I shoved the book across the table. He opened it and grabbed the herb, and lifting it to his nose, he inhaled. “Interesting.”
“Have you seen anything like it?”
“Yes, only never locally. It’s belladonna. It has several uses, but if too much is ingested, it’s deadly. It’s also taboo in our state and very expensive to buy.”
“Where do you suppose it came from?” I asked. “And what do you think Mildred was doing with it?”
“The more important question is if this is what killed her, who put it in her tea and where did this sample come from? You know some people used to put belladonna in their tea to relax and use as a sedative, but too much can stop the heart.”
“Any idea where Friday’s been hiding? I’m sure he’s hungry by now.” I took a bite of my cereal.
“Last time I saw him was yesterday evening perched on the fence that overlooks Livvy’s yard. If you’d like, I can put out a bowl of milk and his favorite cheese. The two things he finds irresistible.”
“That would be helpful.” I smiled. “Last thing I need is a rumor about me being a terrible pet owner. I’m sure it would only be a matter of time before it’s spun that I used him in a sacrifice.”
Franklin chuckled, and we continued talking through breakfast before he again disappeared into the basement. I spotted the coffee maker and a coffee can on the counter and chuckled. Franklin must have brought the one from downstairs. He also probably knew it was my drink of choice seeing just how much research he’d been doing on me.
I tried the door as I passed, and it remained locked.
I took my coffee, the book, and the plant out to the porch and was flipping through it in search of belladonna’s secrets when King and Livvy strolled into the yard. King held two coffees in his hand.
“I told you she wouldn’t need one,” Livvy teased, hopping onto the porch.
“How could you possibly have known that?” King asked.
“It helps her function, and she’s functioning,” Livvy said, plopping down on the swing next to me. “Whatcha doing?”
“Research. What are you two doing today?”
“I’m here to make sure Sam gets started on your car, and Livvy’s hanging out with me.”
“Have you had your breakfast, Livvy?” I asked.
She nodded.
“Why don’t you go get a cookie. I need to talk to your uncle for a minute.”
She skipped to the door and stopped. “You have a letter on your door. Sometimes I put them on mine, and they say “Keep Out,” but my mom doesn’t follow instructions very well. Did you ever do that with your mom? Are you trying to keep the neighbors out?”
King yanked the letter off the door and handed it to me before opening the door for Livvy. “Go get your cookie, Livvy. I’m sure the note wasn’t meant to keep you out.”
While King was talking to Livvy, I opened the note and read the inscription. Death nears. Should it knock, Kings will fall in fear and grief.
“What does it say?” he asked.
I hesitated to show him but handed it over just the same. Turning to the yard, I breathed in relief to find it empty of the glowing death.
“This sounds like a threat,” he said, sitting next to me.
“Sounds like it’s referring to you. You are the only King I know.”
He rolled his eyes. “What did you want to talk about?”
“I have so much to tell you and not enough time if Livvy eats all the cookies in the jar. Mildred was researching belladonna.”
“Bella what?”
I held up the flower. “It’s poisonous if taken in excess and apparently expensive to get a hold of.”
“Where did you find that?” he asked, taking the flower from my hand.
“In this book that Mildred borrowed from Alma. Have you heard back from the coroner?”
He set the coffee cup down, handed me back the flower, and rose from his seat, heading into the yard and punching in numbers on his phone just as Livvy reappeared.
“Your cookie stash is getting low.” She had crumbs on her lips and a fresh cookie in her hands.
“We can bake some later when they run out.”
Her eyes sparkled. “We can?”
“Sure, if it’s okay with your mom. Where is she, by the way? I haven’t even met her, yet.”
“She’s not home yet, but she promised to be back by the fair. Until then I have a nanny taking care of me. She smells funny,” Livvy said, waving her hand in front of her nose and scrunching her face.
“Well, then we’ll make an extra batch so you can surprise your mom.”
They spent the afternoon making cookies after a quick trip to the store on their bikes. King was in and out of the garage and spent a majority of his time in the yard on the phone.
I was just wrapping up Livvy’s cookies to take home when a knock sounded on the door.
I wiped my hands on my apron and headed that way followed by Livvy and Friday, who’d appeared and watched us cook, thankfully keeping his words to himself. It would have been hard to explain why I was expecting a cat to answer me.
Mr. Stephens stood on the porch clutching his briefcase. Sweat trickled on his brow.
“Ms. Venture.”
I let Livvy pass with the cookies, Friday following behind her, before I waved Mr. Stephens inside and led the way to the kitchen table. “Please, come in. I’ve been expecting you.”
His gaze landed on the book on the kitchen table. “Mildred always knew when I was coming over.”
“Too bad the book didn’t warn her someone was coming to kill her.”
“She wasn’t killed, Tess. She died of natural causes.”
I just smiled like I had all the secrets in the world. The last thing I’d planned to do was make King’s life harder. “I’m sure you’re right.”
He opened the briefcase and pulled out some documents. “Have you made a decision about staying?”
I eased down into one of the chairs. “A year is a long time to commit. I have a home on the island. I can’t just leave it empty for a year.”
“That’s a simple fix.”
My brows dipped.
“You’d just insert a vacation into your book, and then no guests would be scheduled, but I’m afraid you only have thirty days to use throughout the entire year.”
“Let me guess, it’s a stipulation.”
“Of course it is. She wants you to give this town a fair chance, and you can’t really do that if you’re never here.”
“And what if I sign and just decided it’s not for me and I leave?”
He shrugged. “Your agreement will be null and void and you’ll lose everything. I’m afraid I’ll need a decision, Ms. Venture.”
Chapter 13
“You got a pen?” I asked, holding out my hand.
A look of relief filled his eyes as he hurried to hand me the writing instrument. I signed my name everywhere there was a tab and slid the documents back to him. “Is there anything else?”
His smile was much more relaxed as he stuffed the papers back into his case and clicked it closed. “Nothing that can’t wait until I find your other sisters.”
“How is that going?” I asked, walking him to the door.
“I’ve found another one, but she’s more evasive than you were. I might have to personally visit her to get her to agree to hear me out.”
I patted his back as I opened the door to let him out. “I’m sure she’s stubborn if we share the same genes.”
His cheeks tinted as he stepped out onto the porch and we both stopped in our tracks. Standing in front of us were four midgets. I guess that’s the correct term for short people. All of the men came up to my waist in size but all seemed about my age.
“The Carnies?” I asked.
They smiled. “Only Mildred called us that because we’re part of the carnival festivities. I’m Barry, this is Larry, Gary—”
“And Moe?”
“No,” the fourth answered. “My name is Don.
Why would you think Moe? Do I look like a Moe?”
I held up my hands in surrender. “Sorry. That was my attempt at a bad joke.”
I opened the door for them to pass, but they didn’t budge.
“Look, guys, I said I was sorry.”
“No, miss,” Larry answered. “We have tents. We’ll set up in the backyard.”
I held my thumb over my shoulder. “Why wouldn’t you want to sleep in beds? It has to be softer than the ground.”
“We’ll be coming and going at all hours helping set up festivities. It’s just easier this way, and we’ll be less intrusive.”
“Uh, okay. Would you like to come through the house?”
“Oh no.” He blushed. “We’ll go around the back and make sure that none of the others bother you when they show up.”
“Others?”
“There are ten of us,” he answered, jogging down the porch steps.
“Ten guests. I didn’t remember that detail in the black book.”
I walked Stephens out and jogged back up onto the porch to sit. It was starting to be my favorite place on the property. The porch swing with a view of everything going on.
King was just returning from the garage and talking to the mechanic, whose overalls were covered in dirt and grease. The potential of having a working car was looking slimmer by the minute with the way Sam was tossing his hands around and pointing to the house like it was the reason the car hadn’t run in ten years.
Dinner went off as planned, and to my surprise, the caterer set up a table for the carnies in the backyard with a buffet specifically tailored to their taste buds. Our dinner was quick for a change, the conversation held to a minimum. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think they found me boring. Well, they wouldn’t technically be wrong.
King had rested his hand on my arm as the others left, reminding me he’d be back in an hour to pick me up.
When the hour passed, I glanced at my watch just as the doorbell rang. He was right on time.
I yanked the door open to find the detective looking especially mouthwatering. A black shirt stretched taut across his muscular chest. His jeans hung loose on his waist. He was a sexy man. “Remind me again why you aren’t married.”
“Haven’t found the right woman,” he answered as I locked the door behind me and took his arm so I didn’t break my neck going down the stairs in my heels. “You look beautiful.”
Heat claimed my cheeks. I couldn’t remember the last time anyone had called me beautiful. “Thanks. I didn’t know what to wear. You weren’t very specific on the clientele.”
King held the SUV door open for me until I got situated before jogging around to the driver’s side. “You should probably stick by my side tonight. We’ll go in, ask our questions, and leave.”
“Why haven’t you taken her in for questioning, knowing what you already do?”
“I don’t have any physical proof, yet. It’s not like we can use the words written in a magical black book, and I’m not comfortable taking Livvy’s statement just yet. She’s just a kid, and I’d rather not drag her into this.”
“Got it.” I nodded. “So this is like a fishing expedition.”
He turned the engine and glanced at me with a smile on his face. “You fish?”
I shrugged. “I did live on an island and had to coordinate guests’ activities.”
“I guess this is a big change for you.”
I smiled. “The book has done all the coordinating of events. To be honest, I’m kind of bored sitting in that big house by myself. At least on the island, I always had stuff to do or a problem to take care of. Things are kind of boring here and don’t seem to move as fast.”
“Ha.” He chuckled. “We’ve never been considered boring before. You just haven’t seen all that the town has to offer. The residents are leery of new people. It takes some time to earn their trust before they’ll spill their secrets. You just have to be patient.” He drove down Main Street, where couples were strolling holding hands and some were sitting in tables outside the eateries. This town lacked excitement in ways I’d never imagined. Maybe that was why my mother had left. Well, that and she’d found my dad.
Twenty minutes later King pulled into the Shady Grey parking lot. Cars and trucks were scattered about the spaces. It was busier than I’d expected for a weekday.
I slid out and met King at the front of the SUV, where he rested his hand on my back and led me into the establishment.
I paused inside the doorway, letting my eyes adjust to the dim lighting and my ears to the music. The building looked even bigger from the inside than it did on the outside. Trick of sight?
King led the way to the bar, pointing to a side room. “They’ve got sports gambling in there.”
“Isn’t that illegal?”
“Not in this town,” he said, walking me around the room to various side rooms where dance floors and music were playing. Another side room was even darker, where leather-wearing men and women were playing pool.
“This is like a recreational place. A little something for everyone.”
“That’s one way to look at it.” He guided me to a stool at the bar. He pulled out a twenty and laid it on the bar, getting Rene’s attention.
Her brows pulled as she approached. “Why did you bring him? I didn’t know you were going to bring a cop.”
“If there’s a problem with that, I can always take you into the station for questioning.”
“No, no problem.” She glanced over her shoulder at the bartender on the other end. “What can I get you two to drink?”
We ordered, and when some of the patrons left from the bar area, she sauntered back over.
“I was helping them with research,” she said.
“What were they researching?” I asked. I knew the truth.
“Everyone in town was considered a suspect to them.”
“Suspected of what?” King asked.
She leaned across the bar. “Mildred believed she was going to die, and John was here to find out who the killer would be.”
She’d surprised me and told the truth as I knew it. It might be a shock to King since I hadn’t shared the information, but I could prove it.
“Was he a private eye or something?” I asked.
“No.” She mouthed the rest of the response, and I’d failed the course at reading lips.
“I didn’t catch that,” I said.
Rene pulled the pen from behind her ear, grabbed a napkin, and wrote something on it. “This is all I know. They had me looking into people they suspected, but nothing ever panned out. I couldn’t go to the police in the event word got out about me helping. It wasn’t safe. I thought someone was already following me.”
“Did you see anyone suspicious?” King asked.
She shook her head and slid the napkin across the wood surface before walking away to help someone else. I unfolded the napkin and bit back my smile before sliding it to King.
He opened it and rolled his eyes. It was the exact response I knew he’d give.
“She thinks he was a werewolf and using his keen senses to sniff out the truth. Have you ever heard anything so absurd? If she’s telling the truth, then Mildred was more clever than I ever gave her credit for by pulling the wool over Rene’s eyes. She can’t be that gullible, right?”
King didn’t answer. He tossed back his beer bottle, taking a long sip as he watched Rene.
“You can’t possibly believe her, right?” I asked.
He turned his gaze from Rene to mine. “It’s a common belief that Mildred was a witch. I wouldn’t be surprised if she believed in other types of magic.”
I knew she did, not that I was willing to share the information. Friday was proof that there was some magic that could transform men into animals. I think the proof that Friday being able to speak was enough for me to believe that he’d once been a man.
“Okay,” I said, turning in my seat and taking a sip of my wine. “Let’s, for a minute, follow this
rabbit hole that John was a ‘werewolf’ here to sniff out a killer.” I tossed my hands up into the air. “I can’t even say that with a straight face.”
“But you do believe that she knew she was going to die. Don’t you?” he asked as if knowing the answer. “You’re having a hard time about the shifter aspect, but not her knowing she was going to die.”
“I already figured that out.” I shrugged. “She and John were working on a murder board. It’s part of that stuff I needed to tell you when Livvy was around and I couldn’t. It’s in the attic, and you’ll be happy to know they’d already ruled you out as a suspect.”
“Well, at least they got one person right.” He chuckled, taking a sip of his beer. “Who was left?”
I shrugged. “Lots of people, none I’ve met. You know I could show it to you. Maybe we can pick up where they left off.”
A smile toyed on his lips as his eyes searched mine. He brushed a stray hair behind my ear, cradling my cheek in his palm. He didn’t speak; he didn’t have to. I could feel the pull between us. It didn’t need words. He calmed me and excited me in ways I couldn’t explain.
He dropped his hand, taking the warmth of his touch from me, and rose from his stool. “You should probably show me their murder board.”
We left, and he opened my SUV door, waiting for me to slide in. He lingered, staring at me, before he shut it and climbed into the other side. “I hope your boyfriend never shows up.”
A smile split my lips. “That’s mean. You’d rather me grow old and lonely?”
He leaned in, his lips inches from mine. “I’m sure I can find a way to entertain you.”
Heat flooded my cheeks and my body with the power of a full bottle of wine instead of one glass. I had no doubt that King could entertain me if I’d erase the barrier I’d put between us. I held my hand to my chest. “If I didn’t know any better, Detective, I’d think you were flirting with me.”
Chapter 14
“I am flirting with you. I thought that was kind of obvious.”
“Yeah, I guess.” I turned to face him. “But my question is, why?”
He chuckled before he answered. “You’re beautiful, smart, funny, new to town, so you don’t know all my past transgressions. I enjoy hanging out with you, and judging by the amount of time Livvy is spending with you, she likes you too.”
Witchy Trouble Page 6