Newly Wed and Slightly Dead

by Danielle Garrett

  Of course, it might be more fun to keep her around and let her grovel a little bit.

  Smiling, I snapped my fingers and the lights winked out.

  I woke up the next morning, surprised to have slept through the entire night. I hurried to get ready for work, knowing the entire office was going to be buzzing about the rehearsal dinner. I wanted to get ahead of the runaway gossip train and at least attempt to control the narrative when it reached Hyacinth.

  In all likelihood, Alice and Dimitri’s wedding would be postponed. I couldn’t imagine them actually going through with their nuptials mere days after such an important death in the family, especially when it had the extra layer of trauma, as Lucinda’s death appeared to be the result of a murder. When the SPA agents dismissed everyone the night before, they hadn’t taken anyone into custody or even to the SPA headquarters for further questioning. Though, I’d suspected that. It would take some time to sift through all of the differing accounts of the evening and to analyze any evidence gathered at the Vanguard’s estate.

  In the meantime, it was my job to keep Alice and Dimitri as calm as I could and help them move forward in whichever direction they decided to take. Cancelling weddings was always an unpleasant affair. Cancelling the Vanguard wedding would not only be unwieldy, but it was likely going to be impossible to get through any of it quickly. I imagined that every vendor I called was going to want to gossip and speculate about the murder.

  As I passed back through my bedroom, I stared longingly at the freshly made bed where Peaches lay sprawled across the empty pillow beside mine. “Every day is a vacation day for a cat,” I said, shaking my head at her.

  Peaches rolled over and stretched.

  I frowned at her. “Yeah, yeah. Rub it in. See if I stop by the fish house for your weekly treat tomorrow.”

  She didn’t look terribly concerned.

  I leaned over and ran my fingers through her long fur. “See you later, fluffy princess.”

  Harmony was in the kitchen, but she was still in her pre-coffee haze that I’d learned to tread lightly around. I greeted her as I filled my travel mug with coffee. She grumbled something in reply as I doctored up the rich island blend with a splash of milk and sugar. I snagged a day old pastry from the bread box and then left the condo.

  As soon as I jumped on the Shimmer Bus, I was greeted with images of Lucinda Vanguard’s face. Her portrait was splashed across the Haven Herald, the haven’s daily newspaper, and it seemed that most everyone on the bus had a copy. I tried to ignore the haunting image and instead stared at my date planner with bleary eyes.

  As expected, everyone at the firm had already heard the story. I left a flurry of excited whispers in my wake as I passed through the office, though, surprisingly, no one approached me directly to discuss the evening. When I got to my desk, I realized why. Hyacinth had sent out a memo to everyone in the office, instructing them to keep quiet about it.

  * * *

  There is to be no discussion of the Vanguard wedding. All appropriate personnel will handle the situation without need for further speculation and gossip. If your opinion is needed, you will be asked.

  * * *

  Hyacinth Greary

  * * *

  CeeCee knocked on the open door of my office and then stepped inside. “I know we’re not supposed to talk about it, but are you okay?”

  “I’m all right,” I said, sinking into my chair. “Thank you. I guess, for now, it’s all still a little surreal.”

  CeeCee shuffled further into my office and quietly closed the door behind her. “How did it happen? The Herald said she was murdered.”

  “I honestly don’t know, but yeah, it looks that way. She was … uh … turned to ashes.”

  CeeCee slapped a hand over her mouth. Apparently, the newspaper article hadn’t had much detail.

  “I don’t think anyone knows what happened. There weren’t any arrests made, as far as I could tell.”

  “Is the wedding off?” CeeCee asked.

  I shrugged. “I didn’t think it was a good time to ask Dimitri and Alice. I’m planning on giving them a call later today.”

  “Ugh. It’s so heartbreaking,” CeeCee said, shaking her head. She started to sit down, but the door opened behind her, and she snapped to attention.

  Kait stood in the open door. “I need to talk to Anastasia,” she said to CeeCee, all but shooing her from the room.

  CeeCee gave me a strange look and I nodded. “I’ll come find you before lunch. We can go to that Italian place you like.”

  Kait stepped to the side and let CeeCee pass. When she was gone, Kait shut the door and leaned against it. “All right. What’s it going to take to keep you quiet about last night?”

  I folded my arms and leaned back in my chair, letting the moment stretch for a few seconds longer than necessary. After all the nonsense Kait had pulled on me over the years, it felt good to let her sweat a little bit.

  “Ana!” she whined. “Please, just get it over with. What do you want?”

  “I haven’t decided yet,” I replied.

  “Come on,” Kait said, leveling me with a hard stare. “I’ll buy you lunch every day for a month!”

  “Hmm.” I placed my thumb and forefinger at my chin. “Tempting, but no, I don’t think so.”

  Kait’s eyes narrowed. “You’d really tell Hyacinth? It was nothing, a little kiss. I was still there helping the whole night.”

  “Oh, yeah. You were a big help.” I snorted.

  “Hey, it’s not my fault any of that other stuff happened. I didn’t stake the MOG,” she replied, using the industry shorthand for mother of the groom.

  “Listen,” I said, the fun drained away. “I haven’t talked to Alice and Dimitri today. I don’t know what’s happening with the wedding. If they postpone or cancel, you’ll make the arrangements. Additionally, I want you to stop talking trash about me to Hyacinth and the other planners. We both know I’m qualified for my position here, and your little digs aren’t doing anything but getting us both in trouble. Make the calls and tell Hyacinth I’ve got it handled and don’t need your assistance. After that, I’ll call your slate clear.”

  She didn’t look happy about it, but she nodded. “Fine.”

  “Good. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a lot of work to do.”

  Kait stalked out of my office, closing the door behind her, and I smiled to myself. At least one good thing had come out of the terrible night.

  Things quieted down over the course of the day, as everyone got back to business as usual. Just before noon, I closed my appointment book and decided to call Alice and Dimitri once I got back from having a long lunch with CeeCee. I slipped my feet back into my heels that I’d kicked out of earlier in the day and then gathered my purse. My phone rang as I was applying a fresh coat of lipstick, and I debated whether or not to answer it or let it go to the machine. My growling stomach was pleading its case rather loudly, but I ignored it momentarily and answered the phone. “Anastasia Winters.”

  “Anastasia, it’s Caleb McCord,” the voice said.

  I hadn’t needed the name; I’d have recognized the gravely voice anywhere. “Oh, uh, hello, Agent McCord. How are you?”

  “I’m doing just fine.”

  I thought I could hear a hint of a smile in his voice.

  “Listen,” he continued, “I was hoping I could stop by your office and get that guest list from you.”

  I jumped, nearly toppling over my wheeled chair. Stars!

  “I’m so sorry! I completely forgot.” I thwapped myself on the forehead. What was happening to me? I was normally the epitome of organized and on top of things. I had to be. In a job like mine, there wasn’t room for the occasional airhead day.

  “I can send a fairy right over. Are you at the main headquarters?” I asked, already making a spell in the air that would beckon one of the mailroom fairies to my office.

  “I’m actually in your lobby,” Agent McCord replied.

  A burst of panic ex
ploded in my chest. “Oh?”

  “Do you have a minute? I don’t want to interrupt your day.”

  “You’re not. It’s fine. Now, I mean. Now is fine.”

  I bashed my forehead a few more times with the palm of my hand.

  You. Sound. Like. An. Idiot!

  “Great. I appreciate it. See you in a few.”

  Agent McCord hung up, and I leaned back in my chair and moaned. “This is exactly why you haven’t been on a date in three years,” I muttered to myself, eyes closed.

  The sound of someone clearing their throat snapped me back to attention, and I realized Agent McCord was standing in the doorway of my office.

  “Oh!”

  This time, I jolted so hard the chair did topple, sending me sprawling across the marble floor.

  Agent McCord swore and raced around my desk. “Are you all right?” he asked, touching my arm. The gentle touch was even more jarring than his sudden appearance, and I willed the floor underneath me to give out and swallow me whole.

  “I’m fine. These wheels are just too slick sometimes,” I mumbled, pushing myself upright. “I’ve told them to fix it but you know, just one of those things, I guess? Does that ever happen to you?”

  He grinned, still squatting down beside me. “I grew up riding horses, so office chairs don’t usually give me too much trouble.”

  Oh, stars.

  It was then, of all the inconvenient moments, that Francois’s words rushed back to me, and I winced at the visual of me twirling my hair and batting my lashes at the agent the night before. My face warmed, and I ducked my chin to advert my eyes from the handsome agent’s.

  “Come on, let’s get you up,” he said, offering me his hand.

  My cheeks felt like they might spontaneously combust into flames, but I let him help me up from the floor. Once topside, I brushed myself off, still avoiding his eyes. “Thanks,” I said quietly.

  He righted the traitorous chair and then went back around my desk. “Thanks again for your help last night,” he said, taking a seat in one of the wingbacks.

  I smoothed my skirt and sat down in my own chair and then reached for the rehearsal dinner’s guest list. “Here’s that list,” I said, passing it to him.

  He took it and studied it for a moment. “Thanks. We’ll be able to crosscheck this with our interview notes and make sure we didn’t miss anyone. Was there anyone there last night that wasn’t on this list? A last minute invite or late RSVP?”

  I shook my head. “No. That’s the final count.”

  “Great.” He held up the sheet of parchment. “Thanks, again.”

  “Of course.” I nodded. “Is there anything else?”

  Agent McCord smiled. “Any chance you’re free for dinner Saturday night?”

  A fresh wave of heat swept across my cheeks, and I silently cursed my fair complexion.

  “My treat,” he added, his smile broadening. “And I promise we won’t talk about the case. I’ve found nothing ruins a dinner date quite like a conversation about murder.”

  A surprised laugh slipped past my lips. “A date?”

  That was when I realized Agent McCord had left my door ajar. CeeCee had floated away from her desk, while remaining in her own chair, and was nodding fervently a few feet outside my office. I smiled at her, but it froze in place when a look of horror crossed her face and she zoomed halfway across the room back to her own workstation.

  Panic swelled in my chest as Hyacinth swept into the office, a sour look on her face. Her eyebrows lifted in surprise when she realized I wasn’t alone. “Who are you?” she barked at Agent McCord.

  With an air of unruffled coolness that made me like him even more, he extended a hand. “Agent Caleb McCord. SPA.”

  Hyacinth stiffened and gingerly took the proffered hand.

  I took a mental snapshot, knowing it was likely to be the only time I’d get a chance to see her so firmly set back on her designer heels like that. I added three more points to Caleb’s scorecard.

  “Apologies, Agent McCord. I’m Hyacinth Greary. I manage the wedding coordination department here at A Touch of Magic Events. I suppose this is in regards to the horrible business at the Vanguard dinner.”

  “That’s right, ma’am,” Caleb replied. “Anastasia was helping me fill in some blanks.”

  Hyacinth gave me an appraising look. “I see. Well, if there is anything I can do to help, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

  Caleb bobbed his head thoughtfully. “Thank you, ma’am.”

  Hyacinth gave him a thin smile and then turned to me, any hint of warmth gone. “Anastasia, when you’re done here, I need to speak with you in my office.”

  My stomach growled in protest, but neither Caleb nor Hyacinth appeared to notice. I squirmed slightly in my seat and nodded my head. “Of course, Hyacinth. I’ll be there shortly.”

  When she was gone, Caleb turned back to me and lifted his brows. “Hope I didn’t get you in trouble.”

  I smiled. “Her bark is worse than her bite.”

  “I’ll have to take your word for it.” He chuckled. “So, was that a yes for Saturday?”

  “Persistent, aren’t you?” I said, laughing softly. “Honestly, I’m not sure what’s happening on Saturday. “The Vanguard wedding was supposed to take place that evening, but now… ” I trailed off, not needing to elaborate.

  “Right,” Caleb said, giving a solemn nod. “Sunday, then?”

  I pressed my lips together and then nodded. “Sunday is free.”

  “Good.” Caleb smiled. “I’ll call you tomorrow after I make reservations. You like French food?”

  “Absolutely,” I replied, my smile broadening.

  He bobbed his head and pushed out of the chair. “I’ll see you Sunday then.”

  “See you Sunday.”

  With a final, lingering smile, he turned and left my office.

  When he passed out of sight, I sagged back in my chair and stared up at the ceiling, my mind racing. “Did that really just happen?” I whispered.

  Francois was going to be so jealous.

  Chapter 6

  “Harmony? Are you home?”

  I dropped my purse by the door and stepped out of my shoes. Hooking the backs with two fingers, I carried them through the condo, peeking into the kitchen on the way to my room. It was empty, but the pile of dishes in the sink made me wonder if she’d had Patrick over again for an impromptu lunch.

  “The girl knows cleaning spells,” I muttered under my breath as I considered the mess.

  “Harmony?” I called out again.

  The bathroom door opened and she stepped out, wearing the black dress she usually wore to work. She was cinching a gold chain belt around her small waist and glanced up at me when she got the buckle right. “What’s up?” she asked.

  I pointed over my shoulder, about to point out the messy state of the kitchen, but quickly dropped it. She likely didn’t have much time before she’d need to leave to get to work, and I didn’t want to waste it arguing over dirty dishes.

  Besides, even Hyacinth’s afternoon lecture and a pile of dirty dishes couldn’t fully eclipse my good mood. I smiled at Harmony and felt transported back to my academy days for a glimmer of a moment. “You’ll never guess what happened!”

  Harmony made a gesture at the bag of belongings she kept by the couch—her temporary bed—and a tube of lipstick zoomed across the room into her waiting hand. “I heard about the murder. I gotta say, you seem a little too happy about it, Stace. You might want to dial it back if you don’t want people thinking you’re a total sadist.”

  “What? Oh! Stars, no! That’s not what I’m talking about.”

  “It’s all anyone is talking about today,” Harmony said. “I went down to get coffee and I swear, everyone had their face buried in a newspaper. The barista asked me if I’d ever met the victim. I guess people know you were working on the wedding.”

  I nodded. “There was a formal announcement in the Herald not too long after the engagemen
t. It listed me as the planner for the event. Though I’m surprised anyone remembers that.”

  Harmony smiled. “It was Tawny. You know she’s like a total sucker for anything romance. She studies the wedding section of the paper like it’s a Bible or something.”

  “Right,” I replied, though in reality, I wasn’t confident I’d be able to pick the barista out of a line-up of the employees of the coffee shop in the high rise’s lobby. Harmony had only been living in the building for a little over a month, and she’d already made better friends with the neighbor than I had and was apparently friends with the building’s other staff.

  For a moment, I worried about what that said about me. I’d been a resident in the luxury building for over a year and still had to look at the concierge’s name tag when I went to pick up packages. I told myself it was because I had to keep so many other details, names, and faces in my head. There simply wasn’t room for more. When it came to work, I needed to know at a second’s glance who everyone was and their role in a party or wedding. I had to have the seating charts memorized, and had to cram detailed—and often sordid—family dramas in my head so I could intervene if Aunt Martha started taking potshots at her estranged son-in-law over an unpaid loan from half a decade ago.

  “So, what’s the big news then?” Harmony asked, sending the lipstick tube back to its place with another flick of her hand. A hint of jealousy needled at me. Harmony’s magic was so effortless and second-nature. While we’d both been good students at the magic academy, I’d struggled to take the lessons outside the classroom. Harmony could whip up potions and charms as easily as she could snap her fingers, but I had trouble with little spells, like how to conjure balls of light or move objects without straining.

  As part of our deal, Harmony had agreed to give me magic lessons in exchange for staying on my couch, but between our dueling schedules, we hadn’t had much time to practice.