Chapter 17
Monday morning, as Mia waited for Christina, she signed on to her work email and went through the last week and the upcoming one.
The wedding had been perfect, according to all the evaluations from the family.
Mia loved making someone’s special day just a little less stressful.
As she went through her calendar, matching up emails and meetings, she realized for a holiday month, this week was fairly light.
Thanks giving was a big buffet day for the Lodge, but without the snow that the weatherman had predicted, the ski slope wasn’t being booked as quickly.
And people who had booked were backing out and going somewhere the snow gods had blessed.
Mia figured they’d have another storm or two soon, but she didn’t think it was going to fix Blake’s November numbers.
With the weather warming up again—a fake fall, Grans liked to call it—the cross-country trails would turn from snow-packed to mud.
If Mia’s test had been scheduled one week later, Suzanne Parker might still be alive.
Of course the method of murder wasn’t the motivation behind the deed, so she might still be dead, but by other means.
Had the murder been planned out? Or spontaneous? Anyone who lived here knew that snow didn’t always stay on the ground. Idaho was famous for its late fall summer days, when the sun would melt the snow and tan the few skiers who didn’t mind going downhill in slushy conditions.
Mia pulled out her Suzanne Parker notebook and wrote down what she’d been thinking about: Weather reports, not a local? She wondered if she could talk to the testing department at the National Office and see when this retest was planned. Was it spontaneous too?
As she put down her pen and went back to making sure her planner matched her work calendar, she noticed a meeting invite from Blake.
Hesitant to accept, she opened the invite to see what the topic was and if anyone else was invited.
Of course other people in the meeting hadn’t stopped Blake from scheduling them to sleep while she played with Mia’s mind.
The meeting was just for two, but the description made her stop. “Meeting with Carl Hagen from National Testing Office re: Suzanne Parker. Mia and a guest.” And it was set to be in Mia’s office. Who had called Blake to set up the meeting?
She wished for a meeting and now here it was? This was getting weird.
Her phone rang. The caller ID indicated the call originated from coven headquarters. “Hello?”
“Gloria said you needed a meeting with Carl, so I set one up for tomorrow. Does that answer the why?” Cleo asked.
Mia knew Cleo from her voice, not that she introduced herself. Grans did the same thing, jumping right into a conversation as soon as someone picked up the phone. Mia looked up at the doll, who was swinging on her broom. “I didn’t realize she was listening to me.”
“My dear, Gloria’s always there. She’s trying to help you settle into your new role, but I admit, if you’re not used to the connection, it can be disturbing.
I’ll talk to her about slowing down a little.
Why are you interested in the testing schedule?
” Cleo shuffled some papers on the other side.
“Never mind, it’s all about justice with you humans.
I forgot. Look, I’ve got the memos for the last month from the coven to headquarters.
The answer on who asked for the retest should be in there.
I’d assist, but I’m only allowed to provide materials, not interpret them, so I wouldn’t be much help.
I’ll send the package over to your house later this afternoon. ”
After Mia hung up with Cleo, Christina came into the room. “Abigail said she’s going to be a little late this morning. I’ve already texted Finn, so I think we can go. Let me fill my coffee and get a muffin for the road.”
“Sure, I’m just finishing up my schedule.
Does Mia’s Morsels have any catering events this week?
That you know of?” Mia glanced at the kitchen calendar, but besides the deliveries, nothing was scheduled for the entire month.
If that was true, Mia would be working at the Lodge a lot longer than she’d expected.
This should be their busy season. Why weren’t their weekends full? Hadn’t James told her that her catering business was busy doing events so he’d miss Finn?
Christina opened her phone calendar app. “Yep. They have a small gathering on Friday night, a holiday dinner for the local charity group on Saturday, and the Magic Springs Quilt Club luncheon on Saturday. Didn’t Abigail send you these to your calendar?”
“What calendar?” Mia turned the page on her planner to show the month view. Nothing was listed besides Thanksgiving at Abigail’s.
“Not your paper one, the online calendar she set up this fall.” Christina leaned over Mia’s laptop and opened a new tab. Then she keyed in the Mia’s Morsels website, went to Staff Only, and opened the calendar app there.
Abigail had the events blocked out, as well as cooking and delivery days. As Mia watched, several invites from Abigail popped up to see if Mia was available to work an event.
“This is amazing. We’re booked through the first two weeks of January.” Mia sifted through the catering events, adding them to her monthly planner.
“You don’t need to duplicate it all, just add your stuff to this one.
It will only show you your events, not everyone’s.
” Christina keyed in Mia’s work schedule and put it on Repeat for Monday through Friday.
“You can connect this one to your work calendar too. No need to check your planner, it will all be here.”
“I like my paper planner. It helps me decide when I’m too busy and when I have time for fun,” Mia objected.
Even adding the events to her planner was making her nervous.
What if she double-booked herself and didn’t realize it?
No, she was definitely keeping the paper version of her life.
“Let me just add these events and answer Abigail’s invites.
I know I can help Friday night and Sunday for lunch, but Saturday might be an issue. ”
“I told her you’d say that, so she’s already hired a few servers. She’ll probably need some prep help in the kitchen Thursday and Friday if you have time.” As she’d talked, Christina had gathered her stuff and now had her keys in her hand. “Ready to go to work?”
Mia finished adding the last December event to her planner. “I’m ready when you are. I think we can make it a half day at the Lodge today and probably tomorrow, so we can help with the cooking then. I was starting to get worried.”
Gloria giggled as Mia tucked everything into her tote. Grans wasn’t up yet, so she left her a note. Muffy had already been fed and taken out.
As they went out the apartment door, the elevator doors opened and Grans stepped out, her purse by her side. “Oh, I thought you’d be at work by now.”
“Just heading there.” Mia stopped in front of her. “I thought you were still sleeping. Where did you go this morning?”
“None of your business.” Grans brushed by her. “Has Muffy been fed?”
“I left you a note, but yes. Fed and out already.” Mia paused and watched her walk to the apartment. She wanted to ask if she’d come home last night, but she’d already been told it was none of her business, so she let it go.
At least until after she and Christina got into the car and headed out of the parking lot. “Did we just see my grandmother do the walk of shame?” Mia let out a breath.
“I wasn’t going to mention it, but I think so.” Christina started to giggle. “I guess her date last night went well.”
“She’d probably say they were working on some spell or potion at her house.” Mia leaned back in her seat after turning on the heater. “Grans says you don’t have a spell perfect until you’ve done it at least eight times. I’ll stay in my bubble and think they were working on potions.”
“Okay, live in your G-rated fairy-tale world. I like my romance steamy.” Christina went on to talk about her latest favorite author find.
Mia tuned out the chatter and thought about Suzanne Parker and potions.
Maybe she wasn’t drugged but put under a potion spell.
Was there one that would make you more pliable to suggestions?
And what about the water? In order for her to have that much water on her, the killer would have had to bring a bucket or more to pour over her.
How did they get that on the trail-head?
The cross-country ski trail was an old logging road, so they might have brought a vehicle. Did the police find tracks?
She pulled out her phone and texted Mark her questions.
Something about this whole thing didn’t add up.
It was looking more and more like magic had been a part of Suzanne Parker’s death.
Mia wasn’t liking that theory at all. She might just be a kitchen witch, but in her opinion, magic should be used only with good intentions.
Maybe she was too much of a Pollyanna for this life.
When Mark didn’t answer right away, she put the phone away.
“I know you didn’t just order the book I’ve been talking about since we left the house.
Were you listening at all?” Christina asked as she parked the Land Rover at the Lodge.
As they got out, she looked up at the sun shining in the clear blue sky.
“I’m glad I didn’t move my clothes to Portland.
I would be without a jacket for today and would have had to wear my puffer or gone without.
You know it’s going to be cold when we drive home. ”
“The weather has been strange,” Mia agreed. She’d ignored the question about the book because Christina was right, she hadn’t been listening at all. The guy at the front desk waved her over. “Ms. Malone, you have a visitor waiting to talk to you.”
Mia glanced over to where the man pointed, and Brandon Maxwell sat on a couch, looking at his phone. As she walked over, he stood, smiling.