Chapter 21
“Okay. Thanks, Barbie.” I disconnected my phone and slid it inside my pocket. “She said it will take some time to dismantle the spell, but she’ll let us know when she has something. Could be as early as tomorrow.”
Zane parked in the back lot of Bottoms Up and killed the engine. Through the windshield, I could see a steady stream of people heading toward the front entrance. The memorial was already in full swing.
“So,” Zane said, turning to me. “Are we going in as ourselves or glamoured?”
I grinned. ”You know we’re going in glamoured.”
He groaned. “I was afraid you would say that.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll make you look like the dashing husband of an avid romance reader.”
He arched an eyebrow. “And what does that look like?”
I closed my eyes and brought up the image in my mind. I whispered the glamour spell Bettina and Zahara had taught me, and opened my eyes. “Perfect.”
Zane leaned over and looked at himself in the rearview mirror. “Seriously?”
I laughed. “Yeah. You’re now a vampire with the clichéd widow’s-peak hairline and pale skin.” I gestured at the rest of him. “Hey, I let you keep the suit.”
He glanced down and shuddered. “Is this off-the-rack?”
I threw back my head and laughed. “Yeah, it is.”
“Why do you hate me so, Valkyrie?”
“Oh, hush. I need to do me now.” I closed my eyes and brought up the image of how I wanted to look, then whispered the spell. I heard Zane chuckle and knew I’d hit my mark. I pushed the non-prescription reading glasses up on my nose. “You like?”
“I like.”
I got out of the car and glanced down at my outfit. A gray wool skirt with a thick sweater sporting fluffy cats reading romance books. My usual blonde hair was now a mousy brown that skimmed my shoulders.
We rounded the building and walked through the front entrance of Bottoms Up.
The place was packed. Every table was full, and people stood in clusters along the bar and near the walls, drinks in hand, voices overlapping in a low, steady hum.
A banner reading “We love you, Mari!” hung magically in the air near the ceiling, the letters shimmering with a soft golden glow that shifted every few seconds.
I scanned the room as Zane and I eased into the crowd. All of our suspects were present. Hunter sat at a large table near the back with Sasha beside him. Rayna was across from them, a drink in hand, and Reed occupied the chair next to her, his broad shoulders hunched.
Eliza Nordic sat at a different table adjacent to them, nursing what looked like a glass of white wine.
Zane and I drifted through the room, surreptitiously making our way over to our suspects. I had at least two people stop me and ask where I’d gotten my adorable sweater.
A woman near the front of the room raised her glass and tapped it with a spoon until the chatter died down.
“My name is Bella James, and I’m the president of Mari’s local fan club.
I’d like you to raise your—” Her voice broke and she wiped away a tear.
“I’d like you to raise your glasses as we toast to Mari and her wonderful books.
Her voice and her creativity will be forever missed. ”
Once the toast was finished, the conversations slowly resumed.
I nudged Zane and tilted my head toward the bar.
Eliza Nordic had left her table and was approaching Sasha, who had stepped away to order another drink.
Eliza said something I couldn’t hear over the noise.
Whatever it was, Sasha’s eyes went wide, and something that looked a lot like fear flickered across Sasha’s face.
She grabbed her drink from the bartender, muttered something short, and hurried back to the table where the others were sitting.
Eliza stood at the bar for a moment, watching her go. Then she turned back to her wine with a small, confused frown. Someone bumped into her and she excused herself and made her way slowly back to her table, her cane giving her assistance.
Zane and I finally reached the table where Hunter and the others sat. We leaned against the wall just within earshot, but far enough away it didn’t look like we were eavesdropping.
“Maybe the next toast should go to you two.” Rayna lifted her glass toward Hunter and Sasha. “I hear you’re an item now.”
The table went quiet.
“That’s enough, Rayna,” Reed said.
“Is it, though, Reed?” Rayna’s gaze stayed locked on Sasha. “We all know Sasha has had it bad for Hunter since high school.” She narrowed her eyes. “You were always pissed he chose Mari over you. Did you kill Mari, Sasha?”
Sasha’s arm moved fast. The contents of her glass hit Rayna square in the face. “You witch!”
Rayna shot to her feet. I felt the crackle of magic gathering, but Reed was faster. He grabbed Rayna by the shoulders and physically turned her away from the table.
“Outside,” he said firmly. “Now.”
He pulled her toward the door, but Rayna wasn’t having it. Most of the conversations in the bar had quieted, and everyone seemed to be watching the couple.
“You had your chance a long time ago, Reed.” Rayna slapped his hand away when he reached for her again. “I don’t have to listen to you.”
Eliza got up from her table and took a couple steps to Hunter’s table. She stopped next to his chair and offered a small smile. ”I was hoping maybe we can talk soon?”
Hunter rubbed the back of his neck. “Uh, yeah. Soon. Promise. Just not tonight.”
Eliza nodded and walked away, a drink in one hand and her cane in the other.
The minute Eliza was out of earshot, Hunter leaned toward Sasha and dropped his voice. “Maybe we should tell her the truth.”
Rayna strode back to the table and snatched her purse off the back of her chair and glared at Hunter. ”Keep your mouth shut, Hunter.”
“Don’t tell him to shut up.” Sasha’s voice was tight, barely controlled. “Maybe it is time we told the truth. Look what’s happening. People are dying.”
Rayna leaned in, and I found myself leaning in as well. I wanted to hear what she said.
“No one says a word,” Rayna hissed. “That means you, Sasha.” Her gaze slid to Hunter. “And you. Any of you open your mouth, and I’ll make sure you regret it.” She straightened, slung her purse over her shoulder, and walked toward the exit without looking back.
Reed followed after her, shaking his head.
Zane and I exchanged a glance. Without a word, we hurried after them, but at a distance so they wouldn’t know we were following them.
When we stepped outside, Rayna and Reed were standing near the far end of the building.
I couldn’t make out their words, but their body language said plenty.
Rayna’s arms were crossed tightly over her chest. Reed kept running a hand through his hair, gesturing with the other.
Whatever he was saying, she wasn’t having it.
Headlights swept down the road, and a car pulled to a stop near the curb. Rayna turned on her heel and climbed into the back seat without so much as a glance at Reed. The car pulled away from the curb and disappeared down the street.
“I didn’t know we had Ubers in Mystic Cove,” I whispered.
Reed stood on the sidewalk for a long moment, staring at the taillights. He then turned and walked down the sidewalk, away from us. He stopped near a truck, climbed inside, and drove off in the opposite direction.
“That was intense,” I said. “You really know how to show a girl a good time, Fallen Angel.” I waved my hand over us and dropped the glamours.
Zane ran a hand down his suit jacket and smiled. “Welcome back, old friend.”
I snorted as he opened the front door of Bottoms Up and we walked inside, this time as ourselves.
People were gathering their coats, finishing last sips, saying quiet goodbyes. The banner still floated near the ceiling, but its glow had dimmed, the spell slowly losing its charge.
Hunter and Sasha were still at the table, sitting close together, talking in low voices. The chairs around them were empty.
Eliza stood near the bar, watching as others gathered their items.
Zane and I walked over to where she stood.
“Oh, hi.” Eliza blinked, straightening when she saw us. “Glad you made it. Unfortunately, it looks like a lot of people are leaving.” She tucked her phone into her purse. “It was a weird night.”
“How so?” Zane asked.
Eliza glanced over at the table where Hunter and Sasha still sat. “I don’t know. Just...strange.” She paused, and something flickered across her face. “You ever get the feeling you’re the last person to get a joke?”
“Sometimes,” I said.
Eliza nodded slowly. “I have a feeling I’m that last person.”