A Cold Case Froze (Ice Witch Mysteries Book 2)

by J L Collins

  My eyes went wide—Fatima never spoke like that.

  “Indie… Chief Putnam isn’t going to play nice if he finds out you’re asking around about the case. I know you and Goldie were talking about reporting on it but I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.”

  “Not you too,” I groaned. “Fatima, I get it. I get being worried about him, but he can’t actually connect you to a murder you didn’t commit. And that’s even if it was a murder to begin with. For all we know, this guy got super drunk and some idiot friend of his dared him to jump off with that gunk on his wings. We don’t know what happened.”

  She sighed and stood up, taking my plate for me.

  I followed her into the small kitchen and placed my hand on her shoulder. “We can’t let him control what we do or cave into his ridiculous whims. He’s trying to scare you.”

  “Just keep in mind that you have a pretty big secret of your own. And believe me, he will do his own amount of digging to expose something like that if you rile him up enough. We don’t know how the Special Council will handle the news of you having multiple elemental abilities and as much as I hate to say it, getting on Chief Putnam’s bad side might give that all away. I just want you to be careful, my friend.”

  I knew she had a point—a very good point, in fact. But I wasn’t about to walk away from this case. Especially knowing what I did now about Fatima being a main suspect in Chief Putnam’s eyes.

  I gave her a smile anyway. “I’ll be careful. Promise.”

  6

  There Better Be Cupcakes

  By the time I left Fatima’s, I’d crushed five large rocks and managed to create a decent-sized hole in the ground after using my magic to dig the soil out. At least if anyone needed some gardening done, I could make short work of it.

  I debated taking yet another shower once I got back to the camper but thought better of it. With the ever-present wintry conditions outside the last thing I needed was super dry skin.

  I kicked off my boots and shook out my hair. A light dusting of flurries decided to grace us, catching me in the middle of my walk back to the truck.

  “Hm. What do we have here?” The small fridge could luckily hold milk, cheese, eggs, fresh veggies, and a few packages of meat. I pulled out some bread and got to work on the same dinner I’d had for most of the week—a BLT. It wasn’t gourmet, but it was food and magic worked up one heck of an appetite.

  I tried to pretend I wasn’t craving Oreos in a town where they didn’t even exist.

  Thanks to Ash, I had a nice tall stack of books sitting on top of the cupboard to busy myself with. The library’s selection of fiction wasn’t all that great, but there were plenty more interesting reads just on the history of the supernatural world hidden behind the rest of what most people see.

  Grabbing A Comprehensive History of Magic, I flipped open to the last page I was on and settled down on the bench, careful not to get anything on the book.

  “Chapter eight. The Indigenous magic of the Americas. Ooh, now this is what I’m talking about.”

  I was just getting to an essay on the misappropriation of Indigenous terms in the magical community when there was a soft knock at the door.

  I narrowed my eyes at it. Can’t a girl get some time alone to stuff her face around here?

  “Come in.”

  There was a pause before the door slowly cracked open. Ash’s mop of dark hair was the first thing visible before the rest of him came into view.

  “Hey. Are you busy?” he asked, halfway inside.

  “I’m just eating dinner,” I said, gesturing to the sandwich in my hand. “Go ahead and come in. No need to let the heat out.”

  “What is that?”

  “What, this? A BLT. I cooked a bunch of bacon earlier this week, so I figured I’d make it worth my while. What’s up? Here to make sure I return my books?”

  He rolled his eyes but there was noticeable twitch in the corner of his mouth. He pushed the hair out of his face, dusting the melting snowflakes off and took a seat across from me. “I have some rather interesting news.”

  I cocked an eyebrow at him. “Define interesting.”

  “Amortencia Fell just gathered an emergency meeting of the Special Council a few hours ago.”

  I didn’t know much about the fairy elder other than she was much, much older than she looked. “What happened? Was it about Helio? Wait… how do you know about an emergency Special Council meeting anyway?”

  “Because I slipped in undetected and listened to it.”

  I let out a low whistle. “LARPer ninja strikes again. I don’t suppose you want to share your trade secrets with me, do you? I could certainly use them in my new job.”

  “Are you done?” He tilted his head and did the thing where he looked up at me through his lashes in that frustratingly cute way that I hated.

  “Fine. Keep your secrets. I’ll just add that to the pile of mystery. So, what happened in the meeting?” I said before finishing my sandwich. Guess the book will have to wait.

  “Well, it wasn’t about Helio, actually.”

  This held my interest. “Really?”

  He nodded. “Something else is happening in the fairy community. It took them a few days to confirm and for Amortencia to come forth and explain, but something’s happened with a handful of the students at Northern Mountains College. They’re in what appear to be magically-induced comas.”

  “What? How?”

  “They don’t know. Amortencia’s top doctor can’t figure it out. She says they’re perfectly healthy other than being unable to wake up. And they’ve tried everything they can.”

  I chewed this over. “And they think it was magic? What kind of magic could do something like that? Our magic doesn’t work on them that way… how else could this have happened?”

  Ash nodded as he sat back. “Exactly. Shifters and vampires don’t have magic outside of their own bodies and can’t infuse magic into anything to create magic items, and familiars aren’t able to use magic on anyone other than their human counterpart. That leaves witches and wizards or fairies. And since your magic doesn’t work that way on fairies like you said, that leaves fairies. Amortencia’s concerned because she’s not sure if it’s intentional or not.”

  I pursed my lips. “It could be a number of things, right? I mean, fairies are known for their way with nature. Maybe one of the kids got ahold of some not-so-magical mushrooms or something and they all got sick.”

  “This is true. And I’m not disagreeing with you but Amortencia seems to be more concerned than that. She thinks it’s a sleeping sickness, one that they don’t have any kind of antidote for. And to be frank, I’m not sure anyone has seen anything like this before. Of course I’ll have to do some research…”

  “These college students that are affected, are they in the same fraternity as Helio? Maybe they attended that party he threw.”

  “I’m not sure. She didn’t really connect the dots between the incident with him and this new information.”

  Something tap-tapped on the window by the camper’s door and I hopped up, already knowing who was on the other side.

  Goldie flew past me, shaking off heavier flakes of snow.

  “Hey! Try not to get that everywhere. I’d like to keep my place somewhat warm and dry.”

  She perched on the edge of the bench, catching her breath.

  “Is everything all right?” Ash asked, concern washing over his features. He and both knew she was rarely out of breath—which was surprising with the amount of talking she did.

  She gulped another breath of air and nodded. “Sorry, I was trying to hurry up and get here on her behalf.”

  “Her behalf?” I repeated.

  “Amortencia Fell. She’s the one who sent me. She wants to meet with you tonight. Now.”

  Ash and I exchanged a look. “She does? Do you know why?” I asked.

  “Yes, but not much. She’s wanting to meet with you to discuss Helio Rumpleroot’s death. From the sound of it
, she’s fed up trying to deal with Chief Putnam on the matter. They don’t see eye to eye very often as she considers many of her community’s incidents to fall under her jurisdiction only. So she’s wanting talk to you.” She leaned in, whispering behind her wing dramatically, “and it’s a secret meeting, too.”

  “Where is Amortencia wanting to meet her at, exactly?” Ash questioned her, leaning back with his arms folded.

  “The Cake Fairy. It’s a bakery she owns.”

  “Where is that?” I couldn’t recall seeing it anywhere downtown, and that was the main area I frequented to shop.

  “I can take you there. Or at least drop you off nearby, as I’m not sure Amortencia would want me to know about this so-called secret meeting,” Ash said, standing up.

  I glanced down at my plate. “No respect for someone trying to stuff their face, I swear,” I mumbled. Clearing off my plate, I sighed. “Fine… Oh, and there better be cupcakes involved.”

  After taking me close enough to The Cake Fairy without it being an issue, Ash left to go back to the library. Goldie was supposed to meet me outside the building The Cake Fairy was located in.

  Standing out against the rest of the shops in the same stretch, The Cake Fairy’s storefront resembled a dollhouse in looks. White and pink stripes, curlicues, and an iron-wrought sign that had a picture of a fancy cake. It was the kind of cutesy-cute that felt a little over the top to me.

  On the glass door was a white sign that had been flipped to read ‘closed’. I started to reach for the door handle, but a breeze whooshed past me and I felt sharp talons against my puffy coat’s shoulder.

  “Goldie!” I hissed at her.

  “In the back!” she hissed back. “Secret meeting, remember?”

  Whoops. I looked around to make sure no one saw me approach the front and slipped back around the backside of the building, surprised at how long it took to get back there.

  I knocked at the back door, listening. A few moments later the door swung open to reveal a woman in a jet black cloak wrapped around her in a funny shape. It was hard to make her out as she waved us past her.

  Inside was a long hallway that led to the now-dark bakery front. We were guided to a side room that was much larger than made sense. A roaring fire blazed in the ornate fireplace between two velvet wingback chairs.

  For a moment I thought I’d stepped inside a Dickens novel. “Oh. Okay.”

  The woman threw back the hood of her cloak to reveal herself. Amortencia Fell’s grass-green eyes regarded us with curious interest. She pulled the cloak off, her gossamer wings spreading out as she folded it over the back of one of the green chairs.

  It was kind of hard not to stare. Fairies had an ethereal look to them that was hard to explain.

  Her long blonde hair was done up in an intricate braid that looped and fell to one side of her head. She didn't look a day over thirty but as I’d learned from my reading, she was hundreds of years old. And here I was pretending like I didn’t have to keep watch for stray whiskers sticking out from under my chin…

  She leveled a look at me, crossing her legs. “Miss Warren. Thank you for your discretion in coming to meet with me.”

  I nodded. Her body language suggested that this wasn’t her first choice in handling the search for the truth of what happened to Helio. Not hostile but more wary.

  “Of course. Goldie told me you wanted to meet with me to discuss what happened to Helio Rumpleroot? I am very sorry for the loss of one of your kind.” Fairies were prone to keeping to their kind when it came to this sort of thing, and something told me she personally may have known Helio.

  “Yes.” She turned to Goldie with a small smile. “Thank you, dear one. I appreciate your help. Would you do me a favor and watch the backdoor for me?”

  Goldie let out a soft hoot and took off the way we went in, leaving just me and Amortencia. I was completely fine keeping the meeting secret, but whatever she had to say was going to be told to Goldie and Ash. Maybe even Fatima. Not that she needed to know that.

  “Now,” she said, gesturing to the seat across from her. “I have eyes and ears everywhere, just so you understand where I am coming from. I have heard that you are having some difficulties with our esteemed Chief of Police. I too, find myself rather frustrated in dealing with his department in this delicate matter of Helio’s death.” Her words were sharp in a way that reminded me of accidentally nicking yourself with a razor. Not exactly painful, but a surprise.

  I sat down, nodding. “I was having a hard time trying to speak with him on behalf of the Charming Springs Gazette. Now that I’ve accepted the editor in chief position, I aimed to take that seriously. Apparently I was mistaken in thinking he would cooperate with us when needed.” It was hard to keep the acid out of my own tone.

  Clearly we were both on the same page when it came to Chief Putnam.

  “I see. Well, in that respect I can certainly understand.” She was quiet for a moment, her gaze flickering around the room before back to me. “You’re probably wondering why I’ve asked you to meet me.”

  “I’m curious, yes. But I am open to listening, unlike the chief.”

  That earned a sly smile from her. “That is good to know. I’ve asked you specifically because of your new position, in fact. You’ve proven yourself capable of unearthing truths in the past with finding who murdered Beatrice Wimberly, and I have need of someone like you. You see, something terrible has happened to some of my fairy kin. Four of our youngest, hardly in college, have fallen into some kind of deep sleep from which we cannot wake them. They all fell ill at the same time and we’ve yet to find any kind of cure or antidote to help.”

  Even though this was not new information to me, I gasped and slowly shook my head. “I am so sorry to hear that. That is worrisome for sure.”

  There was a soft chuckle. “You knew this, of course. I doubt Ash didn’t share this with you.”

  I bit my lip, my cheeks burning. “I apologize. You’re right, he did. He didn’t think you’d be happy with him over that.”

  She shrugged. “Ash hardly has to worry about whether he’s pleased me or not. Not even I have that kind of sway with someone like him. No one does.”

  Someone like him? No, I can’t afford to get sidetracked here.

  “This sleeping sickness… you want me to help investigate?” It was the only thing that made sense about her pulling me here of all people. “Why the secrecy?”

  She neatly folded her long fingers in her lap. “While I don’t much care how irritated I may make the Chief of Police, I don’t want to tip off anyone that might have had anything to do with their illness. I also am no detective, nor do I have much time trying to pretend to be one.”

  “You think someone else is responsible for this? Are you sure it isn’t something else? Maybe the college kids were experimenting with something or some kind of magic.” It was my first thought anyway. I’ve been around enough college kids to know this wouldn’t be a huge surprise.

  “As fairies, we are immune to all natural matter. I doubt it is anything like that,” she said, firmly shaking her head. “What I’m asking of you, Miss Warren, is to utilize any sources you need to help me find out not only what is going on with the inflicted but to help me find out what has happened to Helio Rumpleroot. It is an active police investigation, I am aware, but I’d like to take a… fresher approach. “

  I nodded. “And by fresher approach you mean sidestep the chief?”

  A smile unfurled across her face again. How did fairies manage to look so elegant? No wonder they didn’t want humans to know about their existence—the rest of the non-magical world would be so jealous.

  I glanced down at my jittery hands. Being called on in this way almost felt like being picked to lead an important underground mission. In truth, that’s pretty much what was happening. But I wasn’t one-hundred-percent sure I was up to the task.

  Amortencia raised a delicate brow at me. “Your thoughts?”

  She wasn’t going t
o give me any time to think about it, that much I could see. I didn’t want to make her think I was nervous or doubtful in my ability, so I nodded along. “Sure. I’d be happy to help.”

  “Wonderful. I most certainly appreciate it. As I’ve said, whatever resources you need I will do everything to provide. I don’t know want the police department to catch wind of this, though,” she said, the warning clear.

  “Understood. Do you have anything else you need to let me know before I get started? Any other notes or—oh. Thank you.”

  She produced a file out of nowhere and handed it to me. “There isn’t much in it, but I did gather up what we know so far on both counts. The police department isn’t wanting to hand over anything regarding reports of any type, so that has been an issue.”

  “This is a big help, thank you.” I hopped up, hoping this was the end of the conversation. I was ready to dive in and read what she had so far, and I was still a little salty about the lack of desserts involved in this meeting.

  She stood too, pulling her cloak back around her shoulders. “Oh, before you go I do have one more little favor to ask of you.”

  “Yes?”

  “My nephew. He’s in need of a part-time job and I was told that there may be potential to have him join the paper staff. He’s incredibly smart and comes with my own personal recommendation. Would you be amenable?”

  I froze. Wait… what? “You want me to hire your nephew?”

  This time when she smiled it didn’t quite meet her eyes. “He hasn’t had much luck in finding one unfortunately, and he is still in college so hours are a bit of a tricky situation now that the semester has started.”

  “I—I’m not really sure if there’s enough in our budget…”

  She sighed. “I’ve looked over the paper’s budget. Beatrice had it very clearly marked as she was looking to bring on a full-time staff member.”