by Tonya Kappes
“How are you, my big lug?” She affectionately looked at him with her head tilted far back.
It was Big Stevenson who backed away from her first. She had a little disappointed look on her face and when she saw that I was looking at her, she grinned and went back to the bubbly and gorgeous artist on display for everyone to gawk at.
“I’ve been busier than a one-legged man in a butt-kickin’ contest.” His eyes narrowed and as a genuine grin crossed his lips, he winked. “How ’bout you, darlin’?”
“Don’t you darlin’ me.” She tapped her fingernail on his chest. “I spent many years trying to get in touch with you, but you were all over this country riding bulls.”
“Stevenson,” I said and nodded, vaguely remembering a famous rodeo cowboy from this area. “You’re the rodeo guy.”
“That would be my good friend.” Mick stepped up as if he’d gotten lost and had just caught up in the conversation. “Big and Angela were an item back in the day. He kept a pretty tight leash on her.”
“Hell,” Big bent over to my height, “if I didn’t, you were going to try to wrangle my little woman.”
“Well, I’m not your woman now.” She flirted between the two men.
“You are a famous art-teest.” Big teased before he smacked her right on the derriere and she jumped.
She held up a finger when a woman walked over to her and whispered in her ear. When they pulled away, she looked over his shoulder. There was a long line at her table of people waiting to get her autograph on one of the very expensive paintings she had for sale.
“Say, fellas.” She turned back around. “Why don’t we meet for a drink tomorrow night at my hotel with a little dinner in my room to reminisce about old times while I’m in town? I’ve got some people I need to see tonight, but tomorrow would be great because I have to skedaddle the next day.”
Both Mick and Big looked about half stupid with their tongues practically wagging out of their mouths as they nodded.
“I don’t have much to do. I came here to see you.” Big was much larger than Mick when they stood side-by-side. He was definitely thicker in the shoulders and arms. He had real pretty blue eyes.
Mick looked at me.
“Oh, you can come too, Maggie,” Angela spoke up. “The more the merrier.”
The young brunette lightly touched Angela’s elbow to get her to hurry.
“Listen,” she pouted and turned to the waiting fans, “I’ve got to get going. I’m in the penthouse of the Galt House. Come by around seven pm tomorrow night so we can catch up.”
She didn’t wait for an answer. She simply assumed they’d, we’d, be there and blew kisses at each of them before she greeted her awaiting public.
“She looks good, doesn’t she?” Big smiled as if he’d still had the prize after all of these years.
“Yep. You should’ve held on to that one.” Mick smacked Big on the back.
“So what are you doing nowadays?” he asked Mick. “I see who you’re doing it with.” He winked at me.
“I do a little bit here and there for Dad.” Mick lied. He started to explain what a little bit of what this and that was but I lost his voice when my necklace warmed against my chest.
I glanced around and out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone in a black round-brim hat pulled down, covering their eyes facing me from the corner of the stage before they quickly turned the corner and disappeared.
“Excuse me.” I didn’t wait for Big or Mick to answer since they seemed to be in some sort of contest one-upping each other. Though I could feel Mick’s stare.
It seemed that he knew me a little better each time we worked together, so he knew when I was onto something. This man might not have had anything to do with what was going on with Mick, but it was the second time I’d seen him today and that was not coincidental. Especially when my necklace warmed. It was Vinnie’s way of telling me that danger was lurking.
I rounded the corner of the amphitheater, which faced Fourth Street in time to catch the person disappearing into a waiting cab. I put my hands on my hips and faced the back of the cab as it zoomed down Fourth and headed toward Magnolia when a toot of a very familiar horn sounded behind me.
I let out a sigh of relief when I saw it was Vinnie pulling up to the curb. I scurried around his hood as he opened his door, but not without hearing Mick calling my name.
“What are you doing? Where did your car come from?” Mick questioned.
“Get in!” I jumped in the front seat and fastened my seatbelt.
Vinnie took off with one of Mick’s feet still hanging out of the passenger side door.
“Slow down.” Mitch held on for dear life. “What is going on?”
“I don’t know.” I kept my hands on Vinnie’s wheel like I was doing all the driving when in reality I was only letting Vinnie follow the cab. “All I know is that I have seen the same person twice in one day looking at me. Once at The Brew and once just now.”
“So you are chasing them?” Mick made it sound like I had lost my mind.
“Think about it, Mick.” I gripped the wheel as Vinnie crossed Hill Street. “This person could be the killer and after me since you and I have spent some time together. I might be next on the list. They might think we are an item.”
“I don’t think so, Maggie.” There he went again as if I had lost my mind or the idea was farfetched. He glanced around Vinnie’s dash. “Damn, do you have the seat warmers on?” He asked with a perspiration on his top lip. “It’s so hot, hens could lay hard-boiled eggs in here.”
“No. I don’t.” I tapped the wheel knowing good and well it was Vinnie making Mick as uncomfortable as he could.
“Please let me get this car checked out for you. It’s like a ticking time bomb.” Mick lifted his hinny in the air.
I closed my eyes, anticipating Vinnie’s reciprocation. And it came. Vinnie zoomed so fast over a pothole that it sent Mick’s head into the roof, nearly breaking it off at the neck.
“Maggie,” Mick rolled his head around his neck. “You about killed me. Slow down.”
Vinnie took a sharp left on Magnolia before taking another quick left on Second and sliding up to the curb in front of The Derby. The cab was nowhere to be found and Vinnie was right. I needed a drink.
“The Derby?” Mick asked. “Now you want to drink?”
“Why not?” I acted as if I turned off the ignition. “I’m thirsty.”
“While you drink, I’ll ask you a few questions.” Mick ran his hand over Vinnie’s dash. “Starting with, how did your car show up on Fourth Street?”
Chapter Five
“Give me a seven-n-seven.” I tapped on the bar when I got Buck’s attention.
Lilith waved from the far end. I gestured toward her to let him know I’d be down there.
“Make it two.” Mick held up two fingers and tapped his hand down the bar top until we reached Lilith.
Buck eyed Mick and then me. Under his knit cap, he was as bald as a cucumber and stout. He was a bartender here at the Derby and also a cage fighter. He’s tried many times to get me and Lilith to come see him fight, but I found nothing interesting or appealing about seeing two men beat the crap out of each other in a closed cage.
“Hi, Mick.” Lilith greeted Mick. “Where’ve y’all been?” She gave me a sly smile.
I rolled my eyes.
“I came downstairs from decorating and Auntie said Mick had come to steal you away. Lucky dog.” Lilith curled her hands around her bourbon and ice and rested her forearms on the edge of the bar. “Mom is in rare form.”
Buck put the two seven-n-sevens in front of us and Mick slid him some bills.
“If you girls need anything, let me know,” Buck’s words were meant for me and Lilith but his eyes focused on Mick.
“Do you and muscle man have a thing?” Mick asked me.
"No more than you and Miss Pumpkin Ginger.” I picked up my glass and took a nice slow drink.
“You two sound like an old ma
rried couple instead of partners in crime.” Lilith pulled her lips together and her eyes popped open.
“You told her that you work with me?” Mick let out a long deep sigh. “You know you weren’t supposed to tell anyone. Including family.”
“It’s my sister. My best friend.” I gave Lilith the wonky eye. She mouthed sorry.
“I’m going to the bathroom.” He lifted his glass to his mouth and downed his drink.
I watched as he walked away. He lifted his hand at Buck and Buck nodded, knowing to fix Mick another round. Buck looked down at me and I wagged my hand. One was enough for me.
“I can’t believe you just let it slip,” I said. “It’s not like I can wave my hand and poof he forgets. Remember, he is part of my Life’s Journey and that little spell thing we’ve got going for us doesn’t work on him.”
“I swear I’m sorry. It’s just that you two argue like you’re a couple. And you’d make a cute couple.” She wasn’t telling me anything I didn’t think already, but we were work partners and he made it clear that he wasn’t interested when we were in the presence of Angela.
“We aren’t,” I groaned into my drink.
“Maggie, right?” A man walked up to me. “Brian Mingo. Gladys Hubbard’s nephew from New York.”
“Oh, yeah.” I nodded before Lilith shoved past the front of me, pushing me further back on my stool.
“You say you’re from New York? As in the city?” Lilith had always wanted to go to New York City but Mom refused to let her go. She said Lilith would lose her mind and put all sorts of spells on people. She’d shelter the homeless, Mom would say. Find homes for the population of the dog pounds, she’d follow up with when Lilith would protest.
Lilith did have a big heart and she did hate to see anyone down on their luck, animals included. That was probably why she had Gilbert. Big or small, she loved them all.
“I am. I’m here for the St. James Art Festival and my aunt was gracious enough to give me a place to stay.”
“We’ve lived across from your aunt for so long, I’m surprised we’ve never met.” Lilith patted the bar top next to her and Brian took his beer and sat down next to Lilith where they continued their conversation and she grilled him about NYC and how she’d love to do makeup there.
Mick came back and sat down next to me.
“Listen, Maggie.” Mick leaned over his drink on the bar. “I’ll let Burt know about someone following you. That way we can keep an eye out.”
“I don’t need anyone to keep an eye out for me.” I ran my finger around the rim of the glass.
“At least let me see if I can get you a company car because your car isn’t reliable.” Mick had no idea what he was talking about and I appreciated the thought, but I was a little annoyed with him.
I couldn’t determine if my feelings had anything to do with the fact that there were two women dead and he was the tie or the fact that he did seem to be a ladies man, which seemed to bother me more, especially with Angela Fritz.
“My car is just fine.” I picked up the glass and took a couple of sips. Lilith got up and went toward the bathroom and I turned my attention to Brian. “You said you are in town for the St. James Art Festival?”
“I am. I’m actually here to see if there is any local talent I can showcase when I get back to NYC.” He leaned his head around me and looked at Mick. “Brian Mingo.” He stuck his hand across the bar and they clasped in front of me.
“Mick Jasper.” Mick lifted his chin and gave a slight smile. “I saw you earlier at Maggie’s neighbor’s house. Big art guy from New York.”
“Yes, my aunt.” Brian rolled his eyes. “She has a tendency to exaggerate a little bit. She is very excited about the joint adventure she’s got going with,” he hesitated, “your aunt?”
“Ahh, yes.” I lifted my glass and took another sip. “My auntie Meme and your aunt have a long standing history of arguing so when they decided to collaborate, needless to say I was a bit shocked.”
Not really, but making mortal talk was so tedious. I really wanted to tell him that his aunt was nothing but nosy and we needed to get her out of her house so my mom could decorate our house the witchy way. A snap of the finger, but that obviously was a wasted day.
“I told her I’d stop by and check it out tomorrow.” His glance grazed my shoulder as they followed Lilith back to the bar stool. “Would you like to dance?”
“Absolutely.” Lilith didn’t even have a chance to sit down before he grabbed her hand and dragged her to the dance floor in front of the jukebox as some old crooner sang a sad and slow country song.
Mick and I had rotated our stools to watch them. Brian seemed a little too close for comfort and I could feel Lilith pulling back from him. When they twirled and she was facing me, her stare told me it was about to get interesting.
Lilith was always getting hit on. That was how we came about playing Truth or Spell at The Derby.
“Ah, oh.” Mick nodded his head toward Brian. “The old hand slide is a little too early.”
Brian had decided it was a good idea to move his hand down Lilith’s back to her rump. Clearly a wrong move because she slapped him right across the face before she jabbed his eye with her fist. I knew exactly what was coming next and I didn’t need to play Truth or Spell to watch the show.
“It looks like there is going to be more than one family member in a feud with that family.” I tried to talk to Mick before the puff of smoke appeared at the feet of what used to be the mortal two-legged human of Brian Mingo.
“Damn machine,” Burt groaned from behind the bar. He lifted up the bar top on the end of the bar so he could get over to the jukebox.
“That’s a fire hazard.” Mick didn’t take his eyes off of the smoke.
Only I knew it wasn’t smoke from a faulty jukebox. It was a spell Lilith had put on Brian and the smoke was a wonderful cover up to explain where Brian had gone.
“I bet if you played better music it wouldn’t do that.” Lilith fanned her face on the way back to the stool and took her place as if nothing happened. When she tapped her toes on the floor and faced the bar top, the smoke cleared and everything was good.
“I swear this place is haunted,” Burt growled after he had checked out the jukebox. “Nothing is wrong with that darn thing. It only does it when,” Burt looked over at us, “you two are here.” He cocked a brow.
“Oh and we did it?” I laughed and shook my head, knowing good and well we did it.
Mick and Burt talked about the crazy machine as I looked over my shoulder at the jukebox. The tiniest grey cat peeped its head around the jukebox. Its green eyes stared back.
“Meow,” Lilith racked her fingers toward me.
“Where did Brian go?” Mick looked around. He pointed to the spot where Brian had been sitting. “He left his keys and a full drink.”
He looked between Lilith and me. We both shrugged.
“I guess Lilith gave him the old one, two and scared him off.” I picked up the drink to finish it off.
It’d been a long day and a long night. I had to still go over those files Burt had given me and get my opinion to him in the late morning. I’d already told Auntie Meme that I could help out in the diner in the morning and a late night wouldn’t do me any good. I needed to be on my game if I was going to save Mick from being investigated. It hadn’t been that long since I discovered my Life’s Journey included Mick and I wasn’t about to let this mess it up.
“He’s a big boy. He will have to come back for his keys.” I got up. “I’ve got a long day tomorrow.” I jabbed Mick on his deltoid. “That includes saving your hide and going to supper with your ex-girlfriend.”
“Whoa,” Mick put his hands in the air after he threw a couple bills on the bar. “Angela Fritz isn’t my ex-girlfriend.”
I shot him the yeah right look.
“Not that we’re an item.” He stopped in front of me when I took a step forward. “Listen, Maggie.” His eyes had a reserve that I couldn’t plac
e. “As much as you want to believe that I’m some Casanova, I’m not.”
“It doesn’t matter what I think.” I walked around him and he followed me outside where Vinnie was waiting. “What matters is why these women are being murdered and you are the reason behind it.”
He grabbed my forearm when I started to walk around the front of the car and dragged me closer to him.
“It does matter to me what you think.” Mick’s blue eyes and words seized my breath. Vinnie’s horn tooted. He dropped his grip and looked at my insane familiar. “We are partners and partners are supposed to trust each other.”
He left me speechless.
“Get the car fixed.” He threw his hand in the air just as a cab drove by, causing the cab to skid to a stop. He disappeared into the back seat.
Chapter Six
“Say,” I stood in the Jack and Jill bathroom between my and Lilith’s rooms. She was getting ready for her big corporate job at Mystic Couture while I got ready to clean up after people at The Brew. “Do you have any Jockey Red that I can have?”
It was interesting how we both had completely different Life’s Journeys.
“Don’t you have some tubes?” She walked in the bathroom already dressed in her two-piece pink pant suit that made her dark features pop. Her black hair grazed the top of her shoulders and her blunt bangs hung perfectly over her dark eyes.
“I do, but I need a tube or two to give to Angela Fritz.” I tugged my long black hair into a pony tail. I was a little envious of her cute outfit compared to my black skinny jeans, black tee, and black flats that were never seen under The Brew apron.
“Angela Fritz, the art person?” Lilith and I had no mortal culture what-so-ever.
“Yeah, you heard of her?” I asked as the curiosity tugged at me.
“She’s supposed to come to the office this morning to get in some photos with some fall products because she’s our new spokesperson for the line. She’s crazy about Mystic Couture and doing a lot of press for us for the upcoming year.” She looked in the mirror and ran her finger along the edges of her lips before she smoothed down her hair one last time.