Chapter 11
“I’m proud of you,” Cosmo said when I informed him over breakfast about everything that had happened the night before.
“You are?” The fuzzy sensation returned. Cosmo didn’t stoop to over-the-top flattery. As such, a compliment from my feline mentor was a moment to be savored.
“You’ve stood up to Rick – overdue, but it counts. You’ve decided to move on from that weird relationship with that stupid woman. And, crucially, you kept your witchy radar tuned in through it all.”
“I did? I mean, yeah, I did.”
“It’s okay, no need to pretend you noticed. Just think back to what you told me about Linda and her?” He blinked at me.
In my head, I replayed my monologue. “The henna tattoo!”
“Exactly. If our latest murder victim just dumped his henna artist girlfriend, as you told me, she should be able to tell you a lot about him.”
“True, but please, don’t call Tim ‘our’ murder victim.
It’s nothing to do with us per se that we keep on becoming involved in these cases.
” Another thought hit me. “That’s probably what Linda was doing in Cannon Hill, getting her skin beautified there instead of using the local tattoo parlor slash henna studio.
The question is, how do I interrogate the ex-girlfriend? ”
“That shouldn’t be too hard. Humans love to talk about themselves.”
“As opposed to a cat like you?”
His ear flicked. “Do you want my advice, or would you rather attempt unfunny jokes?”
I sighed. “You’re right. It sounded better in my head.”
“Most things do. It sometimes happens even to me,” he admitted magnanimously.
I accepted his words in the spirit he’d said them. “What is your advice?”
“Visit the parlor, mention that you were the one who found the body, and ask her for a temporary tattoo to bring you good luck.”
“That might actually work.”
“After you’ve interviewed the detective. Paws crossed you won’t need to go to all that trouble.” He stretched out his front legs and crossed them. “But first, a quick spell work training, then the library, and after that, the police.”
I hurried through my spells, starting with levitation. I no longer panted like a marathon runner after lifting one of Cosmo’s soft balls off the floor. Today, I felt strong enough to add a second ball.
“Juggle them,” he said. “But don’t drop them into your coffee.”
“That happened just once,” I protested, while dutifully willing the balls to change positions a dozen times before they gently landed in my outstretched hands.
“What next?” I asked him, pleased with my skills.
“Next, you’ll imprint wondrous images on people’s minds.”
“What?” I gaped at him. “What happened to brain-washing is an absolute no-no?”
“I forgot how literal you humans are. I’m talking about books, Bex.
We’ll go downstairs and supply your clients with books, and, if we’re lucky, receive useful gossip in return.
” He groomed his flank. “If these crime waves don’t stop, we’ll have to come up with a plan to turn the lending library into gossip central. ”
“That’s not very likely, considering how few people read physical on a regular basis these days. Unless we start hosting a few community events.And please don’t call it a crime wave. That term’s creeping me out.”
***
My customers, or rather the lack of them, proved my point.
In our two hours of morning opening, a whole seven books changed hands temporarily.
I used the lull to rehearse a few different approaches to getting the ex-girlfriend to spill her innermost secrets without resorting to magic.
But first I had to find out who she was. I’d forgotten to ask Ange for the name.
At the thought of my friend, I perked up. She was a much better candidate than me to go in for a mehndi and a heart-to-heart. I intended to tag along, but a good witch could tell when she had to summon help. Also, Ange loved being involved.
I put up the “Closed” sign with renewed energy.
The sooner the affair Candice was dealt with, the sooner my new chapter could begin for good, without any lingering sense of obligation.
I’d been so used to taking care of everything and feeling responsible for everything, that I’d hardly noticed the pattern.
Starting down that path as a child when my mom got sick and my dad did his disappearing act had set me up for unhealthy habits. Well, no more.
The new, improved me was fine with being nice and helpful. What I was done with was riding to the rescue at the drop of a hat. Or a text.
I swept into the police station fueled by my newfound resolve. The fact that Geraldine Lopez, who acted as desk sergeant, confirmed that Detective Trey Stone had just returned to his office, buoyed up my mood another notch.
At his door I hesitated. Would a quick confident rap do before I entered, or should I wait until ushered in? I’d been here before, but in those instances the cases had been his to solve.
Geraldine ended my musings. She knocked, called out, “Chief, I have a visitor for you,” and led me by my elbow into the room.
Trey Stone flashed her a stern glance before he gave me a welcoming smile. “What brings you here, Bex? Not another dead body, I hope.”
“Fingers crossed, we’ll never have to deal with that kind of situation again,” I said, from the bottom of my heart.
“In that case I assume you are here about Timothy Boyd.” He settled on his desk chair. Everything in the room was utilitarian and depressing. Maybe that was the point; loosen tongues so people had a chance to flee from here as fast as they could.
Or did he only conduct official interviews in the designated rooms at the back of the station? In this case, if I stumbled upon a few things that felt right for him, this office could become a calming place, one that spurred on his deductions.
Geraldine nudged me.
Trey grinned. “It’s not like you to be silent when asked something.”
“I was momentarily distracted,” I admitted. “But, yes, you’re right. I wanted to ask you if the police are any closer to solving the case.”
“It’s not my jurisdiction. All I’m aware of is that the colleagues in Cannon Hill have a clear line of investigation. Why, do you have anything to add to your statement?”
I swallowed. “That line of investigation, is it to do with the owner of the chest?”
“Again, it’s not my investigation. Are you planning to meddle again?”
Next to me, I heard Geraldine shift her weight from one foot to the other. She knew better than anyone else apart from my crazy coven how instrumental my “meddling” had been for Trey Stone. Solving several murders, without a single failure, set him on a career trajectory that others only dreamt of.
I stayed silent until Trey Stone felt compelled to talk. Living with Cosmo had taught me well, although usually I was on the receiving end of awkward silences.
“The police are looking into Candice Schott, who has an extensive back story with the victim.”
“She didn’t do it,” I said.
“That’s good to hear from you, but unless you’ve got hard proof that rules the woman out, she’s the main suspect.”
“Because of a photo?”
“So, you heard about that,” Geraldine muttered.
“Nick Gale, I presume?” Trey Stone knotted his brows together. “I’ll have to have a chat with him about confidentiality.”
“Detective.” Heat rose in my cheeks. “His wife was with me when I discovered the body, and she was with me when I arranged for the chest to be sent to Bert’s.
Surely you won’t expect Dr. Gale to keep secrets from his wife under these circumstances.
And you know perfectly well we don’t blab to anyone. ”
“You better make sure of that,” he said. “And if you have any information about the case, I’ll pass it on to the Cannon Hill investigators.”
If only I had something.
He mustered me. “I’m sorry to have no better news for you. I understand the situation must be tricky, given your personal connection with the suspect.”
“Can you at least tell me if there’s any other evidence pointing at Candice, apart from the photo? Tim Boyd lived in Willowmere. Have you looked into his personal circumstances?”
He sighed. “Officer Lopez, if you’d like to update Ms. Merriweather on what our job entails?”
“We’ve had a quick look at his apartment. There was nothing out of the ordinary. I’m sorry, Bex. He was obviously killed at the fair in Cannon Hill and stuffed into the chest. Ms. Schott had every opportunity to kill him, and as far as we’re aware, she’s the only one with a motive.”
“What about next of kin? He drove a flashy Corvette. Who inherits?” I’d decided against bringing up the ex-girlfriend yet. That could wait until Ange and I had sounded her out.
“Most likely the widowed mother who’s on a cruise to Hawaii.”
Frustrated, I said goodbye to Trey Stone.
Geraldine escorted me out of the station. “It’s hard to accept it, but it really seems as if your ex’s new woman has done it.”
“No.”
She nodded. “Okay. If you have anything other than your gut feeling, I’m here. And this is the first time I’ve heard an ex-wife claim the new one is innocent. Nice, actually.”
“I appreciate that.” I left her with a growing sense of frustration. Once again, I had no choice but to step in where the police didn’t. My friends and I were Candice’s only hope.