Bewitching Boots

by Joyce

  Most of the prisoners didn’t move. They called out or cried, begging for someone to help them. Bad lighting played across them making the area seem fearful. Sir Dwayne managed to choose one of the prisoners who moved in his cell. When Chase flipped the switch, our prisoner moved his arms back and forth and turned his head from side to side.

  Sir Dwayne and I obstructed the prisoner from his movements. The prisoner began making an uncharacteristic grinding sound because his arms wouldn’t move. I held my breath, hoping Chase wouldn’t notice.

  That didn’t happen.

  He started with the first of the four cells, searching for the problem. I tried to move out of the way so that the prisoner would start moaning and stop grinding. Sir Dwayne’s heavy body made that impossible.

  I tried to think what I could do to warn Chase. He’d walk right into Sir Dwayne’s gun that he was holding between us. I knew he wouldn’t hesitate to shoot Chase. There had to be some way to keep that from happening.

  Taking my courage in hand, I opened my mouth and bit down hard on Sir Dwayne’s hand as Chase was examining the prisoner in the second cell.

  “Bloody hell!” Sir Dwayne moved away from me and nursed his injured fingers. It seemed he wasn’t as tough as he was large and strong. “Why did you do that? I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

  “The best way to accomplish that would be to get off my wife.” Chase’s voice was decisive. “Now.”

  I could see that Chase was holding a fake sword he’d taken from one of the other prisoners. It was a good ruse. Unless Dwayne kicked or hit the sword and broke it, he probably wouldn’t know that it wasn’t real.

  But Chase couldn’t see the gun either. I yelled out a warning and rolled on top of Sir Dwayne. “Get out of the way!”

  I tried to grab the small gun. I thought it was too tiny to hurt anyone but I didn’t want to take any chances. I heard it go off and immediately thought I’d been hit. Chase grabbed me and got me out of the way. I felt my chest and stomach, but there was no blood.

  But blood was oozing from Sir Dwayne’s T-shirt where he’d accidentally shot himself. Or I’d shot him? I wasn’t sure what that police report would say.

  Sir Dwayne was astonished as he looked down at his chest. “She shot me. I can’t believe she shot me.” He stared at the gun in his hand and then slowly slid to the floor.

  Chase helped me up. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you, Jessie?”

  “No. I’m fine. He just wanted me to help him escape the Village. I don’t think he planned to hurt anyone.”

  “Except for Rita and Isabelle.” He examined Dwayne and then called 911, followed by Detective Almond and then his Village security team.

  “Is he dead?” I asked.

  “No. He’ll be okay. An ambulance is coming. Detective Almond can take care of the rest.” Chase put his arms around me. “I’m sorry you got involved with it.”

  “Me too,” I sighed.

  Chase was trained as a paramedic to deal with emergencies before the professionals could arrive. He was applying pressure to Sir Dwayne’s gunshot wound when the ambulance arrived. I trusted his judgment that he would be okay.

  It wasn’t long before I heard sirens. Detective Almond arrived at the same time as the ambulance. He waylaid the paramedics from reaching us. “How serious is the gunshot wound, Manhattan?”

  “It was through and through, off to the right side. I don’t think it hit anything vital, and it’s a small caliber weapon.” He held up the bloody bullet he’d found on the floor.

  “Good. Let me have a minute with him before they take him.”

  The paramedics protested, but Detective Almond overrode their decision to get Sir Dwayne and leave immediately for the hospital. He began questioning his prisoner.

  “I didn’t kill Isabelle, and I didn’t hurt Rita,” Sir Dwayne said loudly. “You’re all my witnesses. I’m not admitting to something I didn’t do. I want a lawyer!”

  “What happened here?” Detective Almond scanned the make-believe jail cell with distaste.

  “He took Jessie hostage to get out of the Village,” Chase said. “They struggled with his gun, and it went off, wounding him.”

  “So you’re not guilty of anything, Dwayne? Is that right?” Detective Almond summed it up. “But you’re carrying a gun and tried to force this woman to accompany you out of the Village. Those aren’t exactly the actions of an innocent man.”

  Sir Dwayne looked frantic. “Please. I don’t want to die. I didn’t do anything.”

  “Then why try to sneak out holding my wife hostage?” Chase asked.

  “I thought maybe no one would recognize me. I knew when the police were questioning me yesterday that I was gonna get shafted. Someone saw me with Rita before she was attacked. I stopped at a pub, and she went back to the castle. That’s the last I saw of her.”

  “What pub?” Chase asked.

  “Baron’s.” Sir Dwayne closed his eyes, obviously in pain. “Can I go to the hospital now?”

  “You certainly can,” Detective Almond said. “Just know that I’ll be there to charge you with murder, assault, kidnapping, and whatever else I can find when you wake up. I’ll be the first face you see.”

  He waved the paramedics in to take care of Sir Dwayne. They were a little huffy about having to wait, but in a few minutes they had their patient on a stretcher and were walking out the Dungeon door with him.

  “Do you want me to check with Baron’s to see if Sir Dwayne’s story is true?” Chase asked.

  “No. I think we got the man we’re looking for. What are they going to tell you at the pub? He was there, but they weren’t sure what time? I’ll get a statement from him when he comes back from surgery. We’ll see then.” Detective Almond nodded at me. “Jessie, come to the station later today and file charges against Dwayne. Someone will take your statement.”

  I nodded, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to file charges against him. Yes, he’d lost it, but I didn’t blame him for being desperate. Who wouldn’t have been in his place? I didn’t want to add to the murder charge he was facing. Was that crazy?

  Chase wouldn’t agree when I told him. I was sure of that. And maybe I was wrong not to file charges. Sir Dwayne could have shot me or Chase.

  But he didn’t.

  I hoped the police had the right man now, but it could as easily have been my shoemaker being charged with murder.

  I was just glad it was finally over.

  Chapter Fifteen

  After everyone was gone, Chase offered to buy me a funnel cake at Fabulous Funnels. I hadn’t had one in forever. People were always saying how bad they were for you. I decided I’d have this one with fruit and just a sprinkling of powdered sugar. That way it wouldn’t be too bad.

  Over funnel cakes Chase asked, “You don’t want to file charges against Sir Dwayne, do you?”

  “Am I that transparent?”

  “To me. I know you always take up for the underdog, Jessie. But I think Detective Almond may have it right this time. Sir Dwayne was Isabelle’s lover and seeing Rita on the side. That was dangerous in itself. Isabelle probably found out, and they ended up having the fight everyone heard on the terrace. Not long after she was thrown to the ground.”

  “I’m not disagreeing that it’s possible Dwayne killed Isabelle. But it was only yesterday that Detective Almond thought Bill had killed her. Not to mention that I know what it’s like to be accused of doing something you didn’t do. Detective Almond thought I killed Wanda too.”

  “I agree that he’s not always right.”

  “He’d find his own mother guilty just to get out of the Village.”

  “That’s a little harsh.”

  “I suppose so.” I stabbed a piece of strawberry and funnel cake together. “Shouldn’t we at least check with Baron’s and see if anyone noticed Dwayne there last night?”

  “Exactly what I had in mind.”

  “If he was lying, and Detective Almond builds a decent case against him, I’ll file charges
too. Otherwise I feel bad enough that the poor man got shot.”

  Chase smiled and kissed me. “Okay. Let’s see what happens. In the meantime, your shoemaker star is free to make magic shoes at the museum today. The construction crew said his shop should be ready tomorrow.”

  “Good. I can’t wait to tell him. I know that he and Fred will be happy not to be roomies anymore.”

  We talked about what had happened at the Dungeon and Katharina’s horse. Several residents stopped by our table to ask Chase if there was anything new about what had happened to Rita. Mother Goose said a large floral arrangement was being sent from everyone at the Village to the hospital for her. She also asked for money from us to add to what she’d received for the flowers.

  “I heard she’s regained consciousness and is making a fuss about them letting her go.” Mother Goose stroked Phineas’ feathers as she spoke. “She’s making progress. A bunch of us are going to see her after the Village closes today. Maybe you two should come along.”

  We agreed that we wanted to see Rita, but Chase couldn’t make a commitment to go to the hospital until he saw that he had a clear space in his schedule for the day. I knew I’d wait and go with him.

  There was plenty of time to catch a shower and change clothes before the Village opened. I walked with Chase down to Baron’s. I loved mornings at the Village when everyone was up and getting ready for the day. The Lovely Laundry Ladies flirted with Chase as they walked by with their baskets of laundry. They heckled visitors and managed to get a few of them to help wash clothes at the well each day.

  Not my cup of tea, but male visitors loved getting wet with the buxom ladies.

  Mary Shift was opening her doors at Wicked Weaves. Her baskets and other hand woven items were amazing. I’d been her apprentice for a summer. I still had scars on my fingers from being cut by the sweet grass she used to make baskets. She waved and smiled before going inside.

  Miss Lolly, as she was known, was bringing in a new crop of fresh lavender to her shop. The breeze blew the scent toward us. I had a lovely lavender wreath in the kitchen that she’d given me and Chase for our wedding.

  Some of the residents’ children were playing on the Swan Swing near the Frog Catapult. I often wondered if Chase and I would ever have children. We’d talked about it, and both of us thought it would be amazing to have at least one child. The sorcerer had been kind enough to set up a beautiful nursery for us. I just didn’t see it happening anytime soon.

  “There’s Baron now.” Chase pointed to the short, round man in a mud brown shirt and britches as he let himself into his establishment. “Let’s see what he has to say.”

  Baron kept to himself more than most in the Village. He actually lived outside—in the real world. I’d heard that he and his wife had tried living above his tavern here but she’d been unhappy. Life at the Ren Faire wasn’t for everyone.

  “Good morning, Baron,” Chase addressed him. “If you have a moment, I’d like to ask you a few questions.”

  “Of course, Sir Bailiff. You are always welcome here. What information do you need?”

  Chase asked if he’d seen Sir Dwayne at his pub last night. Baron nodded. “He was here for a few hours. I’m not sure what time he arrived, but he left as I closed near midnight. He was with Rita Martinez from the castle. Is there a problem?”

  “No, good sir.” Chase smiled and shook his hand. “Is there anything I may do for you this day?”

  Baron frowned a little. “If you could somehow keep that pesky ghost out of here, now that I’d appreciate! Saying as much, I know there is nothing you can do. I have spoken with Tilly Morgenstern who has promised me a spell that will keep Wanda out. I can’t see her, mind you. But she wreaks havoc here on a regular basis.”

  “Is Tilly Morgenstern charging you for this spell?”

  “No. We bartered for it. No need to worry, Bailiff. All is well.”

  Chase nodded to him, and we left the pub.

  “So no help there. It was later that Rita was attacked,” Chase reminded me as we walked in the sunshine. “We’d need proof of where he was at three a.m. or just before.”

  “Maybe when Rita is feeling better she’ll have some idea of who attacked her.” “Let’s hope so. What Dwayne did with you was stupid, but doesn’t tie him to Rita’s attack or Isabelle’s murder.”

  Manny rode by on his tall bicycle. He was still having difficulty stopping it. He ran the front wheel into the wall that surrounded the Village but regained his footing quickly after toppling from it. “Lady Jessie! I went to check in on Bill the cobbler. He is refusing to come to the museum today. What shall I do?”

  I smiled at Chase. “I guess this is where we part until lunch. I’ll talk to you later.”

  He put his hand on his chest and bowed to me. “My Lady.” Then he swept me off my feet with a wonderful romantic kiss.

  All of the local shopkeepers as well as some character actors applauded.

  “To make up for the mistaken idea that you and I will ever part,” Chase whispered as he put me back on my feet.

  I curtsied and laughed at him. “Good sir, I know we shall never say goodbye.”

  There was more applause and smiles. Everyone in the Village loves gossip, but they love a good romance even more. No one wanted me and Chase to break up. They just wanted to know what was happening—like a large, nosey family.

  Chase said he was going to interview people at the castle to see if anyone had noticed Sir Dwayne coming in last night. I left with Manny to find out what was wrong with Bill. I walked, even though Manny offered me a ride on his bicycle.

  Fred the Red Dragon lived on the other side of the Village near the Mother Goose Pavilion. I could hear Phineas squawking as he received his morning bath. I knocked at the door to the tiny cottage Fred and Bill were sharing as Manny ran his bike into a privy to stop it and got down.

  “You’re going to get hurt doing that,” I told him as I waited for someone to answer the door.

  “I’ll get the hang of it,” Manny said. “I’m good at these things.”

  Fred finally answered the door. He was wearing red boxer shorts—and nothing else. “Lady Jessie.” He almost fell over trying to bow. “I wasn’t expecting you. Please excuse the mess of my abode. It’s mostly that stupid shoemaker’s fault.”

  I’d been to Fred’s cottage before so I knew better than to think Bill had made it that messy by himself. I walked inside, ignoring the empty pizza boxes and half-eaten plates of spaghetti. “Where’s my cobbler?”

  Fred scratched his chin. “Was I supposed to be holding that for you? Did the monks send it over from the bakery?”

  “My shoemaker.” Argh! “Where’s Bill?”

  Manny walked past Fred, ahead of me. “This way, Lady Jessie. Mind the food on the floor.”

  He opened a side door off the kitchen and revealed Bill still sleeping and snoring loudly in bed.

  “Bill!” I shook him. “Its me, Jessie. You need to wake up. I have good news for you.”

  He mumbled and turned over.

  “He was really drunk last night when he came in,” Fred said. “I tried to tell him that it’s hard to go to bed at midnight and get up at ten. I’ve done it. No picnic.”

  I concentrated on getting Bill out of bed. “Good news. Your shop is going to be ready tomorrow. You can move in. I’ll get some knaves and varlets to help you.”

  He muttered sleepily. “That’s good news, Jessie. Thanks. What time is it?”

  Manny looked at his impressive gold pocket watch. “Nearly nine a.m., cobbler. You should be up and ready for the day. Lady Jessie has other important things to do besides rousting you from your bed.”

  “Okay. I’m awake.” Bill put his feet on the floor. Manny drew in a quick breath while Fred started laughing.

  Bill was naked.

  “Leave at once, Lady Jessie.” Manny put his hand over my eyes and propelled me out of the bedroom. “I apologize for bringing you here this way. Go on about your business. I sha
ll get the knave up and moving.”

  What fun would it be to tell him I’d seen naked men before? “Thanks. I’ll meet you at the museum.”

  At the Dungeon, maintenance people were taking a look at the prisoners to see if everything was working after their trauma with Sir Dwayne. The workers said good morning and I waved back.

  I made a quick call to the hospital to find out how Rita was doing. The woman at the information desk said she was stable. I asked about Sir Dwayne at the same time. He’d already been treated and released. I was sure Detective Almond would be happy about that.

  Showering quickly, I dressed and got ready for the long day ahead.

  I looked into the full-length mirror one last time. My headscarf matched the green in my skirt and the embroidery in my vest. I wore a thin, white blouse under the vest, hoping I wouldn’t get too hot. I liked the gypsy look. I tucked the small book residents had been given to write up the new recruits into my side pouch, and attached my cup for free drinks to my belt loop.

  My cell phone was on the dresser. I turned the sound down and put it in my skirt pocket. It was unlikely anyone from Adventureland would catch me with it, and it made me feel safer after what had happened that morning.

  Before I put on the sandals Bill had made for me in Tennessee, I examined them. If there was magic in the leather, it was only the exquisite craftsmanship. Maybe Madame Lucinda was right, and only those with some magic of their own could have the full benefit of Bill’s elf magic.

  The way Bill’s magic seemed to affect people made me glad that I didn’t have any. I didn’t like the idea of dancing myself to death or falling off a tall structure because I couldn’t control my feet.

  I was whistling as I locked the apartment door behind me. The workers downstairs were gone. They’d left on the usual lights and sounds from the tortured prisoners. I ignored them as usual and opened the outside door to the Dungeon.