A wave of sadness washed over me as I eyed the unmade bed, the photos on the dresser, the towel draped over a chair. All signs of a life that wouldn’t continue. A life cut short.
One of the photos on the dresser was of a smiling Rachel with her arm draped over Peter. He was squinting into the sun, also smiling. Another photo was of him with a thin, elegant red-head. A wad of cash lay in a large seashell and a small, saliva-hardened stuffed bear sat next to the cash. Obviously a favorite dog toy. I grabbed it and tossed it into the toy basket.
As I lugged all the puppy stuff back down the hall, I paused in the office doorway. Will was standing near the desk, his head down, lost deep in thought.
Setting the bags, toys and dog bed down, I entered the room. Photos of stunning models, women and men, and brides covered the walls. Peter was obviously proud of his work. It was quite good. “Neighbor wasn’t home?”
Will had his hands on his hips and didn’t look up when he spoke. “No. I left my card.”
“Something else wrong?”
He nodded. “The officers said there didn’t appear to be anything else out of place, besides the missing camera. There was even cash lying on the bedroom dresser that wasn’t touched.”
“Yeah, I noticed that.” I eyed one of the photos of Peter with the same pretty redhead as the photo on his dresser. In this one she wore an emerald green gown, and he wore a tux. His eyes sparkled kindly beneath wavy brown hair. He seemed happy. “But?”
“But there’s a laptop charger lying on the floor behind the chair.” He pointed beside the desk. “It’s plugged in but no laptop. Plus I just made a more thorough check of his studio and still came up empty. The bags in there contain some lenses, flashes and other assorted equipment but no cameras. I don’t think it’s just one camera that’s missing.”
“Nothing in his car? The trunk maybe?”
“Nope. This could be a robbery. But then why not take the cash? The other valuables?”
I glanced around the office. “Maybe somethin’ spooked ‘em? They got scared off? Didn’t have time?”
“Maybe. But still, how did he die? A heart attack at the same time as a robbery? Pretty coincidental. Unless he did have a heart condition and the fear from being robbed triggered it.”
Will searched through Peter’s desk drawers, his trash can, and then picked up a rolled-up paper on his desk and unrolled it. Finding nothing of interest, he rubbed his forehead with a rubber-gloved hand, then dug the car keys out of his pocket. “All right. Maybe forensics will come up with something. Let’s get the puppy’s stuff into the car and get you home.”
When we got back to the car, I checked my phone and found a missed call and several text messages from my sisters. Apparently they’d left the Sunken Gardens and were waiting for me back at my townhouse above Darwin’s Pet Boutique. It wasn’t actually my townhouse. I was renting the million dollar city home above our pet boutique from Sylvia, who’d purchased it as an investment with her grandfather’s inheritance money. But it was starting to feel like home.
By the tone of my sisters’ messages, they weren’t really worried about me, they just wanted the scoop.
Where are you???? Why aren’t you answering your phone? Did you see the dead body???How’d he die? What’s up with Sylvia’s mother??Is the wedding off? Call us!
I smiled. I wanted to be irritated, but I was too happy to have them here.
*****
“Well, I suppose you should give him a name at least.” Willow had changed out of her dress into shorts and a Save-the-Earth t-shirt and was stretched out on my sofa watching the Yorkie puppy jump on my golden retriever, Goldie.
Goldie was being very good natured about the sneak attacks from the puppy nipping at her ears and tail. She’d even rolled over, her tail swishing lazily on the wood floor, obviously enjoying herself. The puppy tried to pounce on her belly, but only made it halfway before sliding down her shiny coat and falling over. Dog toys were strewn around them. It was great entertainment after a harrowing day.
“I should. You’re right. Otherwise, he’s going to start answering to ‘hey puppy.’” I adjusted the ice pack on my ankle.
Mallory had stopped strumming her guitar and was scowling at me. Her long auburn hair was pulled up in a high ponytail and her face was scrubbed clean, making her look younger than her eighteen years.
“What?” I asked with more irritation than I should have.
Lucky—Mallory’s black cat—was also staring at me from her perch above her mistress’s shoulder. Both sets of green eyes were locked on me. “Ice? Really?”
I averted my gaze. I knew what she was accusing me of. It still bothered both my sisters that I wanted to live as normal a life as possible, without resorting to using the gift of elemental magick our father had passed down to us. My gift was water magick, Mallory’s was fire and Willow’s was earth. They were both proficient in using their gifts now. Me, I was back in magick kindergarten.
It was my fault, though. I’d stopped practicing and, unlike riding a bike, it wasn’t something you could just jump back into at the same point of proficiency.
I wasn’t keen on jumping back in anyway. The last time I’d used it, I’d almost ruined my relationship with Will. He still couldn’t talk about it. It was the elephant in the room with us.
He’s not exactly the open-minded type, which I really don’t hold against him. I mean, it’s what makes him a great detective … just the facts, ma’am and all that. So how could I engage in something I knew would only put up a bigger wall between us? It would feel like I was doing something on purpose to sabotage our relationship.
“Leave her alone, Mal,” Willow said, being the peacemaker as usual. “She has a right to decide when and if she’ll use her magick.”
“Thank you.” I fought the urge to stick my tongue out at Mallory. It was hard to be a grown up around my family sometimes. Time to change the subject. “Okay, y’all have to help me come up with a name for the puppy.”
After a few minutes of contemplation, Willow said, “What about Peter Junior? You know, to honor the photographer who died.”
I nodded. “I like that actually. Maybe Petey would be better, though. Suits him more.” Sliding down onto the floor, I called, “Petey, come here boy.” He came, but only because Goldie noticed me on the floor and trotted over with the puppy at her heels. I scratched the thick, pale yellow fur on Goldie’s chest as she plopped down and leaned against me. “You’re such a good girl, letting this little devil climb all over you.”
I laughed as Petey managed to climb up on my lap and stretch his front legs up on my chest, trying to reach my face with his postage-stamp-sized tongue. Such exuberance packed in such a tiny body. “You like your new name?” I lifted him a little to let him get a lick of my chin. It was like giving him an A for effort.
Goldie eyed him sideways, her tongue hanging out of her mouth like silly putty, lending her an expression of amusement.
“Speaking of the devil,” Mallory said, resting an arm on her guitar, “there was an awful lot of talk about him going on between Sylvia’s family members before we left. What’s up with that?”
I lifted Petey higher and buried my nose in his silky hair, gave him a kiss on the head and then placed him back on the floor. He leaped from my hands and jumped onto his worn stuffed bear with a baby growl. It did seem to be his favorite toy. I was glad I’d grabbed it.
“Well, Sylvia’s mom believes that the photographer’s death was a sign from God that the wedding shouldn’t happen. Honestly, Sylvia told me her mom already had her feathers ruffled over them not gettin’ married in church, so this may be just the excuse she’s looking for to withdraw her support. Who knows. But, if we can prove that Peter Vanek was murdered, then at least Sylvia could reason with her mother that Peter’s death was the work of the devil, not God.” I sighed. “Sylvia won’t marry Landon without her mother’s blessing.”
“I see. Beliefs can be so complicated.” Willow said. “Well
, what can we do to lend a hand?”
I smiled softly. I was suddenly exhausted and overwhelmed by a wave of gratitude. Willow may be four years my junior, but she really was my rock. “If it turns out that Peter was murdered, we have one week to prove it before Sylvia’s family flies back to Portugal and the wedding is off for good.”
“Oh, that’s all?” Mallory rolled her eyes. Lucky hopped to the floor and, tail twitching, chirped at her. Mallory tugged at the scrunchie in her hair, letting it fall around her shoulders. Then she tossed the scrunchie across the room.
Lucky charged, pounced on it with a half-purr, half-growl and then carried it back to her.
I shook my head. “I swear that cat thinks she’s a dog.”
Lucky had snagged Petey’s attention. He scrambled after her, trying to catch her before she leaped gracefully back up on the sofa. He was too slow and let out a sharp bark of frustration.
“And speak of the other devil,” Mallory said, “you-know-who was at the wedding.”
My stomach fluttered as I met her worried gaze. I did know who. Zachary Faraday. Part jinn, part man-who-haunts my dreams, and all dark and mysterious. I already knew he’d be there since I helped Sylvia write out the invitations, but I’d made it a point not to look for him in the crowd.
“Of course he was there, Mal. He’s a friend of Landon’s.” I could hear the quiver in my own voice. Fear was not the only cause of that, and I hated myself for it. “Did he talk to you?”
“He sure did. Both of us.” Mallory flicked her hair over her shoulder as she frowned and tossed the scrunchie again. “I introduced Mr. Creepy to Willow. Tell Darwin what he said.”
Willow shot her an irritated look and then turned to me. “I was going to wait to tell you since you have enough to worry about right now. But, since it’s out there … after he shook my hand, his eyes did this weird sparking-fire thing and he said, ‘Be careful. All of you.’”
I narrowed my own eyes. “Like a threat?”
Willow shook her head emphatically. “No. More like a warning.”
Mallory picked up Lucky and draped her over one shoulder like a security blanket. “Mr. Creepy’s the only danger I see around here.”
I was surprised that Mallory still considered him a threat after he’d helped us in a life-and-death situation once already. If it wasn’t for him and Mallory working together when we were locked in that airport office, we’d all be toast. Obviously, he didn’t want us harmed.
Willow’s lips were pursed and her brown eyes narrowed. “I don’t know. We at least know to be cautious with Zach Faraday. I think it’s the danger we don’t see that we should be more concerned about.”
“You’re taking his warning seriously then?” Mallory scoffed.
I thought back to last Halloween at Landon’s party. Zach was doing psychic readings for Landon’s guests. Before I knew it was actually him doing the readings, I’d ended up in front of him, my hands in his. It was unnerving to say the least. He knew things he shouldn’t have known. He knew about my father. And about the danger I was about to be in. And he knew that we would face that danger together, which turned out to be true.
“I think we should take him seriously. Just to be on the safe side.”
They both looked at me, Willow with a nod of agreement and Mallory with a smirk.
Petey suddenly yipped and we all jumped.
After laughing at ourselves, I said, “All right, y’all. I’m takin’ the dogs out one last time and then I’m going to bed. We have an investigation to start tomorrow.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Between fighting off dreams of Zach and the puppy whining off and on all night, I felt like a zombie Sunday morning. I’d have to get some Aspen and Cherry Plum flower essence from the store today to comfort Petey. I wasn’t sure what to do about Zach intruding into my dreams. Ignoring the situation wasn’t working. I’d have to confront him at some point … just not today.
When I came downstairs with a squirming Petey tucked under my arm and Goldie at my heels, Willow was already up and busy in the kitchen.
“Good morning,” she said, without turning her attention away from the stove. Lucky came over and wound herself around my feet, her motorboat purr going strong.
“I guess,” I mumbled, not in the best mood. “Whatever that is, it smells delicious.” I reached down and stroked Lucky’s shiny black fur with my free hand. She happily arched her back into my palm.
“Grandma Winters’ pumpkin pancakes. I noticed you have a slight canned pumpkin addiction.” She grinned back at me.
“For the dog treats I make.” I slipped into my flip flops and grabbed two leashes and a treat out of the jar on the counter. “Taking the dogs out. Be back.”
The morning air was already sticky and warm, the sun beaming intensely at the world. Traffic was almost non-existent as I led the dogs across Beach Drive and into North Straub Park. This was very different from snowbird season when St. Pete would’ve already been packed with excited tourists ready to explore, eat and shop.
North Straub Park had quickly become my favorite place in the world. Well, my favorite place in the very small amount of places I’d ever been but still, there’s a good reason. It was a sprawling, grassy area between the strip of shops and eateries on Beach Drive and the sparkling blue waters of the yacht basin. A huge banyan tree offered park-goers respite from the heat. The iconic Vinoy Renaissance Resort bordered the park on the north, the Fine Arts Museum on the south. A great place to start any day.
I sat Petey down in the grass as Goldie sniffed around. He froze for a second and then with a yip he hopped at Goldie, catching the tip of her tail in his teeth. She didn’t even notice. Shaking my head I reached down and moved him away from her.
“Go potty.”
It had occurred to me that even though he hadn’t had an accident in the house yet, he may not be fully potty trained. He did seem pretty young. I watched him closely, cocking my head. He seemed to be squatting, though it was hard to tell with him only clearing the thick grass a few millimeters. When it appeared he’d peed, I said, “Good boy!” and fed him a piece of the homemade pumpkin treat I’d brought. Then we walked around a bit more, my thoughts going first to Sylvia’s ruined wedding and then to Peter Vanek’s ruined life. What a mess.
I consciously reached out to the Bay water to calm my nerves. I had to stay focused if I was going to be any help proving Peter didn’t die from natural causes and saving my friend’s wedding. Poor Landon. I couldn’t even imagine what he was going through. He was supposed to be married to the woman he loved right now and on their honeymoon—
My thoughts were interrupted by a tingling sensation and the hair on my arms rising. I glanced around. Was someone watching me?
A couple with a black lab strolled along the water’s edge and a lone woman sat beneath the big banyan tree, engrossed in a novel. Other than that, the park was empty.
Something didn’t feel right, though. The air had solidified, growing hotter and heavier. Stifling. My heartbeat quickened in response to the unseen threat. I was confused, but I’d learned early on not to ignore my sixth sense.
I scooped up Petey, pulled a piece of grass from his mouth and hurried back across the street with both dogs to the safety of the gated townhouse.
*****
“What were you looking at?” Mallory asked around a mouthful of pancake as I finally sat down at the table with them. I hadn’t been able to shake the uneasy feeling, even after being inside. I had seen nothing out of the ordinary from my balcony view of the park. But still …
“I don’t know. Nothing I guess.” I squeezed some local organic honey onto a pumpkin pancake. “It’s just that when I was out there with the dogs, it felt like I was being watched. Probably just being paranoid.”
“It could’ve been Zach … he does act like your personal protection,” Mallory offered, obvious disapproval in her tone.
“Maybe.” I shrugged. Though, I didn’t think so. This definitely fe
lt threatening. But, I was done thinking about it for now. “Anyway, what do y’all want to do today? Hit the beach? Go shopping? A museum?”
There really wasn’t anything I could do as far as the investigation went until I heard back from Will and wasting Sunday while Darwin’s Pet Boutique was closed would be a sin. Especially when it’d been such a long time since the three of us had been together.
When I’d left our Savannah, Georgia home last summer to open Darwin’s Pet Boutique with Sylvia and start a new life here, it had taken a while for my sisters to forgive me. It was nice to have them back in my life. Now if I could just get our mother to forgive me, but that was a whole other ball of wax.
“I could use some beach time,” Willow said.
“Then shopping,” Mallory added. “And dinner out at a nice restaurant. I haven’t been to a restaurant since I was here back in October.”
“Sounds like a plan.” I glanced under the table where Petey’s warm body was stretched out against my bare foot. Goldie was under there, too, lying so her nose was almost touching him. She was really getting attached to him. “Though we’ll have to make a few trips back here during the day to let the dogs out.”
It had been a while since I’d had a puppy, but I was starting to remember how much work they were. I scratched his belly with a bare toe, smiling. He was cute as a button. Shouldn’t be hard finding him a home. The hard part would be not getting attached to him myself.
After breakfast, the three of us piled into my brand new white VW convertible Beetle in the parking garage. I’d just learned how to drive recently—Willow had taught me when she was here a few months ago—and this was the very first car I’d ever owned. I still felt a little jolt of excitement when the engine came to life.
Usually Goldie was my sidekick, so it was strange not to have her with me. I’d left her at home, much to her disappointment. Though the heat and sun didn’t hurt us, it was going to be a high of 93 degrees today, way too hot for a dog on the beach.
Mallory feigned being terrified of my driving as I pulled out onto Beach Drive, but I knew she was just teasing. Both sisters were grinning from ear to ear. Driving was actually a new concept to all of us, due to an extremely over-protective mother growing up.
For Pete's Sake Page 4