”

  “That’s not going to happen,” Rory told me. “Why would that happen? Carl isn’t a serial killer.”

  “He is if Neil and Evelyn are dead,” I said. “We would be just two more victims to him then…”

  “Damn, I liked Carl,” Rory breathed. “Don’t think about it. Think about ways to get out of here. Think about what we’re going to do when we get out of here.”

  I tried but I kept seeing Carl with a gun and us trapped in the trunk of the car. He could shoot us like fish in a barrel. I took a few deep breaths but didn’t say anything. The car was really banging us around now.

  “Fine,” he said, “I’ll start. When we get out of this, I will take you out for pizza.”

  “Good,” I said. “I really like pizza. It’s my favorite.”

  “It’s everyone’s favorite,” Rory said. He squeezed my fingers.

  “What’s your favorite topping?” I asked.

  “Don’t call me weird but I like pineapple and ham,” Rory told me.

  I rolled my eyes at him. “That’s not weird, it’s gross.”

  “Fine fine,” he said. “What do you like?”

  “Broccoli.”

  “Well Ella, this was nice while it lasted, but it seems that we are not compatible,” he said casually.

  I slapped at him. Rory cracked up at his own joke.

  A big jump knocked me into his arms and he wrapped them around me. “We’re okay,” he breathed, comforting me as best he could.

  But we were definitely not okay. Even if the police could stop Carl there was nothing saying we wouldn’t get hurt in the crossfire. And if Carl lost the police car…I bit my lip so hard I tasted copper.

  “Let’s think,” he said, his breath tickling my ear. “Oh, if only we had magic powers! We could just wish ourselves clear of the car…”