by Amy Boyles
“Fancy seeing the two of you here.”
I glanced up to see Johnny Utah and Eva standing in front of us. Johnny peered over the seat. “Is that Princess?”
“It’s her,” I said.
Johnny scooted into the booth. Eva followed. He tenderly scooped Princess into his hand. “Oh Princess, you don’t know how happy I am to see you.”
She immediately started bawling. “I’m so sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused you, Uncle. I’m so sorry. You’ve got to forgive me.”
Johnny stroked her head carefully. “You didn’t cause me no trouble. I never should’ve looked for a vampire bat to begin with. That was stupid of me. We’re gonna get this solved, though. We’ll get you turned back into yourself in no time, right?” he said, staring at Axel.
“We’re working on it,” Axel said. “That’s why we’re here. We’re hoping Princess recognizes the vampire.”
Eva leaned over. “Have y’all seen one?”
I shook my head. “Not yet. But how’re you doing?”
She rubbed her neck. “About as well as I can. Our men have been out looking for the creep who attacked me, but they haven’t found him.”
I squeezed her hand. “I hope they do soon. Something’s bound to turn up.”
Johnny nodded. “Yeah, ’cause right now I feel like dragging every Tom, Dick and Harry in town into my hotel room and giving them what for.”
A tight smile formed on Axel’s lips. “If it comes down to that, we’ll do it. But watching the crowd here is the best option we’ve got right now.” He scanned the building. “Vamps love blood, and there’s a wealth of it inside this room.”
I turned to Johnny, who was staring lovingly at Princess. “Where have your men searched?”
Eva spoke. “Where I was attacked. They’ve been all over the area and haven’t seen a thing.”
“There were a lot of bushes,” I said.
Johnny’s cheek twitched. “They didn’t mention nothing about no bushes.”
Eva smiled at him. “They probably forgot to mention it. It’s not like they’re from here.”
Johnny grabbed a handkerchief and dabbed his neck. “Tell me about it. The humidity here is something else.”
I laughed. “And we’re going into fall. It’s not nearly as rough as it was a month ago.”
Suddenly the house lamps flared to life, killing the orbs of light and popping the bubbles, sending colorful rays of magic spraying across the room. I squinted at the harsh glare that reflected off the shiny dance floor.
“What the heck?” I said.
Garrick Young strode into the middle of the room. He held his police badge high and said in a cold, crisp voice, “Nobody move. This is a raid.”
TWENTY
Garrick had all of us line up outside with our ID’s in hand. “Well, there goes a great opening for Wicked Witch,” I said.
“This definitely dampens tonight’s party,” Axel said.
Amelia clicked her tongue. “Think he’s looking for you-know-who?”
Axel’s gaze hardened. “He’s running checks on everyone who’s here.”
Cordelia folded her arms. “If Garrick knew about the vamp and someone gets killed, the town will have Garrick’s rear end in a sling.”
I rubbed her arm. “You don’t need that.”
She raked a loose strand of hair from her face. “He’s capable. I’m not worried.”
I smiled. “You’re a stronger person than me.”
She studied me. “Have you looked in the mirror? You’ve done some pretty brave things since you’ve been in Magnolia Cove.”
I felt heat creep up my neck. “It’s no big deal. I’m not brave; I just have convictions and seriously strong motivation.”
“Whatever you say,” Cordelia said.
Garrick waved Axel over. He gave my hand a quick squeeze. “Be right back.”
Johnny Utah stood nearby. He ran a thumb down his chest. “You think they’re going to get this cleared up?”
“I hope so.”
He glanced down at my purse. “You still got Princess?”
The bat peeked out. “I’m in here, Uncle.”
“I tell you what,” Johnny said, “why don’t you come with us? Eva says she’s worried about you. She wants to make sure you’re safe and sound. We can take care of you. I got my bodyguards, after all.”
Princess hesitated. “I don’t know. I messed up so bad.”
Johnny rolled his shoulders back. “Princess, let me get something through that little head of yours. You didn’t mess up at all. All this was the fault of that stupid bat. I never should’ve bought it for you to begin with. Now if you want to come with me, you’re welcome to. Once they find the bloodsucker, we can get the curse broken. How does that sound?”
She nodded. “It sounds good.”
The bat flapped out of my purse and landed on Johnny’s shoulder. “Y’all know where to find me if you run into Arnold.”
“You’re the first person I’ll call. Even though I don’t know what he looks like,” I muttered.
Garrick stepped forward. The murmuring crowd quieted. “Y’all are free to go or return to enjoying the club.”
“Fat chance of that,” Amelia said. “All the fun’s gone now.”
I glanced over my shoulder at my cousins. “So do y’all want to go home?”
Cordelia yawned. “I think so.”
Axel broke through the crowd. He punched his hands in his pockets. “Garrick’s asked me to stay and help him check some things out. I know this kind of kills our date.”
I laughed. “I think the raid killed it before that.” A thought hit me. “Does he have someone?”
Axel stepped forward and whispered in my ear. “You know I can’t tell you that.”
“But I really think you should.”
He cocked his head back toward Garrick, who stood talking to Rock Ford.
My eyes flared. “Him? I thought there was something suspicious about him.”
“It seems Mr. Ford was found with a stash of cobalt on him.”
“What’s it look like?”
Axel pulled something from his pocket. “Like this.”
It was a beautiful blue stone. Breathtaking, really.
“Pretty,” Amelia said.
“How’d you get that?” I said.
"Garrick asked me to hold it.” Axel closed his palm. “We also have reason to suspect Rock to be a vampire.”
I clicked my tongue. “He does come from vampire blood. Though apparently not all children born to vampires become vampires.”
“They choose,” Axel said. “That’s how it goes. So we’re going to run some tests, ask a few questions, see who or what he really is.”
“And that’s why Garrick needs you,” I said.
He nodded. “That’s why. My magic will help. So will my werewolf senses.”
“Don’t work too hard,” I said.
He fished the keys from his pocket and dropped them in my palm. “You want to take the car?”
I shook my head. “Nah. We can walk.”
Concern flashed in his blue eyes. “You sure?”
I nodded. “I’m sure. Well, maybe I should ask my cousins.” I glanced over my shoulder at them. “Is that okay with y’all?”
They both nodded. “It’s fine,” Cordelia said. “The exercise’ll be good.”
“Be careful,” Axel said, squeezing my hand.
I tipped my chin toward him and found my gaze tangled in the ocean that was his eyes. “We’ll be careful. You too.”
He brushed his lips over my forehead, leaving a trail of heat across my skin. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
I nodded and the three of us headed out. Johnny, Eva and Princess left as well, pointed in the opposite direction.
It was late. The crescent moon shone high in the sky, casting a halo of light over the quiet town.
“It’s almost creepy walking home alone,” Amelia said.
“We’ve walked around do
zens of times,” Cordelia said. “You’ve never complained before.”
I took her arm. “Maybe that’s because you think a vampire might be lurking around somewhere.”
Amelia scuffed her boots on the sidewalk. “Maybe.”
But even as she said it, I couldn’t help but think that there was something wrong with Rock Ford being picked up for murder. I didn’t think he was a vampire. Don’t ask me why, but there was a sense I had about him. Sure, he was rough and tough, but I didn’t think he was a bloodsucking killer.
Not that I was always the best judge of character.
I noticed we were at an intersection that led by the park where we’d gotten hold of Princess.
“Why don’t we cut through there?” I said, pointing to the meadow where witches worked magic and practiced spells.
“Because it’s dark and creepy,” Amelia said.
“It’s lit up like a Christmas tree,” Cordelia said. “Besides, it’s quicker to go that way than it is to walk the long way around by keeping to the streets.”
“Okay, but if the boogeyman jumps out and attacks you, don’t say I didn’t tell you so,” Amelia said in a voice so superior I thought she’d borrowed it from Cordelia.
We crossed the street. My gaze drifted to the patch of trees that Eva had fallen out of. There was something so strange about that whole thing.
“So when Eva appeared out of that mess of kudzu and pines, where had she come from?”
“The inside of the mess,” Amelia said matter-of-factly.
Cordelia smacked her cousin on the arm. “That’s not what Pepper means. What she’s asking is, what was Eva doing in the trees to begin with?”
“Oh,” Amelia said, eyes wide. “I guess she was fighting off whoever attacked her.”
I moved around to the side of the bushes. “And where was she attacked from?”
Cordelia followed. She pointed down the path. “If she’d been walking over there, the vampire could’ve grabbed her and pulled her into the trees.”
I tapped my mouth. “Only we didn’t hear a struggle. We were watching for Princess and being super quiet.”
“So if the vampire didn’t attack Eva and drag her into the bushes, then what happened?”
I walked around, trying to get a sense of exactly that. “It seems to me that he might’ve attacked Eva on the path. She could’ve gotten away from him and ran into the bushes for cover.”
I walked to the edge of the trees. “This is about the same place she came out of, just on the opposite side. It seems she might’ve thrown herself in here and charged through.”
“It’s thick,” Amelia said.
Cordelia paced to the left. “So maybe it was more like here that she went in.”
“She was full of adrenaline,” I said, “so she could’ve broken through a tangle of kudzu no problem. I mean, maybe. If I was scared for my life, I could probably break a hole in even the thickest of kudzu.”
I fished my phone from my purse and thumbed on the flashlight. The beam swept over the tangle of trees. “So it would seem to reckon that Eva had to break through somewhere.”
“I don’t understand why you’re so concerned with it,” Amelia said. “Eva is safe and sound.”
“I’m just curious.”
“When there’s a bloodsucker around.”
“They may have caught the bloodsucker,” Cordelia said. “If you want me to protect you, I will. Everything will be okay.”
Amelia glared at her cousin. “I’m just fine, thank you. I was only wondering.”
The light washed over the trees until I saw exactly what I was looking for—a break in the foliage. I climbed into it.
“Oh heck no. There is no way in all of creation that I am climbing into that mess,” Amelia said. “There might be giant spiders inside waiting to suck on my body juices.”
I have to admit, that made me pause. If there was something I hated more than most animals—and they’d grown on me—it was arachnids. I did not like spiders.
Or camel crickets, actually.
Or horse flies.
Heck, I did not like the bug world at all.
Except ladybugs. I liked them. Mostly. But one time one of those little suckers bit me. Yes, a freakin’ ladybug bit me. If you don’t believe it, look it up because I’m sure someone’s Googled that crap before.
Mean little beasts.
Anyway, I cut through the trees.
“Why am I doing this?” Amelia said.
I turned and flashed her a wide smile. “Because you love me and because we’re sweet tea witches. We stick together through thick and thin.”
Cordelia joined me. “It’ll be more scary waiting by yourself than it will be to come with us.”
Amelia threw her hands in the air. “Fine. Fine. I’ll come with y’all. But the first time I see even a hint of anything nasty, I’m running in the other direction.”
“You and me both,” I said.
We crept into the trees. Amelia and Cordelia fired up their phone lights. It was nearly as bright as daylight inside the copse of trees.
I heard critters scatter as we crashed through the foliage.
“I swear if something runs up my leg, I’m out,” Amelia said.
I glanced down at the carpet of knotted kudzu at my feet. “Good thing we wore our boots. No telling how much of this is poison oak.”
Amelia stopped. “You are not making this easier for me.”
Cordelia grabbed her arm. “Come on. We’re almost through.”
“I don’t even understand what we’re doing,” Amelia said.
“Johnny Utah’s men checked an area where there weren’t any trees,” I said, sweeping the light. “Now why would they do that when Eva clearly fell from this small grove?”
“Maybe she hit her head when she fell?” Amelia said. “Maybe she doesn’t remember. The woman was attacked, Pepper.”
“I know,” I said quietly. “I just want to make sure there’s not something here that needs to be investigated.”
We pushed on for a few more seconds. I had to admit, there was nothing but green all around us. It didn’t seem like anything was out of place or wrong. It was a grove of trees and kudzu. What had I really expected to find?
We were nearly on the other side. “Well, I guess that was pointless.”
Amelia screamed. I dropped my phone and scrambled to feel around the dense brush. When I did close my hand around it, I swept it to light my cousin.
She pointed to the far right, the opposite direction from where we’d been walking. The beam hit a rock partially buried in vines. But right next to it lay what looked like a cream-colored leg. The leg traced up to a torso and then a head.
Short platinum-blonde curls covered the crown of the dead woman. My eyes flared, and I nearly dropped the flashlight again when I realized who it was I was looking at.
My lips trembled. “Eva.”
“What happened to her?” Cordelia said.
I stared at my cousins. “It’s exactly as she told us. She was attacked by a vampire. But the real Eva didn’t escape. In fact, she was murdered.”
“And that means?” Amelia said.
I closed my eyes. “That the real vampire is pretending to be Eva.”
Cordelia gasped. “And Princess is with her.”
TWENTY-ONE
I dropped the phone from my ear. “Axel’s not answering,” I said.
Amelia bit her bottom lip. “Cordelia?”
She shook her head. “Garrick’s not answering either.”
“At least we know where they both are,” I said.
The sight of Eva’s dead and naked body filled me with the sort of rage I hadn’t known since the previous week when Rufus had tied my powers to his and made my life horrible for several days.
A deep well of anger bubbled to the surface when I thought of poor Eva. She’d survived so much only to die at the hands of a crappy vampire.
She’d deserved better.
I ground
my teeth. “You two return to the club and get Axel and Garrick here. Now.”
Amelia shook her head. “No way are we leaving you here with a dead body.”
I rolled my eyes. “It’s not as if she’s going anywhere. Besides, we don’t have time. We’ve got to save Princess. We need to get Garrick over there.”
“He’s going to come here first,” Cordelia said.
I cringed. She was right. Garrick would come here. Arnold masquerading as Eva would bite Princess and escape. I’d fail her. I’d promised to keep her safe and I’d let her be attacked by the one person I was supposed to protect her from.
“We need a plan, and we needed it yesterday,” I said.
Cordelia exhaled. “We get Princess. Go to the room, make up an excuse and get her back. Take her to Garrick and have him send officers over to arrest Eva, er, Arnold.”
I shook my head. “Too suspicious. We’re putting Johnny in danger doing that.”
“Then we go in guns blazing,” Amelia said. “We don’t have time to warn Garrick. We’ve got to save Princess. Well, what are we sweet tea witches doing? Let’s go save her.”
“I agree,” Cordelia said.
I shot her an appreciative look.
We ran home and to grab our cast-iron skillets. Since we were pretty close to the house, it would be faster to grab them and ride over to the inn than it would be to set out on foot.
I crashed through the front door. Betty sat in her rocker, waiting up.
“I hope y’all have a good excuse for coming home so late.”
My eyes flared. “We do. Betty, I need a jar of that face mask.”
She smirked. “Feeling it making you look younger already?”
Cordelia laughed. “If you made Amelia look any younger, she’d be twelve.”
Amelia fisted a hand to her hip. “That’s not funny.”
Betty handed me a jar. “Thanks.”
I ran into the kitchen, found a knife and added an extra ingredient. I hoped that all the stories I’d heard about vampires were true. Well, I knew they could walk around in daylight, but maybe some of the other tales were accurate.
“We don’t have time to make a snack,” Amelia said.
“I’m coming!”
“What’s all this about?” Betty said.
