CHAPTER TWO
Izzy
“Thank you for your business,” Izzy forced a smile as she handed the customer her change. “I hope you come to see us again soon.”
Izzy tried to sound cheerful but knew she was far off the mark. Nightmares, hexes, and worst of all, Edith’s surprise passing, were weighing heavy on her. The jarring ring of the phone next to the register startled her already worn nerves. Tiny sparks lit Izzy’s fingertips forcing her to tuck them into fists to hide her lack of control. Satisfied she could handle herself, she answered the call.
“Indulgence, Isadora speaking, how may I help you?”
Indulgence, a specialty shop catering mainly to women, was Cass and Izzy’s labor of love. Isadora’s prepared balms, soaps, and bath oils proved to be a hit with witches and soccer moms alike. Cass, too, had found her niche making candles, jewelry, and other knick-knack items.
Both were nearing their quarter-century mark and had already tired of working for others. One day, their griping evolved into an idea which eventually turned into Indulgence. With determination, work, and a lot of luck, they pooled resources and skills and had created a business model that worked. Indulgence had crossed over into the black column after a mere ten months.
Isadora braced herself against the counter and was relieved no one was around to witness her loss of magical control. “Izzy! It’s Wren,” one of the witches in her coven greeted. “Are you guys busy? Lilly and I want to come by. Talk a bit.”
“We came in late, and we’re paying for it now. We’ve had back to back customers since we opened the doors. Not that I’m complaining,” Izzy hedged. Cass edged closer to where Izzy stood and mouthed, “Who is it?”
Izzy covered the mouthpiece on the phone and whispered, “It’s Wren and Lilly. They want to talk.”
“Talk? About…you know?” Cass raised her eyebrows and spoke through her teeth. “We can’t discuss that here.”
Izzy didn’t comment on Cass’ behavior but did raise a speculative eye as she answered. “I didn’t ask. I imagine it’s about this morning though.”
“Well, we’re working right now. They called the shop for goddess’ sake, they know we’re working. Jeez. I guess they can come, but the talking will have to wait.”
Izzy bit her bottom lip in indecision. She hated conflict. Finally, she put the phone back to her ear.
“Wren, you know you’re always welcome to stop by.” She stumbled for a moment. “Cass wants us to postpone until after work to talk about Edith. We can make some drinks and get together then if you’d like?”
For a moment, Izzy only heard breathing. She cast her eyes downward at the case below. Crystals of various sorts sparkled as the late afternoon sunlight hit them.
“What time do you close today?”
“Five o’clock. We never stay after dark on Fridays.” Cass all but danced just at the edge of Izzy’s line of sight. Isadora ignored her.
“I need some candles for around the house,” Wren explained. “And some of that bath oil with the frankincense in it, if you’ve got it.”
“I’ll check and see if we have some in stock. If we do, I’ll set some aside for you. It sells fast though. Candles though, we should definitely have. Cass restocked those a couple of days ago.”
“Good, then we’ll come by around four o’clock. That way, if you can’t talk, we can hang out until you close.”
“That could work.” Izzy relented. Confrontation was not her strong suit. Cass stood in front of her waving her hands as if landing a plane.
“No!” she shrilled just out of hearing of their caller. Izzy put her hand out in a stop gesture and stepped back from the counter as she said her goodbyes.
The moment the last goodbye was uttered, Cass attacked. “I thought we agreed to wait.”
“You stated that. We didn’t agree. And, Wren said she needed some things. They’re coming later this afternoon, around four.” Izzy jutted her chin out as she stood her ground. “Do we still have the midnight bath oil I made up last week? She wants some.”
“I think I have one more box in the back that I haven’t put out yet. You need to spend a day in the kitchen this weekend. Stock is getting low on quite a few items.”
“I hear ya.”
Izzy’s attention jerked to the front of the store as the bells on the door chimed as a customer had entered. Two ladies were gossiping as they meandered past the first few tables. They stopped at the homemade soaps on display, examining them.
“Why do you think they want to come? I mean, what’s there to talk about?” Izzy whispered.
Cass shrugged as she dusted a nearby table. “Why does Lilly do anything? Wren, on the other hand,” Cass shrugged again. “Did it sound like they’d heard anything?”
Isadora tilted her head in thought. “I don’t think so. It sounded more like they were just shook up a bit and wanted to connect.” Cass listened, but it was apparent she was still unhappy. “I hope they find the scum sucker who killed her soon. Lowlife asshole.”
Despite their differences and they were legion, Cass and Izzy always managed to agree in the end.
Izzy glanced in their customer’s direction, their turned backs emboldening her. She spread her fingers and sparked the air. “As we always say, witches before bitches.”
◆◆◆
Cass flipped the welcome sign to “Closed” then locked the front door of the shop. A loud sigh escaped her as she turned back to Izzy, Wren, and Lilly. “I can’t believe we were so busy today. My feet are killing me!”
“Well, your wallet should feel much better,” Izzy reminded her.
“Yeah, I guess,” Cass refused to be mollified.
“What do you know about Edith?” Wren interrupted as if she couldn’t hold in the question another second.
“You know everything we do,” Izzy answered. “Possibly more, if you’ve heard something since we’ve been stuck here all day.”
“Not a word. I was hoping someone might have come in and shared something.” Wren’s earrings, a string of daisies that fell down to touch the top of each shoulder, brushed side to side in time with the shake of her head. The jewelry was typical Wren, eye-catching and delightful, but with a peace-loving feel to it. Izzy speculated Wren could pass for a hippie straight out of the ‘60’s most days.
Lilly was the opposite. She wore airy, ethereal dresses in pastels. The material floated as she walked, and complimented her light complexion and platinum blonde hair.
“I’ve been thinking.”
Isadora blinked when Lilly spoke. Lilly was not known for her cerebral skills. She was sweet, quick to friend, and loyal to a fault. However, thinking was not her forte.
Wren turned her head away so Lilly couldn’t see as she rolled her eyes.
Cass covered her mouth to hide her smirk. “About what?”
“I think one of us should cozy up with someone in the police department. So we could hear about their investigation first. Didn’t you say they thought one of us might have done it?”
Cass blinked repeatedly. “That’s actually a good idea.”
“Don’t look so surprised. I have good ideas occasionally.”
“I guess I could accept one of those dates Tommy is always offering,” Wren grudgingly offered.
“That’s sweet, Wren. But I know how much he gets on your nerves.” Lilly patted Wren’s hand.
Wren pulled her hand away from her friend. “Don’t say it. Please don’t say it.”
Lilly ignored her and continued, “I was going to suggest maybe I should approach the sheriff and propose some,” she wiggled her eyebrows, “one on one time?” Lilly fanned herself as she giggled. “I never saw him up close and personal like until this morning. I tell you, that man can so rock my world.”
“But if you get in bed with the sheriff,” Cass grinned, “so to speak, of course. Can we trust you to not betray the coven? Hell, will you even remember what you’re trying to accomplish? Sex tends to scatter your brain even more
than usual.”
“That’s a horrible thing to say!” Lilly gasped in outrage.
“Lilly,” Isadora chimed in to try and diffuse the situation. “While becoming friendly with the sheriff might get us more information, I don’t think we necessarily want to be that close to the action if you get my drift.”
“What are you saying?”
“Just that you tend to go all in when you get involved.” Izzy rushed to explain. “Which is not a bad thing. I wish I could open myself up to people like you do. But, I just don’t. But what would you do if he decides to charge one of us with murder? Or what if he asked you to spy on us? It just sounds like asking for trouble to me.” Izzy offered a weak smile. “I’m sorry.”
Wren clapped her hands to change the subject. “Didn’t you ladies say something about drinks earlier? I could use a stiff one about now.”
“Yes please!” Cass agreed.
“That sounds exactly what this witch needs,” Izzy seconded. Dodger, possibly reacting to Wren’s clap, jumped onto the counter at that moment, and ran down to where Izzy stood. She put her arm out for him to climb up but then noticed something shiny dangling out of the corner of his mouth.
“Dodger! What have you found?”
He stopped mid-step almost a foot away and assessed her with his beady eyes.
“Your ferret stinks,” Lilly announced. Dodger’s eyes flitted to her for a moment. Indecision was evident on his face.
“He does not,” Izzy insisted. “It’s just his natural scent.” She reached forward while he was distracted and snatched the shiny bit away from his mouth. Dodger held firm until Izzy let out a whimper. Eyes blurring, she leaned against the counter for support. A vision of Edith in the woods, running at a breakneck speed filled her mind. Panic was written in every line of Edith’s face as if she was in mortal peril. Shock had Izzy’s hand opening of its own accord to escape the image of her friend. The earring dropped onto the counter, pinging several times before it settled in place.
Cass snatched it up before Dodger rushed to reclaim his treasure. She contemplated the item while Dodger scuttled closer. “What happened? What did you see?”
“Edith. She was running and terrified. How could someone have witnessed that and then come into our store? How is that possible?”
Wren could sometimes find the past in the objects if she held them. She reached for the earring and clasped it firmly in her palm. “Nothing. I don’t feel anything.” She pressed it back into Cass’s hand. “Are you sure?” She asked Izzy. “I hate to ask this, but try again.”
Izzy darted her gaze to Wren’s serene one and took a deep breath. She closed her eyes and wordlessly accepted the bauble. Instantly, it toppled back out of her hand. “No, absolutely no.”
Cass examined Izzy momentarily. Everyone knew Izzy had an affinity for magic in general and how it affected things. “You don’t think…?” Cass didn’t finish her sentence.
“I’m trying not to think. Don’t want to know. Just throw that away for me, please.”
Cass disagreed. “It looks like it’s gold, real gold. A customer might have dropped it. We should keep it for them. Plus, we might find out something about what happened to Edith.”
“Do whatever you want to with it. But I’m not touching it again.”
Lilly interrupted. “Put it away for now. Let’s go get some drinks and relax. Forget about this. I, for one, could use a cold one. Anyone up for mojitos, follow me. I’m heading home to fire up the blender.”
“I’m in!” Cass stated firmly.
“A drink sounds really good,” Izzy concurred.
“Give us about fifteen minutes to get the bank deposit ready and close up shop.” Cass pushed Wren and Lilly towards the door. “Then we’ll be on our way.”
“I believe we have a plan.” Wren agreed as she exited. Cass re-locked the door behind her then started back toward Izzy at the counter.
“Everything all right?”
“I’m fine. I’m serious though. I don’t ever want to see that earring again.”
“What earring?” Cass asked as she tucked it into her pocket.
“I’m not kidding.”
“I know you’re not.” Cass paused before entering the back area of the store. “Seriously, you’ll never see it again. Let’s get that deposit done so we can get out of here.”
Izzy let it go and turned toward the register. “On it.”
“Good. I’ll take care of this and be right back.”
CHAPTER THREE
Izzy
Days passed, and slowly the world started grinding its way back to normal - if normal included Edith being dead, Agnes avoiding everyone, and Izzy having a strange feeling that someone or something was stalking her.
Desperate for answers, Izzy contemplated approaching the sheriff. However, innocent or not, she told herself she didn’t need to be on his radar any more than she already was. So, asking questions was out. Neither Wren, Lilly, or Cass had been able to learn anything else about that night either. The time had come, no matter how distasteful it was, to open the field of engagement and seek out other sources.
Maeve, while not her first choice for information, seemed her best option at the moment.
“Dodger, you have to stay home. You know how she hates you.”
The ferret roused from his nap and regarded her sleepily. But as nothing of import appeared to be happening, he dismissed her and fell back asleep.
“I really should put you in your cage.” Izzy warred with herself. Dodger didn’t like being alone but giving him free rein to all her worldly possessions begged for trouble. The last time she didn’t move him before she left, she returned to find an entire arm of her couch in tatters, nothing but foam remained. She shook her head, “I can’t chance it. C’mon little guy. Cage time. I promise I won’t be gone too long.”
The ferret snuggled into her hands, trusting her to see him safely to where he needed to be. Guilt assailed her as she inserted him into his small home. “I’ll be back quick as I can,” she whispered.
On tiptoes, she scurried to the front door as quietly as she could make it. Yet, as the door clicked in place behind her, she heard the first bark. Keys jingling in her hand, Izzy winced. With the hope that he’d settle again soon, she headed toward Maeve’s.
Twenty minutes later, Izzy pressed the brake and came to a stop at the end of Maeve’s long gravel drive. Izzy had always thought of Maeve’s house as quaint, more of a cabin really. It was probably two bedrooms, a tiny kitchen, and even smaller living space. Everyone knew Maeve liked the outdoors more anyway. And her house was surrounded by acres of land, most of which was dotted with tree islands and flower gardens.
The car door made a loud, creaking sound as Izzy opened the door and stepped out. She winced and made a mental note to oil it. Then, turning to face Maeve, Izzy waved. Maeve stood next to one of her many gardens to greet her visitor, or more likely scowl at her for visiting. Either way, Izzy was here.
“Hello, Isadora,” Maeve watched Izzy’s every footfall as she made her way over to her, but the greeting was pleasant enough.
“Hi, Maeve! Hope you don’t mind that I came by without calling. I did try to reach you, but no one answered. I decided to take my chances and see if you were outside.”
“It’s fine,” Maeve stated blandly. It was apparent her visit wasn’t necessarily wanted by the look on Maeve’s face, but Izzy couldn’t let that deter her.
“What are you planting today?” Izzy continued cheerfully.
“Just a few lilies I picked up at Gloria’s house. She was thinning out her bed and offered me a few plants I didn’t have. But you don’t care about any of that. I suppose you expect me to offer you a drink?”
The morning sun blazed against Izzy’s delicate skin. She swore she felt new freckles forming. So, she jumped on the chance to escape it. “My throat is parched. Something wet sounds lovely. I don’t know how you can stand this heat beating down on you.”
“I enjoy
the sun. Very invigorating.”
Maeve walked away towards the door, and Izzy took that as an invitation to follow. A black and white cat that must have been standing behind Maeve weaved in between them.
“I didn’t know you had a cat.”
“I don’t,” Maeve answered. “He just popped up this morning while I was out puttering about.” She smiled at the feline. “He sure is a friendly thing.”
Izzy didn’t trust cats. She knew the old folklore raved on and on about witches and their cats, but she wasn’t having it. She’d found time and time again they couldn’t be trusted.
Maeve’s cat brushed against her and purred. Izzy swore his purr sounded just like, “Leave, bitch.” Eyes narrowed at the insolent beast, she opened her mouth to chastise. Then Maeve turned back around, the cat blinked innocently at Izzy as it purred again. “Are you going to keep him?” Izzy inquired.
“No, I’m sure he’ll be gone by this afternoon. He’s healthy, and someone’s been feeding him. I think he just stopped by for a visit. Like you actually.”
Lost in thought, Izzy was a few steps behind Maeve and the cat. She heard a noise and twisted her head to see what had caught her attention. The head of a short, squat man peeked around some leaves near where Maeve had just been working. Mouth pursed in thought, he studied her. Then, coming to a decision, he began digging at the plant Maeve had just buried in the dirt.
“Bleeding git of a woman, can she not bloody fill up every inch of space with plants? How does she expect me to move about with roots here and there? Something’s got to go!”
Maeve flicked a glance at Izzy. “You coming?”
Izzy’s mouth gaped open. “You can see him, right?”
“See, what? The cat? Of course, I can.” Maeve’s eyes sharpened as she peered at her. “You all right, girl?”
Izzy hummed and blinked. Hard at work, the little man ignored their conversation as he moved the plant. “Eep!” Torn on what she should do, Izzy decided it was best to go inside.
Marked: Thoth's Legacy ~ Book One Page 3