The Detective Wins The Witch (Nocturne Falls Book 10)

by Kristen Painter

  “In what way?”

  “I didn’t get to you in time.”

  “I’d say you got to me in plenty of time. Just in time, actually. And what happened wasn’t your fault.”

  He shrugged. “I know. But my instinct to help makes me wish I’d done more. Been there in time to keep you from falling. Something. Hard to feel that and know I failed.”

  “You didn’t fail. You yelled at them. That made them run away.”

  “I suppose.”

  Deputy Cruz joined them. “The auction house has a few security cameras. I’ll see if any of them caught the assailants. In the meantime, Ms. Williams, you should get that hand and arm looked at.”

  Wyatt lifted one shoulder. “I offered to take her to the emergency room.”

  “I’m fine.” For one thing, she couldn’t afford whatever that bill would be. Plus, she had a salve at home (that she’d made herself) that would heal these scrapes in less than twenty-four hours. Green witches were good with stuff like that.

  “All right, your decision.” Officer Cruz closed his notebook and tucked it away. “If we find out anything, we’ll be in touch.”

  “Thanks. Tell Roxy I said hi.”

  He grinned. “You got it.”

  Another happy couple. No doubt she’d be doing their wedding flowers at some point too. With a groan, she got off the back of the SUV and went to survey what remained of the candlesticks. Lots and lots of pieces. Most of them about the size of a quarter. Two larger hunks, the fattest part of each stick, remained mostly intact.

  They didn’t look fixable, but she wasn’t an ugly-candlesticks expert. Regardless, Newt deserved to at least have the shards after what he’d paid. She crouched down, grabbed the box they’d been in, and started tossing pieces in.

  “Hey, let me do that.” Wyatt knelt beside her. “That’s the last thing you need to be doing. Go sit. I’ll put the box in the back of your car when I’m done.”

  “Are you always this bossy to strangers?”

  He snorted and looked at her, giving her another chance to inspect his gorgeous eyes up close. “We’re not really strangers anymore, are we?”

  Sweet fancy snapdragons, he was pretty. “I guess not.”

  “You sure I can’t take you somewhere to have your injuries looked at?”

  They were so close. Both huddled together on the pavement. Inches apart. He smelled a little like pine and citrus. It was a nice smell. Masculine, clean, earthy. Just the kind of thing a green witch would like.

  And now she was wondering again if her sisters had anything to do with this. Of course, they certainly wouldn’t have set up the attempted mugging. “I promise to clean it up when I get home.”

  “Maybe I should check on you tomorrow.” He chucked a handful of pieces into the box. “Make sure you’re all right.”

  She almost fell over. Was he…flirting with her? She wasn’t sure, but she covered her surprise by getting to her feet and going back to sit on the SUV’s bumper. “I work all day, so—”

  “Where do you work?” The box in his hands was almost full.

  “Enchanted Garden. It’s a flower shop. I own it, actually.”

  “That’s nice—wait. Your name is Marigold. And you own a flower shop. Was your career chosen at birth?”

  She smiled a little. It was something people commented on a lot when they first met her. “Marigold is actually my middle name, but I’ve gone by it most of my life.”

  “I see.” He nodded as he stood. “Well, what time do you open?”

  “Nine.” Of course, she’d be there earlier to feed Frank, do paperwork, and start on the day’s arrangements, but she wasn’t telling him that.

  He tucked the box of candlestick remains into the vehicle. “I’ll see you then.”

  “Sure.” She wasn’t positive he was flirting, but she had her doubts about him showing up. If he did, he did. She wasn’t going to put much stock in it either way. “See you then.”

  He didn’t walk away like she’d expected. “Do me a favor?”

  “What’s that?”

  “I know someone who would like to have those pieces if that’s okay with whoever you bought them for. Maybe you could check for me? And tell me tomorrow?”

  She glanced over her shoulder at what was left of the candlesticks and thought about Newt telling her not to say she was working for him. But she had to give Wyatt some kind of answer. “I’ll see what I can do, but since they don’t belong to me, no promises.”

  “Totally understand. The person I know would be willing to pay something for them too, so maybe ask your person about a price.”

  She lifted her chin. “I can do that. Not sure why anyone would want them now, but one person’s trash is another person’s treasure?”

  He laughed. “I guess.” He backed away without taking his eyes off her. “Nine.”

  “Nine.” She got up, dug in her purse for her keys, then stood there a moment, watching him. He got into a black SUV that was a lot like hers.

  Her phone buzzed, distracting her. It was a Snapchat from Saffie. A picture of her and Charlie. Saffie had a lace doily on her head, a bunch of silk flowers in one hand, and a smile that went from ear to ear. Charlie was at her side, the mostly proud groom.

  Marigold let out a little laugh-sigh at the sight of her daughter. “Child, you have got it bad.”

  She shut the back of the SUV, then climbed into the driver’s seat, and one-handed, headed back into Nocturne Falls to pick her daughter up from the Merrows’ and end her reign of matrimonial terror.

  Marigold knew she should call Newt to explain about the candlesticks, but telling him in person tomorrow seemed like a better idea.

  The next morning, Marigold was pleased to see that the healing salve she’d applied to her hand and arm had worked nicely. Very little remained of the scrapes she’d gotten in the parking lot, and there was only minor bruising.

  She hadn’t bothered to tell Saffie about what had happened. No need for her child to worry.

  After a shower, Marigold put on a little makeup, dressed in jeans and a cute floral blouse, then went to see if Mrs. Charlie Merrow was up.

  She was. And already in the kitchen fixing herself a bowl of Apple Snaps.

  Marigold kissed her daughter’s head. “Morning, sunshine.”

  “Morning, Mom.” Saffie added milk to her cereal, then put the carton back in the fridge. “Hey, Mom. Watch.”

  Marigold turned around in time to see Saffie wiggle her fingers at the refrigerator door. With no further assistance, the door swung closed.

  Marigold’s mouth came open. “Did you just use magic to shut that door?”

  Saffie had the same ear-to-ear grin on her face as she’d had in last night’s wedding photo. “Yep.”

  “How…” Marigold swallowed. “You shouldn’t be able to do that. Not yet.”

  Witches didn’t usually come into their powers until about age thirteen. Saffron was eleven.

  Saffie shrugged. “But, like, I just did.”

  “I see that.” Marigold made herself smile. Clearly, Saffie was proud of what she’d just shown off. “Great job, honey.”

  “Does that mean I can get a mentor now?”

  Also standard procedure for when a new witch came of age. Someone in the local coven would sponsor her and help guide her through the early days. Marigold nodded. “I’ll have to check with the coven, but I don’t think that will be an issue.”

  Saffie’s smile grew a little tentative. “Do you think Mimi will do it?”

  Marigold kept on nodding. Mimi was Saffie’s name for Corette, one Corette far preferred over Grandma. “I bet she would love to. In fact, I’ll call her today.”

  Saffie clapped and ran to her mother for a hug. “Yay!”

  Marigold pulled her in and squeezed her tight. She was definitely calling her mother about this.

  “Do you think I’ll be a green witch like you? Or be able to see auras like Kaley?”

  Kaley was Pandora’s soon-
to-be stepdaughter, and Saffron idolized her.

  “Hard to say, baby. We’ll just have to see how your powers work out.” Marigold kissed Saffie’s head again. “Go eat your breakfast, now. The bus will be here soon.”

  Thankfully, Saffron’s school, Harmswood Academy, provided transportation as part of the tuition package. Tuition that was pricey, but worth it. Harmswood was a private school that catered to the supernatural, and it was the best place for a young witch.

  Especially one who was blossoming way too fast.

  Fifteen minutes later, Saffie was out the door and Marigold was on the phone.

  “Mom, you’re not going to believe this.”

  “What is it, dear?”

  Marigold took a breath. “Saffron’s powers are starting to materialize.”

  Corette went quiet for a few moments. “Well, just because she thinks she can feel them doesn’t mean they’re really there yet.”

  “Mom. She shut the refrigerator door without touching it. She charmed it closed.”

  Corette made a small hmph sound. “I’m not surprised.”

  “You’re not? Because I’m flabbergasted. She’s eleven, Mom.”

  “I know, but Charisma’s came at twelve and three months.”

  “Okay, but look at Pandora. Hers didn’t come until she met Cole.”

  “Her gifts came. They were just…unusable. And now her gifts are extraordinary. All of you girls are exceptionally gifted. Who knows? Saffron may be the best of us.”

  “But at eleven?”

  “I understand you’re concerned, honey, but Saffron is a good girl. She’s not going to do anything to get herself into trouble. And they won’t let her at Harmswood. Just because she has powers doesn’t mean she’s going to use them to do something she shouldn’t. Have faith in the child you raised.”

  Marigold smiled. “I do. I’m just…worried.”

  “That’s called being a mother.” Corette laughed softly. “And I had three of you to contend with.”

  “You did a great job, Mom.”

  “You are too, honey. Now, unfortunately, I have to get to work.”

  “Me, too. Love you.”

  “Love you more.”

  They hung up, and Marigold got moving. A few minutes later, she pulled into her parking spot behind the shop and headed in through the back door.

  She flipped the lights on. Frank the Tank was sitting by his feeding station.

  “Morning, Frank. How’s the pest patrol going?”

  He meowed at her, then moved a few steps closer to his bowl, which she took to mean feed me now.

  “That good, huh?”

  She opened a can of food for him, plopped it into a clean dish, then put it down and picked up the old one. She put that in the sink to wash later, scooped his litter box (the smell of which was probably keeping the mice at bay), gave him clean water, refilled his dry food, then got to work turning the rest of the lights on.

  She wasn’t looking forward to telling Newt that his $6,500 candlesticks were worthless, so when someone knocked on the shop’s door before she had the lights on, she jumped and let out a little shriek.

  She peered through the workroom door to see who it was, then exhaled in relief. The figure outlined by the morning sun was Deputy Cruz.

  She flipped the lights on, then went to open the door. “Morning, Alex.”

  “Morning, Marigold. Sorry to bother you before you’re open.”

  “That’s okay. Is everything all right?”

  He nodded. “Just wanted to check in with you. We’ll be running a few extra patrols by here today.”

  “Because of what happened yesterday?”

  “Yes.”

  “I don’t think that’s necessary.”

  “Sheriff Merrow thinks it is. We couldn’t ID those two men. They had ball caps on and their faces were hidden from the security cams. Sheriff thought it would be a good idea for us to make our presence a little better known for the next few days.”

  “If you think so.”

  “It’s a done deal. Just wanted you to know.” He started to go, then hesitated. “One more thing.”

  “What’s that?”

  “The man who helped you yesterday. Wyatt?”

  “Yes?”

  “He’s human, by the way.”

  “He is?” It hadn’t occurred to her to wonder, really. Most people in town were supernaturals. But then, she hadn’t been in Nocturne Falls. “How can you be sure?”

  Deputy Cruz tapped the side of his nose. “Feline sense of smell never fails.”

  “Right. Well, good to know. But won’t the town water take care of that?” The town’s water supply was fed from the falls, which had been charmed decades ago by one of the most powerful witches that lived here, Alice Bishop.

  Because of her spell, any human who drank the water (which was pretty much any tourist who came to town) truly believed that the magic in town was all an act. Ingenious, really.

  He shook his head. “It didn’t work that well with Roxy. And Wyatt’s not staying in town. He’s staying in Millersville, by the auction house.”

  “Well, I’ll be on my best non-witchy behavior if I see him again, but I don’t think that’s very likely.”

  Men, Marigold had learned long ago, didn’t always keep their word.

  Wyatt hadn’t been to Nocturne Falls since arriving for the auction, even though the touristy town was right next to Millersville. This was a working trip, not a vacation, but seeing as how his work was almost over, a little detour seemed like a worthwhile endeavor.

  Especially when that detour took him to Marigold Williams.

  But as he drove down Main Street, he realized he should have taken this detour sooner. Millersville was just a regular, ordinary town, and frankly, pretty boring.

  Despite being right next door to Millersville, Nocturne Falls, on the other hand, was not even close to ordinary. And about as far from boring as could be.

  His first clue was the large pumpkin-shaped sign he passed driving into town that read, Welcome to Nocturne Falls—where every day is Halloween.

  He’d never seen a place like this in his life. And as a cop, he’d seen some things.

  The general color scheme of the whole joint seemed to be black and orange. There was a fair amount of purple, green, pink, and blue too. The colors were bright and true. Even the pastels had pop.

  And the Halloween theme was everywhere.

  Cobweb-shaped metal brackets held the street lamps off their poles. A few of the buildings were deliberately built to look rickety. Pumpkin shapes were everywhere.

  As he drove, he passed a large fountain with an enormous gargoyle at the front of it. The fountain was the centerpiece of a landscaped park that made up the large main square. He blinked as he went by, not sure what he was seeing. Was the gargoyle moving? Talking to people? Had to be animatronics.

  He shook his head. This town was something else. Kind of campy and crazy, but cool in a sort of Tim Burton way. He could see why it was such a popular tourist spot. The little kids on the streets wore costumes despite the fact that it was months away from Halloween and early in the morning. He even spotted a few adults in masks. He grinned. Kids must eat this place up.

  Just to keep the theme going, the businesses had names like The I Scream Shop and Hats In The Belfry.

  Then he saw what he was looking for. A diner. Called Mummy’s. The sign had a cartoon mummy on it with the slogan “Our food is to die for!” Based on the number of people at the door, the food had to be good. That was all he needed.

  He snagged a parking spot and went inside. A sign for takeout hung over the far end of the counter. He got in line. He grabbed a menu while he waited and quickly deduced that cinnamon buns were the way to go. Not just because of the menu, but because a server went by with one and it was about the size of his head.

  Outstanding.

  When it was his turn, he ordered two, plus two coffees. The food came up fast, neatly packaged. This place o
bviously did a tremendous business. He was back in his car in less than ten minutes.

  The Enchanted Garden was his next stop, and thanks to the trip to Mummy’s, he arrived at nine thirty. Plenty of time, he assumed, for Marigold to get her shop open and her day underway. He didn’t want to interrupt her normal routine. And if she was busy, he’d just leave the bag and go. Well, he’d leave his cell number, too.

  Takeout bag in hand, he walked in. A bell over the door announced his entrance. He wasn’t sure he’d ever been in a flower shop before. He stood there for a moment, trying to remember. No, he didn’t think he had. This one seemed nice. Smelled good. He looked around. Had a lot more plants than he’d expected. And more color.

  “Can I help you? Oh. It’s you.”

  He turned. Marigold was standing by the sales counter. She must have been in the back when he’d first come in. He could see part of a desk and the ends of some tables through the door behind her. He held up the bag. “Despite that warm welcome, I brought you breakfast.”

  She laughed. “I didn’t mean it that way.”

  “You didn’t think I’d show, did you?”

  She leaned against the counter and crossed her arms. “Nope. I didn’t.”

  He walked over and set the bag next to her, but then squinted to study her forearm and hand. “Those scrapes are almost gone. I don’t even see any bruising. How is that possible?”

  She jerked her arm away. “I, uh, I put some good stuff on it. So, what’s in the bag?”

  He knew enough to know when someone wanted a subject dropped, but what was the big deal? No one healed that fast. Even so, he let it go. “Coffee and cinnamon buns. That seemed to be the thing to get at Mummy’s.”

  “It is, it definitely is. Their pancakes are outstanding, too. But you didn’t need to do this. Or is this part of you trying to persuade me to give you those candlestick pieces?”

  He wasn’t. He’d just wanted to put a smile on her face. Impress her a little, maybe. He shrugged. “Is it helping?”

  Her smile was a nice little reward. “It’s not hurting. But it isn’t up to me if you get those pieces or not.”