“In a sense, but nobody likes to lose revenue,” Thaddeus said. “Apparently, her numbers were way down from last year and she blamed the competition.”
“But the broomstick tour is amazing,” I said. “I can’t imagine a short-term competition could do much damage to an evergreen attraction like that.”
Thaddeus wiped his glasses with a plaid handkerchief. “You’d be surprised.”
“You’re a witch,” Rick said. “What’s so amazing about the broomstick tour?”
“I don’t have my broomstick license,” I said. “I didn’t know I was a witch until recently. When I said I was from New Jersey, I should have specified the human world.”
The realization hit the minotaur. “Oh, I remember now. You’re the missing Rose girl.” He wagged a finger at me. “You’re kind of a big deal.”
My back straightened just a smidge. “I don’t know about that.”
“Don’t be modest,” Rick said. “A descendant of the One True Witch is nothing to sneeze at.” He scrutinized me. “You don’t have that telltale white-blond hair, though.”
Instinctively, my hand flew to touch my hair. “I don’t have a lot of their attributes.”
“You have more than you think,” Rick said. “Besides, the darker hair suits you.”
He was certainly generous with the compliments, much more forthcoming than the sheriff or the closed-off vampire. It was a nice change of pace.
“Thanks,” I said. “And those muscles suit you.” The words tumbled out before I could stop them.
Thaddeus snorted at the look of horror on my face. “No worries, Ember. Nobody would argue with that.”
“So do you really think the owner of the broomstick tour would be upset enough about the sand sculptures to murder someone?” Rick asked. “Because that’s mafia-level business.”
At the mention of the mafia, I flinched. The whole reason I lived in Starry Hollow stemmed from an incident with a known mobster. James Litano’s effort to kill me triggered my magic, which then allowed my trio of Rose-Muldoon cousins to locate me.
“You okay, Ember?” Rick asked. “Did I say something wrong?”
I forced a smile. “No, you make a good point.” I sipped my drink. “Still, I think it’s worth having a little chat with Lotus.” At least it would be an excuse to do the tour again. Until I got my broomstick license, the tour was my only option for taking flight.
“This has been fun,” Rick said. “How about we do it again sometime?”
My cheeks grew flushed. Before I could respond, Thaddeus reached across me with a slip of paper.
“Here’s her number,” he said. “She has a fairly packed schedule, so weekend nights are best.”
I gaped at the centaur. “When did you become my personal assistant?”
“Between you, Florian and Aster, I know the schedule for the entire Rose-Muldoon clan for the rest of the year.” He leaned toward me. “Don’t forget Sunday dinner at Thornhold. Bring a small hostess gift this time. It’s considered polite.”
“Um, thanks for the tip.”
Rick grinned as he tucked the paper into his pocket. “I’ll be in touch.”
“No touching,” I said, too quickly. “Just a phone call. Or a text.”
The minotaur chuckled. “I’m so glad I walked into that maze today. Totally worth it.”
Chapter 9
The sheriff was not as keen as I was to follow up on my lead from Thaddeus. His boots were propped up on the desk in his office and he gazed at me over the top of them, trying to decide if I was serious or not.
“You’re suggesting that Lotus, a respected witch in your coven and the owner of the broomstick tour, killed a teenaged elf and buried him in a sand sculpture because she didn’t like competing for attention?”
I cringed. "Well, when you put it like that, it does sound silly, but you said yourself that we can't always understand why paranormals choose to commit the crimes they do. It's our duty to explore every avenue."
“Technically, it’s my duty, but I take your point.” The sheriff shifted his boots to the floor, seeming to acquiesce. “You know what, Rose? You're right. Maybe the broomstick tour is the only thing Lotus has ever done that she's proud of. And now its position as a top destination in town is under threat. It's at least worth a conversation.”
I didn’t expect him to cave so easily. “Really?”
He cocked an eyebrow. “You want me to change my mind?”
I tossed him the car keys from the corner of his desk. “Nope. Let’s go.”
Deputy Bolan stuck his head in the doorway. “Do you need me, Sheriff?”
“Not for this one, Bolan,” he replied. “Rose and I have it covered.”
Deputy Bolan scowled at me, at least I thought it was a scowl. His leprechaun face was so tiny, sometimes it was hard to tell.
“Maybe we should get a badge made for her,” the deputy suggested. Although I heard the sarcasm, the sheriff apparently didn’t.
“That’s not a bad idea, Bolan,” he replied. “But her reporter credentials are probably good enough. We don’t want to encourage her now, do we?” Sheriff Nash winked at me, completely missing the look of disgust on his deputy’s face.
“No, we certainly don’t,” Deputy Bolan replied. “Let me know what you find out.”
The sheriff grinned. “Will do.”
We arrived at the tour around lunchtime, and my first thought was that the tour was closed. There seemed to be no one around, a sharp contrast to the assembled crowd the last time I was here. I leaned over to the sheriff. "Are we here officially or are we undercover?"
The sheriff grinned. “You'd like that, wouldn't you? A little roleplay?"
I nudged him with my arm. "I'm not talking about that. I mean…"
He chuckled. “I always know what you mean, Rose. It's one of your charms."
I glared at him. “Oh, now I have charms? When did that miracle occur?"
He eyed me appreciatively. “Come now, Rose. You know better than that."
We approached the ticket window and I gave the paranormal a big smile. "Two tickets, please."
The sheriff balked. "Why are we getting tickets?"
I flashed him an innocent look. "Why do you think? We’re going to take the tour. I did it once with Marley and it was awesome."
The sheriff shook his head. "I'm too busy for this. Let's just talk to Lotus and be done."
“It’s important research,” I insisted.
“No, talking to Lotus is important research,” he countered.
Understanding dawned on me. "You’re afraid of heights."
"No, I'm not," he said, a tad too defensively.
I jumped up and down in an extremely mature fashion. "You are!"
"Fine," the sheriff said, jamming his hands into his pockets. "So I don't want to fly around on a broomstick. Big deal. I'm a werewolf, not a witch. My feet belong firmly on the ground."
"Sheriff, you don't know what you're missing," I said. “The broomstick tour is incredible. You see the whole town from a new vantage point."
"I can see the town perfectly fine from the top of the Lighthouse," he replied. "Remember? We ate there together once. I shared my soup.”
"It's not the same,” I said. "Flying over the town is a completely different experience. You have to do it to understand it. I'll be practicing for my broomstick license soon. This is a good opportunity to get started."
The paranormal handed me two tickets and I gave one to the sheriff. "We’re going. No arguments."
The sheriff snatched the ticket from my fingertips. "Has anyone ever told you you’re bossy?"
I smiled. "All the time. If you're a good wolf, maybe I'll let you share my broomstick."
The sheriff seemed to like this idea. "Front or behind?”
I fluttered my eyelashes. "Whichever way you like it."
His throat tensed at the suggestion.
Unlike my visit with Marley, there was no wait this time, so the sheriff and I
went straight over to select our broomstick. Fortunately, Lotus was there. She seemed pleased to see the sheriff ready to partake in the tour.
“The sheriff on the broomstick tour. This has to be a first," she said. "Miss Rose, I hope you’re covering this for the paper. Such great publicity."
I shot the sheriff a knowing look. If Lotus was this excited about favorable publicity for the tour, maybe she was capable of more extreme measures.
"I wouldn't think you’re in need of any publicity, Lotus,” I said. “You do a great business here. I see your broomsticks flying overhead every day." That much was true. I was accustomed to them now, but initially I found myself holding a handbag over my head in case someone thought it would be funny to spit.
Lotus frowned. "I know, but sales have been dramatically down because of that blasted sand sculpture competition. It seems like no one is interested in broomstick tours. It's hurting my bottom line. Not to mention my reputation as the number one destination in Starry Hollow."
"Well, there's nothing like a dead body to put off paranormals,” the sheriff said. "I have no doubt the number of visitors to Balefire Beach has dropped since the discovery of Grover Maitland."
Lotus heaved a sigh. "That was very sad news. Grover was a wonderful young elf. He worked here over the summer and I got to know him a bit. I have nothing but good things to say about him."
The sheriff regarded her with renewed interest. "The victim worked here over the summer?"
She nodded. "That's right. Once school started, he got a job elsewhere. I don't need the extra hands during the low season, so I always expect to lose a few part-timers."
“And when was the last time you saw Grover?" the sheriff asked.
Lotus looked thoughtful. "Last week. He was hanging around the pier with that group of friends he’s always with. There's something odd about that group. I didn't love when they came to see him in the summer."
"Really? Why not?" From what I knew, they were all good kids. Not a troublemaker in the bunch.
Lotus chewed her lip. "It's nothing I could put my finger on. We all get vibes now and then, don't we? I know you must, Miss Rose." She glanced apologetically at the sheriff. "Maybe it's a witch thing."
The sheriff shrugged. "I've been known to get vibes on occasion," he said. "I happen to prefer facts, but when my gut speaks, I listen."
That made two of us.
"Did you ever notice them doing anything suspicious?" the sheriff asked.
"No, nothing out of the ordinary," Lotus replied. "Like I said, it was just a feeling that something wasn't right with them. There was a strange intensity if that makes sense."
I wondered whether she was being genuine or whether she was simply trying to throw us off her trail.
"Well, the good news is that the time for the sand sculpture competition is limited,“ I said. "That must make you happy. Business will be back to normal before you know it."
"That's my thinking as well," she said. "My only concern is that it's so successful, they might decide to do it multiple times a year. There are all sorts of ways they could expand on the idea. And no offense to your family, Miss Rose, but I'm sure they've been ecstatic to finally give Florian something useful to do."
She wasn't wrong. In fact, I was beginning to think that she was more astute than deadly. The sheriff must have had the same thought because he held up the broomstick.
"Where should we return this?" he asked.
I blinked. "Return it? We haven't used it yet."
He gave me a hard look. "I think we’re probably done here, Rose. Wouldn't you agree?"
I thrust the broomstick against his chest. "Not on your life, Sheriff. Buckle up, cowboy. It's going to be a bumpy ride."
"You're going to pay for this, Rose," he growled, as we walked to the edge of the dock where the tour began.
“And I’ll enjoy every moment of it,” I said.
We listened to the instructions and the sheriff took his place behind me on the broom.
“Nice view," he said.
I craned my neck to look back at him. "We’re not in the air yet."
He gave me one of his lopsided grins. “That’s not the view I’m talking about.”
My body warmed at the compliment. I handed him the leather strap attached to the broomstick.
“I didn’t peg you for a leather girl,” he said.
“You steer,” I said.
“And here I thought you were the alpha.”
“My broomstick is bright red with the Silver Moon flag flying at the back,” Lotus said. “Not that it matters. I’ll be the only one flying with you today.”
“That’s what I call service,” the sheriff said. “It’s the VIP treatment.”
“Indeed,” Lotus said, sounding disappointed. She clearly missed her large tour groups.
As we followed Lotus into the air, I heard a sharp intake of breath behind me.
“You okay, Sheriff?” I yelled.
“Yep. Peachy.”
"Are your eyes open?" I asked.
“Don’t insult me, Rose.”
“They’re closed, aren’t they?”
“Maybe.”
I laughed. He was as bad as Marley.
I marveled at the view of the ocean below as a pod of dolphins surged through the waves. “Look!” I yelled.
“In a minute,” Sheriff Nash said.
“You’ll miss it if you wait.” I couldn’t turn around to see whether he’d opened his eyes.
“Nice fish,” he said.
“They’re mammals,” I said. “Marley would have a conniption if she heard you say that.”
“Your hair is tickling my nose,” the sheriff said. “Can’t you do a spell to keep it in place?”
“You overestimate my abilities,” I called over my shoulder. “Over there! The statues in the fountain are moving.” I felt giddy with excitement as the seven statues changed positions.
“They do that every day,” the sheriff replied.
“But you don’t get to see it happen from up here,” I argued. We swooped over the Silver Moon headquarters with its statue of a witch holding a moon above her head as though it were a beacon.
“Hey, your witch is barefoot,” the sheriff said. “Did you know that?”
“I noticed that last time,” I replied.
“Why don’t you wear one of those head things,” he said.
“A circlet?”
“Yeah, that. It’d look pretty with your dark hair.”
“Sheriff Nash, I think that’s one of the nicest things you’ve ever said to me.”
“You’re a natural on a broom. How about that? Is that even better?”
“You’re scoring a lot of points right now,” I said. “That’s for sure. There’s Fairy Cove!” I pointed to the curve of the shoreline.
“And the Lighthouse,” the sheriff said. “Where we had our first date.”
“That was not a date,” I objected.
“We ate together. Alone.”
“We’d just interviewed the chef of the restaurant and you were hungry,” I said. “That doesn’t qualify as a date.”
The broomstick ahead of us turned, so we turned, too.
“Please tell me we’re heading back to the dock now," the sheriff said.
“We are,” I said. “You can unclench now.”
We glided onto the dock without a single bump. The sheriff staggered off the broom and dropped to his knees.
“Thank Mother Nature,” he breathed.
“You were fine up there,” I said.
He glanced up at me. “I’m much better now.” He patted the dock with both hands. “This is where a werewolf belongs, Rose.”
“A dock next to the ocean?”
He growled. “On land.”
Lotus came to stand beside us. “Anyone need a nausea potion?”
The sheriff waved her off. “I’m good.” He dragged himself to his feet. “Thanks for the tour, Lotus. That was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
She laughed. “Hardly. We’re open every day of the year, including holidays.”
“Not for me.” The sheriff swaggered off the dock and I hurried after him.
“I didn’t realize how much you’d hate it,” I said. “You didn’t have to prove you weren’t afraid, you know.”
He stopped and looked at me. “I didn’t do it to prove I wasn’t afraid.”
“Then why did you do it?”
“Isn’t it obvious? To prove how much I like you, Rose.” With those words, he continued to the car. I stared after him, uncertain how to respond.
“Thank you,” I said quietly.
Chapter 10
I’d just finished a spell on my crockpot when I heard scratching at the kitchen window.
“What are you doing, Raoul?” I asked, crossing the room to open the window. “Can’t you come to the front door like a normal…raccoon?” A statement I never imagined myself making back in my New Jersey apartment.
I don’t do doors, he replied. I’m strictly a window animal.
“There’s no such thing as a window animal. Dressing, yes. Animal? No.”
He climbed onto the counter and looked at me. Do you want to hear what I have to say or not?
“That depends. Does it involve stolen goods? Because I don’t want to be identified as an accessory.”
That’s insulting! I’m not a thief. He paused. Anymore.
“Fine,” I said. “Out with it.”
I know you’re asking around about the elf, he said. I was…foraging and overheard two pixies expressing severe displeasure over the sand sculpture competition. Like it was ruining their lives.
I leaned my back against the counter and studied him. “When you say ‘foraging,’ do you mean trash picking?”
Raoul narrowed his dark eyes. Such judgment in your voice. Okay, so maybe I was hitching a ride to the dump.
“You're kidding, right?" I looked askance at my raccoon familiar.
Raoul shrugged his furry shoulders. What can I say? At least I'm consistent.
"And you heard these pixies complaining about the sculpture competition?"
Were they ever! It was like listening to a time loop. The same complaints over and over, Raoul replied. I got so bored, I climbed off the back of the truck and went to the park instead. I love a good ride to the dump. That shows you how annoying it was.
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