Point Muse Cozy Paranormal Mystery Boxed Set: Books 1-3

by Kelly Ethan

  “Hey, don’t blow up at me. Sera always allowed them to do whatever. Plus, I wasn’t handcuffing them. They’d have me up on sexual harassment charges in the blink of an eye. Those women are vicious when thwarted.”

  Xandie blew her annoyance out with a breath. “Let me guess. You don’t think I’m doing a great job as librarian either.” She’d meant to sound sarcastic, not forlorn, but that’s how it must have sounded, judging by Zach Braun’s alarmed face.

  “Don’t fold on me.” He placed a hand on her upper back and shepherded Xandie back inside the house and into the kitchen. There he sat her on a stool and got the fixings out for a hot chocolate, putting together a decent shot of liquid sugar.

  Xandie made a surprise mewl, not unlike Theo, as she sipped it.

  He shrugged. “Your great-aunt liked sweet drinks too. My mom and Sera were friends. I used to hang out here as a kid.” He held up a hand to forestall any words from Xandie. “And no, you’re not a bad librarian. Just find your own way. The library understands more than you realize. Just commit.”

  She snorted hot chocolate up her nose in shock. He knew about the library.

  “Like I said, I spent time here. And I’m a shifter. Have an issue? Go to Ms. Sera and Theo will help you.”

  Shifter? Xandie placed her mug on the bench. “You mean like a werewolf? Something bit you and now you change into a meat-seeking furry wolf?”

  “Wolf?” Zach growled in disbelief. “I was born a shifter. Yes, I shift into a different species, but I am not a meat-seeking wolf. Spend time in the library. Ask it who I am.” He cleaned the counter and dumped the dishrag into the sink. “If you wish to stay, rethink your human misconceptions.” He paused. “Not everything is as it appears. You need to open your mind, or you’ll stumble.” With a quick pat to a smug Theo, he left.

  “Consider yourself schooled, Alexandra Meyers.” Come to think of it, why wasn’t she more shocked? Okay, the naked dancing had thrown her. Then Braun’s declaration of shifter status, she should laugh at him and call a mental hospital. So why wasn’t she? Something inside her believed him, not shocked at his words…but why? Xandie left the kitchen but hesitated in front of the library door. She laid her palm flat on the heavy wood door. It pulsed warm, welcoming her. Zachery Braun had a point. She had to research, ask the library for advice and above all, be the librarian the library needed.

  She needed to know what waited for her in Point Muse. Because if she stumbled, it might not hurt her.

  It could kill her.

  Five

  “You did what?”

  “It’s the most practical solution for everyone.”

  “There’s no everyone. There’s just me. You had no right, Dad.” Practical solution? This was her life.

  “I’m your father. I have every right when you aren’t thinking straight. Get rid of Sera’s place and come back to Andrews and the College. Your job is waiting.”

  “Job? I’m shelving college kids’ unwanted books while my dad stands behind me, making sure I do it correctly. Sera’s house and the estate give me another way of living. One I’m enjoying.” Except for naked jiggling octogenarians. Those she could live without. Her father’s disdain of her choice rang crystal clear.

  “Point Muse is not a way of life. It’s a poison that will ruin your life, like hers—” His voice cut off.

  “You mean mom?”

  “Your mother disappeared in there. Sell the damn house. Get far away before it takes you down with it,” he replied in short choppy sentences.

  “Mom disappeared after we left Sera or are you referring to the fact mom’s family comes from here?” Dead silence on the other end.

  “Your mother didn’t want that world.”

  “Why did she keep coming back? Why bring me to visit Sera after you said no?” Xandie still remembered her mom getting excited the closer they got to Sera that last visit.

  “I. Don’t. Know.” Her calm unruffled father yelled the last few words.

  “Mom still has family here. The lady at the bakery is a Harrow, same name as mom’s before she married you.”

  “Sign the contract. I’ll email it to you. It’s a fair price.”

  Her father changed the subject again. Refused to talk any more about Point Muse and Xandie’s mom. “Three months before I can sell, Dad. I told you I want to stay, find out more about mom’s family.”

  “You’ll receive nothing but regret. I’ll send you the contract. Otherwise that damn library will take over what’s left of your life.” With that, he hung up.

  Xandie growled and threw her phone, narrowly missing Theo who gave her the evil eye. What a time for mobile reception to work. She could have done without that lecture. “He decided to sell. He wants me back. Nothing about what I want.” Xandie sagged against the plump cushions of the couch. No matter what her father said, Sera left the house to her. “That’s it, Theo. Damn him. I’m staying.”

  Theo jumped up and purred against her leg before he leaped off, heading for the library.

  He was right. She had hours to fill in before the ceremony started. “Time to get serious, oh feline guide to the Great Library of Alexandria.” Trailing Theo, Xandie headed to the library and opened the door. Where to start? She’d shelved the books away yesterday. So what to do now?

  Theo meowed and battered a pile of notes to the floor. “Geez, cat, I’m not your housekeeper.”

  Theo swiped at her arm with claws partially sheathed.

  “Man, you are a temperamental feline.” She shuffled the papers and read the top note. “Information on mating rituals of selkies?” Wow, a zinger of a topic to start. A muffled bump behind Xandie surprised her, and she spun. A gilt-edged book had fallen off the shelf and opened onto an involved diagram on selkie mating practices. “Holy flying books, Theo. The library is alive.” Xandie grasped the book. “Okay, I have the selkie porn. What do I do with it?” Xandie’s necklace heated for a second or two before cooling. A fire-engine-red appointment book lying on a large heavy wooden desk opened to a date three days from now. “Selkie good times gets a date with the library?” Xandie nabbed the pen and scribbled selkie rituals in the ten o’clock slot. The imprint glowed gold and a sweeping line of writing appeared. Invitation sent. Xandie shot Theo a surprised glance. “I write a name and the library invites the person or people involved to read the information here?”

  Theo meowed an affirmative.

  “What happens if access is denied?” Xandie up picked the next note and spoke aloud. “Information on migration patterns of battle ravens?” The date book flicked to another page. She scribbled in a blank spot and invitation sent appeared again. “Well, okay. Let’s get to it.” She settled in and powered through her pile until only two requests were left. An information request on the Leyden Papyrus, a text with 98 spells in it and a personal notation from Professor Amoru. She waited, but it stayed open on the previous page. She quirked an eyebrow.

  “Are you saying no to the spell and the professor, or just the professor?” A scroll slid out from a pile and partially unwound. She picked it up and tried to unroll the rest of the way, but the Papyrus refused to move. “So, they only get a portion of the spell scroll? How do they access that bit without visiting?”

  The cat padded toward a set of connecting doors, which a stack of shelves disguised.

  She opened the doors and found a tiny windowless office that had a small desk, filing cabinet and a bright shiny photocopy machine. Placing the scroll on top of the glass she pressed the copy button. “I hope the library is a magical place. Because otherwise I’m sure this will destroy the scroll.” The machine glowed, but no paper shot out. Xandie checked in case of a paper jam. But there wasn’t any paper. She opened the paper draw. No paper, and no packet anywhere in the office. “Is stationery supplied?”

  She lifted the scroll from the copier and walked to the appointment book. Still open, but on today’s date. Gold writing glowed again: information sent. “I understand. The machine is magic and send
s information out to the person who requested it.” Wow, saving on stationary costs. She snickered to herself and dealt with the final request, Professor Amoru. She scribbled the professor’s name on the open page. A zap of blue electricity arced from the page and Xandie dropped the pen, cursing. “The library zapped me.”

  Amoru’s name glowed red, not gold. Text scrawled with slashing heavy black script: invitation denied. “The professor is persona non grata? Not allowed entrance?” Xandie’s necklace tightened as if in agreement. Okay, message received.

  Requests completed, she took a few minutes to tidy and shelve books, which had mysteriously appeared while she’d been occupied with requests. She shelved the last book into the witch section and let her hand drift over the different spines of the books. “Dad said I’d find no answers on my mother from you. Is that true?” A shelf shuddered and a small volume covered in blue fabric slid out. Harrow family, Point Muse. She ran a finger over the script. “My mom’s maiden name.” She scanned the contents page and found a family tree entry. Xandie rifled through until she found the page… And there was her mother’s name in curling black script. Miranda Harrow.

  Lila’s name appeared too, a niece to her Mom. Xandie had family still alive and living. She rocked back on her heels, shocked.

  “I was five when Miranda disappeared. I remember the old women wailing and crying.”

  Xandie jerked in response to the voice, the breath catching in her throat. She hadn’t heard anyone come in. Lila stood at the entrance with two takeaway cups and an oil-stained bag in hand. “Thought you might crave sustenance before the ceremony tonight.”

  The air gusted from her mouth as the tension seeped from her. “Yeah, I could use a sugar hit.”

  “Hot chocolate with extra marshmallows, plus extra honey butter puffs.”

  She reached out. “Bring it on home to the hungry librarian.”

  Laughing, Lila handed over her goodies and perched on the corner of the desk. She leaned over and peered at the tome. “I don’t remember Aunt Miranda much. She was my mom’s older sister. It devastated Mom when the news of Miranda’s disappearance hit. The family tried to find her, but no trace. Sera found zip, but the library kept whispering to her. She never worked out why. Mom said your great-aunt was so damn glad you’d survived your mother’s fate she didn’t fight when your dad took you away. She wanted you safe.”

  “Mom never spoke about Pont Muse. Not to mention, witches. Nothing. But I remember her bringing me here. She’d get excited when we’d come. Then revert to her normal calm self when we left. Which mother was real?”

  Lila shrugged. “Both. Miranda showed no aptitude for earth witch powers. That’s the Harrow’s, earth witches. One with nature and all that crap.” She grimaced. “I don’t have earth gifts either, except a talent for inducing positive feelings in my baking. I’m betting Miranda was the same. No obvious talents. It’s hard to live and deal with family when you lack any flashy witchy gifts to speak of. I understand her desire to leave. But I guess she still needed contact, a sense of connection, if she kept coming back.”

  “Maybe. I had no one else except dad, his aunt and mom. He’s an only child and his parents died when he was young. Sera raised him. And he hated the town and everything to do with it, including her. Once mom disappeared, he wiped his hands clean of Point Muse. I’m excited about having more relatives, but nervous too.”

  “They’ll love you. A librarian in the clan is big.”

  Xandie forced a smile. “If my dad gets his way, I’ll be out at the end of my three months. He has a sale contract waiting.”

  “Have you told him no?”

  “This morning. But he hates this place so much he can’t understand why I’d ever stay.”

  “Duh, unanswered parental questions.” Lila rolled her eyes.

  “Not just that. In the library today. I can’t explain it, but I’m supposed to be here. I’m home.”

  “Good for you. Sera always knew you were the next librarian. She’d rave about you to anyone who’d listen.”

  She frowned. “Why the big shock then when I arrived?”

  “No one imagined you’d give up everything and move here.”

  “Working for my dad wasn’t much of a career. But the way the mayor talked of Sera and this new development, it surprised everybody when I inherited.”

  “I think…” Lila ground to a halt, as if picking her words with care. “The development is big news, but most people hate it. Except for the most influential people in town. The same ones that already have power but crave more.”

  She bet they did. “You mean the mayor?”

  “Funnily enough, I’d say no. Oh, he needed access and hounded Sera, but I’m not sure regarding the land. Your lawyer did though, same with the original estate agent.”

  Xandie decided to trust Lila. “I think someone killed Sera. And if the agent wanted this land? Maybe she was killed too.”

  Lila blew out a breath. “Thank God. I thought I was the only conspiracy nut here.”

  She snorted. “Well, can’t say this is normal for me. But for what it’s worth, I think both women were murdered.”

  “Agatha Christie, Angela Lansbury, Nancy Drew, eat your heart out.” Lila rubbed her hands in glee, seized her coffee and drained it. “Right, where do we start?”

  “We need Sera’s and the agent’s autopsy reports and a medical expert to explain them.”

  “I can help with both problems. Follow me.”

  Xandie followed Lila and waited for Theo to saunter out. He fixed his bright emerald eyes on her before nodding and departing for the kitchen. He’d given his blessing for her murder hunt. She smiled to herself and caught up with her cousin. If only Sera could see her. So different to the strait-laced academic librarian her father expected. Her great-aunt would have crowed in delight. Whatever happened, the library had shaken the real Xandie Meyers free, and she was here to stay.

  “Please, Aggie,” Lila wheedled, pulling out the big guns. “This is Sera’s great-niece. My cousin, Xandie.” She shoved Xandie forward until she almost toppled onto the older lady.

  Aggie righted her with a quick burst of strength. For an old girl, she had a strong grip.

  The police dispatcher leaned on her elbows, contemplating the two girls. “Only a half-hearted attempt at emotional blackmail. I’m disappointed, Lila Harrow. Didn’t your grandmother teach you better?”

  “I know, Aggie, but Xandie has the anniversary tonight, plus your son wants to arrest her. We’re time-crunched.”

  “Please, Mrs. Braun. Someone murdered Sera, but I need the autopsy for her and the realtor to prove it. If it’s because of the library, I might be next.”

  Agatha Braun pursed her lips and narrowed her gaze, pinning Xandie to the spot. “Why is my son trying to arrest you?”

  “Why do naked old women dance in my backyard?” She shrugged. “It could be he caught me breaking and entering Sera’s house and peeping on naked women as they danced in my backyard. I guess it doesn’t look good.”

  Aggie chortled and slapped the desk. “Or he likes you and wants to keep you around.”

  She choked on her spit. “I don’t think so.”

  Lila broke in. “Aggie? What’s the decision?”

  Aggie opened a drawer and took out a couple of pages of printed paper.

  “There. I copied it for you. Figured you’d be here, eventually. You better scoot if you don’t want Zachy bear to rumble you.”

  Zachy bear? Xandie smirked. One for the humiliation file for use later for maximum impact.

  Lila buzzed a kiss on Aggie’s cheek.

  Xandie nodded her thanks and let her cousin drag her out of the station and onto Main Street. “Now what?”

  Lila towed Xandie into the bakery and waved to her employee as she sailed past into the back office. She slammed the door shut behind them. “Now we wait for my medical expert.”

  “Who is?”

  “Your aunt, Amelia Harrow.” A tall, skinny, auburn-h
aired woman flung open the door and stepped inside, slamming the portal shut behind her. She crossed the floor and snatched Xandie in a bone-crunching hug. She let her step back but kept a grip on her niece’s hands. “You have your mother’s stubborn chin and her eyes, but Sera’s face shape.”

  Overwhelmed, Xandie nodded like a bobble head figure.

  “One of the worst days of my life when Miranda left with you.” She released Xandie but gave a pleased humph. “But we have you now and you’re the librarian. The Harrow family is blessed to have you. And I’m delighted to have my niece back.”

  “Yeah, hi, Mom. Nice to see you too.”

  Lila’s mother waved a hand in her direction. “Ignore my daughter. She’s a drama llama. Miranda was my big sister. We were only a year apart.” She smiled wistfully. “We fell pregnant at the same time and she even came back here to have you.”

  “She gave birth here?”

  “Oh, Nickolas fought it, but she wouldn’t budge. You girls were born five days apart. Lila first, then you came along. As soon as she could travel your dad ushered you away.” She cleared her throat. “But now you’re here.”

  “Hey, Mom, how about we leave the welcome speech for the moment. Time’s getting away from us.” Lila waved the autopsy reports in the air.

  Amelia sat and wiggled fingers at her daughter. “Give it to me.”

  Lila handed them over before whispering to a still-speechless Xandie. “Mom’s a vet, but she likes to read up on medical advances, autopsies, poisons, et cetera. For human and animal. She’s weird, but the animals don’t care. Plus, it helps she’s a Harrow and can talk to them.”

  “She talks to animals?”

  “My Harrow gift, darling. Now, shush, girls, let me work!”

  Lila poked her tongue out at Xandie. Who giggled in return. Her cousin felt like an old friend.

  After a while Lila gave up waiting and took refreshments from the bakery for the girls to gnaw.