“How come my Auntie Queenie saw your bike outside Deacon’s house?”
“Who says it was my bike?”
“If I saw the bike again, I’d know it,” Auntie Queenie said. “That was a one-of-a-kind Harley. There’s nothing else like it in Willow Tree Falls.”
“You know your bikes, Grandma?” Ian asked.
Auntie Queenie glared at him. “I’m no one’s grandma. But of course, I know my bikes.”
“She reckons she ran with the Dead Tree Witch gang,” Ian said to Rhett.
Rhett’s lips quirked. “Is that so? Then you know what we like to do with witches in that gang.”
“You had a lucky break running them out of town,” Auntie Queenie said. “If I’d been in charge, it wouldn’t have happened.”
Auntie Queenie opened her mouth to keep arguing, but I shook my head at her. We needed to get the information we came for and get out of these woods before more gang members showed up.
“You still haven’t answered the question,” I said to Rhett. “What were you doing with Deacon?”
Rhett sighed and turned his attention to me. “Even if I was there, it doesn’t mean anything dodgy was going on. What’s to say I didn’t stop by to chat with an old friend?”
“Because you told me you haven’t spoken to him, and you weren’t close anymore.”
“It could have slipped my mind. Maybe I did drop by one day. It still doesn’t mean anything was going on or I had a problem with him.”
“It could mean Deacon wanted you involved with his campaign.”
Rhett laughed, and his gang members chuckled along with him. “I have no interest in small town politics. I leave that to the suits and the social climbers. That’s not for me.”
“You don’t need to like politics. Maybe Deacon wanted you to help him get rid of the competition.”
“Which would mean I’d have killed one of the other candidates, not Deacon.”
“If not that, then maybe you were at Deacon’s looking for a way to get into his house and smother him without anyone seeing you.”
“That’s how he died?” Rhett asked, surprise clear on his face. “He was smothered?”
“That’s not our style,” Ian said.
“Murder is not our style.” Rhett shot a sharp glance at Ian. “I’m not involved. This gang isn’t involved with Deacon’s murder. We weren’t close, but I had nothing against the guy. I was sad to learn of his death, but this is not our business.”
“I’m making it your business,” I said.
“We should teach these ladies a lesson.” Ian’s blade rose.
Wiggles growled, and his eyes glowed. It looked like his courage had returned just in time.
“They need to show us the proper respect,” Ian said. “They’re on our turf and accusing you of murder.”
I glanced at Auntie Queenie as the tension grew. She appeared perfectly calm and had somehow managed to find a pastry about her person and was eating it. “I want a straight answer. I need to clear my sister’s name.”
“You won’t be able to clear her name when you’re in the hospital,” Ian said.
Frank kicked inside me, sensing the growing danger.
Auntie Queenie looked at me and shook her head. “We don’t need Frank. We can handle this lot on our own.”
I pushed against Frank’s energy. He needed to stay where he was. Fallen angels and demons battling against each other was never a pretty sight, and I always ended up getting covered in demon goo, which was a look no one could pull off.
Rhett raised a hand, and his gang stilled. “It doesn’t need to come to this.”
“Agreed. You tell us what you were doing with Deacon, and we’ll get out of here. We won’t bother you again,” I said.
“Rhett had nothing to do with that dude.” Ian lifted his blade higher. “He’s already told you.”
“I don’t believe him.”
Rhett glanced at Ian, shook his head, and sighed. “Deacon asked me for a favor. He needed to beef up his security. He’d had a couple of weird messages sent to him and was unsettled.”
I kept an eye on the blade in Ian’s hand. “What did the weird messages say?”
“He didn’t show them to me. Deacon said someone had shoved them through his letter-box. He didn’t see who it was. They threatened him and told him to stay away.”
“Stay away from what?”
“He didn’t know. Deacon assumed it had something to do with the mayor’s campaign. He asked me if I’d sign on for a few shifts as his unofficial muscle. He didn’t want me anywhere near the campaign, and he definitely didn’t want anybody to know he was using a gang member to keep him safe.”
“So why ask for your help?”
“Deacon knew he could rely on me. We were buddies when we were younger. I guess he figured he could still trust me.”
“That’s what you were doing at his house?” I asked. “Going through security details?”
“That’s about it. Deacon asked me to keep an eye on his house for a few evenings and see if the secret note writer returned. I did as he asked.”
“Who did you see?”
“No one. A week later, there was nothing and no new notes. When Deacon had no further contact from whoever wrote them, he assumed it was some overenthusiastic opposition supporter. He paid me what I was owed, and I left him to it. A week later, he was dead.”
I let out a sigh. Rhett wasn’t involved. He hadn’t been working with Mannie or Axel to bump off Deacon. And since I didn’t think either of them had the guts to kill Deacon on their own, I was all out of suspects. I must have missed something, but what? Who else could want Deacon dead?
“Are we done here?” Ian asked.
Auntie Queenie nudged me. “We should go. They’ll be announcing the new mayor in a couple of hours.”
My eyebrows rose. “Of course. If this murder has to do with who becomes mayor, the killer could be there.”
“I would be if I’d gone to so much effort to get the job,” Auntie Queenie said.
“Do you need a hand?” Rhett asked.
“No, we’ve got this,” I said.
“It doesn’t seem like it,” Ian said. “A few minutes ago, you thought Rhett was your killer.”
I glared at him, and Ian glared right back.
“What’s your next move?” Rhett asked.
“I’m going to find the killer,” I said. “They won’t be able to resist being at the event tonight and seeing who the new mayor of Willow Tree Falls is. If the wrong person has won the vote, they might decide to do something about it.”
“You think this is down to some overzealous supporter?” Rhett arched an eyebrow. “How can anyone be that interested in boring politics?”
“You’re asking the wrong person,” I said.
“But we need to be there,” Auntie Queenie said. “If this is about the election, the other candidates’ lives are at risk.”
“We’ll escort you,” Rhett said. “We can get you there quicker on the bikes.”
“There’s no need,” I said.
“There’s every need,” Auntie Queenie said, a big smile on her face. “It’s been awhile since I’ve had a ride. Ever since your Uncle Kenny banned me from riding after that little incident when I hit the magic barrier and broke it, he doesn’t think I’m safe.”
“We don’t need their help,” I muttered to her.
“Of course we do. Since they’re not the killers, they might as well lend a hand. Hey, big guy with the beard, get on your feet and show me to your bike.” Auntie Queenie strode over to the biker she’d knocked unconscious and pulled him upright.
Rhett stifled a smile behind his hand, his gaze on me.
Auntie Queenie dusted down the biker and checked him over. “Oh dear, you’re not fit to ride. I’ll use your bike, and you can be my pillion.”
The guy’s jaw dropped, and he stared at her. “You want to ride my bike after you knocked me out?”
“I’ve shown you I�
�m strong. I can handle a throbbing beast of an engine between my thighs.” She strode off, dragging the bemused-looking biker behind her.
Rhett chuckled as he watched them go. “What do you reckon, Tempest? Can you handle having a biker gang as your escort?”
I kept my expression neutral. It was no big deal accepting a ride. “It looks like I don’t have a choice.”
We walked along in silence for a moment, Wiggles by my side.
“I’m not going to hide the fact I’m disappointed,” Rhett said.
“What have you got to be disappointed about?”
“I told you my alibi for the night of Deacon’s murder. I thought you trusted me.”
I shrugged. “It isn’t that I don’t trust you, but I need to get Aurora’s name cleared. You could have been involved. I had to be sure. Only an idiot wouldn’t check the facts.”
“And I never had you pegged as an idiot.” Rhett nudged me with his shoulder. “It stung that you think I might have killed Deacon. I liked the guy. He’d gotten a bit uptight as he’d grown older, but he was decent enough.”
I tried not to care that Rhett was disappointed in me. I was doing what I needed to protect my family. That had to come first.
I glanced at Rhett. “You must miss him.”
“I guess so. I didn’t even realize it, but I always looked out for him. Even after we’d grown apart, I kept an eye out to make sure he was doing okay. I never let Deacon know, but I was sort of proud of him. He’d done so well for himself. If he’d won this election, he’d have been the youngest mayor of Willow Tree Falls. We’ll never know how good he could have been.”
We reached Rhett’s enormous sleek, black Harley. He hopped on and glanced at the seat behind him. “Climb aboard. Let’s go see if we can find you a killer for your Auntie Queenie to beat up.”
Chapter 22
The sun was sinking below the horizon as we pulled up outside the village hall. Bunting was strung outside, and music drifted from the open doors as we all climbed off the bikes.
I tried very hard not to think about how good it had felt to wrap my arms around Rhett’s waist as we’d sped out of the forest and along the streets. Nope, it hadn’t made me at all breathless to be so close to him.
True to her word, Auntie Queenie had ridden Josh’s bike as he’d clung to her on the back.
“What a ride. I need to get myself a bike again. I’d forgotten how much fun they could be.”
“I’m never riding with you again,” Josh said. “You corner way too sharply.”
“You just have to lean into it,” Auntie Queenie said. “Never let the fear take over. That’s when you lose control and wipe out.”
“Is that what you said to yourself when you broke Willow Tree Falls magic barrier and almost exposed us to the non-magicals?” I asked.
Auntie Queenie sniffed. “That was different.”
“You’re one crazy rider, lady.” Josh patted his bike and rubbed a hand across his sweaty brow.
“Thank you.” Auntie Queenie caught hold of my elbow. “Shall we go inside?”
Rhett touched my shoulder before I could answer. “We’ll hang around in case you need us.”
“You don’t have to. I appreciate you bringing us here, but we’ve got this.”
He shook his head. “Even so, in case you need backup. I’ll be here. We all will.”
My insides flipped over, and this time, it wasn’t because Frank was kicking off. Rhett had an honorable streak. He looked out for the people he cared about. I could relate to that. It was the whole reason I was hunting Deacon’s killer. Aurora needed me, and I wasn’t letting her down. I had to solve this murder. Only then would the rumors disappear about Aurora’s involvement.
As I entered the village hall with Auntie Queenie, the sound of talking and laughter filled the air. Voting had been going on all day, and the final votes were being counted before the new mayor would be announced.
There was a stage at the back of the hall with a curtain drawn over it and different stands displaying all the candidates’ promises if they became mayor.
We stopped beside a tasteful memorial for Deacon. There was a picture of him smiling. Tea light candles and small bags of herbs covered the memorial.
“He was taken far too young,” Auntie Queenie said. “And such a good-looking boy. It’s a shame your sister didn’t take to him.”
“Perhaps he’s not to her taste.” Aurora had yet to reveal to the family just who she was interested in. A part of me hoped her relationship with Toby would fizzle out after the novelty had died off. But that was Aurora’s battle to fight. I was here to clear her name. She’d have to deal with her romantic entanglements herself.
We passed the memorial, and I spotted Mom with Granny Dottie and Grandpa Lucius. Aurora was checking out the refreshment stand.
“Why don’t you wait with the others?” I said to Auntie Queenie. “I need to find Axel and have a chat with him. Even though it’s a long shot, he’s the only one left who might be involved with this.”
“I still don’t see it being him,” Auntie Queenie said.
“There’s nobody else,” I said. “He wasn’t telling the truth about where he was the night Deacon died. Maybe there are other things he’s lying about.”
“Tempest.” Mom engulfed me in a hug. “We were wondering where you were. And what happened to you?” She looked at Auntie Queenie. “One minute you were off getting more drinks and then you vanished.”
“I needed to spend quality time with Tempest.” Auntie Queenie winked at me. “We had a few things to deal with.”
“They’re about to announce who’s going to be our new mayor,” Granny Dottie said as she walked over. “I voted for the best looking one.”
“Who do you consider the best looking?” I asked.
“Axel, of course. He’s such a charming half-demon.” She gave me a knowing wink.
He might be a charming half-demon, but he might also be a killer. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.” I left Auntie Queenie with the rest of my family. Wiggles had abandoned me in favor of the refreshment table and I started hunting for Axel.
There was no way he’d miss out on tonight. He’d have to know the outcome of the votes and if all his hard work had been worth it, especially if that hard work involved murder.
He wasn’t anywhere in the crowds of waiting people, so I snuck behind the curtain in front of the stage to have a snoop around the back.
There were two rooms backstage. I was about to check in one when I heard footsteps behind me. I turned and discovered Axel.
He slowed as he saw me. “This is a surprise. Don’t tell me you’ve come to give me an early congratulatory kiss? Or should I say, another kiss?”
I grimaced. “Not a chance. I’m sorry that happened. I wasn’t myself.”
His grin faltered. “Oh, well, it was out of the blue.”
“Frank thought it would be funny to jump you.”
“Frank! Right, it makes sense now. I was taken aback when you lunged. I did wonder if you’d finally given into your desires and stopped pretending not to like me.”
“No, sorry. That’s not going to happen. I mean, I like you. I just don’t...” I waved a hand in the air. This was stomach clenchingly cringy, but I couldn’t lead Axel on. “I do need to ask you a question, though.”
He shrugged. “Fair enough. You can’t blame a guy for trying. Your question will need to be quick. I want to run over my acceptance speech one more time before the curtain goes up.”
“You’ve lost me.”
He grinned and pointed at the heavy red fabric. “It’s Grenville’s grand idea. The plan is that the winner will be told a few seconds before the curtain goes up. We’re supposed to stand on the other side of the curtain and be revealed to the waiting audience and welcomed by the old mayor. I guess people will like it. After that, I give my winner’s speech.”
“I don’t think you’ll be giving any speech.”
Axel’s smile fade
d, as did the color in his cheeks. “You don’t like speeches?”
“What I mean is, I think you were involved with Deacon’s murder.”
Axel’s mouth dropped open. “No, that’s not true.”
“You knew you didn’t stand a chance of winning against him, so you got rid of him.”
Axel raised a hand. “Wait a second. I’ll admit that, with Deacon gone, I was the next best option. I never considered Mannie strong competition.”
“I heard otherwise. I heard Mannie has plowed lots of money into this campaign. He wants to win. Did you have him as your next target but run out of time?”
“Mannie can push as much of his money into this as he wants. The people know a trustworthy face when they see one.”
“Are you really that trustworthy?”
Axel cocked his head and smiled tentatively. “Of course. Are you questioning my trustworthiness? As the almost new mayor of Willow Tree Falls, I’m offended.”
“You lied to me about where you were on the night of Deacon’s murder.”
“No, I didn’t. I had the same routine that evening as I do every week. Gym, dinner, and a movie.”
“Maybe you did all of those things, but you were seen at Cloven Hoof. You must think I’m an idiot. Merrie spotted you.”
Axel rubbed the back of his neck. “Merrie is mistaken.”
“She doesn’t make mistakes.”
He stared at me for a second and shrugged. “I might have left the movie a little early. I occasionally do that if I figure out the ending. Then there’s no point in staying.”
“How much of the movie did you see that night?”
“Maybe half. I wasn’t ready to go home, so I headed to Cloven Hoof. I thought I was being discreet.”
“We are very discreet at Cloven Hoof, but my staff misses nothing.” I noticed a tremble in Axel’s hands. “Is everything okay with you?”
“Other than the stresses of trying to be the next mayor of Willow Tree Falls and you just accusing me of killing Deacon, everything is fine. Why do you ask?”
“You need a detox from Cloven Hoof.” Axel had slipped through my net thanks to my focus on finding Deacon’s killer. He was hooked on my mushrooms.
Luck of the Witch (Crypt Witch Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) Page 19
