Chapter 4 #2
Mia checked the picture. “That’s her. I didn’t know she liked to ski, but then again, I didn’t know much about her except she was mean to the bone and seemed to hate me.
She loved making me squirm on an answer.
I could see it in her eyes when I paused to think.
Then, when I answered the question, she’d frown.
Finally I just stopped pausing. I would either pass or fail, but she wasn’t going to intimidate me. ”
“That’s one of the reasons you went up to level five. Confidence in the answer sometimes counts more than if it was right or wrong. Mom’s heading your way for a meeting of the minds. I wish I could be there.”
His words made her feel better. She knew no matter what, things were going to be okay.
And if the coven refused to put back on her protection while the testing was sorted out and she had to quarantine herself, she’d just go over to Trent’s.
As long as she didn’t go in and out, Sonja couldn’t say anything.
Well, she could, but Mia wasn’t going to listen.
She was a level five, after all. Her newly found level should be good for something, right?
“I’d be surprised if they weren’t already in the kitchen, plotting the next step. Our families can be a little intense.”
“That is the understatement of the year. Sarah has breakfast ready and she’ll want to hear the news. Call me when you can. I miss you.”
As she hung up, her bedroom door opened and Mr. Darcy pushed his way through. He sat looking at her and then meowed.
“Everyone is here and no one has taken the time to feed you? What are they thinking?” Mia jumped out of bed and went into the adjoining bathroom to get ready.
Mr. Darcy followed her, making sure she wasn’t planning on going back to sleep.
And when she was ready, he held his tail high and ran out of the room.
“Tell Abigail there better be coffee,” Mia called after her cat.
When she got to the kitchen, she’d been right. Everyone was there, including Thomas, Abigail’s husband. He was on his tablet, doing things for the store. He glanced at his watch when she came in.
“Don’t complain. No one knocked on my door to wake me.” Mia took the coffee Abigail handed her and sat on the only empty chair. “So, you all saw the news? Thoughts?”
“Maybe it was an accident like the news said. She could have gone out on a late-night stroll or ski and couldn’t make it back.” Christina was eating a doughnut.
Mia saw the faces on the others in the room. “You don’t think it’s a skiing accident.”
Thomas spoke first. “After we had the incident where Albert died while visiting Magic Springs before his last assignment, the National Office made a rule that if you were out on assignment, you could do no vacationing or recreational activities, even if you took a leave day. Once you got on the plane to your official destination, you were on the clock. No exceptions. Suzanne Parker wouldn’t have broken protocol like that.
She was a stickler for the rules.” Thomas stood, putting his tablet in his briefcase.
“I have to go to the store and sign for a delivery. It’s early and the driver is almost in town.
Abigail, please let me know if you need my assistance with anything dealing with this matter. ”
“Oh, do you have to go?” Abigail stood to kiss her husband.
He rubbed a spot of flour off her face. “If your son had just sent the little hellhound back to the McMann camp for his training, I wouldn’t be needed at the store. I can’t just close it down, now, can I?”
“Cerby didn’t do well at the sleep away camp,” Mia said, standing up for Trent’s choice. She didn’t like him being stuck there, but she wasn’t going to let anyone criticize his decision. Not even his father.
“No hellhound does well at sleepaway camp. They are called Velcro dogs for a reason. He should just have told the little guy he had to go. Everything would have worked out.” He kissed Abigail. “Just like it will in this situation. See you all soon.”
After he left, Levi sighed. “Dad means well, but he’s old school in this way.
I don’t think he realizes that as a hellhound, Cerby’s more than just a familiar.
He’s a part of the family. Anyway, what are we going to do about Suzanne Parker’s death?
I guess our first question is, where was Mia last night, or rather this morning, around two? ”
“Levi!” Abigail turned on her son. “First you talk bad about your dad, then you accuse Mia of killing that woman?”
“One, I didn’t talk bad about him; I was trying to explain his utter lack of giving a darn about the problem.
And two, we need to rule out Mia because she’s the most likely suspect.
Although she passed to level five, so maybe killing her tester isn’t motivation.
Never mind.” Levi reached over and grabbed a doughnut.
“Okay, thanks for the trip down nowhere lane. But to answer your question, I was asleep in bed alone. If Mark wants, he can see the security tapes that show my car in the lot all night. What else do we know about Suzanne Parker?” Mia pulled out a notebook.
“She was sent because someone here complained. That person couldn’t have been happy when I not only passed again but went up two levels. Who would be that upset?”
“Whoever is next in line to go into coven leadership.” Abigail stared at the monitor. “And we might be able to find out who that is right now. Brandon Maxwell and Sabrina Clayborn have come to call.”
The group all stared at the security monitor that showed the two people with the highest-ranking coven leadership positions in Magic Springs get out of a black SUV.
“Let’s take this meeting downstairs. Dorian, you stay here.” Grans stood and finished her coffee. “They must have heard of your arrival. Let’s just not give them a good look at you, especially because we’re trying to pass you off as Damien. Do you even have a brother?”
“He lives in Latin America, helping the locals, but yes, I do have a brother.” He refilled his cup. “Mia, does this monitor show the downstairs room as well? I’d like to keep an eye on all of you. Christina and Levi, stay up here with me. We don’t want people looking at the two of you, either.”
“So many secrets.” Abigail shook her head. “This would have been easier if your brother had kept the heritage. He would have been at a high-enough ranking to keep these two out of Mia’s house.”
“Mom always liked Trent best,” Levi called after them as they left the apartment.