Of Murders and Mages

by Nikki Haverstock

I opened my eyes to see Isadora. She had caught us in the spot where her son had died.

  Olivia blanched. “We were walking Ella to her car when she got light-headed.”

  Isadora narrowed her eyes. “I’ve seen you all over the casino.”

  I could feel Isadora’s suspicion growing. They had wanted to keep my investigation quiet, but maybe a good red herring would help. “It was a secret, but I’m doing a financial audit.”

  Her suspicion changed. It was less hostile. My excuse was working.

  “We weren’t going to tell anyone, but since you already caught us, I might as well explain. Miss Santini asked me to come in and look over ways that the casino could cut costs. I’ll be here for a week. I’ve been getting over the flu, though, and I had to take a little break on the way to my car.” I faked a weak cough.

  “Oh, that makes sense.” She visibly relaxed.

  Olivia grabbed onto the lie. “Yes. I didn’t want to say anything before, so please don’t tell anyone.”

  Isadora nodded.

  “In fact, don’t be surprised if you see her undercover this week, investigating a few places.” She put a hand on my arm and pulled me away. “Goodbye, Isadora.”

  We said goodbyes, and I allowed Olivia to drag me out of sight of Isadora before I reclaimed my arm. “Undercover?”

  “Just covering all my bases. What did you sense before she interrupted?”

  “Nothing.” I rubbed my temples.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t feel a thing. Nothing. Not even a whisper. I’m sorry. I really tried.”

  “Here.” Auntie Ann offered me another candy bar. “If you didn’t feel anything, then the hologram is probably too faded. They don’t last forever.”

  I raised my hand, refusing the take the candy bar. “No, thank you. I already feel sick. What if I just missed something?” I was feeling unsure… and nauseated.

  Her heels clicked along next to me as we navigated the parking garage. “If you say you didn’t feel anything, then trust that. Where’s your car?”

  “One floor up.”

  “Olivia, I’ll meet you back at the office. I want to see Ella to her car.”

  “Sure thing, Auntie.” Olivia pulled open a door, and sounds of slot machines filled the parking garage. “Tomorrow. Nine a.m. My office.” She jabbed a finger in my direction then left, the door slamming behind her.

  Auntie Ann walked to the stairs and beckoned me on. “Why did you decide to tell Isadora that you were doing a financial audit?”

  I trotted up the stairs behind her then turned right toward my car while triple-checking that Patagonia was still safely by my side. “She seemed suspicious, and I was hired to do a financial audit, so I figured a near truth would be safest. This is my car.”

  “You have good instincts and magic. Trust that. Now go home and rest.” She smiled.

  I thanked her and got in the car to do as she said.

  CHAPTER TEN

  This time I recognized the little bells that filled the loft. I was lying on my side on top of my bed, still in my clothes from the day. Patagonia was purring loudly, her head wedged under my chin and her body pressed up against my chest like a furry body pillow. I stretched my arms over me as my stomach growled loudly. I pressed a hand to my midsection, and it was hollowed in, unlike the normal soft flesh I had from too many doughnuts. Working magic might be the best diet I had ever tried.

  I grabbed my phone and checked the messages. I had a long list of missed calls and a text from Vin.

  Opening my phone, I pulled up the text. “I’m at the door.”

  I was debating rolling over and going back to sleep when a second message came in and the doorbell rang again.

  This text was more intriguing. “Mom sent over food for you.”

  My stomach growled, and I slowly crawled off the bed.

  Patagonia leapt to the floor and raced to the front door while I grabbed a stick of gum off the bookshelf and followed behind.

  It was dark outside, and my phone said it was ten p.m. I felt slightly refreshed from my nap but was eager to crawl back into my bed once I had eaten.

  I checked the peephole at the door. Vin pressed the doorbell again and started texting on his phone.

  I pulled the door open, and the smell of garlic bread hit me like a ton of bricks.

  “Here.” He handed me a paper bag then pushed past me with another bag in his hand and a huge duffel bag thrown over one shoulder.

  As I closed the door behind him, Patagonia stood on her back legs, yowling and clawing to tear the bag open.

  I lifted it up out of her reach and padded after him. Peeking into the huge brown paper bag, I grabbed a breadstick, the outside greasy with warm butter and herbs. After biting into it, I paused to moan and close my eyes. The crisp outside broke under my teeth while the center was soft. Garlic tickled my mouth with its delicate flavoring. I stood there to finish it in peace before rooting around in the bag to uncover several containers of pasta in Alfredo or red sauce and a salad dressed in Italian dressing, the tang of vinegar tickling my nose.

  “This looks amazing.” I was tempted to open up a container and eat it right there with my hand but was able to control the urge. I entered the kitchen and pulled out plates. “Are you eating too?”

  “That’s the plan. Get started if you want while I cook the meat.” He also had a pan on the stove and was going through my cupboards.

  I pulled out some plates and silverware then dished some of the pasta onto my plate. I fell upon the food, barely holding back from stuffing it into my mouth. The flavors danced in my mouth, and I moaned again with pleasure. “This is so good. Is it from Isadora’s?”

  Patagonia jumped onto the counter and dove for the food but I grabbed her around the middle and swung her off. She meowed and wailed until I took a tiny bit of food and placed it in the bowl on the floor for her. She gave me a look and tapped the side of the bowl with her paw. I ladled in more food. If this was how she ate, it was no surprise that I could barely carry her around. She would be a blimp within a week.

  “No, Mom made it just for us. She wanted to steer clear of Isadora’s for a bit, plus she says these recipes have always been good for restoring your strength.”

  I twirled fettuccine onto my fork. “I appreciate the food. It’s amazing, but why… uh… why are you here?”

  “I’m spending the night.” He pulled out a white package from the bag. After unfolding the white butcher paper, he pulled out two circular cuts of red meat and placed them in the hot pan. They sizzled, and he added salt and pepper to the meat.

  “No, you’re not spending the night.” The smell of the meat in the pan made my mouth water even as I was eating. “What is that?”

  “Filet mignon, and yes I am.” He said it with no more emotions than if he were telling me the time. It was a statement of fact.

  “I think I get to decide who spends the night.” Anger was creeping into my voice. Not only was I annoyed that he thought he was spending the night, but also the fact that he believed he got to decide the matter.

  He used a pair of tongs to flip the meat, the second side hissing as it met the hot pan. He pulled out plates and silverware. “Do you know my job?”

  My curiosity was increasing, but so was my irritation. “Not really, but that doesn’t matter—”

  “I do security at the casino, not just the Golden Pyramid, but several of our family’s casinos, and I consult elsewhere. Do you know why I’m so good?”

  I blew out a sigh and dropped my protests for now. “No. Why are you ‘so good’?” I made air quotes with my fingers to accentuate that they were his words, not mine.

  He smirked a little and moved the steaks onto plates then handed me one. “I know when trouble is coming. When to double up on security for an event. When to pay special attention to a department. When a particular client or employee is about to cause trouble. And right now, trouble is coming. Don’t cut into that now. It needs to
rest.”

  The kitchen was separated from the rest of the loft by a chest-height bar with stools underneath. I had sat down to dig into the steak, but at his warning, I rolled my eyes and put my knife and fork down. “Of course trouble is coming. Another murder is about to happen.”

  He opened my refrigerator and shifted things around until he pulled out two beers. Using his keys, he took off the tops then placed one in front of me. “No, the trouble is centered around you. It’s probably related to the investigation of the murder, but the trouble is heading toward you.” He took a long pull off the beer. “It’s a good sign. Means we are probably headed in the right direction, but inconvenient because I need to babysit you.”

  “No one needs to babysit me.”

  He turned the full weight of his glare on me. He held my eyes while I struggled to not look away. I felt like a tiny dog staring down a massive pit bull. The hairs on the back of my neck lifted, but I pressed my lips into a thin line. No matter how intimidating he was, I wasn’t going to be bullied in my own home by anyone. As the seconds ticked by, my irritation grew. He was clearly used to being in charge of every situation, but no one was in charge of me. I imagined someone trying this on my father, and my resolve grew.

  I was ready to chew him out when a large black creature leapt onto the counter. At first glance, I thought it was Patagonia, and I opened my mouth to yell, but when I turned to face her, I gasped instead. This cat was twice the size. It raced across the countertop, snatching the meat off Vin’s plate, then used its powerful hind legs to launch itself to the top of the cabinets then to one of the beams that ran across the loft.

  Patagonia looked up from her bowl of food and let out a screech. She took off running, and within a few moments, she was racing across the beam to face the intruder. She yowled and growled. They faced each other, and I could see the differences. The other cat was twice as big but also heavier set, with a wide chest, bulkier head, and strong muscular shoulders and hips. While Patagonia was delicate and slender, this cat was pure muscle.

  “Aristotle!” Vin growled.

  “You know… that?” I pointed at the creature.

  The scruff of its neck lifted as Patagonia swiped at its nose.

  I screamed and crawled up onto the countertop. I danced over the plates of food to shake my fists and wave at the creature. If it attacked Patagonia, it could easily kill her with one shake. “No! Leave her alone.”

  “He won’t kill her. He can’t, at least not like this. They’re just figuring each other out.” He raised his voice. “Aristotle! Give that back.”

  “What is he?” My stomach was still in my throat as Patagonia swiped across his nose again, drawing a bright-red line of blood. He pulled back, ears pressed flat against his head.

  “My familiar.”

  “You brought him without telling me?” The growling and hissing had died down, and the large cat tore the steak in half and laid the pieces down on the beam. Patagonia grabbed one piece, her white teeth gleaming in contrast to the pink meat, then she raced out of sight deeper into the loft, with Aristotle padding silently behind her.

  “No, I didn’t. I’ve told you that already. You don’t have to bring them anywhere. They go exactly where they please. I guess he decided to join me same way that Patagonia came to the casino.”

  “You mean by magic? Just poof, and there she is?”

  He reached up and grabbed me around the hips and lifted me off the counter. I lurched and grabbed his shoulders so he wouldn’t drop me, but he was stronger than I thought. He pulled me close and lowered me, my body barely grazing his. If I arched my back, I would be pressed up against him, our curves meeting in all the right places. My feet hit the ground. I swallowed hard and stepped away, a bit shaky in the legs.

  “After using magic all day, you’re surprised?” He grabbed my steak and cut it in half before placing one piece in front of me and keeping the other half for himself. “I can’t believe he stole my meal.”

  “He’s enormous.” I cut into the meat and bit into a piece. The meat gave under my teeth, and I couldn’t hold back a moan of pleasure. “This is amazing. Thank you.”

  He nodded and started into his own food. “You can tell his size?”

  I swallowed my food and was torn between taking another bite and answering. My curiosity won out. “He’s enormous. How couldn’t I notice his size? I thought some jungle cat had broken in.” I barely got out the last word before I stuffed another bite into my mouth.

  “To non-magical humans, he looks the same size as Patagonia. But witches see his magical ability.” He pulled over the bag of food he had given me and scooped a large helping onto his plate where the steak had been.

  “So is he a large cat that looks small to non-witches, or is he the size of Patagonia and looks bigger to witches?”

  He shrugged. “That’s a question for the philosophers. I just know that he steals all the covers.”

  I stifled a yawn. With my belly full again, my eyelids were heavy. “About you spending the night. I don’t—”

  “Trust me. I don’t want to be here either. I had to cancel a date, but I told Mom that I would keep an eye on you. She feels uneasy as well.” He grabbed my empty plate and his own and went to the sink.

  I opened my mouth to argue, but a yawn interrupted me.

  “Look. They figured things out.” Vin pointed past me.

  Patagonia and Aristotle were on the couch. The enormous cat lay on the couch with his eyes closed, and Patagonia was licking one of his ears before wedging herself between him and the back cushion. Their combined purring filled the air.

  “Fine. You can crash on the couch. But just…” The idea of him sleeping here unsettled me, but I couldn’t figure out how to express that. “Stay out of trouble.”

  “Wait.” He scraped a lonely fettuccine noodle into the trash and wrapped up the remains of the garlic bread. “There is something else we need to discuss about tomorrow.”

  I stopped short. “What?”

  Before he could reply, the doorbell rang. I looked at him and arched an eyebrow, but he shrugged. I went to the door and used the peephole. Lou Freeman from the security firm on the floor below my loft was at the door. I recognized his formidable beard and burly build.

  I opened the door. “Hi, Lou. Can I help you?”

  “So sorry to disturb you, but someone heard you scream. Are you okay?” He searched my face intently.

  “Yes, yes, I’m fine. I was just startled.”

  He started to say something then cut himself off when he looked over my shoulder. “Vin.”

  Vin’s strong presence behind me was like a fire at my back. The heat of his body pressed up against me, though when I turned around, he was still several feet away. His energy took up more space than his body.

  He nodded. “Lou.”

  I looked between them. “You guys know each other?”

  Neither of them spoke for a long time until Vin finally replied, “Security’s a small field. I’ll let you two talk.”

  After Vin had returned to the kitchen and he wasn’t directly in sight of the door, I turned back to Lou. “Thank you for checking on me, but I’m fine.” My cheeks grew hot as I realized that it looked as though Vin was spending the night for other reasons than security, but I couldn’t possibly explain why he was really here. Lamely, I added, “He’s sleeping on the couch.”

  He caught my eyes and held them. “Can you come to my office alone tomorrow to talk? I have some security concerns.”

  I shook my head. I needed to finish the investigation first then figure out things with my dad and this whole magical witch situation. “Not tomorrow, but soon. Thank you for stopping by and checking on me.” I started to pull the door shut.

  He wedged a foot into the door and waited. He wasn’t moving until I committed to a firm time. And neither was I, since I couldn’t leave the door open all night.

  My father had lived above Lou’s office for years. Maybe Lou knew something that woul
d be useful to me. We had never talked about my father, instead focusing on making sure my loft was safe or the building was running correctly. “I’m busy the next two days, but I can come over the first thing after that.”

  He nodded and left without another word or sound.

  I closed and locked the door behind him. I was going to need to figure out how to approach the conversation with Lou, but not tonight. “Vin? What were you saying?”

  The kitchen was clean, and he had set up a bed on the couch. Patagonia was curled up on his pillow, and Aristotle was stretched across a blanket, gently batting at her tail as she flicked it back and forth. She slowly blinked at him. Vin was at the window, looking out toward the Avenue with its glittering casinos.

  The scene startled me with how homey it felt. I had this mental picture flash in my head of me walking over to him to watch the lights. He would slip an arm around me and pull me close.

  He turned around to face me. “You going to just stand there?” He extended a sheet of paper.

  I walked over to take it, avoiding looking at his face, as I was sure the blush on my cheeks would give away my daydream from a moment ago. “What’s this?”

  “Instructions for how to dress tomorrow. We put together a plan after you left.”

  I scanned over the sheet and saw that it listed instructions for Golden Pyramid casino entry-level job requirements for day one. It included the directions for full makeup, absolutely no jewelry, and hair clean, dry, and pulled back into a bun. There were instructions on where to go and who to ask for. “What’s the plan?”

  “We have some information on where all the victims were in the days leading up to their death and narrowed down the list to a few best guesses that it looks like almost all of them were in according to the billing records. It’s tough to say for sure because they could have used cash, but each of these places, most of the people visited, so we are starting with these. Mom had the idea that you should hang out in each location roughly around the time the victims did. You can see if any person, place, or thing grabs your attention. But since it would be obvious and odd to the employees if you stood around, we came up with this as an excuse for why you would be there.”