“Yes,” I say. “Dawn heard the door slam. She woke Neville, and he went out to check on things.”
“Bummer,” Silas says. “Raul must have already changed into his wolf form when he left the inn. It’s hard to open and close doors with paws. Very awkward.”
“No opposable thumbs,” I say empathetically. “I know how that goes. My cat, Turkey, tells me all about it.”
Silas nods. It is truly so refreshing to have a conversation with a magical being! I don’t have to think twice before I speak, and censor my words. Silas gets it. My mention of communicating with my cat doesn’t even give him pause. He keeps on talking, as if I’ve said the most natural thing in the world.
“I packed Raul’s wound with yarrow, and he went back into the inn. I slept out in the woods and we met up early the next morning to keep looking for shelter. We tried to get out of town before the humans were awake, as usual.”
“That explains why no one saw you,” I say, thoughtfully.
“We like to stay under the radar,” Silas says. “We explored all day, climbing and digging, looking for shelter. While we worked, I had the feeling that Zeke was watching us.”
He frowns. “I knew that having Zeke in town was trouble,” he says. “His attack on Raul was only the beginning. Zeke was weakening my leader. I knew Zeke wanted to go in for the kill. That night, after Raul returned to the inn, I started trailing Zeke, so that I could protect my leader.”
“That didn’t work out so well, did it?”
Silas hangs his head. “No,” he said. “I trailed him into town. I saw him run into the inn. But my fear of being seen by humans caused me to hesitate. I tried to warn Raul that Zeke was coming in. I called him.”
“I saw,” I say, recalling the way Silas had stood outside of the inn, dialing his phone.
“I should have gone right in, immediately,” says Silas.
“Me too,” I say. “I knew something bad was happening in there. I feel terrible about standing right outside, while Raul was being killed.”
Silas and I sit in silence for a moment. My marshmallow is done. I’ve been holding it far from the flames, and it’s slowly turned the perfect color. But now doesn’t seem like the right time to eat it.
I sit still, dwelling in my guilt.
If I could do things over, I would have gone into the inn as soon as I saw Marty, picking that lock.
Thinking of Marty jolts me from my pity party.
“We can’t beat ourselves up about it, Silas,” I say. “What’s done is done. What we can do is make sure that justice is served. Do you think that Zeke killed Raul that night?”
Silas nods. His head is still hanging low. “Yes,” he says. “When I walked into the room, he was standing above Raul’s body. Raul was already on the floor; he was already dead. I watched Zeke plunge his knife into Raul’s already dead body.”
We fall silent again. This time I can’t help it. I’m hungry, and my marshmallow is so melty, it might fall off of the stick if I don’t take action.
I’ve copied Silas, and laid out my crackers and chocolate. I pick them up and squeeze them around my sticky marshmallow. When the marshmallow is off the stick, I have a perfectly squishy, sweet sandwich in my hands. Before biting in I ask, “Silas, have you ever heard of a guy named Marty Stevens? He works with Animal Control.”
Silas shakes his head.
I chew and swallow. Yum!
“He was there on the night that Zeke killed Raul,” I say. “He broke into the inn.”
“Strange,” says Silas thoughtfully.
“He picked the lock and went in. He came back out just a few minutes before you and Zeke arrived.”
“Seriously?” Silas asks.
“Do I look like I’m joking?” I ask, giving Silas a stony expression. “I’m a professional Private Investigator, Silas. I don’t joke about my cases.”
Silas studies me for a moment. His mouth twitches. Then, one corner of his mouth rises up. Next, the other. “You’ve got a little bit of—” He’s staring at me, and wiping his finger across his cheek. Then he points to my face.
I lift my finger, and wipe it across my cheek like Silas was doing. I feel slippery chocolate. A lot of it.
“Oh,” I say.
“There, you’ve almost got it,” Silas says. He’s chuckling now. “And there’s some... in your hair there. Yeah, some marshmallow I think.”
I finish wiping my cheek with my hand, and now I move my fingers to my hair. Oh, no! A sticky clump of marshmallow has found a home in my long, wavy locks.
Drat.
There’s nothing that can be done about it here, out in the woods. I smooth my hair, the best I can, over my shoulder and then pull up my hood in an attempt to hide the mess.
Trying to salvage my dignity, I say in the most professional tone that I can manage, “Silas, does the name Sarah Pelletier ring any bells?”
Silas shakes his head.
I take the last bite of my s’more, and then slurp down the last swig of cider in my cup. Then I stand.
The sun has set. It’s dark now, and I’m far from home.
“I should probably get going,” I say. “Thanks for talking with me.” I pick up my bag and loop the strap over one shoulder. “Silas, you seem like a really good guy. You should probably know that the Hillcrest P.D. are looking for both you and Zeke. They have fingerprints, from the knife, but they’re not a match for Sarah, Marty, or Dawson.”
“Because they’re Zeke’s,” says Silas.
“If they see you around town, they will want to take you in and ask you questions. They’re not going to understand your... background... like I do. You might scare them.”
Silas nods. “I know.” He says. He stands. “I won’t be staying... I can’t. By killing Raul, Zeke has claimed his rights to this territory. If the Lux clan controls land in Hillcrest, in effect it’s like they control all of the Earth Realm. Zeke’s dagger in Raul’s body is like a flag, stuck into the soil of a newly-discovered continent.”
“Is that some kind of ancient werewolf law?” I ask. I lower my voice so I sound official and put my pointer finger in the air. “The Alpha wolf who spills the blood of another alpha wolf shall forever more lay claim to the land on which the blood was spilt!”
Silas looks at me like I’m crazy. “No,” he says. “It’s just common sense. Would you want to set up your home in a place where a lawless murderer is on the loose?”
I shake my head.
Silas continues. “Now that Raul is dead, I’m the Alpha wolf for my pack. There’s no way I’m bringing them here. Not with Zeke roaming around, fighting to establish dominance on this land.”
“So you’re just going to leave?” I ask. “And Zeke will stay?”
Silas frowns. “There’s nothing else I can do. He’s strong. I’m alone.”
“You’re not alone,” I say. “We could work together.”
Silas thinks for a moment. “Zeke is dangerous, Penny. He’s killed once, and he’s going to kill again. He’ll attack leaders—the leader of the humans.”
“Mayor Haywater,” I murmur.
Silas nods. “And he’ll also go after the leader of your witch coven. Who started the coven, Penny?”
I gulp. “Me,” I say. “I was given a book, and I asked my friends if they wanted to read it with me.”
Silas’ frown deepens. “Bummer,” he says. “Well, good luck! You know your way back down the mountain?”
“Hang on a second!” I say. My feet are rooted to the spot. I’m not leaving on that note. “You can’t just tell me that a murderous lawless Lux wolf is on the prowl in Hillcrest, and then say ‘see ya!’. Please, Silas... help us.”
Silas takes a moment to think this over. The fire is dying down again, and it casts a warm glow on his chiseled features. I watch him think. Finally, he speaks.
“I’ll stay,” he says. “You’re right, it would be wrong of me to leave. Witches have always been allies to the Tenebris clan. I shouldn’t turn my
back on you now.”
“Thank you!” I say. “Now, how are we going to catch this guy?”
“He’s going to make his attack public,” says Silas. “That’s how the Lux work. Violence is an act of dominance. He wants people to know that he is the most powerful. That’s why he made sure I was in the room when he plunged his knife into Raul’s back.”
I shudder at the thought of it. Then, my mind starts to kick into high gear. “There’s a bonfire dance, tomorrow night,” I say. “To celebrate the founding of Hillcrest. Mayor Haywater is going to give a speech.”
Silas snaps his fingers. “Bingo,” he says. “Zeke will be there. You can count on it.”
“We have to take him down,” I say. “Not kill him or anything... and I don’t think the police are going to be much help because the whole werewolf thing is a foreign concept to them. But at least we could run him out of town...and out of the Earth Realm entirely.”
“That would be best for you all,” Silas agrees.
“Hey!” I say, my eyes widening. “I just had an idea! My knitting circle—I mean, my coven and I are learning the Banishing Spell. We could use it on Zeke tomorrow night! It would be a perfect opportunity!”
“Whew...” Silas gives a low whistle. “The Banishing Spell. You really mean business, don’t you?”
“We’re serious about our studies.” I say gravely. “And my life might depend on it.”
I don’t want to end up with a knife in my back, like Raul.
I can see the almost-full moon, peeking bright through the trees. The night sky is a deep navy blue now. What time is it, anyways? Turkey must be worried sick.
“Silas, I really have to go. My cat is waiting on dinner. My coven is having an emergency meeting tomorrow, at the Death Cafe. Maybe you could stop by? If you’re going to be helping us out tomorrow night, I’d like to introduce you to everybody before the dance starts.”
Especially Cora, I think to myself.
This guy is totally handsome, nice, and noble. And single, by the sound of things. So is Cora! Yes, it’s an odd time to be playing matchmaker, but I have a feeling that now that I’m learning witchcraft, a lot of my life is going to be like this. Odd.
“I can do that,” he says. He reaches into his jacket, pulls out a card, and hands it to me. I read it. ‘Black Wolf Construction’ it says. There’s a picture of a hammer, and a wolf howling at the moon. Below the company name I see his phone number.
“Nice,” I say. “Subtle.”
He grins. “That was what Raul and I were going to do so that we could save up for some property,” he says.
I tuck the card in my back pocket. “I think my friends will be very honored to meet you, and grateful for your help. You don’t mind a trip into town, do you?”
“Not at all,” Silas says. He glances over to where his cooler is tucked into the trees. “I’m almost out of food, anyways. Raul and I packed our supplies when we journeyed from the Water Realm, but we’re starting to run out.”
“There’s a market in town,” I say. “You’ll be able to find everything you need there. It’s a little bit expensive, but, hey,” I shrug as if to say, ‘what can you do?’ “See you tomorrow?”
He nods. “Be safe on your hike down the hill,” he says. “You need to borrow a flashlight?”
I think for a moment. Light would be nice. Then, an idea strikes. I lift my palm, and say aloud, “Flamma!”
A ball of light emerges, six inches from my hand. Not only does it light the woods up around me, but it also casts a warming glow over my face, arms, and torso. Lovely! Sometimes being a witch totally rocks.
I say goodnight one last time to Silas, and promise that I’ll get in touch with him tomorrow to let him know when our coven meeting will be. Then start picking my way back towards the trail. I remember the direction it was in, and I know it wasn’t far. Sure enough, five minutes later, I’m back on the path that will lead me home.
By the time I reach the bottom of the mountain, I’m exhausted. The short bike ride home feels like pure torture to my burning leg muscles. I climb the flight of stairs to my apartment as if I’m eighty, not twenty-seven.
When I open my apartment door, Turkey leaps off of the stool he’s been sitting on and strides over to me.
“What happened to you?” he asks, telepathically as I hobble into the room. “You look like you just ran a marathon. Is that chocolate on your face?”
“I was working late,” I say, giving my cheek another rub to clean off the chocolate that I’ve apparently missed. I release my bag with a thud onto the floor. “Tracking down a werewolf. Just a day in the life of a witch PI.”
Turkey leaps up into my arms, and I catch him. He nuzzles my face, and I grin and start to pet him. I’m tired, but not too tired to give my precious kitty a little lovin’.
“Well, this is a nice greeting!” I say.
“I was worried about you,” Turkey says. “I tried to reach you, telepathically, but I wasn’t getting any responses. You smell like—” he sniffs the air. “Marshmallows. And smoke. And pine trees.”
With that, he leaps out of my arms.
I reach up and pull my hood off. I touch the marshmallow mess in my hair. It’s hardened now, into a dime sized clump of dried stickiness, matted with tangled hair.
“I was in the woods,” I say. “My mind was on a million other things. I must have been too distracted to hear you. You wouldn’t believe the day I just had.”
“I want to hear all about it,” Turkey says. “And then I’ll give you my own report. I’ve had quite a day, myself. And I wouldn’t mind some dinner.”
I move towards the pantry, where I store Turkey’s food. He weaves between my legs as I reach for his dry food and a can of Finicky Feline Feast.
“You’re going to have to give me some room!” I say, laughing.
“Of course,” Turkey says, backing off. “Sorry, sorry.”
I scoop dry food into his bowl, and then top it off with a dollop of the gourmet wet stuff.
It’s duck and pea flavor, and it smells icky. But Turkey loves it. As soon as I place it on the floor, he begins chowing down.
As he eats, I recount my day—from my run in with Chris all the way to my meeting with the coven, and then finishing up with my fireside chat with Silas.
“So,” I say, after summarizing my conversation with the kind werewolf. “I think that solves the case. Now all I have to do is figure out how to use the Banishing Spell so that we can get rid of this Zeke guy for good.”
Turkey polishes off the last of his late dinner, and then looks up at me. “You think you’ve got it all figured out, don’t you?” he says.
I’ve helped myself to a bowl of cereal, and I lift a spoon, dripping with chocolate-tinted milk up to my mouth. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure I do,” I say, my mouth full.
“I wouldn’t be so sure, if I were you,” Turkey says mysteriously.
“Why not?” I ask.
“Let me show you,” he says.
He leaps up onto the counter and then uses his paw to hit the power button on my laptop. The screen turns blue as it comes to life.
“You want to show me something on the computer?” I ask.
Turkey nods happily. “Yes. I’ve been doing some research. And I found something that I think you’re going to want to see.”
Chapter Eleven
I slurp up the last of my now soggy choco-puffs as Turkey works on the computer. It’s really cute watching him concentrate on the screen as he twitches his little paw on the touchpad.
Within a minute or two he turns to me. “Take a look at this, Penelope,” he says, quite seriously.
He uses both paws to turn the laptop so that it’s facing me.
I grin. “You are so freakin’ cute!” I transmit to him.
“If by ‘cute’ you mean brilliant, then thank you,” he replies.
“Yes,” I lean forward and give him a pat on the head. “Brilliant. That’s what I mean.” I set my bowl down o
n the table, and focus on the computer screen.
Turkey has pulled up a news article. In the middle of the page, I see a photograph of Sarah Pelletier, wearing her usual pencil skirt and blazer. She’s shaking hands with a man in a suit and tie. Both have big smiles plastered on their faces. Under the picture, there’s a caption: ‘Sarah Pelletier, the owner of 100 acres of land in Northern Utah, with George Barter, CEO of Powder Paradise, a ski resort that has expanded exponentially over the past six years.’
I look at Turkey, my eyebrows raised. “Powder Paradise!” I say. “They’ve been starting up ski resorts all over Colorado!”
“Yes. With the help of Sarah Pelletier,” Turkey says. “Read the article.”
I’m so tired that it’s hard to focus on the little words on the screen. It doesn’t help that my fake reading glasses are smudged with sweat and dirt from my jaunt up the mountain. I take them off and give my eyes a good rub.
This barstool is uncomfortable. I pick up my computer and walk with it over to the couch. Turkey trails after me.
I set the laptop on the coffee table, and settle into the couch. Turkey hops up next to me. I give him a few quick pets, and then, I lean forward and start reading the article.
‘Sarah Pelletier, who recently moved to the Grander County in Northern Utah, states that she was approached by George Barter, CEO of Powder Paradise ski resorts, about the possibility of selling the 100 acres of land that she recently bought.
The sale will allow Powder Paradise to open a ski resort in the rural area of Utah. Powder Paradise is a quickly growing corporation which has been criticized for paying employees low wages, interfering with wildlife routes, and leading to the overpopulation of towns.
Members of the Grander County community are upset about the recent sale of land. Nancy Riley, who owns a ranch next to the now Powder Paradise land, states: “This is bad. I always thought that if a big commercial operation was going to move in, we’d have a chance to voice our concerns. But this land deal went on without any input from the community. It’s happening whether we like it or not—and I can assure you, we don’t like it.”
The Case of the Banishing Spell Page 12
