The ghosts appeared in an instant.
“If it’s Roxanne,” Zephyr said. “We’re doing the best we can.”
“No, no, not her. I have to leave. Jacob is coming. When he gets here, tell him where I’m going.”
“Are you sure?” Orchid asked.
“Absolutely sure.” I gave them the message and ran for the door. The possibility that Gwen was in trouble added energy to my step.
I fairly ran down the sidewalk, fueled by my concern for Gwen. In a few minutes, I reached the townhouse and stopped. Even as I did, Jacob pulled up. He jumped out of the car and came to me.
“You’re all right?” he asked.
“I’m fine. Gwen is in there.”
“Then, stay out here. I’ll handle it.”
“She’s my sister, Jacob. I know you don’t want anything to happen to me or her, but I need to focus on getting her out of there.”
“Magic” he asked.
“If I have to, yes.”
“I’ll lead,” he said. “Maybe I can talk some sense into her.”
“Just do it.”
We walked to the door and Jacob knocked.
“Open up,” Jacob said. “It’s the police.”
We waited some seconds before Gigi answered. “Come in. It’s unlocked.”
We looked at each other, and Jacob opened the door.
Gwen’s face told me she was frightened, and things had to be bad for Gwen to be afraid. She was tied to a chair, unable to move. Not far from her stood Gigi, a bow in her hands, an arrow notched. I could tell from how she held the bow that she was more than a bit familiar with it.
“You’re just in time,” Gigi said. “I’m about to let an arrow fly.”
“Put down the bow,” Jacob said.
Gigi smiled, an agitated smile. “Don’t go for your weapon, detective. If you do, I’ll send an arrow into Gwen, or maybe Helga. Yes, I think Helga is the one who deserves to be killed. She’s the one who figured it out, isn’t she.”
“There’s no need to kill anyone,” I said. “Let’s all calm down. You haven’t done anything that can’t be undone.”
Gigi smirked. “Oh no? I killed Thomas, didn’t I? You know that, and that’s enough to send me to prison for the rest of my life. That can’t be undone, can it.”
“Don’t make things worse,” Jacob said. “Thomas was bad, but killing someone else will be much, much worse.”
“How many life sentences can they give me?” Gigi asked. “One killing, two, what difference does it make?”
I made eye contact with Gwen, and I signaled that she needed to do something to calm Gigi. A nudge would do, a nudge toward sanity. I saw Gwen’s lips move, and I knew she had received the message.
“Wait, wait,” I said. “I don’t understand. Why did you kill Thomas?”
I watched as Gigi’s grip on the bow relaxed. Whatever spell Gwen had used was working. That was a huge start.
“Why do you think?” Gigi asked.
“We need to know,” Jacob said.
“It’s simple. I was in love with him, and he treated me like dirt. In the beginning, he flirted and was attentive. I thought he really loved me. But as soon as I said something to him, he started flirting with all those other women. Do you have any idea how hurtful that was? Right...in...front...of...me! Like I wasn’t there. Like I had no feelings. Like he deliberately wanted to put an arrow through my heart. I cried over him, cried. I came home at night and just sobbed. I couldn’t help it. I loved him. I was stupid.”
Jacob took a step, and Gigi raised the bow.
“Don’t move,” Gigi said. “Or I’ll be forced to use this.”
“Is that one of your father’s bows?” I asked.
Gigi turned to me. “You’re the clever one, aren’t you? Yes, this is the sister bow to the one in the flower shop, but you figured that all out. He was an expert bow maker, as you can see. And he was the one who taught me how to shoot an arrow. I’m quite proficient, as you can concur. Thomas never knew what hit him. The lipstick kisses were just fluff.”
“I bet you thought you were scot free when everyone blamed me for the murder,” I said.
Gigi chuckled. “I did find it rather amusing. Helga, the crime solver, accused of murder. Ironic, don’t you think? I thought sure the police would at least arrest you.”
“Why didn’t you get rid of the bow?” Jacob asked.
“Why would I? There’s no way to trace the arrow back to this bow. And my father gave it to me. I couldn’t just trash it.”
“Like you trashed my store,” I said. “After the cemetery.”
“I still haven’t figured out how you escaped me last night. I knew exactly where you were hiding, and yet I couldn’t find you. That was pretty lucky for you. I’m very proficient with a carving knife.”
“I was lucky,” I said. “And my store?”
“Since I knew you by your voice, Helga, I thought I would send you a message. I knew you would put two and two together. I knew you probably figure out it was me in the cemetery, despite the hoodie.”
“So, you kidnapped Gwen to lure me here, right? So, you could do what?”
“Kill you, of course. You see, you’re the one Thomas always talked about. You’re the one that he never conquered, whose heart he had never touched. You were the challenge he couldn’t run away from. If you had only given in, like the others, he would have forgotten all about you and come back to me. Don’t you see? You’re the reason all this happened. All you had to do was be nice to him.”
I could tell things were getting out of hand, and I supposed Jacob felt the same thing, because right then, he jumped to one side.
Gigi tracked him with the arrow.
And I attacked.
I grabbed the bow and the arrow, even as Gigi tried to let loose of the string. We fought for the bow, and while I had always considered myself strong, I knew I was no match for Gigi. In a matter of seconds, I would be overpowered. When that happened, someone was going to get shot with the arrow. I was certain that once Gigi fired, she would catch a bullet from Jacob. It would be a tragedy all the way around.
I did the only thing I could think to do. I used a bit of magic to find a weak point on the bowstring. A whisper, a touch, and the bowstring snapped. The TWANG echoed through the room, announcing that the bow was now unusable. That was when Gigi shook me loose and threw me to the floor. I looked up at a very angry woman, with a very sharp arrow in her hand.
That was when Jacob slammed into Gigi, knocking her to the floor, the arrow flying. In seconds, Jacob had his pistol out and pointed.
“Stay down,” Jacob told Gigi. “Stay down.”
While Jacob called for backup, I untied Gwen.
“About time,” Gwen said. “I don’t like being tied up.”
“If you hadn’t put me to sleep last night, I would have solved the murder then,” I said.
“Hah,” she scoffed. “By the way, thank you.”
“The least I could do. Now, sit still until the EMTs get here. You need to be checked out.”
“I’m fine.”
I glared at her.
“As you wish,” Gwen said.
When other police and EMTs got there, I walked outside. They had work to do, and I had a store to open, despite my shaking hands. I knew that would go away. I hoped it would go away. I stood on the sidewalk, taking in all the hustle and bustle. I watched as Jacob walked up, and he wasn’t smiling.
“You know, you could have been seriously hurt a few minutes ago,” Jacob said.
“I did what I had to do. She was going to kill you.”
“I get paid to take chances. You don’t. Next time, you’re waiting outside.”
“Next time? There isn’t going to be a next time,” I said. “My murder solving days are over.”
“Yeah, well, I just wanted you to know. No more hero moves.”
I looked into his eyes, and I could see a genuine concern there. He was worried about me. I supposed that I was
worried about him too. I had been since high school.
With a suddenness I wasn’t expecting, he reached out and pulled me tight. We hugged for a moment, a long moment, a moment longer than it should have been. And I didn’t fight it. It felt comfortable. It felt right. Then, he released me.
“I’ll take you home,” he said.
“No, the store,” I said. “There’s work to do.”
“You’re up to it?”
“That doesn’t matter. It needs to be done.”
In minutes, we were back at the store. He walked me to the door.
“I can’t stay,” he said.
“I know,” I answered.
“I’ll check on you later.”
“I’ll be here.”
He pulled me close again, for another hug, a tight hug, a long hug. For a moment, I wondered if he would kiss me. If he had, I didn’t think I would mind.
But he didn’t. With a smile and a nod, he went back to his car. I watched him drive off before I went back inside, where Orchid and Zephyr rushed up.
“Don’t tell me,” I said. “Roxanne is on the warpath?”
“Yes, and now, she has become a bit more aggressive, but we’ve managed to keep her occupied by suggesting she go over the items she’s already searched.”
“Roxanne doesn’t have the best of memories,” Zephyr said.
“Except for the necklace,” I said.
“There is that,” Orchid said.
“Well, keep her occupied,” I said.
“We’ll do our best.”
I walked over to the desk I had picked out for Gigi. The broad top was smooth except one long nick. I thought the nick added a touch of authenticity to the piece. Someone had used it. I ran my finger along the nick, and the vision flashed through my mind.
“Orchid, Zephyr, get Roxanne,” I said.
“Why?” Orchid asked.
“I think I’ve found her necklace.”
Chapter 16
Roxanne, Orchid, and Zephyr stood to one side.
“I’m pretty sure this is it,” I said. “But I need you, Roxanne, to verify, understand?”
She nodded. “Oh, please be right.”
I pulled out a bottom drawer, a drawer whose bottom did not match the face of the drawer, meaning there was a space underneath. With some careful prodding, the false bottom came loose. What was underneath was a dusty, black velvet case.
“That’s it,” Roxanne said. “I remember. That’s it.”
“Not yet,” I said. I pulled out the case and opened it on the desk.
Inside was a pearl and sapphire necklace, something as beautiful as the new day.
Roxanne began to cry, but these tears were not of sorrow, but of joy.
“There, there,” Orchid said. “Didn’t I tell you Helga would find your necklace?”
“It’s so...beautiful,” Roxanne said.
“And it’s all yours,” Zephyr said.
“All yours,” I repeated. “I will personally place it on your grave, just as you wanted.”
“You’re all too kind,” Roxanne said. “Too kind.”
“Tonight,” I said. “It will be with you tonight.”
Roxanne hugged me, which wasn’t really a hug, as she was cold, but I understood. She had had her dream come true. She could rest easy. Even as we watched, she faded into nothing.
“I think I’m going to cry,” Orchid said.
“I think I’ll join you,” Zephyr added.
They disappeared, and I looked at the necklace that had driven Roxanne for more years than anyone could remember. I touched it and felt the love Roxanne had borne.
That afternoon, Penelope and Gwen arrived to help with whatever cleanup the store still needed. I had taken care of that, so I made a pot of tea to share. We sat on some rather elegant chairs, at ease for the first time in days.
“How did you solve it?” Penelope asked.
“Yes,” Gwen added. “How did you know it was Gigi? And just to let you know, I am very glad you solved it.”
“When I picked out the desk for Gigi, I realized she was a woodworker, who need a large flat surface. The desk was perfect. That meant she knew how to carve, which explained the knife and the arrow. But the real clue came from her contact information. Her last name is Rogers, just like the bow maker. I put two and two together. She was the only one who fit all the clues.”
“You’re a genius,” Penelope said.
“And for that,” Gwen added. “As soon as you lock up this place, we’re going to the pub for a drink. I, for one, can use something alcoholic.”
“Absolutely,” I echoed. “I can’t wait.”
The graveyard was dark and spooky. I walked past the ghosts and spirits who eyed me with some interest. They didn’t often have someone wander through after dark. I ignored them and stopped at Roxanne’s grave. It was in the oldest section of the cemetery, and it was simple. A large stone at the head of a grassy grave. I dropped to my knees and pulled out the gardening trowel I had brought.
“I’m going to bury your necklace with you, Roxanne,” I said as I dug. “So that you might lie in peace. I hope it brings you all the joy you deserve.”
I dug a good foot into the earth, as I didn’t want the necklace easily found. I wanted it to remain with Roxanne.
“Smile,” I said, as I patted the turf back in place. “You deserve the happiness.”
I felt Roxanne smile, even though I couldn’t see it.
I walked out of the cemetery and noticed a pretty woman sort of bouncing along the sidewalk, her arm in the arm of a rather tall man. Although the woman wore a coat, I spotted a costume underneath. Leggy, pretty, athletic, she looked like one of the dancers that were hired by “gentlemen clubs” in New Orleans. The women danced and collected tips and moved about quite a bit. I supposed some women liked that sort of profession. As far as I was concerned, I’d take the antique store any time. The man with her had his head to the moon, and his face was nothing but shadow. Not that it mattered. They looked to be a little drunk. Lucky them.
As I walked home, I looked at the moon, now a little more than half. The ring around it foretold rain, but not this night. Tomorrow would be soon enough. And tomorrow, I would no longer have a murder to solve—my last murder. I told myself that I would never again solve a murder.
Never again.
I often lied to myself.
THE END
THE BOW SENT A FLASH to my brain, and I saw the piece of wood it came from. It was a fine piece of maple, with a beautiful grain. It was the sort of wood that expert bow makers searched for. But that wood wasn’t the real gem that I learned. A second bow had been made from that maple, a sister bow to the one on the wall. Two bows, one a killing bow. I knew that, and I waited for the bow on the wall to offer more.
It was mute.
The bow had nothing more to give. But I had learned enough. The bow on the wall was clean. I was searching for its twin. That was a good thing, but it certainly wasn’t the only thing. Someone in New Orleans possessed that twin bow.
Who?
That was the problem. I had no idea who had the bow, or who could use the bow effectively. That didn’t mean that Eric couldn’t be the killer. He might well have the murder weapon. After all, he had placed the twin on the wall. Did he own the other? Was it hidden in the flower shop?
No, the spell would have elicited that information from the bow on the wall. I would have to search other places for the murder weapon. I had learned a great deal, but I had a great deal more to learn.
You need to leave.
What is it?
A police cruiser. It’s been by...twice.
I’m coming out. Keep a lookout.
The alley was empty when I crawled out the window and replaced the pane. I skipped away, hoping I would get to the street before the cruiser came by again. And I did make it. I was strolling along, with Andromeda by my side when the cruiser passed. I waved. A broad-faced woman waved back. I felt immediately better. I
had managed to break in, learn something, and get out, all without a mishap. That was pretty good for me.
Worth the risk?
It was, Andromeda, it was.
At home, I poured myself a glass of wine and settled into my favorite chair. As I sipped, I asked myself if Jennifer had a bow, and if she did, could she use it? I didn’t remember any bow while I was inside her house. But that was to be expected. Jennifer was hardly stupid enough to display the bow on the wall or something. No, the bow would be carefully hidden somewhere—if it wasn’t already destroyed. A smart killer would have reduced the bow to ashes and thrown those ashes into the Mississippi. I had to prepare myself for that possibility. And unlike a firearm, a bow didn’t leave identifying marks on an arrow. While my spells might link an arrow and bow, my spells weren’t admissible in court. No judge worth the robe would accept witchcraft.
I had finished my glass before any great ideas popped into my head. I heard my bed calling my name. Sleep was just a few steps away. I hoped I wouldn’t dream—too much.
DON'T MISS THE SECOND Book in the Witches Be Crazy Cozy Witch Mystery Series:
Down But Not Dead
Thanks for Reading
I hope you enjoyed the book and it would mean so much to me if you could leave a review. Reviews help authors gain more exposure and keep us writing your favorite stories.
YOU CAN FIND ALL OF my books by visiting my Author Page.
SIGN UP FOR CONSTANCE Barker’s New Releases Newsletter where you can find out when my next book is coming out and for special discounted pricing.
I NEVER SHARE OR SELL your email.
Visit me on Facebook and give me feedback on the characters and their stories.
Catalog of Books
The Hocus Pocus Cozy Witch Mystery Series
Spooks and Spells
Freaks and Felons
Crooks and Crystals
Graves and Goons
Brooms and Brains
Down the Hatch Page 10