A Witch Before Dying

by Amanda M. Lee

  “That’s what we’re all afraid of.”

  We really were, but this time something told me that Aunt Tillie’s penchant for power games was going to play to our advantage. I looked forward to it.

  Twenty-Five

  We ate an early lunch in Grand Rapids – the city offered far more choices than Hemlock Cove – and then headed home. The discussion for the ride focused on Scarlet. While Silver didn’t offer any big surprises, other than Scarlet’s real name, everything we learned was confirmation of what we already suspected.

  “I found some stuff when I Googled Mary Kinney in Ohio,” Thistle announced when we were about ten miles from Hemlock Cove. She’d been busy on her phone for the past hour. “I can’t guarantee that all of this is her, but I did find a few mug shots that definitely belonged to her. She’s not a real redhead.”

  “I don’t think any of us believed that hair color was real,” I said. “The boobs aren’t real either.”

  “Definitely not,” Thistle agreed. “She was arrested for the first time when she was eighteen and she was flat as a board then. I’m guessing some of her scam money went into physical enhancements. I think her nose is different, too, although it’s hard to tell with these tiny photos.”

  “She probably realized that she could manipulate men with her looks,” Clove supplied. “She’s been falling all over herself when it comes to Landon and Chief Terry. She wants to lock them up early, because they’re law enforcement.”

  “What was she arrested for?” I asked.

  “Shoplifting was the first,” Thistle replied. “It sounds like she learned that little gem from her mother.”

  “I hate thieves,” Aunt Tillie complained. “They’re total dregs. We should lock them up forever.”

  “I think there are different levels of theft,” I argued.

  “You’re only saying that because you guys have been making plans to raid my greenhouse,” Aunt Tillie countered. “You’re dying to know what’s in my new blend.”

  Thistle lifted her eyes, suspicious. “Who told you that?”

  “I know things.”

  “Whatever. As for Scarlet, she was arrested at least six times under her real name that I can find. Ohio has a great mug shot site. I wish we had it for Michigan thugs and criminals. I don’t think she was arrested under her current name in Ohio.”

  “That doesn’t mean she wasn’t arrested under it in other states,” I pointed out.

  “You need to force Landon to run her,” Aunt Tillie ordered. “We want all of the information before we take her down and make her cry.”

  “Landon is busy with a rather brutal murder,” I reminded her. “I think he has his hands full.”

  “Yeah, what’s up with that?” Aunt Tillie turned so she could meet my gaze. “Why aren’t you neck-deep in that investigation? You’re generally all up in his business.”

  I shrugged, unsure how to answer. “I’m trying to focus on my own business and leave him to his.”

  “Why?”

  “Because.”

  Aunt Tillie wasn’t going to accept that as an answer. “Because why?”

  “Because … because we’re living together now,” I replied.

  “I don’t see what that has to do with anything. Besides, you’re not technically living together until he lets go of the old apartment.”

  “All he has left to do there is clean,” I said. “It’s almost completely empty. He’s selling a few pieces of furniture and then he’s done. He spends every night here. This is his home now.”

  “Despite where he laid his head three nights a week, this has been his home for the last six months,” Aunt Tillie pointed out. “I think you’re worried about something else.”

  “And what would that be?”

  “I can’t always see what’s in your very busy head, Bay,” Aunt Tillie replied. “You need to tell me what’s bothering you and we’ll go from there.”

  That sounded reasonable. I grew up with Aunt Tillie, so I knew she had something else up her witchy sleeve. “It’s just … I’m worried that living together and working together will cause fights. I’m not in the mood for fights. Well, actually, I don’t hate it when we fight because making up is a lot of fun.”

  “You’re such a pig,” Aunt Tillie complained.

  I ignored her. “The thing is, I don’t know that fighting right now is good because he’s fighting with Thistle almost every day. I don’t want to push him from little fights with Thistle to big fights with me.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t think big fights are good. I like the little ones.”

  “Yeah, but do you think that’s going to force him to leave or something?” Aunt Tillie asked, her eyes keen.

  “No. I know he won’t leave again. We’ve been over it a hundred times, and he doesn’t like it when I worry. I know he won’t leave.”

  “So what are you worried about?”

  “That he might … regret … moving here,” I answered without hesitation. “Maybe he’ll come to realize that those three days away were good for him because he could relax without all of the drama. I don’t know if you guys have noticed, but we have a lot of drama.”

  Instead of being sympathetic, Aunt Tillie let loose a derisive snort. “Sometimes you’re more of a kvetch than Clove. It’s beyond annoying.”

  “I heard that,” Clove whined.

  “I meant for you to hear it,” Aunt Tillie shot back. “Bay, you need to suck it up. You’re interested in the investigative part of what Landon does. He’s actually happy to have you around, although he’s letting you take a step back this go around because he doesn’t want to pressure you.”

  “I also think he’s worried that Bay is going to let her obsession with Scarlet cloud her judgment on the investigation,” Thistle added. “He’s fine sitting back and watching what she does with Scarlet because he figures it won’t be nearly as dangerous as tangling with whoever killed Adele Twigg. And, let’s face it, Adele’s killer won’t hesitate to go after one of us if it becomes necessary.”

  They had a point. I would never admit it, but they had a point. “Let’s just focus on Scarlet,” I suggested. “Once we take her down, if the murder isn’t solved I’ll volunteer my time. I’ve been trying to help with the murder a little. I’m the one who talked to Adele’s ghost, after all.”

  “Only because she sought you out,” Aunt Tillie said. “I find it interesting that she did that when she seems to dislike the whole witch vibe of Hemlock Cove. I wonder if she knows who killed her and is torn because she isn’t sure she wants that person to pay.”

  That was an odd thought. “What do you mean?”

  “She built something with that troupe,” Aunt Tillie explained. “Whether or not we understand it, that group was important to her. Maybe she knows that the group will be ruined if she tells the truth.”

  Hmm. “Under that scenario, the mostly likely culprit is Arthur,” I noted. “I think she honestly loved him, even though he didn’t love her the way she wanted.”

  “You’re assuming the killer was alone,” Aunt Tillie pointed out. “Have you ever considered it might have been a team?”

  I nodded without hesitation. “Ever since I heard that Arthur and Tess were dating I’ve started to wonder if they did it together. Maybe Tess wanted to be in charge and Arthur offered her the chance to if they got rid of Adele.”

  “It does sound like Adele was a righteous pain in the posterior,” Clove said. “Maybe she simply became too much for them to put up with.”

  “Yeah. It’s sad, but I think that’s definitely a possibility. We’ll know more when we get back to town. Landon and Chief Terry were going to question Arthur and Tess first thing this morning. Hopefully they came up with something.”

  “While you talk to them, I’m going to start brainstorming a plan for Scarlet,” Aunt Tillie said. “I think the sooner we can move her out of town the better.”

  Her words caused me to wince. “You’re not going to do anythin
g crazy, are you?”

  “Would I do that?” Aunt Tillie was full of faux innocence and light.

  “Absolutely.”

  “Then I guess you’ll have to wait and see, won’t you?”

  Yeah. That wasn’t frightening at all.

  LANDON STOOD AT THE edge of the festival grounds when I approached. I left Thistle and Clove to rein in whatever terrible plan Aunt Tillie was about to unleash on the unsuspecting Hemlock Cove denizens and crept up behind him, giving him a fervent hug before he recognized my presence.

  “Hey, be careful,” Landon warned. “My girlfriend might show up any second. I don’t want her to find out about you.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “Ha, ha.”

  Landon chuckled. “Okay. I’m willing to be schmaltzy, but you have to make it quick.”

  “Oh, Carlos, I’ve never loved you more,” I teased.

  “I love you more than the sun and moon combined, Esmerelda. Just don’t tell my girlfriend. She’s not the understanding sort.”

  Landon turned to face me, giving me a full-on hug before releasing me. “I wasn’t sure when you’d get back. Did you get anywhere?”

  “We did.” I nodded. “Most of what we got was confirmation of Scarlet’s nature, but we got a few things to use against her when it comes time for battle.”

  “You have no idea how much it turns me on when you say things like that.” Landon tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “Do you think you could wear a Wonder Woman outfit next time you do?”

  “I’ll consider it.” If he had a Wonder Woman fetish I was more than happy to play along. “How about you? Did you talk to Arthur and Tess?”

  “We did.” Landon’s smile slipped. “Terry took Arthur and I took Tess. We figured she might be more likely to open up to someone closer to her own age.”

  “And?”

  “And she denies having an affair with Arthur. Adele occasionally accused her of that but she denied it,” Landon replied. “She told a very long story about Adele being paranoid regarding Arthur and firing several former performers because she was convinced he was having affairs. According to Tess, they never happened. Or at least she doesn’t think they ever happened. One of the women Adele accused of having an affair was reportedly a lesbian.”

  “Huh.” I wasn’t sure what to make of that. “Do you think she’s telling the truth?”

  “I have no idea. She’s hard to read, so it wasn’t obvious if she was lying.”

  “What about Arthur?”

  “He had a different reaction,” Landon replied. “He completely exploded at Terry and accused him of manufacturing stories to sully his wife’s good reputation. He thinks we’re desperate to pin the murder on him because we don’t want to put the effort in to solve the case.”

  “That’s not true.”

  “We’re trying, but not getting anywhere,” Landon said. “The whole thing is a mess. I’m not sure where we’re going next. Tell me what you found.”

  I related my afternoon to him – leaving nothing out, because I knew he liked it when Aunt Tillie melted down – and when I was done, his expression was hard to read. “What do you think?”

  “I think you already have the answers you were looking for,” Landon answered. “You suspected she was a grifter. It sounds like you were right. Heck, it sounds like she stole that book she has from someone else and has no real power of her own. That makes me feel better about whatever you guys have planned for taking her down.”

  “Just because she wasn’t born a witch doesn’t mean she’s powerless. We shouldn’t underestimate her.”

  “I’m glad you’re being cautious, but she doesn’t particularly worry me.” Landon shifted his eyes to the tent in the middle of the festival hoopla. Scarlet stood next to Mrs. Little, their heads bent together, and they occasionally darted smug looks in our direction. “Aunt Tillie will eat that woman for lunch. Mrs. Little brought her in to use as a weapon, but she doesn’t care that Scarlet will ultimately be the sacrificial lamb.”

  “That’s funny because her real name is Mary.” I giggled at my own joke, earning a cocked eyebrow from Landon. “What? It’s cold. I find stupid things funny when I’m cold. Mary had little lambs. Sue me.”

  “Oh, well, come here.” Landon wrapped his arms around me and rested his cheek on my forehead. “I’m not saying you should be reckless when facing off with Scarlet. I’m really not. She won’t be a match for you guys. I’m not worried about what’s going to happen with her.”

  As if on cue, Scarlet picked that moment to head in our direction. I watched her approach with a glare. “What are you worried about?”

  “The fact that we have a killer in our midst and we’re running out of time,” Landon answered without hesitation. “I know what Adele told you – and it seemed like a good lead at the time – but now I’m starting to wonder if Adele made up the story.”

  “Yeah, I wouldn’t put it past her,” I admitted. “She’s … off. I’m starting to wonder if she knows who killed her but is keeping it to herself because she knows the troupe will disband if the truth comes out.”

  Landon pursed his lips. “I wondered that myself after talking to Tess. I don’t know anyone who would protect a murderer to keep a renaissance troupe running, but everything I’ve learned about Adele seems to suggest she would do just that.”

  “So what are you going to do?”

  “Watch and listen,” Landon said. “I expect you to do the same even though you’ll be focused on someone else.” He forced a smile as Scarlet approached. “And here she is now.”

  “Here she is now?” Scarlet echoed, faking a big grin for Landon’s benefit. “Were you talking about me, Landon? I don’t think that’s wise given the way your girlfriend feels about me. She’ll get jealous and unruly if you’re not careful.” She wagged a playful finger. “You don’t want to make her jealous, do you?”

  “It’s Agent Michaels,” Landon reminded her, causing me to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing when Scarlet’s smile dipped. “As for being jealous, Bay has nothing to be jealous about. As far as I’m concerned, she’s the only woman in the world.”

  “That’s laying it on a bit thick,” I said.

  “I’m fine with that.”

  “Speaking of women, I met one today that I’m betting you would’ve found quite attractive.” I had no idea why I decided to take the approach I did, but I was interested to see how Scarlet would react. “Her name was Silver Fox. She’s a witch in Grand Rapids.”

  And there it was. Scarlet’s eyes narrowed as she clenched her hands into fists at her sides.

  “Silver Fox?” Landon snorted. “What is it with these names? I thought Thistle was the strangest witch name I ever heard.”

  “Oh, no.” I shook my head, never moving my gaze from Scarlet’s face. “There are a lot of nutballs out there.”

  Landon recognized what I was doing and played along accordingly. “It sounds like you had a nice afternoon in Grand Rapids.”

  “It was very illuminating.”

  “Yes, well … .” Scarlet licked her lips. “I have to run to my store. We’re doing a big display in the main tent. I hope you’re not too jealous that I’m the featured witch at this weekend’s festival.”

  “Oh, no.” I let loose a grim smile. “I’m looking forward to you being the center of attention tonight.”

  As far as threats go, it was mild. Scarlet understood the meaning behind my words, though. “Yes, well, I’m sure I’ll see you around tonight. I really need to run to my store.”

  “Have fun.” I raised my hand in a mocking wave. “I’m sure I’ll see you around, too.”

  “That was mean,” Landon said when she was out of earshot. “But it was funny.”

  “Yeah. Speaking of funny, I need to get back to Hypnotic. Aunt Tillie is plotting, and I’m afraid she’s going to come up with something huge and garish when it comes to taking down Scarlet.”

  “That would definitely be her way,” Landon agreed. �
�Will you join me for a fun festival dinner tonight before the action starts?”

  “I will gladly join you for a festival dinner. You know how I feel about hot dogs.”

  “Yes, the same way I feel about bacon.”

  I smacked a quick kiss against his lips. “I’ll see you in a little bit.”

  “Try to be good,” Landon called out. “If you can’t be good, be careful.”

  “I’m always careful.”

  “Be ten times more careful than that.”

  Twenty-Six

  Landon was still at the police station when I finished plotting with Aunt Tillie, Thistle and Clove, so I made my way to the festival grounds to kill time before the show opened. In less than an hour, Mrs. Little’s newest endeavor would be open to the public. For now, it simply looked a little sad.

  “Is it just me, or is this kind of a pathetic festival?”

  I jolted at the voice, sliding a sidelong look in Tess’s direction and ordering myself to keep from squealing out of fright. I didn’t sense her approach, didn’t so much as see her shadow. She could’ve attacked without me even realizing it. Sure, she wasn’t very big, but she was a suspect in a brutal murder, and Landon wouldn’t be happy if he found out I’d let my guard down.

  “We’ve had better festivals.” I found my voice and was happy it sounded normal. “I’m not sure what Mrs. Little envisioned with this one, but it’s not up to Hemlock Cove’s normal standards.”

  “And what are Hemlock Cove’s normal standards?”

  I slipped my hands into my pockets and shrugged. We didn’t have snow yet – something I was thankful for, because Aunt Tillie was an absolute nightmare when she decided it was time to start plowing – but a definite chill flitted through the air. I could feel winter barreling down. “We have a festival every month. Sometimes we have two festivals. The beginning of December has always been festival-free. I don’t think Mrs. Little gave this one enough thought.”

  “Why not just have a Christmas festival?”