The screen door banged open and Kirra, Cassie’s younger sister, strode out wearing flannel pajama bottoms and a white shirt with a local dune buggy shop’s logo on the front. “What was that all about?”
“Nothing,” Cassie said, shooting me a pleading glance. “What are you doing up so early?”
Kirra was enrolled at the community college but had arranged her schedule so that she didn’t have any classes that started before noon. She came over and took the coffee cup from Cassie’s hand and pouted when she found it was empty. “I just got off the phone with Frankie.”
“At this hour?” I asked, looking from Cassie to Kirra with a puzzled expression.
Kirra nodded. “He said he got a call from the new owner of Siren’s Song. Apparently he wants to gather everyone to talk about the re-opening.”
I blew out a puff of air. “Wow. That was fast…”
“No kidding.” Cassie glanced up at Kirra. “Who is he? The new owner?”
Kirra shrugged. “Frankie didn’t say.”
“He must be a family member or something,” Cassie said. “It’s not like they had time to sell the place.”
“Yeah, but if he’s a family member, why would he be in such a hurry to re-open? Wouldn’t he be grieving?”
Cassie and Kirra both nodded but none of us had any answers.
“Anyways, you guys free?” Kirra asked.
“What time is the meeting supposed to start?” I asked.
“Half an hour,” Kirra replied, her tone grumpy. This was obviously cutting into her sleeping time and she wasn’t happy about it.
Cassie sighed and untangled herself from the blanket. “Guess we don’t have a choice.”
“Probably not,” I agreed, kicking free of my half of the thick fabric.
Kirra slipped back inside the house to go get ready and Cassie excused herself to go get a quick shower. “I’ll see you there, Holly. Thanks again for breakfast and coming over. You’re the best.”
I smiled, her words meaning more to me than she could possibly understand. “No problem. See you soon.”
With both of the girls inside, I gathered the trash from our simple meal, and headed over to Siren’s Song to wait for everyone else to arrive for the meeting. From across the street, I could see that the police tape was still posted over the entrance to the alley. There were lights on inside, so I crossed the street and went in to find Paisley and Frankie already waiting. They were both in their early twenties. Frankie was tall and lanky, with dark hair, caramel colored skin, and a wide, friendly smile for anyone he met. Paisley was a good foot shorter than Frankie with bright blue eyes and a short blonde pixie cut.
“Hey Holly,” Paisley greeted. Frankie was beside her, one arm draped over her shoulders.
“Morning.” I followed my nose to the carafe behind the counter. “Bless you. You made coffee.”
Frankie and Paisley laughed. “Of course. I don’t know why this guy insisted on us getting here so early.”
“No kidding,” Paisley quipped. “Not a great way to make a first impression. I would automatically like him more if he had the decency to wait until after ten for company meetings to begin.”
I laughed and filled my favorite tumbler with a stream of black coffee.
The bell of the front door chimed and I whipped around, expecting to see the new owner, but instead, Cassie and Kirra pushed inside. Everyone called out another round of greetings. Cassie went to get a cup of coffee for her and Kirra as Kirra raided the day old pastries from the fridge in the back room.
After that, an awkward silence filled the room, making the mood heavy and dark. None of us wanted to talk about Peg, but being in the shop, surrounded by her memory, it was impossible to think of anything else.
I cleared my throat. “Hey, Frankie, who was it that called you? Did you get a name?”
“He said his name is Phillip Tanner.”
My eyes widened as a frostbite cold fist punched me in the stomach. “Phillip Tanner?”
The person that I considered to be at the top of my personal suspect list for Peg’s murder, was also my new boss?
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
PHILLIP TANNER MADE his grand entrance minutes later and addressed the group of us with a stern eye, as though sizing each of us up individually. A shiver of apprehension ran through me when his cold blue eyes landed on mine. He was a tall man, probably close to six and a half feet tall. His head was bald and shiny and his face was just as closely shaved. He wore a business suit that looked like it was about a size too big for him. I wasn’t sure if he was a terrible shopper, or if the jacket had fit at one point and he’d lost weight recently. In any case, despite the ill fitted suit, he was clearly a businessman, complete with cuff links, a cobalt blue tie that made his eyes even more icy and intimidating, and an expensive looking watch on his wrist.
“My name is Phillip Tanner and I am the new owner of this coffee shop. This place is losing me money every day that it sits vacant, with no customers, no traffic. We’re going to fix that. I need all of you here tomorrow morning. Early. We’re going to clean this place up, order new product, and get ready to open in time for the weekend.”
He scanned the group of us again, as though waiting for objections. When he was satisfied that there would be no dissension, he continued, “I run ten shops just like this one over in Idaho. I know what I’m doing. You will all follow my lead. Now, quickly, give me your names, positions, and employment status. You,” he jerked his chin at me and my heart raced. “Start us off.”
I squared my shoulders. “I’m Holly Boldt. I’m a barista and I’m learning how to receive new orders. I’m full-time and I’ve been here for four months.”
“Good.” He let his eyes rake over my face for another long moment before dragging them to Cassie who was standing beside me. “You?”
Cassie looked like a wilted flower, left without water for too long under the summer sun. “I’m Cassie. I’m a barista too and I do all incoming orders and help—helped Peg—with the schedule. I’ve been here for three years and I work full-time as well.”
Phillip eyed her and then moved on to run through the rest, Frankie, Paisley, and Kirra, all part-time baristas. When everyone finished their brief introductions, he returned his gaze to Cassie. “You’ve been here the longest. Were you second in command? The assistant manager?”
“Well—uh—Peg never liked titles…” Cassie drifted off and I knew she was struggling to find her words. Peg’s refusal to promote her was a hot spot between the two of them. With the murder investigation already getting too close to her, she was clearly being cautious about publicly bringing up any disgruntlements between her and Peg.
“All right. Well Peg’s not here anymore.” I balked at Phillip’s gruff tone. I had no idea how he was connected to Peg—other than the fact that prior to her death, he had been in the process of suing her—but it would seem that they had shared some personal connection at one point in time. If there had ever been a friendship, or something more, between them, it was clearly gone now.
Phillip folded his arms and pinned us with another hard stare. “I happen to like titles. A chain of command is imperative. I won’t be here often. As I said, I have my own series of shops in Idaho. So, Cassie, was it?”
“Yes, sir.”
“You’re the manager now. I’ll draw up the formal paperwork and we will discuss pay and duties before I leave next week.”
All the part-timers swiveled their heads to congratulate her but Cassie couldn’t seem to find a smile. She nodded and kept her gaze fixed on her clasped hands.
If Phillip noticed, he didn’t let on, just barreled through a detailed list of his plans.
“Tomorrow morning, I will expect you all here at six. That’s AM folks. Got it?”
We all nodded and a chorus of “yes sirs” rumbled through.
Phillip clapped his hands and we were dismissed. He disappeared into the back room and I wondered if the police knew he was here. Wasn’t the offi
ce still part of the investigation? Surely a businessman like Phillip would have cleared it with the police before opening the business again. But the police tape was still blocking the alley. The whole thing felt odd and rushed. He was obviously prepared to march right along as though a tragedy hadn’t occurred a dozen feet from the front door.
Outside, the sun was out, and the day was already starting to warm up, bathing us all in balmy air that carried the smell of the sea and the reminder that summer would be here soon. Since arriving, I’d been warned that summer was when things would really kick up into a frenzy in the sleepy little town. Tourists and out-of-towners would flock to the peaceful slice of the shore and the surrounding shops and restaurants would become inundated with customers.
This same thought appeared to be on Frankie’s mind as well. “At least he seems to know what he’s doing. He can make sure we’re all up and running by the time the tourists roll in.”
Paisley nodded her agreement. “Good thing too. I count on my summer tip money to get me through the winter.”
Kirra linked her arm through her sisters, before chiming in her two cents. “Us too. We have to sock it away like a couple of squirrels.” She smiled at Cassie, waiting for her to pile on, but Cassie didn’t even lift her eyes from the sidewalk in front of her. Kirra frowned and released her arm. “Well, see you guys later. Since I’m already awake, I’m going to the beach to soak up some of this sun before class!” She threw her arms out wide and tipped her freckled face up to the sunshine.
When the rest of us reached the end of the sidewalk, Paisley and Frankie (who most people assumed to be a couple) started off one way and waved back to Cassie and me before crossing the street. “See you guys tomorrow morning. That’s AM people!” Frankie said, grinning after delivering his impression of our new boss.
I snorted, although I wasn’t sure Phillip Tanner was a good target for mocking. Especially if my hunch about him turned out to be true. If he knew that he would get Siren’s Song in the event of Peg’s death it made a pretty good case, in my opinion, to prove his motive. And if he was from Idaho, it was entirely possible he lived on a ranch or horse property. He didn’t dress like a cattle farmer, but that didn’t mean much. He could run it purely for the profit. When done right, it could be very lucrative.
How had it happened? Had he come to town to speak with Peg? Or maybe to meet for mediations or an arbitration to close the lawsuit. Maybe he was already losing in court and decided to show up in person to rattle her cage a little. Then, things got heated, he used a weapon of convenience—that putrid peppermint syrup bottle—and that was it? It made sense, to a point. Especially if the connection that had tied him to Peg in the first place was a love relationship gone sour. Peg wasn’t married. As far as I knew, she’d never been married. Maybe Phillip was her first love? Or an old flame? Perhaps they’d opened the shop together, as a couple, and then when they split, they divided it up. The lawsuit paperwork seemed to have originated from a dispute over profit shares.
The only problem was proving it. So far, nothing was concrete. I knew that if I had any chance of getting something concrete I had two choices: Magic or Nick.
Neither were options I particularly wanted to mess with.
As a witch, I used magic all the time, but it was always for small things. Light orbs in dark places. Mixing up potions to sell to other supernaturals. Charms to help me from forgetting or losing things.
Magic shields to keep my roommates from killing each other…
All of it was perfectly innocent and mostly harmless. But using my powers to dig into a murder investigation? It didn’t feel right.
Then there was the second option. I didn’t want to ask Nick for help. And honestly, after the way I stormed out the night before, there was a good chance he would turn me down even if I did swallow my pride long enough to ask.
I shook my head. I needed some time to think. As soon as I got back to the manor, I would scoop up Boots and go out to the greenhouse. That was always the best place to get some thinking done.
Cassie and I walked in silence, both of us working through our own thoughts. We stopped when we got to the end of the block and waited for a passing car to go by. Before we started across, I nudged her with my shoulder. “Hey, whatcha thinking about over there? You look a little out of it. Aren’t you happy about the promotion? It’s what you always wanted, isn’t it?”
Cassie shrugged. “Who knows how long I’ll have it. If Phillip finds out that I’m the main suspect in Peg’s murder…”
“If you ask me, he didn’t seem all that upset about her death. Also, being a suspect and being the one who did it are two very different things. You know you didn’t do it. So do I. And Chief Lincoln will come around.”
Cassie nodded but her expression let on that she was far from convinced. “It’s just crazy how fast things can change, you know?”
“Agreed.” I sighed, heavily. “I still can’t believe I’ve been here in Beechwood Harbor for six months. I feel like I’m just getting settled.”
Cassie’s brow furrowed as she glanced over at me. “Are you happy here?”
“Sure. I like it here and I’m happy to be making friends,” I smiled at her. “But, sometimes it seems like I’m an outsider just looking in, you know?”
“Hmm. Well, Beechwood Harbor is like a lot of small towns, I guess. Everyone knows everyone and it’s kind of like a clique from high school.” She laughed softly. “Did your school have those?”
I nodded. “Somewhat.”
The truth was, inside the haven system, there was a pecking order between the different kinds of supernatural beings. Witches and wizards tended to be at the top of the food chain because they usually had the most magic. And in the supernatural world, magic was power, and power always leads to status.
“You’ll find your way. Maybe it would help to get your own place. You know, a little rental house. There’s a few down closer to the shore that might be nice.”
I shook my head. “No. I like the manor.”
This time, she flashed a genuine smile. “You sure you don’t just like Adam?”
I laughed, caught off guard by her blunt comment. “Pretty sure the cheap rent, access to a greenhouse, and the killer view are the perks of living at the manor.”
Why wasn’t there a spell to keep cheeks from reddening? Blush-Away Drops, or something.
Cassie grinned and nudged me with her elbow. “Right. Then, why did you go on a date with him?”
I stopped in my tracks. “What?”
Cassie giggled. “You forget the gossip in this town is more constant than the tide.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Simone, my neighbor, saw the two of you out at McNally’s and then walking around town with matching ice cream cones.”
“Wow, she certainly has an eye for the details,” I said, my tone dry, remembering our shared love of mint chocolate chip. “Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it wasn’t a date.”
“Mmhmm. All right, Holly. Whatever you say…”
I laughed and shook my head. “This place really is something else.”
“Get used to it, Tootsie Pop. You’re stuck with us now,” she said, her eyes sparkling.
She had no idea how true that statement really was…
“Well, this is my stop,” she said, jerking her chin in the direction of the entrance to her neighborhood. “I won’t make you go the whole way for the second time today.”
I laughed. “All right. Well, tell Creamsicle hi for me, and I’ll see you in the morning.”
Cassie laughed. “That’s AM.”
“Right.” We laughed together and then went our separate ways. Cassie walked down her street, and I continued on up the hill to where the manor was perched like a bird’s nest, overlooking most of the harbor below.
I wasn’t lying about the view being one of my favorite things about life at the manor. I stopped to catch my breath at the top—silently reminding myself to find a gym w
ithin walking distance as there tragically wasn’t a potion for physical fitness—and took in the sweeping scenery. The ocean was deep blue with white capped waves rolling in against the brown sugar sand. The Pacific Northwest was far from tropical, but the natural, rugged beauty more than made up for the lack of palm trees and coconuts.
Elemental witches draw a lot of their magic from the elements, and I’d never lived anywhere else that filled me with such a strong, sure sense of my own abilities and powers. It just felt right. Which was another reason why I wasn’t willing to leave Beechwood Harbor. I was determined to make it work.
I turned to go inside, my stomach ready for something more substantial than a roll, and I knew Boots would start his begging parade shortly as well as I’d left without setting out his kibble. But as soon as I set my foot on the first step leading to the porch I knew something had gone horribly wrong.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
THE PLANKS OF wood that made up the stairs were in full rebellion. As soon as my shoe touched down on the step, I was bucked backwards three feet, stumbling to right myself before I landed in a heap on the front yard.
“Ugh! Bat wings!” I bellowed. “Posy!”
A window on the second floor creaked open and Adam stuck his head out. “Holly? What’s going on?”
Before I could answer, the entire house shook, as though there were a centralized earthquake occurring right under the foundation. I whipped around to check the perimeter of the house, thankful that we weren’t smack dab in the middle of the nearby subdivision. It would be a little hard to conceal the miniature earthquake.
“The house won’t let me in. What happened?” I asked, turning my attention back to Adam.
He sighed. “Lacey spilled the beans about the paranormal investigator. Posy’s…well…let’s just say she’s not taking it well.”
“Oh for the love…” I rolled my eyes. “Can you tell her to come down? I’ll explain everything.”
“You can’t come up?”
Murder's a Witch: A Beechwood Harbor Magic Mystery (Beechwood Harbor Magic Mysteries Book 1) Page 11
