by K E O'Connor
He grimaced as he edged upright. “Isadora might have given birth to me, but she was no mother. She left me. She gave me up when it got too difficult. All she cared about was making a career for herself. Isadora couldn’t do that with a brat by her side. Her ambition blinded her. She never loved me. She was no mother.”
Mannie shook his head. “Well, I never. Tempest, who’d have thought it? You were right.”
I was too angry and focused on Jonah to bite Mannie’s head off.
Cleo walked closer to Jonah, her eyes full of compassion, and held a hand out. “Your mother abandoned you?”
“That’s near enough,” I cautioned her. “When I touched Jonah, I felt dark power in him. It will still be there.”
Cleo moved away slowly. “I understand why you’re hurting, but you didn’t have to kill Isadora.”
“She ruined my life,” Jonah said. “She didn’t want me. She left me in the care of others. I never found a home to settle in. I bounced from foster home to foster home until I was old enough to look after myself.”
“That must have been tough,” Cleo said.
“When I was eighteen, I began my search for her. It took a while, but she wasn’t difficult to find. When I learned what she’d been doing all these years and how driven she was, I knew she deserved to be punished. Isadora was selfish.”
“So, you waited until there was an opportunity to get close to her,” I said.
Jonah nodded. “I watched Isadora for years and became familiar with her routine. I knew her favorite places to eat, what coffee she drank, what stores she shopped in. It was easy to fake a resume and submit it when she was looking for an assistant. You should have seen her, so eager for me to take the job. Mommy dearest kept saying that she felt as if she knew me and we had a connection.” He scowled. “Little did she know what kind of connection we really had.”
“Were you hoping she’d recognize you and welcome you back into her life?” Mannie asked.
“Of course not. I wanted nothing to do with that evil witch. All I cared about was getting justice. What kind of person abandons a child?”
“A desperate one,” I said. “Someone young, inexperienced, and scared. Maybe someone with no support network. Your mom had ambitions, and you weren’t a part of her plan.”
“So, she discarded me like a piece of trash.” Jonah swiped at his soot stained cheeks.
“Why wait until now?” Lotus asked. “You’ve been with Isadora for five years. You could have killed her any time.”
“Five years ago, Isadora wasn’t a world-renowned author, about to launch a best-selling book. She was just another lecturer, no one special. As her book took shape, I realized she had a hit on her hands.” Jonah’s gaze went to Seth, who remained on his back, panting. “Then Mr. Smarmy came on board, sending Isadora around the country on talks and generating a buzz. That was when I knew this was the right time to kill her. She’d spent every waking hour building her career, and I got to destroy it. I got a chance to make her pay for what she did to me.”
“You talked about leaving a legacy,” I said. “Was the plan to go down in history as some notorious witch killer?”
Jonah ran a hand down his face. “That’s a bonus. Everyone will remember me for what happened here. My name will be linked to my mom forever. I have my own place in history.”
“You set up the murders just as Isadora described in her book,” I said. “People will think her work inspired you to kill.”
He nodded. “Yes, but it was more than that. I wanted people to think she’d killed Gretel. I ensured Isadora had a lousy alibi on the night of Gretel’s murder and that everybody knew they weren’t friends. It was easy for me to return to the museum after it was shut. I knew Cleo would be in bed, and Gretel wouldn’t be able to resist interfering when she thought no one was around. A blast of magic held her in place. You know the rest.”
“The angels didn’t arrest your mom, though. They pursued other leads.”
“Or no leads.” Jonah shook his head. “I’ve never met a more incompetent bunch of idiots. Everything was laid out for them, so they could arrest Isadora, but they refused to see it.”
I bit my tongue. Jonah was good. I’d been well on the way to being convinced Isadora had murdered Gretel. “You planted that note the angels found in her room. The one suggesting Isadora might have killed herself.”
“It was a long shot. Who’d be dumb enough to believe that was a good method of suicide?” He snorted a laugh. “I should have known the dumb angels would believe it.”
Lotus shook her head. “Your mom didn’t deserve to die.”
Jonah glared at her. “And I didn’t deserve to be discarded and not considered important.”
Mannie shuffled his feet. “Why carry on? You killed Gretel in an attempt to frame your mother and then killed Isadora when your efforts to get her arrested failed. Why target Aurora?”
“Because he doesn’t want to be forgotten.” I looked at Aurora, her face soot stained and her eyes wide.
Jonah bared his teeth. “That’s right, and I was enjoying myself. Mom had worked hard on her book, so I decided to re-enact every murder from it. It was only fitting, giving her a long-lasting legacy. Isadora Ash should go down in history as the author who inspired a serial killer. My name will be linked to her forever. She can never be rid of me, no matter how hard she tried.”
I glanced at Cleo. “Your story doesn’t fit. How could you have killed Isadora when you were at the museum with Cleo?”
Cleo’s eyes widened. “Jonah was with me almost the whole time.”
Jonah waved a hand dismissively at her. “When I met Cleo, I could see she was a weirdo. She’s as obsessed with history as Isadora. I could also tell she was lonely. It was easy to flirt with her and get her attention. Soften her up so she’d be the perfect cover.”
Cleo gasped. “You don’t like me?”
“How can I like someone who smells like the pages of a dusty old book and recites Latin for fun?”
“Hey, that’s rude!” Lotus wrapped an arm around Cleo’s shoulders. “Ignore him. You’re brilliant.”
Jonah kicked his heels in the dirt. “Whatever. I was with Cleo most of the time, but I left for half an hour on the pretense of getting coffee and cake. I’d arranged to meet Isadora at the stone circle. I told her I’d found an interesting artifact buried there, and she had to see it. She totally bought the story. She had no reason to doubt me. I was her devoted employee.”
I looked at Cleo. “Why didn’t you say anything when I asked you about your alibi?”
She bit her bottom lip, tears in her eyes. “I didn’t think it was important. We were together most of that day. Jonah slipping out to get us a treat seemed like a sweet thing to do. He wasn’t gone long and seemed so calm when he came back. And he was happy.”
“Of course I was happy,” Jonah said. “I’d destroyed the woman who’d ruined my life. I wanted to dance and sing with joy because she was gone. Her life was over. Everything she wanted had been ripped from her. It was no less than she deserved.”
Cleo shook her head. “You’re a terrible person, Jonah.”
“Because she made me terrible,” Jonah said. “Isadora never cared for me.”
“You’re wrong,” I said to Jonah. “Your mom loved you.”
He scowled at me. “You don’t know her. You know nothing about her.”
“She had a locket with your picture in it,” I said. “I found it when I was looking around her room.”
Jonah blinked at me rapidly. “You’re lying.”
“Wiggles,” I said.
He walked over, and I unhooked the locket from around his neck. “See for yourself.” I dropped it on the ground and toed it toward Jonah.
Jonah grabbed it, a look of disbelief on his face. He opened the locket, and his eyes widened. He stared at the picture in silence for a moment. “This means nothing. That might not be me.”
“Are you sure?” I asked. “Why else would Isadora k
eep that picture with her? She did love you, but she wasn’t in the right place to look after you properly. She was trying to do the best for you.”
Jonah snapped the locket shut and clutched it in his fist. “More like she couldn’t be bothered to look after me. She only cared about herself.”
“Where’s the baby book?” I asked Wiggles. I’d dropped it in the dash to protect Aurora.
“Hang on a minute. I saw it by the fire.” He sprinted away and returned with the small photo album in his mouth, which he spat out next to Jonah.
“In there, you’ll find dozens of pictures of you,” I said. “Your mom kept you for as long as she could. It looks like she tried to make things work for at least six months.”
Jonah grabbed the album and flicked through the pages. He shook his head, the muscles in his jaw twitching. “I’ve never seen these pictures.”
“Isadora had them with her. She had them in her room. She must have carried them wherever she went. Your mom loved you.”
Jonah dropped the album and buried his head in his hands. “She hated me.”
“She probably does now,” Seth muttered as he pulled himself off the ground.
“You be quiet,” Lotus hissed.
Seth looked startled but kept his mouth shut.
Jonah lifted his head, and I saw tears on his cheeks. “I didn’t know,” he repeated.
“Of course you didn’t. Just as she didn’t know you were her son. That’s still no reason to ruin her.”
Jonah’s whole body slumped. “I got it wrong. She did try to raise me. She did love me.” He clutched the album against his chest.
“Isadora wasn’t perfect, but she didn’t throw you away.” I nodded as I looked at Mannie. We had everything we needed.
He returned my nod. “I’ll go round up an angel. Let’s finish this.”
“Keep an eye on him,” I said to Cleo and Lotus.
Lotus clenched her hands into fists, her gaze fixed on Jonah.
“We got this,” Cleo said.
I rolled my shoulders as I checked Frank was back where he belonged. His anger still simmered, but he wasn’t about to break through.
I let out a relieved sigh as I walked to Aurora and hugged her. “Everything’s good. We’re good. There’s nothing to worry about.”
She sagged against me, her thin frame shaking.
I kissed the top of her smoky smelling head. It was over. The killer had been found and the witches of Willow Tree Falls were safe.
Chapter 23
The sunshine felt great on my face as I headed out of Cloven Hoof with Wiggles for a late breakfast.
I skidded to a halt, and my eyes widened. In front of me was a very angry, very tanned looking Dazielle. The white of her angel’s uniform made her skin glow.
“I thought you’d left for good,” I said. “Where have you been hiding?”
“That’s not your business.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “What have you been doing while I’ve been away?”
“Keeping the village safe,” I said. “Saving witches’ lives. Stopping a deranged killer. I think that’s about it. What about you?”
Dazielle arched an eyebrow. “Keep talking.”
“I have to say,” Wiggles said as he shuffled past me, “you look hot, Dazielle. I’m not a fan of feathers and blonde hair, but wherever you’ve been, it’s taken five years off you.”
A smile flitted across Dazielle’s face before fading. “Time away has done me good. Now talk, Tempest.”
“You can get the information from your angels. They were nothing short of miraculous while you were topping up that tan. I learned so many things, especially how to play Angel Ball and shirk responsibility whenever possible.”
Her nod was curt. “I’m already having words with my angels. I’ve had several complaints about a lack of angels in the village while I’ve been away. They’ll be undertaking intensive training, so they don’t forget their responsibilities again.”
“That sounds like the perfect plan. Good luck with that.” I tried to step around Dazielle, but she blocked my path with a wing and shoved me back. “I’m not finished with you.”
I raised my hands. “I don’t know what to tell you. Mannie insisted I help, and he’s our esteemed mayor, so I could hardly say no. You weren’t around when the murders took place, so I was forced to step in. And you still haven’t told me where you were. Why did I have to cover for you?”
Dazielle’s nose twitched. “I was instructed to attend a transcendental yoga retreat.”
Wiggles snorted a cloud of smoke from his nose.
I choked back a laugh, thinking she was joking, but the look on Dazielle’s face was serious. “Wow! I understand why you had no interest in what was happening in Willow Tree Falls. You can’t let a couple of murders in the village you’re supposed to protect come between you and your yogic flying.”
“Or your downward facing dog,” Wiggles said.
“There was no flying,” Dazielle grumbled. “But there were no external communications. Our mobile snow globes were taken off us when we arrived, and we weren’t able to access them until the end of the retreat. When I found mine, I discovered dozens of messages from the angels, you, and Mannie.”
“Did my message about taking your job and selling your apartment prompt your return?”
“I knew all of that was a lie. You’d never want my job.” She had the decency to look a little ashamed. “I got back as soon as I could.”
“We’re so grateful you did,” I said. “Everything’s been falling apart.”
Wiggles turned his back as he chortled.
Dazielle’s mouth twisted to the side. “I owe you a favor for this, and I suppose I should thank you.”
“That’s very decent of you.” I couldn’t help but prod. “How’s the temper? Did the retreat give you your mojo back?”
She sighed. “I hope so. My angels can be like naughty schoolchildren when not constantly supervised. I thought being away for five days wouldn’t be a problem. How much trouble can they get into in such a short space of time?”
“They even surprised me,” I said. “In Dominic’s defense, he wasn’t a total dunce. Sablo, she needs work, as does Cassiel. Everyone else, they all scarpered. You should fire them all and start again.”
“Usually, the village is quiet. It didn’t occur to me that the museum and its guests would cause problems.” Dazielle turned and gestured with her head for me to follow her. “So, Jonah was the dead author’s abandoned son?”
I glanced at Wiggles and shrugged before walking alongside Dazielle. “That’s right. He’d convinced himself that his mom had abandoned him. The truth was, she did care for him but was too young to raise him alone. She focused on her career, determined to make a name for herself.”
Dazielle shook her head. “And Isadora never tried to find him?”
“That’s a question we can never answer,” I said. “By the time Jonah found her, he was raging mad and determined to get revenge. He was obsessed with his mom’s work and not only wanted to ruin her but planned to leave a legacy people would remember for hundreds of years. He found a way for the world to know he was her son and what she’d done to him.”
“Jonah wanted a link between the two of them, so they’d always be joined.”
“Sounds about right. Have you interviewed him?”
“I got back late last night,” Dazielle said. “I spoke to Jonah briefly, and he’s talking. He admits to everything. He had a ring in his pocket, which was the source of his dark power.”
“I wondered what made him so strong.”
“Jonah seems remorseful now he knows the truth about his mom. He’s still going away for a long time.” She glanced at me. “I heard about your sister. It sounds like a near miss.”
I let out a sigh. “It was. She’s unharmed, just shocked. She’ll be fine.”
“That’s good to hear.”
I stopped and turned to Dazielle. “Since you owe me a favor...”
/>
Her eyes narrowed. “You’re already calling that in?”
“It’s about Aurora or, rather, who Aurora’s dating.”
Dazielle’s eyes widened. “Go on.”
“Aurora is getting married to Toby Matlock.”
Dazielle grunted in surprise. “I hadn’t heard that. Toby Matlock is old.”
“And as shady as they come. He’s manipulating Aurora. I don’t know how he’s doing it, but she’s fallen for him in a big way.”
Dazielle’s nose wrinkled. “He’s very rich.”
“Don’t go there. You know Aurora isn’t that kind of girl.”
“I’m just saying. I admit he’s not her usual type.”
“She thinks he is. Whatever I say, she’s not convinced that Toby’s wrong for her. He’s also used his mind manipulation magic on me more than once. And, he’s got a lock of my hair.”
“Why would you give him a lock of your hair?”
“I didn’t give it to him willingly. As I said, Toby’s a shady warlock, and he’s using his magic to get what he wants.”
“He’s ensuring an interfering big sister stays out of the way of his happy ever after with Aurora.”
I glared at Dazielle. “Something like that.”
“So, what’s the favor?”
“I need to know everything you’ve got on Toby Matlock.”
Dazielle shook her head. “I can’t share details about an ongoing investigation. We’ve been looking into Toby for some time.”
“I know that, which is why I’m so concerned about his manipulation of my sister. If you’re having trouble pinning something on Toby, maybe I can help. I need to get him away from Aurora before she makes a terrible mistake.”
Dazielle twisted her long blonde braid around her wrist. “It’s against policy. You’re not an angel. I’d be breaking the rules if I let you see what we’ve got on him.”
“I did solve two murders for you and just about stopped Angel Force from imploding with incompetence. Your angels aren’t as angelic as they appear to be. I could have walked away and left you to clear up this mess.”
Dazielle tilted her head back before nodding. “You can’t tell anybody about this. If you say I’ve shown you these files, I’ll deny everything and make your life hell.”