by Esme Addison
“Wait—you saw the e-mail? I thought his laptop was missing,” Alex said, eyeing the woman with suspicion. “How can you access the blog? His e-mail accounts?”
“It was taken. It’s still missing. But I discovered he had a backup of everything on Tanner’s laptop. He created a profile—I guess to make sure no one could find his work—and it was all there.”
“How did you break into the profile? I’m assuming it was password protected.”
“Tanner had the password. Chris gave it to him for safekeeping. Those two were thick as thieves,” she added with a sad smile. “So you’re one of them? Neve wrote about them to Chris. Magicians? No, Magicals I think they’re called. He could believe a lot, but even he had a hard time believing there were people in town with magical abilities.”
Alex felt odd admitting the truth about her heritage to this woman, this Mundane. So she said nothing at all. “The police think my friend killed Neve, but I know she didn’t. It sounds like whoever killed Neve also killed your husband. If I find Neve’s killer, I’ll find your husband’s. And I have a good idea who he is—I just have to find the proof.”
For the first time ever, Alex saw hope in Evelyn’s eyes. “What do you have? What do you know?”
“I don’t want to say right now, not until I’m for sure,” she hedged, not wanting to tell this grieving widow anything to get her hopes up.
“If I can help in anyway, just ask,” Evelyn said. “I want to bring his killer to justice.”
Alex studied the woman. “Is the blog closed now? Because—”
“No,” she said firmly. “Chris would want it to continue. It was his passion, and now it will be mine. I teach science, so there is some interest on my part. No one knows about Chris. I’ll just keep the blog running, as a sort of tribute to him.”
“Okay. If you see anything of interest, you let me know, okay?” Evelyn nodded. “And hang in there. I’m going to find out who did this.” Something occurred to Alex. “Do you know why Chris was in the woods? From what I’ve heard, it was off the beaten path.”
“Knowing Chris, he was meeting a source. He was always on the lookout for the next big conspiracy-turned-truth. I think he was really hoping to scoop the alien invasion, because according to him that too is coming.” Evelyn glanced toward her gun on the ground a few yards away from her. “You mind if I retrieve my gun?”
Alex looked at the weapon. “Where’d you get it from anyway?”
“It was Chris’s just for house protection, you know?” She laughed sadly. “I’m not even sure how to use it. Chris was supposed to teach me, but he never got around to it.”
Alex nodded, carefully picked up the gun and inspected it. Her father had taught her how to use and care for a gun when she was fourteen. She’d never had her own, though, or used one. But the gun felt comfortable in her hand, and she remembered everything her father had taught her. She released the magazine and pocketed the bullets, faced the barrel toward the ground, and pulled the slide back, then locked it. Another bullet flew out and landed on the ground. Alex stared at it for a moment, and looked at Evelyn handing her the gun, muzzle down. “There’s no reason you should be walking around Bellamy Bay with a loaded gun.”
Eyes wide, she stared at Alex. “There is if you believe your husband was killed.” She placed the gun in her sweatshirt pocket, giving Alex a plaintive stare. “I have to protect myself—and my son. What if they come after us next?”
“The police need to know all of this so they can help you.”
She nodded wearily. “I told them that Chris was meeting someone in the woods. Of course, they didn’t believe me. I doubt they checked up on it.”
“Okay …” Alex regarded Evelyn for a moment, wondering what she should do about the fact that a Mundane knew her secret. Unlike the rest of her family, she didn’t know how to erase memories. Maybe she could get Minka or Kamila to do it later? They’d definitely have to teach her.
Evelyn smiled at her, the first time she’d really seen the woman look happy since they’d met. “You’re worried I won’t keep your secret. That you’re a Magical? I cannot believe Neve was right about you. I mean Chris told me, but I didn’t believe it. I thought she was just trying to entice him with bigger and better stories every time they talked. And they’ve been talking for years. I mean she’s been giving him information for a while. I don’t know how she did it—come up with her information—but she did.”
Alex swallowed the lump in her throat. “Yeah.” Her voice came out in a rough whisper. And she realized she was frightened of what this woman would do with the knowledge. She’d have to wipe this woman’s memories, and soon.
But Evelyn shook her head. “Your secret is safe with me. I won’t tell anyone.” The look of gratitude on her face was immense. “I promise.”
Chapter Nineteen
Despite being charged with murder, Alex was relieved to see that Celeste looked none the worse for wear.
Whatever that would look like, Alex amended. She just didn’t want Celeste’s effervescent personality dimmed by Jack’s actions. Alex and her aunt Lidia had arrived as promised, bearing a huge basket of goodies designed to make Celeste feel better. Alex watched as she descended the stairs, looking fresh, if not rested, in a white T-shirt and running shorts. She was barefoot, her face free of makeup and her hair styled in double French braids.
She looks all of sixteen, Alex thought with a grin. She stepped forward and gave her a hug. “How’re you doing?”
“Better now that I’m home.” A smile was in place, but Alex could tell that Celeste was not doing well. The light that normally danced in her eyes was gone.
Lidia pushed the gift basket forward. “Welcome home, dear.”
Celeste took the gift basket from Lidia and thanked her with air kisses.
“Come on, guys,” Josephine said. “Breakfast is on the deck this morning.”
The group sat at a patio table under an umbrella, and enjoyed freshly squeezed orange juice, buttermilk biscuits with local blackberry jam, sliced cantaloupe, and scrambled eggs with spicy peppers, onions, and tomatoes. A breeze lifted the heat; at eight thirty in the morning, the weather was still pleasant.
Before sitting down at the table, Josephine placed a large bowl of something tan and creamy and covered in a brown spice before her daughter.
Scents of cinnamon and anise floated toward Alex, who looked at the dish with interest. “Is that oatmeal?”
Celeste’s face immediately lit up, and she gasped in delight. “It’s plantain porridge,” she explained, favoring Josephine with a look of gratitude. “My mother always made this for me when I was little and feeling sad, or just sick.” She smiled at the memory, immediately dipping her spoon into the bowl for a taste. Celeste closed her eyes and sighed. “Thank you, manman.”
Josephine’s eye glowed with satisfaction. “I’m just happy to have you home, baby.”
They finished breakfast, and although everyone was enjoying their meal and time together, it was clear to Alex that Celeste was still sad. She looked emotionally drained with a glum expression on her face. Josephine offered to show them the latest artwork her husband had sent her from his travels. Alex begged off, saying she wanted to speak to Celeste alone.
Josephine reached for Alex’s hand. “I think that’s a great idea. Maybe a talk with you will cheer her up. Lidia and I’ll be inside.”
Alex went to Celeste. “Let’s have more iced coffee and then talk. Are you okay?”
“No, not really.” Celeste returned to the table, and poured more coffee from a pitcher into Alex’s glass and then her own. “But I’ve made my peace. I know I’m going to jail, I just hate what this will do to my parents.” She added cream and sugar to her cup. “They’re good decent people, respected in the community—and then there’s me, their jailbird daughter.” She cupped her hands around her glass and took a sip.
“You know I found the real killer of Randy Bennett,” Alex said. “And I can do the same for you.
I just need a little more time. In fact, I have a really good idea who—”
“Alex. Stop. Just stop. Okay?” Celeste set her cup down with a loud clink. “There’s something I have to tell you.”
Alex’s heart began to pound. She didn’t like the warning look in Celeste’s eyes. “What is it?”
“I appreciate everything you’re doing for me—your belief in me, your willingness to track down Neve’s murderer. But the truth of the matter is … What I’m trying to say is—” She stopped, tears beginning to fall from her eyes.
“What is it, Celeste? You can tell me anything. How bad can it be? I know that you were following Neve around town—you were caught on surveillance film.”
Celeste’s mouth dropped open. “You know about that?”
“Yes, I do. And so does Jack. What were you thinking? It’s one of the reasons he thinks you did it.”
“I told you. I was jealous. I’ve always been a little possessive with men, but I’m a Taurus, I have Haitian blood coursing through my veins, and the spirit of Mami Wata … It’s to be expected.” She shook her head. “But with Jasper it’s been off the charts, and I don’t know why.” She took a breath. “There was something between Neve and Jasper—I just know it. And I wanted to find out what.”
“And did you?”
She shook her head. “He would never come clean.”
“I also know that you argued with Neve in the park.”
Celeste covered her eyes with her hands and slumped in her seat.
“There were witnesses, and they also told the police,” Alex continued.” What was that about?”
“I just wanted her to tell me the truth about her relationship with Jasper.”
“So you confronted her.” Celeste nodded. “And what did she say?”
“That it wasn’t what I thought. But I didn’t believe her. Clearly, I didn’t believe her.”
A heavy silence filled the air between them. “You don’t have to keep looking for Neve’s killer,” Celeste spoke, her voice hard and flat.
“How can you say that?” Alex said, leaning close when she saw that tears had filled Celeste’s eyes. “I’m so close.”
“Because,” she continued, tears rolling down her face, “you’ve already found her.” She wiped her face with a napkin. “You’re looking at her … It’s me.”
“What? I don’t understand. You—”
The sound of voices could be heard. Lidia and Josephine were on their way back to the deck.
“I killed Neve Ryland,” she said, leaning in and lowering her voice, “and I’m going to go to jail for it.”
Chapter Twenty
When Lidia and Josephine stepped onto the deck, they knew something was wrong.
“What’s happened, Alex?” Lidia said, her concerned gaze on her niece.
But Alex couldn’t speak. She was certain she had heard wrong. Surely, Celeste had not just confessed to murder. She shook her head slowly, trying to negate the words, but Celeste’s tearstained face was all the proof she needed.
Josephine stared at her daughter. “Celeste, what’s going on?”
“Mother, I’m sorry. I’m so so sorry, but I can’t keep this to myself anymore.” Taking a deep breath, she looked at Alex first and then at her mother. “I killed Neve Ryland.”
Josephine collapsed into her seat while Lidia stared at Celeste, puzzled.
“Why do you say that, Celeste?” Lidia asked. “I’ve known you since you were a little girl. You wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
“But I did!” she rushed out. “I didn’t want this to happen. I just wanted her to leave town, leave Jasper alone. So, I did something.” Her voice lowered. “Twice actually.”
Alex exchanged glances with her aunt. “What did you do?”
She swallowed hard. “I cast a … hex for danger.” She glanced at her mother, who exchanged baffled looks with Lidia. “Just to cause her a little misfortune. You know, a candle flame sparking to scare her …”
“That was you?” Alex said, feeling just a little hurt. “You let me think—” She stopped, recalling other incidents. “The overturned paint at the park? That was you too?”
Celeste nodded. “I just made a little gust of wind.” She glanced around the room, afraid to meet her mother’s eyes. “I was angry.”
“And of course I saw you make the roof leak at the museum.”
Celeste gritted her teeth. “She wouldn’t take her hands off him. You know how flirtatious she was. I just wanted her to leave town and never look back. But the problems I was causing were too little, of no consequence.”
A haunted look darkened Celeste’s eyes. “I’m not a fan of these types of spells—created to purposely harness negative energy and cause harm, and I know that by doing it I’m opening myself up to karmic repercussions and consequences—but I was desperate. And it seemed like the first hex I cast wasn’t strong enough, so I thought I’d do it again. The night of the reception was a full moon.” She looked at her mother askance.
“How could I resist? A full moon? It was the perfect time to recast the spell for a bigger bang, so to speak. And I didn’t want to miss the party, so I put the items I’d need for the spell in my tote and slipped away to a quiet spot in the garden when no one was looking, and where no one could see me, and recast my hex for danger.” Her voice cracked with emotion, and she struggled to continue.
“An hour later, Neve Ryland was dead.” Her body heaved with sobs. “Because of me. Because of my stupid insecurities and jealousies.” She lifted up her head and looked around the room. “And you know what makes all of this even worse?”
Alex was afraid to answer, but she spoke anyway. “What?”
“I don’t even like Jasper anymore. I’m just so over him and his stupid floppy bangs and bow ties.”
Alex would’ve laughed then if it all hadn’t been so horrible. She didn’t know what to say, so she said nothing. She looked at her aunt, who oddly enough had a smile on her face. She turned to Josephine, who also had a rather indulgent look on her face as she gazed on her daughter. “I think I’m missing something here. Can someone fill me in?” Alex finally said.
Josephine reached across the table and patted her daughter’s arm. “I wish that you’d come to me sooner. I can’t imagine the toll this type of secret has taken on you. The weight of this …”
“It’s been hard, Mom. So hard. Just knowing that my actions caused all of this to happen. I took a life. And I’m going to spend the rest of my life paying for my mistakes.” She sighed. “But I deserve it. I—”
Josephine patted her daughter hand. “Sweetheart, you didn’t kill anyone.”
“No, I did. I know it’s hard to believe, but somehow, I caused this—”
“No,” Lidia said, her voice stern and brooking no argument. “You didn’t.” She looked at Alex. “Remember when I found that list of items Celeste purchased at the shop?”
Alex nodded. “You were concerned. You wondered what Celeste was up to and said you’d talk to Josephine.” She turned to look at her aunt’s best friend. “And you did?”
“She did,” Josephine confirmed, “and I paid Celeste a visit that evening. While she was preparing dinner for us, I did a little snooping of my own and found the items in her room. I knew exactly what she was up to. Oh, I didn’t know who it was for, mind you, but I knew she was planning a little mischief for some unsuspecting person, so I did a little spell of my own.” She chuckled. “Being half witch has its privileges.”
Celeste’s eyebrows shot up. “Mother, what did you do?”
Josephine eyed her daughter sharply. “I charmed every single one of those items so that they could only be used for good. So, if you asked them to work in something bad—”
“It wouldn’t work,” Celeste breathed. She jumped up and hugged her mother. “If what you say is true, then I didn’t kill her. I wondered why my spell wasn’t working.” She laughed, giddy now. “I mean, I’m good at what I do! So, the bad things that were happening to h
er—”
“Were just bad things happening to her. Not your doing at all,” Lidia said.
Celeste fell into her chair, relief slackening her features. “I didn’t do it. I’m not a murderer.” She laughed as tears continued to fall down her cheeks, but this time they were happy tears.
“You come from a long line of good women who heal, help, and protect. It’s not in your DNA to do otherwise.”
DNA, Alex thought with a start. The mermaid gene. Bryce Greenberg had to be the key to everything. She looked at Celeste, who finally had the old sparkle in her eye. Not quite up to its usual luster, but there all the same. “I have a really good idea who might be the killer. Do you all have time for me to bounce some ideas off you?”
Chapter Twenty-One
After a long day of work, Lidia, Minka, and Alex were home and enjoying szarlotka—Polish apple pie. The rectangular glass dish of dessert sat in the center of the table, scenting the kitchen with butter and sugar.
Alex took her fork and pressed into the thick flaky crust of the square-cut pastry and took a bite. Flavors of cinnamon, apple, and powdered sugar exploded in her mouth, and she moaned in delight. “I think my mother used to make this.”
Lidia nodded. “One of her favorites. I’ll have to teach you the recipe.” She took several sips of iced coffee. “Now, you were going to discuss Dylan’s friend with us?”
Nodding, Alex explained all of her reasons for suspecting Bryce. “But that still leaves Jasper and Montgomery,” she continued. “But honestly, as much as I dislike Montgomery, I think we have to remove him from consideration. Besides commissioning her to paint a mural, there’s nothing linking Montgomery to Neve. No motive.”
Athena barked and Kamila entered the house. “Not so fast guys,” she said, having caught Alex’s last remarks. “I hate to say it, but Montgomery might not be on the up and up.”
Lidia watched her daughter as she washed her hands and then served herself a slice of pie and a cup of coffee before joining the family at the table.
