Thankfully, Mom answered on the first ring.
“Good morning, dear,” Mom greeted me, clearly having enjoyed a few cups of coffee from her upbeat tone. “Beetle and I were just talking about the situation, and we’ve come to the conclusion that we still aren’t sure about Madam Rose’s ability. True psychics aren’t given visions of their own future, you know.”
I’d be willing to sacrifice these handwarmers if you allow me to go pick your mother up on the snowmobile.
I shot Leo a warning glance, only to find that he’d somehow gotten out of the knitted sweater. Five handwarmers now rested atop the wet fabric, while Leo began to rub his ears in order to obtain feeling back into the tips.
“Mom, we have more important things to worry about than Madam Rose,” I said, getting more and more concerned over the fact that Ted and Justine weren’t at their posts. “Ted and Justine are missing. They aren’t at the teashop. I was hoping that they stopped by to see you.”
“No. They aren’t here,” Mom replied, concern now lacing her tone after she’d heard my comments. “That’s not like them, Raven. They were given life to be companions and guardians. Neither one would shirk their duty, unless it was Justine’s maker that was in trouble.”
You know that moment in one of our whodunits where the lightbulb goes off? Yeah, mine’s flashing, but I couldn’t tell you why. You think that’s because my ears are still numb?
I found myself agreeing with Leo, and I couldn’t quite put my finger on the why of it, either. The ivory-colored fairy beads that separated the main area from the back room clicked together as Liam took a peek inside. He then pulled back and shook his head, all but telling me that Ted and Justine weren’t there.
“Mom, can you repeat what you just said?” I asked, retracing my steps and looking out the glass entrance to where Gary could barely be seen through the falling snow. Did he have something to do with Ted and Justine’s disappearance? Had they figured something out about his mission? “What do you mean by guardians?”
“Well, most golems are created by witches and wizards to be guardians,” Mom explained, forging ahead so that Leo and I didn’t get the wrong idea. “Not always, though. Some are generated to act as soldiers. Considering that the gargoyle was used instead of something with a human form—such as Ted and Justine—I can only assume the latter.”
Is now where I point out that the old geezer who owns the hardware store mentioned selling his own muffins and pastries, while the hippie psychic from across the street actually made mention of stealing the cupcake lady’s secret recipes…while standing directly in front of Gargoyle Gary?
“Leo, you’re a genius!” I exclaimed, quickly telling my mother that I had to call her back. I shoved the phone inside my pocket and turned around to find Liam only a few steps away. “The gargoyle isn’t the monstrosity we thought he was, Liam.”
Well, I guess we’ll agree to disagree on that one, Raven. Have you seen those facial lines etched deep into Gargoyle Gary’s forehead? As for those wings and sharp claws, they just aren’t natural. A predator recognizes another predator, you know.
“Gary is protecting Bree,” I explained in elation. “Think about it. Monty mentioned that Bree’s business was doing better than anyone else’s, and that was because of the products that she offered her patrons. He even went so far as to say that he should open a bakery of his own. At least, I’m pretty sure it went something like that. Then, Madam Rose told me right in front of Gary that she should steal one of the recipes, because she loved Bree’s pastries so much. Don’t you see, those are the shops that were targeted!”
Can we just get back to where you called me a genius? I keep telling you, it’s those blueberry-filled edibles.
“I can get behind that theory, but it still makes the stone golem dangerous,” Liam warned, frowning even more now than when we’d first entered the teashop. “Raven, we can’t have that thing destroying property. Someone is bound to catch on, and then I’m going to be forced to come up with some wild explanation as to why a statue is coming to life and vandalizing all the shops.”
You two are still behind the eight ball. Such a shame.
“What do you mean?” I asked Leo, running several scenarios through my mind as to how we could stop the stone golem from causing any more damage. “We just figured out that the golem was created to protect Bree. In the end, that’s a good thing. It means that Gary can be reasoned with, Leo.”
Who would want to protect the cupcake lady?
“What did he say?” Liam asked cautiously after I’d fallen silent in thought.
Don’t get me wrong.
My lips had parted to respond, but I realized what a predicament we had found ourselves in, and with no clear answers.
“Leo just asked who would want to protect Bree,” I replied softly, deciding that we were going to be here for a while until we figured out a plan…and also what happened with Ted and Justine. “Liam, we need to call Rye.”
I knew it! The cheating wizard has been playing us this entire time! Well, I happen to know that he doesn’t eat blueberries. By the time that I get through with my plan, he won’t know what hit him!
Chapter Sixteen
“I honestly have no idea what all of you are talking about.”
The cheating wizard is a pro at bluffing, Raven. Trust me. I see it every Wednesday evening during our supernatural poker game.
“Rye, someone sent that golem to Bree for a specific reason. If not you, then who?” I asked, still concerned that Ted and Justine hadn’t materialized out of the storm. “It clearly wouldn’t be Kyle. Or would it? Do you think there is a chance that he’s protecting her, because he knows what would happen if the coven found out about the two of you?”
Liam, Leo, and I were still at the teashop. It had taken us a good half an hour to figure out a plan, but we pretty much couldn’t go through with anything until we knew for a fact that Ted and Justine were safe.
The blizzard was still in full force, and Leo was over near the display window sitting on top of the hand warmers as he kept an eye on Gary. It was quite hard to see that far through the falling snow, but Leo had better eyesight than the rest of us. Plus, he’d definitely notice if a dark grey streak began to run through the snow.
As for Rye, we’d used the video feature on my phone to contact him. He’d answered, and luckily we’d called right when Bree had gone to take a shower. We maybe had around ten minutes before Rye had to end the call.
“No, I don’t think Kyle would go and utilize construct magic to create a stone golem for the woman who I just happened to be dating after not seeing me for over a decade.”
Tell the cheating wizard that there is no reason to use sarcasm. We’re not buying what he’s selling. Oh, and ask him one more time what he did with the lump of wax and the walking, talking, laughing plastic doll. Go ahead…ask if he fed them to Gargoyle Gary.
“No need to be snippy,” I chided with a frown. Rye glared at me, the graphics on the display of my phone even showing the deep lines around his mouth. “All I’m saying is that there is a high probability that Gary was sent to protect Bree, and it makes sense that he was acting in that capacity, especially given whose shops were vandalized.”
Rye groaned in frustration as he ran a hand over his face. His appearance left a lot to be desired, and I could tell that he’d been awake most of the night.
“Would you quit calling him Gary? He’s not our friend, and he might very well have been sent to Bree in order to cause her harm. I mean, you said yourself that Ted and Justine are missing.”
Does the cheating wizard not see that the monstrosity looks like a Gary? Granted, one would think a Gary couldn’t be menacing, but this one pulls it off rather well.
“I’m about to go out and search for them,” Liam said, stepping closer to me so that we would both fit into the picture frame. “Stay by your phone. We’ll try not to call you unless it’s an emergency.”
“I appreciate that.” Rye’s
bloodshot gaze switched from Liam to me. “Try calling Agnus. Maybe they touched base with her at some point.”
“She was going to be my next call.” I didn’t want to leave things on a bad note with Rye, but I’m sure that even he could see how we might have thought that he’d been the one to secretly create a stone golem. “Rye, I know how much you care for Bree. I’m dating the sheriff, and Aunt Rowena is aware that he knows of our existence. Would it really be such a bad idea to come clean with her?”
“I’m different, Raven. The reason that Rowena asked me to move here was for my own protection. I’ve been researching my ancestors, and I do believe there is something special in my bloodline that would benefit the coven. She risked her own position on the council to take me in, raise me as her own, and then protect me when I couldn’t do it myself. She wouldn’t understand why I would start a relationship with someone who can’t comprehend what my lineage truly means.”
We both fell silent as Liam began to put on his outer gear in order to go outside once more in search of Ted and Justine.
I suppose now isn’t the time to point out that the cheating wizard will know when the Wicked Witch of Windsor discovers the truth? Ribbit. Ribbit. Ribbit.
“I’ll keep you posted on what we find, Rye.” I waited to disconnect until he nodded before I finally turned to face Leo. “That’s wasn’t nice. Bree isn’t going to be turned into a toad, because Rye isn’t going to tell Aunt Rowena anything unless he can be assured of Bree’s safety.”
So…never?
“Basically,” I muttered with a disappointed sigh. Liam already had his jacket on and was in the process of securing his gloves when I stopped him from proceeding with the search. “Don’t go out there quite yet. Leo, I need you to go check in with Agnus. Just blip in and out really quick.”
Leo had returned to his previous task of keeping an eye on Gary. With his nose smushed against the glass, he didn’t move a muscle, pretending not to hear me.
“Come on, Leo.” I waited for some sort of reaction. “The conditions are terrible outside, and Liam shouldn’t have to take the snowmobile all the way to the outskirts of town just because you’re scared of the village druid.”
Raven, Raven, Raven.
I hid my smile due to knowing that my itsy-bitsy goad would get him to react.
I will have you know that the old crypt keeper and I are on relatively good terms. After all, she was the one who shared with me all of the coordinates of Skippy and his ninja minions’ multiple headquarters. With that said, I have a healthy respect for a century old druid who could turn me into nothing but a pile of snowflakes with a mere flick of her pinky finger. It’s called self-preservation, Raven.
“Agnus is not going to turn you into a mound of snowflakes,” I muttered in exasperation. My comment caused Liam to chuckle, and I noticed that he’d gone ahead and began to put on his gloves, anyway. “Come on, Leo. Maybe she can help you figure out the location of Skippy’s hibernation stash while you’re there.”
You seem to be forgetting the prehistoric crypt keeper’s dire warning. I, for one, never forget things like that.
I fell silent as I recalled Ted passing on the ominous warning—the dead will rise. I still wasn’t sure what that meant, and I would eventually have to have a conversation with Agnus to clarify the statement. After all, Ted did mention something about All Hallows’ Eve. That was rather a long time from now, so we could deal with that dire issue a little bit later.
Fine. I do tend to forget things, although I’m sure in this case it will be a result of self-preservation and not due to the consequences of the dark magic used to keep me here in my suffering.
“How much does Agnus know about the stone golem?” Liam asked pointedly, pretty much ready to head out on a snowmobile ride. “Maybe sending Leo there isn’t a good idea.”
There the good ol’ sheriff goes again, trying to get on my good side.
“Trust me, Agnus knows everything,” I exclaimed, casting a glare in Leo’s direction. “I think she has fun getting updates from Ted and Justine about our little whodunits and such.”
“You don’t think that—”
I quickly shook my head at the direction that Liam was taking this discussion.
“No, I don’t think that she created the stone golem. There would be no reason for her to do something like that, but she would definitely know where Ted and Justine have gone. As Justine’s creator, they have a link. I’m close with Ted, but it was Nan who gave him life, so I can’t sense things about him the way Agnus can regarding Justine. It’s too bad that she doesn’t have a cell phone.”
“The woman is a hundred and two years old,” Liam reminded me, scanning the street as the snow was still basically a sheet of white.
Sweet angel of mercy, I’ll go. I’ll go! You two could drive a familiar to forget his own name. I’m starting to wonder if there were any other consequences to the dark magic used to keep me here. It might just be you…driving me slowly insane. There better be a mound of blueberry-filled edibles waiting for me when I return.
Before I could reply, Leo did his blipping thing and disappeared into thin air.
“I will never get used to that,” Liam muttered underneath his breath. He walked to the door and stared out across the street and down toward the bakery. “I can’t even see the gargoyle anymore.”
“Leo shouldn’t be long.” I joined Liam at the door, realizing that he was right. I couldn’t make out Gary, either. Maybe it was time for me to trudge on over there and have that much-needed conversation. “It all adds up, you know.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, none of us could understand why my ability to sense danger hadn’t been going off like an alarm over Gary’s presence. If the gargoyle was created into a stone golem for the sole purpose of protecting Bree, then it’s not a reach to think that I would inherently feel comfortable with such protection.”
“Raven, that thing destroyed two shops in town.” Liam shook his head at my theory. “We can’t allow that to continue.”
“I know, but—”
No need for the blueberry-filled edibles! That prehistoric crypt keeper is a very good hostess, and I’ve decided to visit her more often. Not that she gave me any coordinates regarding Skippy’s hibernation provisions, but I can let that go in favor of the premium organic catnip that she serves. Can you believe there is such a thing as organically grown wild blueberries? Who knew?
“Leo, what did Agnus say about Ted and Justine?” I asked directly as the pressure in my chest became overwhelming. I’d had horrible visions of the stone golem crushing Ted and Justine into dust ever since we realized they’d gone missing. “Were they there?”
No, but they are on their way back. Ted and Justine walked there to check on her, but only after they realized that the stone golem wasn’t going to do any harm to anyone.
“How could they know something like that?” I asked after relaying what Leo had said to Liam. “The reason we asked them to keep an eye on Gary to begin with was because he always goes on a vandalism spree when no one is watching.”
Leo stepped out of his bed that currently had the five handwarmers inside of it and walked over to the left corner of the display window. He pawed at something until it fell over with a clunk.
I’ve got to hand it to the lump of wax. Maybe he does have a brain, after all.
“My old cell phone,” I muttered in disbelief. I quickly walked over and picked up the device. “Liam, they’ve been recording Gary the entire time!”
“Am I the only one worried that those two are walking around in this blizzard? The wind chill has to be hovering in the negative temperatures, Raven.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that,” I dismissed with a wave of my hand. Between being relieved that Ted and Justine were fine, along with knowing that they had the situation well in hand all this time, I was ecstatic with relief. “Golems can feel the cold, but they aren’t affected by it like us. It’s hard to explain, but
trust me…they are probably enjoying the beauty of the scenery that is currently surrounding us.”
Well, our job here is done. Shall we head home? That snack has me yearning for my mid-morning nap.
“What are you talking about, Leo?” I went ahead and placed the cell phone back into its corner so that it could continue to monitor Gary. “I’m going to go over there and talk to him.”
Why on earth would you go and do such a preposterous thing? Obviously, recording it will keep Gargoyle Gary in check, thus preventing any possible gaggles of gargoyles from joining him. The lump of wax has saved the day and saved the town. Our work here is done.
“Not a chance.” I walked over to the high-top table with determination where I’d set down my gloves, hat, and goggles. I wouldn’t be needing the latter, but I definitely needed to bundle up if I was going to walk across the street in this weather. “It’s time to have a conversation with Gary.”
I’m not leaving this teashop to have a conversation with a stone golem that could swallow me whole unless we take a few kilos of C4 with us. Those are my terms. Take it or leave it.
Chapter Seventeen
It’s apparent that we need to have a lesson in explosives.
“Well, you wanted something that would create a bang.”
I realized the moment that I’d walked out of the teashop that I should have worn my goggles. The bitter wind was whipping about something fierce. I’m pretty sure that I already had icicles hanging from my eyelashes, but we continued to trudge forward through the snow as we crossed the street. It wasn’t like we had to look for oncoming traffic.
A potion bottle that was basically created to be a purple stink bomb doesn’t even come close to the explosive power of C4.
“It’ll do if Gary decides that he’d rather not speak to us.”
Before leaving the teashop, I’d decided to actually turn off the cell phone that had been keeping tabs on Gary while Ted and Justine had gone to visit Agnus. I wanted to make sure that nothing prevented the stone golem from talking to us. That also included Liam remaining behind, though he hadn’t been pleased at all with that suggestion.
Stony Blend (A Paramour Bay Cozy Paranormal Mystery Book 16) Page 12