Magic & Mishaps

by Annabel Chase

  “He wants me to tell you that he was never ill,” I said. “He made it up.”

  Marley scowled. “You’re just saying that to cheer me up.”

  “No, it’s true,” I said. “I caught Raoul sneaking out to the dump earlier and he admitted that you never made him sick.”

  Marley frowned. “Why would you lie about something like that?”

  Raoul lowered his head in shame.

  “He enjoyed the attention we were lavishing on him,” I said. “He’s never had that and he knew once he was well again that we’d stop.”

  Marley’s eyes widened in shock and pity. “Raoul, I’m so sorry that we made you feel that way.” She threw her arms around the raccoon, who squirmed a moment before settling into the hug.

  “See?” I told Marley. “You’re not a talentless witch after all.”

  “Yes, I am,” Marley said.

  “How can you say that?” I asked. “This whole thing started because you thought you messed up your mixture and made Raoul deathly ill. I just told you that you never made him sick at all.”

  “I’m still messing up at school,” Marley said. “Today I was supposed to turn a frog into a squirrel. Guess what happened?”

  I hastened a guess. “You turned a frog into a mouse?”

  “I turned the teacher into a frog,” she said. “Then I couldn’t undo the spell. Someone had to run for help.”

  “Transformation spells can be tricky,” I began.

  “I didn’t mess it up,” Marley said. “I did it exactly right, but it didn’t work. Maybe you were right about my DNA. Maybe it’s Dad’s genes interfering.”

  “Well, you’re not emotionally blocked anymore,” I said. “We cleared that one up after you turned eleven.” I’d taken her to see a therapist to figure out why her magic wasn’t manifesting. It turned out that she’d been hiding a secret and the guilt had inadvertently blocked her magic.

  “Maybe it just wasn’t meant to be,” Marley said. “Just because my magic manifested doesn’t guarantee I’ll be good at it.”

  While I agreed with her on principle, I had my doubts. “Do you want me to make another appointment with Rhys Meridien?”

  Marley chewed her lip. “I don’t think so. I don’t really want to talk about it. I feel like all I do is think about it right now and the whole thing is overwhelming me.”

  I debated what to do. I didn’t want to force her because that seemed counterproductive. “I’m happy to arrange it, so let me know if you change your mind and feel like hashing it out.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” She kept one arm around Raoul. “You must love us an awful lot.”

  “What makes you say that?” I asked.

  Marley directed her answer to the raccoon. “If you didn’t love us, you wouldn’t care how much attention we paid you.”

  Wordlessly, Raoul leaned his head on Marley’s shoulder.

  PP3’s body stiffened and he began to sniff at the front door.

  “Must be Alec,” I said. I’d invited him to have dinner here and spend quality time together after Marley went to bed. It wasn’t quite a sleepover, but it was good enough for now.

  Marley rushed past me to answer the door. At least the presence of the vampire could still improve her mood. Small mercies.

  “Alec,” she said happily. “I’m so glad you’re here. I didn’t make Raoul sick.”

  “That’s good news.” He hesitated. “Right?”

  I laughed. “Depends on your point of view.”

  Hey! Raoul objected from the sofa. I’m still here.

  Oops. I cast a glance over my shoulder to see him stewing on the sofa.

  You promised to give me positive attention. Pinky swore.

  I didn’t pinky swear, but okay.

  Alec leaned down to kiss my cheek. “You look radiant, as usual.”

  Radiant? Raoul echoed. If that means you look like you’ve emerged from a nuclear factory after a meltdown, then yes, you look radiant.

  Positive attention works both ways, I said.

  “Nice to see you’re feeling better, Raoul,” Alec said. He held up a bag for me. “I hope you’re hungry. I brought a three-course meal.”

  Can I stay for dinner? Raoul asked.

  You’re well enough to go to the dump, remember?

  I got sick there. His eyes were ever hopeful.

  Avoid the moldy strawberries this time.

  “Come on, Raoul,” Marley said. “Let’s give them time to get dinner ready. You can play sick. I’ll tuck you in and read you a story.”

  Raoul scampered out of the room without another word.

  “Thanks for taking one for the team, sweetheart.” I kissed Marley on the forehead.

  “I’d like extra dessert,” Marley said.

  “A shrewd negotiator,” Alec said. “I don’t know about your mother, but I fold.”

  Marley hugged him fiercely before trailing after Raoul. Bonkers appeared out of nowhere and flew after them.

  I glanced quickly over each shoulder. “Anyone else hiding in here? Now’s the time to come out.”

  PP3 barked from his spot by the door before trotting over to the sofa and curling into a tight ball.

  Alec took the bag into the kitchen and I followed. “The oven needs to be set to 425 degrees.” He stopped to look at me. “You know how to turn on the oven, don’t you?”

  “Hardy har. Very funny.” I sailed past him and stood in front of the oven, contemplating the knobs. “It’s this one here…I think.”

  Alec chuckled and came to stand beside me. “Why don’t you let me take care of dinner?”

  “I can use magic,” I said, fumbling for my wand.

  Alec’s hand rested on mine. “Or I can do it for you.”

  “I’m capable,” I said, somewhat defensively.

  “I know you are, Ember. Damsels in distress never really held much appeal. I like a woman who knows her mind and speaks it.”

  “I do that.” A little too often.

  He slid an arm around my waist and nuzzled the top of my head. “It’s one of your most attractive features.”

  I pulled back. “Really?”

  “As if you didn’t know.” He turned the correct knob to warm the oven. “I have a choice of desserts, but I’m wondering whether we’ll make it that far.”

  “Too full?”

  He grinned mischievously. “Something like that.”

  “You’ll have to put that thought on ice while we have spectators.”

  “We can still enjoy a bit of music,” he said. He set his phone on the counter and clicked the screen. Billy Joel’s Always A Woman began to play.

  I wagged a finger at him. “You’re playing hard ball.”

  He wrapped his arms around me. “Dance with me.”

  “We’re supposed to be making dinner.”

  “We are,” he said. “The oven needs time to warm up.”

  I pressed my body against his. “You, on the other hand, don’t seem to need any time at all.”

  He grinned, showing off his impressive fangs. “It’s a gift.”

  My phone vibrated in my pocket, causing us to separate. “Sorry.” I glanced at the screen to see a text from Pam with a crying emoji. “Uh oh.”

  “What is it?” Alec asked.

  “Sheriff Nash is at Rochelle’s house. He wants to question her, but it sounds like the Wonder Women have gotten out their pitchforks.” I typed a quick response.

  “Should any of those names be familiar to me?”

  I laughed. “We really need to catch up, but right now, I need to go.”

  “I’ll stay with Marley, shall I?”

  “That would be wonderful.” I jumped up and kissed his cheek. “Make good on your promise and give her extra dessert.”

  He pulled me in for a deep kiss. “As long as you make good on your promise to me.”

  “I’ll be fantasizing about little else until then,” I said, and kissed him one more time for good measure.

  I heard Rochelle’s
voice before I even saw her.

  “Is every vampire in town going to be questioned?” Rochelle demanded.

  I came around the back of the house to the deck where Sheriff Nash and the Wonder Women were embroiled in an argument.

  “This is racial profiling,” Leigh said.

  “It’s a witch hunt,” Cindy added.

  “Same thing,” I said. “Witches were basically racially profiled and then murdered.”

  “More like gender profiled,” Pam said. “Basically if you had a uterus, you were in danger of being accused of witchcraft. Ask me how many banshees were accused of being witches in my family over the centuries. Lots according to Nana.”

  “This isn’t gender profiling or species profiling or anything of the kind,” the sheriff said. “The victim had two puncture wounds and was drained of her blood. You’re a vampire with a close connection to the victim. I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t bring you in for questioning.”

  “A close connection, yes,” Rochelle said, “but what’s my motive?”

  “I don’t know,” the sheriff said. “That’s one reason we question suspects.”

  “You can trust him,” I assured the women.

  Pam popped a hand on her hip. “You mean like you did? Weren't you the one running around town asking questions because the sheriff had his eye on your boyfriend?”

  “I’m not investigating. I’m writing an article on Bonnie for the paper,” I said. “Granger…Sheriff Nash doesn't have a thing against vampires.” As insistent as I sounded, that wasn't strictly true. The werewolf did have a chip on his shoulder when it came to vampires or anyone with what he considered too much power or influence. The sheriff wanted equality and I respected that, even if it sometimes put us at odds.

  Cindy studied me. “Exactly how well do you know the sheriff?”

  “She’s a reporter, remember?” Pam said. “They probably have to deal with each other all the time.”

  “Pam’s right,” I said.

  Sheriff Nash looked as relieved as I felt that no one pressed the issue. “Now Rochelle, I’m going to ask you again to come voluntarily. I'm not arresting you. I only want to ask a few questions. The sooner I clear you, the sooner I move on.”

  Rochelle folded her arms. “Fine then. You can question me right here with my friends as witnesses. I don’t want to be quoted out of context or have my words twisted.”

  The vein in the sheriff's forehead begin to throb. “If you insist,” he said, “but you might not like having to answer in front of them.”

  Rochelle jutted out her chin. “These ladies know all my secrets. Well, maybe not Ember. She’s new to the group, but I have nothing to hide from them.”

  The sheriff scratched the back of his head. “You joined another group, Rose? I thought you learned your lesson after the Power Puffs.”

  “We’re called the Wonder Women,” Leigh said. “We have get-togethers and act as a support group.”

  The sheriff cocked an eyebrow. “Support for what?”

  “Broken hearts, failed relationships, that sort of thing,” Rochelle said.

  The werewolf suddenly took pains to avoid my gaze. “Is that so? I would think each member would have to meet that criteria.”

  “Oh, we do,” Cindy said. “Ember lost her husband. The rest of our complaints pale in comparison.”

  “Mine don’t,” Rochelle said stubbornly.

  “It's not just her husband,” Pam said. “She had to make an awful choice. It can't have been easy when she loves them both. That’s a different kind of heartbreak, but a heartbreak nonetheless.”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the sheriff’s cheek muscle pulse. “Why don't we let the sheriff get on with his questioning?”

  “And the band starts in forty minutes,” Leigh said, consulting her watch.

  Rochelle rubbed her hands together. “I like the sound of that.”

  “Tell me about your relationship with the victim,” Sheriff Nash said. He chose to remain standing and leaned against the deck ledge.

  “She was a member of this group, which we’ve already explained to you,” Rochelle said. “Why don't you tell me out of this entire group why I'm the only one you’re questioning? We all had close connections with Bonnie.”

  Beside me, Pam raised a hand. “To be fair, I was sort of questioned.”

  “By whom?” the sheriff asked.

  I wiggled my fingers at him. “I had my reasons.” He apparently hadn’t heard about the fight between Bonnie and Pam at the Water Wheel Tavern. Undoubtedly, he’d been too focused on Jarrod as the suspect.

  The sheriff shook his head. “Rose, I would tell you to stay out of police business, but I know it's a waste of my breath.”

  “It's okay, Sheriff,” Rochelle said. “Of course I'm the suspect here. Why wouldn't I be? That's the direction the blood always flows for me. Always dark clouds but never a silver lining.”

  Great balls of cotton. Rochelle was like an undead Eeyore.

  Leigh smothered a cough. “Pity party of one.”

  The sheriff narrowed his eyes at Leigh before continuing to question the suspect. “I understand the victim owed you money.”

  A collective gasp escaped the group.

  “What?” Rochelle said, giving us an annoyed look. “I didn't tell you because Bonnie didn't want anyone to know that she needed money.”

  “A teller at the bank says that you and Bonnie had an argument recently,” the sheriff said.

  It seemed that the sheriff and I had both followed leads the other hadn't discovered.

  “I should've known that nosy teller would make a fuss,” Rochelle huffed. “Bonnie had been promising to pay me back for ages. I don't have a lot of money as it is, but she needed help, so I wanted to help her. She swore up and down she’d pay me back within weeks.”

  “But she didn’t?” Sheriff Nash asked.

  Rochelle shook her head. “But she was still going out a lot and spending money. I saw her with a new purse a couple weeks ago. An expensive one. She said it was a gift, but who would be giving her a gift like that? She and Jarrod were long over.”

  “Not that Jarrod would’ve bought her anything nice,” Cindy added. “He preferred to spend money on all his side chicks.”

  “So you were angry that she hadn’t paid you back,” the sheriff said. “What happened in the bank?”

  “I forced her to go to the bank to get the money she owed me,” Rochelle said. She rubbed her temples. “I’m mortified thinking about it now. The whole thing is so stupid. The teller showed us her account. Bonnie wanted to prove to me that she was telling the truth.”

  “And was she?” he asked.

  “She had less money in her account than me, and that's saying something,” Rochelle said. “I felt like the biggest wereass in town.”

  “What happened after that?” Sheriff Nash asked.

  “I apologized and we hugged it out,” Rochelle said. “Then we went over to the Moonlight Diner to see Pam because we knew she could get us a discount on our meal.”

  Pam put a finger to her lips and shushed them. “That's supposed to be our little secret. Ernie would hit the roof if he knew.”

  “Where were you last Friday night?” the sheriff asked.

  Rachel lit up. “I have an alibi,” she said excitedly. “I can't believe it.”

  The sheriff peered at her. “You sound surprised.”

  “Of course I'm surprised,” Rochelle replied. “With my luck, Bonnie would've been killed when I was home alone like I normally am.”

  “But you weren’t?” he asked.

  Rochelle looked extraordinarily pleased with herself. “Nope. I actually had a date. Vernon Sycamore. I'll give you his number so you can verify.”

  “I’d appreciate that,” he replied. “How late were you out with him?”

  Rochelle folded her arms. “Until seven o'clock the next morning when I woke up and realized where I was. That's what happens after one too many margaritas. I should
really learn to stay away from excessive amounts of tequila.”

  “You really should,” Leigh said. “Remember that time you convinced yourself you could turn into a bat.” The werewolf shook her head. “That was embarrassing.”

  Rochelle hopped up and down in her chair. “Does this mean I'm free to go?”

  “Once you give me that number for Vernon, you will be,” the sheriff replied.

  “Thank the devil I didn't delete it like I intended to,” Rochelle said.

  “What was wrong with him?” Pam asked.

  Rochelle rose to a standing position. “His breath smelled like garlic, which is bad enough for a normal woman, but for a vampire…” She wrinkled her nose in disgust. “He might as well have had tattoos of crosses and bathed in holy water.”

  “Say no more,” Cindy said.

  “Who's driving?” Rochelle asked. “I think I've earned the right to get drunk tonight.”

  “I’ll drive,” Pam volunteered.

  “Let me go inside and freshen up,” Rochelle said. “Does anyone else need the bathroom?”

  The other women made a beeline for the sliding glass door. “I’ll wait out here,” I said.

  Sheriff Nash looked at me and I saw the amusement in his dark eyes. “So this is your new crew, huh?”

  “I don't know,” I said. “They seem nice enough.”

  “The bar is pretty low if you’re comparing them with the Power Puffs,” the sheriff said.

  I shrugged. “I just haven’t found my tribe yet.”

  He coughed a laugh. “Are you serious, Rose?”

  I frowned. “What's that supposed to mean?”

  “You’ve got an entire coven at your disposal,” he said. “You're a member of the wealthiest and most powerful family in town, and you’re working at a tight-knit newspaper.”

  “You’re a member of the werewolf pack and the head of law enforcement, but I bet you would still say you haven't found your true tribe,” I shot back. I knew him well enough to see that.

  He went quiet for a beat. “You were my tribe, Rose. You and Marley. That would've been enough for me.”

  I nearly burst into tears right there on the deck. “You have to stop, Granger. Please.”

  His gaze shifted to the sliding glass door. “Is what they said true?”

  I knew what he meant without asking for clarification. “I think you know the answer to that,” I said quietly. “But I think we both know it isn't worth discussing.” I’d made up my mind and it was time for both of us to accept it and move forward.