“Yes. You know as well as anyone that the sentencing in Spellbound tends to be too rigid. The prison time assigned to certain crimes is far longer than necessary. I advocate a more flexible approach.”
She smiled. “Very well. I’ll fast track approval for the committee at the next town council meeting. You can organize your team by the end of next week if you wish.”
“In exchange for my silence about Elsa?”
“Yes. And Daniel still gets his freedom, of course.”
I stood frozen in front of the mayor. A reformation of the sentencing guidelines would benefit the entire community. All I needed to do was stay quiet about one selfish fairy. Her punishment was never my top priority, however, I didn’t love the idea that she’d get away unscathed.
I lifted my chin a fraction. “And what if I don’t agree?”
“Then perhaps your committee will never get off the ground.” She pretended to examine her bright pink fingernails. “A shame. Your idea showed real promise. A huge benefit to so many in the town.”
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to clear my head. Surely the needs of many trumped the need to punish one fairy. I hoped Daniel forgave me for striking this deal since he was the one who deserved a voice in Elsa’s punishment.
“If we do it your way, what are the terms?” I asked. The words tasted like acid on my tongue.
“What we just discussed, plus you’ll need to use your feminine wiles to make sure Mr. Starr agrees to the terms, once he’s back to his usual mental state, of course. The gods know he’s caused me enough grief for one lifetime.” She snapped her fingers. “And I’ll have the vial, dear. Can’t risk you changing your mind and using it against my Elsa.”
“I need it to create the Anti-Obsession potion,” I objected.
“Not anymore,” the mayor said. “I’ll handle it from here. It may take a few days to sort out, so do try to exercise patience, dear.”
“What will you say to Elsa to make her hand over the rest of the vials?”
“How I handle my daughter is my business,” she said. “Now give me the vial so I can return to my guests.” She wiggled her fingers. “Are you making this deal, Emma? Because I’m about to flutter out the door.”
I placed the vial in her petite palm. “Yes, Mayor Knightsbridge, I’m making the deal.” With the devil in a pink dress, apparently, but a deal nonetheless.
Chapter 6
Apparently the criminal gods were listening to Britta because a case landed in my lap the very next day. I dropped by to make sure Althea hadn't turned my office into a distillery during my absence. Thankfully, the vat of moonshine was gone and the plants on the windowsill were looking spry and healthy.
"Oh good," Althea said. "I wasn't sure if I would see you today. You have a client coming in at two o'clock."
I stared at her. "So if I hadn't come in today, then what would've happened? Would you have sent the client to my house?"
Althea shrugged. "Who knows? It hasn't happened yet. It's like you have a sixth sense for these things."
Her snakes hissed in solidarity.
"Your latte smells good," I said, sniffing the rich aroma.
"Is that a hint? I don’t do passive-aggressive. If you want one, you only need to ask.”
I gave her a sheepish grin. "Only if you're not too busy. I don't want to interrupt your work." Whatever work she could possibly have without me, I had no idea, but she always seemed occupied.
She waved me off. “These legs are always looking for an excuse to take a walk. Sitting behind a desk all day isn’t good for anyone and I need to keep my girls happy.” She patted her headscarf. “They like the sun.”
I shared the sentiment. Winters in Lemon Grove, Pennsylvania were long and hard. There were times when one more day with a grey sky would have ended me.
“The weather is one of the things I love about Spellbound,” I said. “No one here will ever suffer from seasonal affective disorder.”
"I've been meaning to ask you," Althea said. "How’s therapy going? Or should I not ask?”
“No, it’s fine to ask.” After all, Althea was the one who suggested it. “Dr. Hall is… interesting."
Althea laughed. “That's one way of describing her. She's a character, I agree. She told you the story about the Kraken, I take it?”
I nodded. “One of many stories. She seems to have an endless supply.”
“Of stories and booze. I heard she does shots during session," Althea said with an air of disapproval.
"I can neither confirm nor deny this," I said. Dr. Hall's methods were unorthodox, but if she was helping people then I had no problem with it. “That reminds me—do you know anything about her relationship with Lord Gilder?” Althea had been around long enough to know the gossip.
Althea pursed her lips. "I do remember hearing rumblings of a connection. That was a long time ago though. I don't know that anything he came of it. Why?"
“I just think maybe that ship hasn't sailed," I said. "Not for her anyway."
"Is that so?" Althea asked. "Interesting. As far as I know, Lord Gilder hasn't been seen with anyone in a good, long while. He's a lovely vampire. It would be nice to see him happy."
"I could say the same for you," I said. "Aren't you interested in meeting anyone?"
"Girl, when you've been around as long as I have, you’re grateful for a couple of decades of solitude. I'll get back in there eventually. Time to oneself is underrated."
“You’re saying there were no great romances in your past? No one who made you lose yourself completely?”
“I didn’t say that,” Althea replied. She drew a breath. “There was one man. A human, in fact.”
“Really?”
“Which surprises you more?” she asked. “That I was in love or that he was human?”
“The human part,” I said truthfully.
Her dark eyes took on a dreamy quality. “His name was Percy and he was the most wonderful man I’d ever met. Kind and generous. Smart and funny.”
“What happened?” I asked.
Her eyes rolled upward. “I couldn’t risk turning him to stone.”
“So you keep them covered,” I said. “There’s no risk, right?”
“You don’t understand,” Althea said. “We were crazy for each other. We couldn’t be in the same room without undressing.”
Color blossomed on my cheeks. Not the answer I was expecting.
“We’d be in such a state of passion, we’d hardly notice when my headscarf began to slide off.” She touched her head absently. “We had too many near misses. It became dangerous for him to see me.”
“There was nothing you could do?” I asked. “No spell to keep him from turning to stone?”
“Not then,” Althea said. “Maybe now I could find someone…” She glanced away. “It doesn’t matter. This was a long time ago and he isn’t here.”
And if he were human, he would have died many years ago. “I’m sorry, Althea. That’s so sad.”
“Better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all,” she said with a shrug. “I have many happy memories of our time together. They keep me warm on many a night.”
“I hope someday you meet another Percy,” I said.
“There was only one Percy in the world, but I hope to find love again. Just not this decade.”
I didn't argue. Althea seemed content with her situation. That was fine by me. It was people like Dr. Hall who seemed stuck in a situation they’d rather not be in. She was someone I felt inclined to help.
“Dr. Hall needs love this decade,” I said. “And so does Lord Gilder.”
Althea gave me a curious look. "Now don't go sticking your nose in where it doesn't belong, Nancy Drew."
"I don't think Nancy Drew dabbled in romances," I said. “Nice attempt at a human world reference, though.”
Althea folded her arms across her chest. "You know exactly what I'm saying Little Mary Sunshine. Let me get you that latte before yo
ur meeting."
“And the file would be great too," I called after her. She slammed the door behind her and I laughed.
I didn't manage to get the file before my client arrived. The second he swaggered through the door, I knew I was dealing with a werewolf. If his brown hair and brown eyes weren’t a giveaway, then his natural masculinity would have tripped the werewolf alarm. He stood in front of my desk and stared down at me like I was prime rib with the bone in and he couldn't wait to suck the marrow out of me.
"You must be my two o'clock," I said, inching my chair back slightly. He seemed like he might reach across the desk and grab me by the back of the hair. He was definitely giving off a caveman vibe. Not that I was painting all werewolves with the same testosterone brush. Alex Ramon, the rising pack leader, was masculine without being obnoxious. I met him after the death of his fiancée and respected him greatly. I also knew if I had any trouble with a werewolf that I could go to Alex or Lorenzo Mancini, although Lorenzo was decidedly less fond of me.
“Two o’clock? I’m your anytime you want," he said with a wink.
I groaned. "Have a seat. What's your name?"
He dropped into the chair, his legs spread wide. Manspread. I had a direct line of sight to his crotch and it wasn't a view I was interested in.
"Buck," he said. "Buck Testani.”
"Nice to meet you, Buck," I said. "Why don't you tell me about your case?" I silently cursed Althea for not giving me time to prepare. Not that I would ever curse her out loud. I wasn’t an idiot.
"I think they call it an indecent exposure charge," he said, scratching his beard. "I'm pretty sure that's what the sheriff said when she clicked the cuffs on me. Two blond sisters restraining me…” He whistled. “Now that’s a man’s dream.”
I cringed inwardly. Indecent exposure? Oh dear.
"Would you mind expanding on that?" In this town, there was never a dull moment.
He leered at me. "I'd love to expand on that," he said, in a way that suggested he was making a sexual euphemism. Unfortunately, I couldn't quite work out what the euphemism was.
"Where did this happen?" I asked.
“The bottom half,” he said, gesturing to his crotch. “No one’s going to object to the top half. My pecs are outstanding.”
“Not where on your body,” I huffed. “Where as in the location in town?”
“Oh.” He didn’t seem the least bit embarrassed. “Near the Oaks, on the border of the siren’s yard."
"Which siren?"
"I think her name is Alison. She sings. Got a real nice voice. I heard her through the open window before she caught me." He hesitated. "Her voice wasn't so nice after that. Man, she can really screech. A pitch only wolves can hear."
I didn't blame her. "So you flashed her? Is that something you do often?" If I was dealing with a pervert, I needed to know now. I'd be sure to have Althea sit in on every meeting with Buck.
“Flashed her? What does that mean? No, I pissed on her lawn in my wolf form. She saw me and freaked out. I turned back into my human form so I could talk to her, but when she saw me naked, she freaked out even more." He pounded his chest. "I mean, would you freak out if you saw this fine specimen on your front lawn? You'd be kissing the ground and thanking the gods that your prayers had been answered."
I resisted the urge to groan loudly. So Buck fancied himself the gods’ gift to women. Go figure.
"Now Buck," I said. “I’m sure you're aware of the ordinances that disallow urination on someone else's property.” Not that an ordinance should be necessary for that one. Common sense would do, too. “Furthermore, I'm sure you’re aware of the shifting ordinances that are currently in place. It sounds to me like you violated two of those, if not more."
He grinned. "You should've seen the look on her face. She was not expecting me to shift to human form.”
I pressed my fingers to my temples. "Buck, in some circles, what you did could also be viewed as sexual harassment. Alison is a single woman who lives alone. She probably felt threatened by the presence of a naked man on her front lawn. Did you ever consider that? I bet you really frightened her."
"I wasn't there to scare her," he said. "I needed to take a leak and her lawn was there. Her singing was so nice, I stopped to listen. I didn't expect her to come running at me like a crazy person."
"Be that as it may, you are now sitting here with me, facing criminal charges. Do you know what the punishment is for your particular violations?"
His expression clouded over. "No. Am I looking at jail time?"
I sighed. "To be honest, I don't know. I’m unprepared for this meeting, but I’ll find out the details. Why don't we set up another meeting for Friday?”
His eyes sparkled. “How about Friday night? We can talk over dinner at Alessandro's."
"We'll talk in my office in the daytime," I said. "And I would advise you to use the bathroom before you leave the house. No pit stops."
He laughed and slapped his leg. "You're funny. I like a funny girl."
I glared at him. “Buck, this funny girl wants to keep you out of prison.” Maybe. Right now I wasn’t so sure.
He made an obnoxious clicking sound. ”Because I’m too hot for prison, right?”
My head drooped. “Yes, Buck. Because you’re too hot for prison. See you on Friday.”
Chapter 7
The dead troll was identified as Walter Rivers. Even if the team hadn't been able to identify him, his frantic wife would have been a tipoff.
I knew Astrid and Britta were still waiting for the medical examiner to finish with the body, so I decided to stop by Brew-Ha-Ha and grabbed them a couple of lattes to enjoy while they waited.
"You are the best assistant I never had," Britta said, greedily accepting the calm-infused latte. I’d given Astrid’s a shot of authority.
"I thought you both could use a nice, warm drink while you waited," I said.
"Thanks," Astrid said. “Too bad our victim can't use this to thaw out."
“It wasn’t possible to use a counterspell to thaw him out?" I asked.
“It was too late for this guy. In any case, it depends on the type of magic used," Astrid said. "It's hard to do a counterspell if you're not countering the right one."
Like the Anti-Obsession potion. "Then what's the alternative?"
Britta gulped down her latte. "Good, old-fashioned science. The medical examiner has heat lamps generated by magical energy. They stay on him until his body temperature returns to normal."
Well, as normal as possible for a corpse.
“His blood is probably going to give the most information,” Astrid said. “We need it in liquid form, though.”
At that moment, the doors burst open and a stout woman came flying into the room, her clothes askew and her hair sticking out in all directions.
"Sheriff Astrid," the woman said. She looked from Astrid to Britta, slightly confused. "Okay, you’re both Valkyries. Which one of you is the sheriff?"
Astrid raised her hand. "You're looking at her."
“Thank goodness. I thought I might need a new eye prescription. My name is Marianne Rivers," the woman said. "My husband is missing. I've looked in all the usual places, but I don't know what else to do."
Of course. Marianne Rivers was obviously a troll. With her stout body and wide nose, it should have been obvious to me, even without my newer, finely honed instincts.
"What's your husband's name, Mrs. Rivers?" Astrid asked, feigning ignorance.
"Walter," she said, wringing her hands anxiously. "He went out for an early morning walk yesterday and I haven't seen him since. I'm worried that he might have fallen and be stuck somewhere. I need help."
“You haven’t seen him since yesterday morning but you’re only reporting it now?” Astrid queried.
Marianne blushed. “My husband’s an inventor. It’s not unusual for him to stay overnight if he’s close to a breakthrough on a project.”
"Was he unwell?" Astrid asked. "Is there a reas
on you believe he might have fallen?"
"Oh no," Marianne said. "I just couldn't think of any other reason why he still hasn't come home. I tried to walk along the path near the house and retrace his steps, but I honestly don't know his usual route. He always walks alone in the mornings. I assumed he went to work afterward, but apparently he didn’t.”
“He walks every morning?" I asked. "This is part of his usual routine?" If someone had targeted him, then they would know that he walked at the same time every morning.
Marianne pressed her plump lips together. "Yes. Most days. It was his thinking time before work.”
Astrid came out from behind the desk and placed an arm around Marianne’s shoulders. "Mrs. Rivers, would you mind coming with me into my private office? There's something I need to tell you."
Marianne shook off Astrid’s hand. "Whatever it is, you can tell me right here. I'm a troll. You don't need to sugarcoat it for me."
Astrid hesitated. I could tell she hated to be the harbinger of bad news. Unfortunately, that was part and parcel of the job.
"Mrs. Rivers, I'm afraid that your husband is dead. We found him yesterday near Larkspur Bridge. He was frozen to death."
Marianne’s round eyes grew even rounder. "Dead?" she repeated. "I don't understand. How can he be dead? He was perfectly healthy."
“The fact that he was in a frozen state suggests murder," Astrid said. "We’re trying to get more information on the spell that might have been used so that we can narrow down the suspects. Is there anyone you can think of that may have had a grudge against your husband?"
Tears streamed down Marianne’s cheeks. She didn't bother to wipe them away. "No. No. Everyone loves Walter. He made friends wherever we went. If he asked to hold your baby at the parade and you’d let him.”
A warm and fuzzy troll. "Where did he work?" I asked. Maybe there was a problem at the office that his wife was unaware of. Not everyone shared professional problems with a spouse.
"Walter was a mechanic at Quinty’s. He's worked there for many years. I can't imagine there was any problem."
“A mechanic?” Britta repeated. “You said he worked on inventions.”
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