A Charming Spell (Magical Cures Mystery Series)

by Kappes, Tonya

  The sign on the desk read The Witch Is In.

  “I’m going to go out on a limb and say you’re a witch.” I pointed to her sign. “So snap your fingers and find the book.”

  “Yes. You already know that I’m a witch from yesterday when I was in your shop.” She referred to the little incident at the store. “And you know they are going to go on a witch hunt because that man was found dead on my steps with the help of one of my books.”

  “I don’t think I’d say that. There is no proof you killed…” I slapped my hand over my mouth. “Did you kill Alexelrod?”

  “What do you think?” She stood with her hands firmly planted on her hips.

  I was just about to tell her what I thought right before the bookstore door was busted down. We rushed out of her office to see what had happened. Gandolf bolted in with his gun drawn and waving around a book no bigger than the palm of my hand.

  “By the order of the spiritual police in Whispering Falls, Ophelia Biblio, you are charged with the murder of Alexelrod Primrose.” Another younger police officer, who I had never seen before, was standing behind him. He was rolling his eyes as Gandolf’s baritone voice boomed, causing the books to go haywire. Everyone but Ophelia took cover. Gandolf ran behind a bookshelf and I hid behind him. I squeezed my eyes hoping nothing was going to whack me in the head.

  “Stop!” Ophelia lifted her hands in the air. The books fell to the ground.

  Once the coast was clear, Gandolf stepped out into the aisle waving the book like it was a white flag.

  I reached into my bag without anyone seeing me and pulled out Madame Torres. Her hands were placed over her ears like she was trying to drown the craziness out.

  “Listen to me.” I shook her.

  “Stop,” she whispered. She could tell the severity of the situation. “I get motion sickness. Remember?”

  “Sorry. But I need you to focus.” I hunkered down and held her close to my face, almost eye-to-eye. “You have to get in touch with Mac McGurtle. Tell him to come to Ever After Books immediately.”

  Mac lived next to me in Locust Grove. Little did I knew that he was there to keep a spiritual eye on me. The village council sent him there to protect me in case I turned out to be a spiritualist. When they figured out that I did inherit my father’s spiritual gifts, they sent Mr. Prince Charming to protect me. Little did I know that they were Spiritualists. I thought Mac was just the nosy neighbor and Mr. Prince Charming was a stray cat, until I found out otherwise after I moved to Whispering Falls.

  Since he no longer had to take care of me, he had started to practice spiritual law again and he was the one who helped me out of many crazy situations. I had no idea what the book was all about, but I did know that my intuition told me Ophelia didn’t have anything to do with Alexelrod’s murder. But who did?

  “Is this your book?” Gandolf’s voice was courteous but patronizing. He held the book up over his head in a dramatic way. “Answer me!”

  “Yes.” Ophelia pinched her lips shut.

  “Did you sell the book to anyone?” He continued to barrage her with questions as he opened the book. It was some sort of book you’d see, like a bracelet making book where all the materials were attached to make a bracelet, only this was about darts and it looked like the two darts were missing from their place.

  “Don’t you dare answer his questions.” Mac McGurtle came through the door swiping the yellow crime scene tape out of his way. “And it is not appropriate nor acceptable for my client’s store to remain closed.”

  “Who called you?” Gandolf pointed toward Mac, but didn’t wait for Mac’s answer. He gestured for the new cop. “Go on. Read her her rights.”

  “Ophelia Biblio…” the young officer’s voice cracked as he fiddled with the piece of paper as he started to read it. “You have the right…”

  “To open your shop!” Mac pushed his large black-rimmed glasses up on his nose with his thick fingers. His blue eyes zeroed in on the young officer like a vulture. “That is what you have the right to do until you hear from me. As for you, gentlemen,” Mac put one arm around Gandolf and another arm around the other officer and started to walk them out of the shop. “Don’t you have some suspects to track down?”

  “No more magic until you are cleared!” Gandolf shouted, his face reddened and he jerked away from Mac. “Rule Number Five in the bylaws state that you cannot leave the community until further notice.”

  “She won’t.” Mac assured them and then ripped the crime scene tape off the front door.

  Ophelia’s eyes turned black with a little gold ring around the rim. She didn’t take her eyes off of Gandolf.

  Suddenly Gandolf’s belt completely unbuckled, giving way to his pants, exposing his tightie-whities. A sight that should never be seen by anyone’s eyes.

  He scrambled to pull them up.

  “No magic!” He yelled galloping through the door and out of the shop.

  The young officer’s laughter had a sharp edge.

  “Shut up!” Gandolf wasn’t happy with his little minion’s reaction.

  “You bad witch.” I couldn’t help but love her wicked humor. “Did you make his pants fall down?”

  Why did everyone have better powers than me? I was green with envy.

  A faint smile crept up into her face, as her eyes relaxed into a sea-blue color. “I told you they are on a witch hunt.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  I didn’t know anything about a witch hunt, but I did know one thing, Ophelia did threaten Alexelrod earlier in the day.

  The early morning air was heavy with death as I left Mac and Ophelia alone to discuss the particulars of her case. Now I had to put Ophelia on my list of to-sees. That was going to have to wait until she was alone. She had something to tell me before Gandolf stormed in and I was going to find out what it was.

  I felt my wrist for my charm bracelet. I had forgotten that Bella still had it since Mr. Prince Charming had gotten me a new wing charm. Visiting Bella to get my bracelet was now on the list of to-sees. And the day wasn’t getting any longer.

  Glorybee was lit up when I walked by. A nagging curiosity had me wondering about the change of heart Petunia had for Patience. I looked in the window.

  Petunia stood in the back of the shop near the tall live tree where most of her animals took refuge when customers came in. The big Macaw was perched on her shoulder and she was hand feeding him. A couple of squirrels and chipmunks reared up on their legs to get a piece of whatever it was she had.

  I knocked on the window to get her attention. When she saw me, she waved me in and I met her at the door.

  “Get in here.” She smiled, holding the door wide open. “You are out early this morning.”

  Get in here, get in here, squawk! The bird repeated. Repeating was something he was good at and thank goodness, he was. We had a little history together.

  “I was on my way to get a jump on some extra work and saw your light was on. I had a few minutes to kill so I thought I’d say hi.” I lied.

  Hello! Hello! Squawk!

  “Go on Clyde.” Petunia shook her shoulder up and down. Clyde flew off to the highest branch in the tree.

  “Clyde?” I questioned.

  “I think his name is Clyde. At least he continues to say ‘Clyde is a good boy.’” She straightened a few items on the shelves as we made our way back to the tree. “It’s cleaning time.”

  She handed me a bucket with some brushes in it. I wasn’t new to the routine. I had come over several times and helped her brush all the animals before leaving, because Mr. Prince Charming wouldn’t leave the pet shop until he got his brushing.

  We took a seat on the grass under the tree. One-by-one the animals made a single-file line, waiting patiently for their turn.

  “I swear, this is the craziest thing I have ever seen.” I couldn’t help but smile as I brushed the stray cat that didn’t budge when the squirrel ran by. “So tell me, what was with the change of heart at the meeting toward Petun
ia? I thought you wanted to sock it to her.”

  Petunia sat the brush down and pinned a falling piece of hair back up on top of her head. “Right before the meeting she told me that she thought the ostrich was a distant relative of hers and she was trying to figure out who it was.”

  “I thought you said these animals didn’t have spiritual souls.” I specifically remember when they showed up and she made the comment that they wouldn’t communicate with her.

  “I didn’t think so.” She shrugged and picked the brush back up. The hedgehog rolled over on his back with his legs up in the air. Petunia brushed his soft belly and quills just like she would brush a dog’s fur. There was no difference between her animals. “What she said makes a lot of sense.”

  “What?” I had to know.

  “The ostrich did love it down there and I caught him trying to go back several times after you found him there.” The hedgehog ran off and the mallard duck made his way over with his life partner, the beaver. Petunia used a small brush to brush the beaver’s teeth. “She said that his eyes possessed a particular look that was scared. He also was gentle with her and didn’t peck her. The more I try to communicate with them, the closer to me they come.”

  I watched as she got up and started to smash her foot on the floor. I didn’t know whether to take cover or laugh when Petunia threw her head back and starting making some really crazy noises.

  Buzzecaw, buzzecaw, taw,taw,taw. Petunia continued to make strange noises as the animals rushed around her, landing at her feet, on her head, shoulders or any other part of her body that was flat enough to land on.

  “See, I called for all the animals to come in animal language, not spiritual language.” She nodded to the back of the room where the stray animals stood as if they didn’t understand animal language.

  Petunia lifted her hands and the animals scurried to where they had come from. After they were all situated, Petunia lifted her arms, closed her eyes, and chanted.

  Guardians of the Dreamtime, Shapes and Forms. Roots of the Mountain, Silent and Deep. Let it be known if your soul is one to seek.

  But the animals didn’t budge.

  “See!” She threw her hand back up in the air. “They don’t respond to anything. I just don’t get it. They have me baffled. And if Patience can get one of them to crack, it’ll be worth it.”

  “Can’t animals just be animals?” The only other animal I knew was Mr. Prince Charming and he definitely wasn’t just an animal.

  “No.” She shook her head. “They are all different like you and me.”

  “Either way they should be responding to you, right?” I asked. I didn’t really understand what she was saying.

  “Haven’t you listened to a word I have said?” Petunia fiddled with the string of hair that fell down the side of her face again. “Yes. Animals should respond, not just sit there.”

  I glanced back over at the animals. Each one of their beady little eyes stared at me. It would be fun to see what I could do to get them to talk. Any thinking of potions reminded me of Oscar which reminded me that A Charming Cure wasn’t going to open itself and Oscar wasn’t going to regain his memory with me hanging out with the animals.

  The thought of sharing chopsticks with Oscar later made the butterflies in Glorybee float around me.

  “Oscar?” Petunia asked.

  “We are having dinner tonight.” Excitement was written all over me. I waved my way out of the pet shop. The butterflies followed me up the street to A Charming Cure before they flew back to Glorybee.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Hear ye, hear ye,” Faith Mortimer’s voice rang throughout Whispering Falls. I grabbed my Magical Cures Book from behind the counter, putting it down next to the cauldron. I wanted to hear if Faith had found out any more out about the murder. “If you have any information on the deadly attack against Alexelrod Primrose, please see Officer Gandolf at the police station. This headline was brought to you by The Gathering Grove Tea Shoppe. If you need an afternoon pick-me-up, come check out the new selection of chai teas and be sure to tell Gerald Reguila that you heard it in the Gazette.”

  Gerald, I tapped my list that was sitting on the counter. Mr. Prince Charming lifted his head off the stool where he had planted himself as soon as we opened the shop.

  Mewl, mewl. His little white head bobbed up and down as if he knew exactly what I was thinking.

  “Good idea.” Madame Torres was deep in my bag that was hanging on the back of the stool.

  I swiped my hand down Mr. Prince Charming’s body before putting my hand in the bag to retrieve my snarky crystal ball.

  “Good morning.” I smiled at her. By the blue color of her face, I could see that she wasn’t happy. “What?”

  “You couldn’t have said ‘good morning Madame Torres’ earlier when you summoned me to find Mac McGurtle? I would have appreciated it.” Her eyes and lips were the same blue. There were red puffs of air emitted with every word spoken.

  “Are you telling me that you are mad because I asked you to do your job?” Why did I get the crystal ball with the smart aleck button? I put her next to the cauldron. “Need I remind you that I could drop your fancy little glass ball off at a flea market at any time and you would never be able to speak again?”

  Madame Torres face disappeared. The inside swirled black and grey with flecks of red sparking out right before the ball went black. I knew I would make her mad with my comment, but she knew the rules. Crystal balls did pick their owner. In the entire Universe, there was only one owner per crystal ball unless they were in the owner’s will and she knew it. Therefore, it was “do what I say,” or risk my getting rid of her.

  “Besides, I’m still mad that you felt the need to put me on Make-Me-A-Match.” I had to get the last word in.

  Of course I would never get rid of her, but threatening her, to put her in her place, did make me happy.

  The clock chimed nine am, letting me know it was time to unlock the front door and seeing Gerald for an afternoon tea break was exactly what I needed.

  Letting out a heavy sigh, I realized that I got nothing accomplished on Oscar’s potion. The line of customers at the door told me that it was going to be a long day.

  Before walking over to the door, I grabbed one of the Mojo Bags that I didn’t have time to give out at the council meeting. The shop hadn’t been cleansed since Alexelrod’s death and I wanted to make sure to keep any awful spirits out. Especially today. Nothing could go wrong. Nothing was going to keep me from my date with Oscar.

  “Spirits and souls wherever you go, send up the light on A Charming Cure shop site.” I waved the protection Mojo Bag in the air. I grabbed an apron from the hook, tied it around my waist on my way to unlock the front door and then proceeded down the steps to unlock the ornamental gate.

  “Good morning!” I greeted the line of eager customers. I stepped aside to let them walk in. I smiled at each one as they walked by. “Welcome to A Charming Cure.”

  “Whoo hoo! June!” Bella waved my charm bracelet in the air. It swayed back and forth from her fingertips.

  I waved. It was great seeing her, but the bracelet made me feel a lot better.

  “I’m glad you are here. I had you on my to-see list.” If only the others would come over, then my list would be complete. That was just too easy, though.

  “I wanted to get this to you ASAP since the ‘you-know-what.’” She tensed her jaws causing her lips to part and exposing the gap between her two front teeth.

  “Alexelrod?” I ran my hands down my slick bob, noticing that it was getting a little too long and I probably should have made an appointment with Chandra over at A Cleansing Spirit Spa before my date tonight. But it was too late now.

  “No.” The crease between her brows deepened. “The curse of the first Village President’s meeting.”

  “What curse?” Stunned, I stood there and let her clasp my bracelet around my wrist. I rubbed the new air element charm between my finger and thumb. Curse was
never a good word to hear, especially in the spiritual world.

  “When there is an interruption on the first meeting of the new Village President, it sets the precedent for a bad first year.” Bella couldn’t even look at me when she told me the awful news. News that would stick with me for the entire year.

  “I wouldn’t consider Alexelrod’s death an interruption. I’d consider that a crisis.” I half joked, but knew that I was in trouble. “What do I need to do to make sure this curse is broken?”

  “Unfortunately, there isn’t anything. Just make sure that no matter what comes your way, you go with the flow and handle it. And I mean everything.”

  “Everything?”

  “Yes, everything. Including complaints about your love life.”

  Love life? My heart skipped a couple of beats. I grabbed the gate and leaned into it, hoping it would catch my fall.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “She does this all the time.” A familiar voice echoed in my ear. Oscar’s sweet voice was music to my ears. “June, wake up.”

  I needed to hear his voice a little longer so I kept my eyes closed.

  “Here, use this,” Raven Mortimer said.

  “Is that a generic Ding Dong?” Oscar asked.

  “Generic?” Raven was not pleased. “Let me tell you something, Oscar Park. Just because you lost…”

  I jumped up, realizing I was on my couch in my cottage.

  “What happened?” I pretended to act like I didn’t remember the curse, and I had to stop Raven from telling Oscar about his memory loss. He would never accept the fact that I was a spiritualist. I glared at Raven. Her dark lashes cast shadows down her cheeks.

  Never make a Dark-Sider mad had always been my motto. I grabbed the June’s Gem from her hand and stuffed it in my mouth.

  “Those must do the trick.” Oscar smiled and rocked back and forth on his heels. He was dressed in civilian clothes. His dark hair had been freshly cut and shaved a little closer up the back. His beautiful eyes danced as he watched me scarf down the tasty treat.