by K E O'Connor
“I’m not sure about him.”
Aurora stopped sorting the packets of dried herbs she’d unpacked. “What makes you say that? You’ve only met him a couple of times, and he’s been nothing but nice to you.”
“I went to see him today.”
“Oh! Why did you do that?”
“He’s an alibi for someone in relation to Bastille’s murder.”
“Goodness. He never said anything about that to me. That’s serious.”
“Everything checked out,” I said. “He’s Samantha’s alibi. Did you know he used to date Samantha?”
Aurora’s eyebrows shot up. “I don’t ask him about his past relationships. It’s none of my business.”
“It was serious between them.”
Aurora waved a hand in the air. “Even if it was, none of that matters now. Samantha’s his past, and I’m Toby’s future.”
“You’re not at all curious what they were doing together so late that night?”
Aurora pursed her lips. “I don’t know what you’re insinuating.”
“You think it’s appropriate that Samantha was in Toby’s house so late?”
“I trust Toby.” Aurora shrugged. “They sound like they’re old friends. I often meet with old friends and catch-up.”
“After midnight, just the two of you, over a glass of wine?” I felt mean for prodding Aurora, but she needed to see Toby wasn’t as honest as he made out he was.
Her face paled. “You’re not going to tell me Samantha spent the night, are you?”
“No! They both said that didn’t happen. They said it was just a friendly catch-up.” I couldn’t lie to my sister, even though it might make her doubt Toby if I did.
Aurora sighed. “There you go then. I have nothing to worry about.”
“What if Toby was mean to his former girlfriends? You might like to get in touch with them and ask. It would be easy enough to talk to Samantha.”
“Toby Matlock is the nicest man I know. He’s well-mannered, generous, thoughtful, and sweet. If he’s like that with me, he’d have been like it with his previous girlfriends. I’m just lucky no one snatched him up before I did.”
“I don’t know about luck,” I muttered under my breath. This tactic wasn’t swerving my sister from Toby. It was time to pull out the big guns. “When I was with Toby, he used his magic on me.”
Aurora’s eyes widened, and she dropped the packets of herbs she held. “He wouldn’t do that. He has strong magic but an equally strong moral code. He never uses his ability without a person’s permission.”
I couldn’t believe that. What was the point of being able to manipulate a person’s mind if you couldn’t have a little fun? I’m not talking bank robbery fun but convincing Patti to give you the biggest jam doughnut and a free treat of scones now and again, that sort of fun. Nothing that would harm another person.
“How can you be so sure?” I asked.
Aurora shook her head and scowled at me. “Did you have a late-night at Cloven Hoof? Maybe you had a few too many lemon drops. That’s why you’re talking such nonsense.”
I choked out a laugh. “My head was clear when I spoke with Toby. We were talking about you. The next thing I know, I’m outside his house and the door gets shut in my face by his creepy butler.”
“Feodor isn’t creepy.”
“He’s seven feet tall and doesn’t use words with more than two syllables. His arms are way too long for his body, and he doesn’t make eye contact. He’s creepy.”
“He’s also a big softy who adores Toby. He’s been in his employment for more than a decade.”
“Okay, so Feodor is a sweetie. But I’m sure Toby used his magic on me. He didn’t like the fact I asked questions about your relationship.”
Aurora crossed her arms over her chest. “Neither do I. Why quiz Toby about our relationship?”
“Because you’re my sister, and I care about you. I’m worried you’re dating someone who’s not being honest. Toby’s making out he’s this perfect guy so he can get you under his spell.”
Aurora raised a hand. “Stop right there. Toby’s never used his magic on me. He never would.”
I blew out a breath. “That’s what I’m trying to get you to understand. You wouldn’t know if he had. Toby shut me down because I was poking at something that made him uncomfortable. He’s not a nice guy.”
“Just because Toby doesn’t ride a noisy motorbike and stroll around looking all stubbled and mysterious doesn’t mean he’s not a nice guy. We have different tastes, that’s all.”
“We’re not talking about Rhett. We’re talking about a guy you’re threatening to spend the rest of your life with.”
“Did he say that to you?” Aurora grinned at me. “Did Toby suggest he’s going to ask me to marry him?”
I groaned and rubbed my forehead. “No, but that’s what I’m worried about. He’s got plans for you. He even suggested you give up Heaven’s Door.”
“Now I know you’re being silly,” Aurora said. “Toby likes this place. He’s here most days. He knows I love the store.”
“Toby’s plan is to wow you with luxury and turn you into a lady of leisure.” I shook my head. “You’ll hate that. You’ll be bored and lonely. You’ll rattle around in his enormous house being watched by Feodor to make sure you behave yourself. You’ll have no life of your own.”
Aurora’s expression hardened. “Toby’s house is beautiful, and I can find plenty to occupy myself there if I do give up the store. There’s the garden, the library, the pool, and plenty of rooms to choose from if I want to set up my own private spell room.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but she stopped me with a shake of her head.
“No, listen to me. That’s if I chose to do that, which I’m not going to do. Toby has said I don’t have to work if I don’t want to. I’ll always choose Heaven’s Door.”
I snorted. “Even for a generous monthly allowance? What if Toby gives you so much money that you won’t have to work?”
Aurora gestured around the store. “This isn’t work. This is fun. I love helping people with their magic and giving them spells to enhance their lives. This gives me pleasure, and Toby knows that. He won’t cut me off from something I love.”
Toby might give Aurora his smooth talk, but I wasn’t convinced. “I’m begging you not to rush into things with him. And be careful around him. His magic is really strong. He completely surprised me. It won’t happen again.”
“I have my magic eraser. You know I wear it all the time. Even if Toby used his magic on me, he’d constantly have to strengthen it.” She rubbed the amber pendant around her neck. “I trust Toby. I’m falling in love with him.”
I squeezed my eyes shut for a second. This was the worst news. I had one final card to play to convince Aurora he wasn’t a good guy. “Toby did something when I was in his house.”
Aurora’s eyes narrowed. “What did he do?”
“Cut off a piece of my hair.”
Aurora’s mouth fell open. “Are you sure?”
“No, because he used magic on me. But Wiggles saw the whole thing. He was watching through the window. Toby has my hair. You don’t take a lock of a person’s hair for a good reason.”
“You must have misunderstood.” Aurora looked at Wiggles, who was flat out on his back on the rug by the store door. “What exactly did you see?”
Wiggles nodded at me as he rolled over. “What Tempest said. That old man you’re dating got some scissors and took a bit of her hair. He tucked it away in his desk drawer.”
“You saw that clearly?”
Wiggles scratched his belly with a back paw. “It wasn’t a great view. Toby shoved me outside so I wouldn’t shed fur on his shag pile carpet, and I had to keep an eye on the undead butler in case he tried to bite me, but I’m eighty percent sure that’s what happened.”
Aurora sighed. “You could be wrong. Maybe he was doing something else.”
“Something that involved a freeze spe
ll, scissors, and my hair?” I tapped a finger against my chin. “Maybe he’s planning on buying me bows for my bonnet and wanted to make sure the colors matched my hair.”
Aurora glowered at me.
“Tempest is right. You need to be wary of him,” Wiggles said. “Anyone who leaves a dog in the garden rather than letting him chill on a fancy rug and eat cake has got issues to deal with.”
“Toby doesn’t have issues. He has allergies,” Aurora said. “Wiggles, think carefully. Did you actually see him take Tempest’s hair?”
My patience was wearing thin. Aurora had never doubted me like this before. “Why would I lie to you?”
“Because you don’t like Toby. Because you’re jealous of how happy I am with him.”
“Jealous! You’re dating a man old enough to be your father.”
“He’s refined and mature. I thought you were happy for me, but I see I was wrong.”
“I’m happy for you, but I’m also worried.” I reached for her hand, but she stepped away. “Think about how old Toby actually is. He dated Samantha when they were young. Samantha is in her mid-fifties. That means Toby is as well.”
Aurora shook her head. “You’re wrong. Toby’s no older than forty.”
I blinked at her rapidly. Was she kidding? She knew that couldn’t be true. “Have you asked Toby his actual age?”
“I’m sure I have. He’s forty.”
“That’s impossible. Samantha told me that Toby uses magic to look younger than his years. You’re dating a really old guy.”
“Tempest is right again,” Wiggles said. “He’s a proper old wrinkly. It’s unsettling that you’re into him.”
“That’s enough! Get out, both of you. I’ve had enough of being lied to.” Aurora stamped to the door and opened it. “You’re both nasty and spiteful. I know Toby’s older than me, but I like that. He’s mature, unlike the two of you.”
I gaped at her. Why couldn’t she see past Toby’s lies? This wasn’t blind love. Toby was manipulating Aurora. “I’m trying to save you from making a huge mistake.”
“No, you’re not. When you’ve gotten control of your jealous feelings, we can talk again.” Aurora pointed out the door.
“You need to open your eyes. Toby is bad for you.”
Aurora’s cheeks colored, and her eyes sparkled with tears. “Out. Now!”
I looked at Wiggles and shrugged before we shuffled out the door, which was slammed shut behind us and the blind pulled down.
I let out a frustrated sigh. “That went well.”
“Yeah, Aurora is totally going to ditch the old guy after that.”
A trickle of Frank’s energy curled around my spine. It seemed he was also annoyed with Toby and the influence he had over my sister.
As we walked away from Heaven’s Door, Frank’s energy crept further up my spine, and I felt myself grow warm. “Not now, Frank.” I wasn’t in the mood to deal with a jealous demon.
“I have a suggestion,” he whispered. “Let me pay Toby a visit. I’ll get the truth out of him. I’d enjoy pounding my fist into his face until he realizes that honesty is the best policy.”
I chuckled but shook my head. “I’m tempted, but it will only make things worse between me and Aurora. If she discovers I let you loose on Toby, she might never forgive me.”
“We both care about your sister in our own unique ways,” Frank muttered in my head. “By getting rid of Toby, I’m showing her how much I think of her.”
“We all know what you think of Aurora. Toby’s being dishonest with her, but you want to choke the life out of her.”
“Eventually, I will choke the life out of her. I’ll enjoy holding that slender neck whilst the light fades from those pretty eyes.”
I snorted. “That’s never going to happen.”
“It will. But before I do that, I must remove all unwelcome distractions from her life. Toby is a distraction.”
“Get out of here,” I growled at Frank. “If you talk about choking Aurora again, you’re not getting cupcakes for a month.”
He growled back twice as loud in my head before sliding down my spine.
“We need more information about Toby,” I said to Wiggles.
“The angels are still investigating him. Maybe they’ll share what they know.”
“Not likely, but we need to check in with them and see how things are going with Caprice. While we’re there, we can try getting our hands on information about what a slimeball Toby Matlock is.”
“Sounds good to me. And the angels always have doughnuts in the back room.”
I nodded. “And that’s exactly where you need to go.”
Wiggles cocked his head. “You’re asking me to break into the angels’ office?”
“It’s important. We’re saving Aurora from a terrible love match.”
Wiggles snorted a cloud of sulfur. “No problem. I’ll be a silent ninja hellhound, creeping into enemy territory to protect the fair maiden from the wrinkled, gnarled hands of a creepy old warlock.”
“Exactly. See if you can find out what they’ve got on file about Toby. If Aurora isn’t convinced he’s bad news because of his magic tricks on me, she might be convinced when she finds out what the angels are investigating him for.”
We walked the short distance from Aurora’s store and into the reception area of Angel Force.
Dazielle was on the desk and nodded as I approached. “I figured you’d be by soon enough. Sablo reported that you saw Caprice’s arrest at the hotel.”
“I had my own suspicions about her but was surprised when you took her in. Is she talking?”
“No, but she’s panicked. She’ll let something slip if we keep pressing her.”
“Have you got enough evidence to charge her with Bastille’s murder?”
Dazielle arched an eyebrow. “Not yet, but something will turn up.”
I discreetly gestured to Wiggles as I continued to talk to Dazielle.
He snuck behind the reception desk on his belly and headed toward the main office.
I had no clue how the angels filed their investigations, but if Wiggles could get a look around and see if there were files on Toby, that was a start. If Toby was as shady as I thought he was, he’d have a whole archive dedicated to his dubious behavior.
“Are you still questioning other suspects about Bastille’s murder?” I asked Dazielle. “Although Caprice was top of my list, other people could be involved.”
“Caprice is our focus going forward,” Dazielle said. “And I trust you won’t continue to poke your nose in. I heard you’ve been asking questions. It’s not welcome or needed.”
I raised a hand. “I’m only trying to help. Bastille was a friend of the family. She was my friend.”
“Which is why you shouldn’t be helping.” Dazielle shook her head. “I know this is tricky for you and your family. I actually expected you to be more of a problem.”
“I won’t be any more of a problem than I need to be, so long as you don’t start pointing the finger at Auntie Queenie.”
Dazielle smirked. “Queenie’s got nothing to worry about.”
“But her friends have?”
“They won’t, so long as I get Caprice to talk. They’ll be free to leave Willow Tree Falls as soon as we’ve charged Caprice.”
“But you can’t do that without enough evidence.”
“Or a confession.” Dazielle shrugged. “Caprice hasn’t been charged with anything. She can walk out any time she likes.”
“Does she know that?”
Dazielle tilted her head. “I’ve not expressly stated that. And if she thinks she has to be here, it gives me more time to dig.”
An angel being shady with a suspect, what a shocker. I almost expected the Devil to come wandering in wearing a sparkly tutu and talking about the cold weather in Hell.
“We’ll keep her for a few hours before letting her go,” Dazielle continued. “Perhaps a night on her own, thinking about what she did, will make her confess.
”
“You don’t consider Caprice a flight risk?”
“We’ll keep an eye on her.” Dazielle arched an eyebrow. “And, if she runs, I can always hire you to bring her back in.”
“She’s a witch, not a demon. I don’t hunt witches.” I pursed my lips. “You should keep asking around. Caprice has no real motive for wanting Bastille dead.”
“How do you know that?”
I scuffed my boot on the floor. “I... well, I might have asked a few questions.”
Dazielle shook her head. “Of course you did. No more. It’s over. We’ve got the person who did this.”
I couldn’t let it go. I couldn’t let the angels push Caprice into a confession. “Why kill Bastille at this specific reunion? Maybe that’s important. What has Caprice said about this anniversary get together? It’s been thirty years since the gang got together.”
“Nothing. The date’s not relevant.”
“It could be an old grudge coming to the surface.”
“No one holds a grudge for such a long time. Now that your auntie and her friends are getting on in years, I don’t consider them a serious threat anymore. More a nuisance.”
“They never were a threat to the village or the people living here.”
“They were if you got on the wrong side of them.” Dazielle tapped her finger on the desk. “I’ve heard stories of what they got up to.”
I grinned. So had I. Auntie Queenie and her friends had been awesome in their prime and still rocked some impressive magic.
Dazielle’s expression hardened. “That’s not something to live up to. We have files on all of them. The Magic Council even got involved a few times to sort out their dramas.”
“Okay, so they could be trouble. Getting back to Bastille’s murder, it was a risk killing her at the hotel. There were other people around. She led a sheltered life and lived alone. It would have been easier to kill her in her home with no one else around.”
“We’re not ruling out an opportunistic killing. The women could have argued. Caprice attacked Bastille and lost control of her magic.”
“What did they fight about?”
