He nodded at her, and she retreated to the kitchen.
After a couple of hours of working and thinking, Ben’s cell phone rang. It was the coroner letting him know that she was about to email over some preliminary toxicology tests.
“These are just the results of a few early tests. It’s not the final toxicology report,” Dr. Friedrich stated curtly. “If you have any questions call me,” she said and disconnected the line without further greeting or comment.
Ben put his phone back in his pocket and opened up his email account on his laptop. His mind was buzzing with the prospect of finally being able to start solving this case. What he found in the initial toxicology report not only killed that buzz, it made his heart sink into the pit of his stomach. He immediately took his phone back out and dialed the coroner.
“Yes, Detective Carmichael,” Dr. Friedrich said curtly after her secretary transferred the call.
“Is this what killed her?” Ben asked almost frantically. He was losing his cool, but he needed to pull it together.
“I’m cautioning you not to make that assumption yet. I’m getting ready to start the autopsy now. I’ll be able to tell you more after.”
“But the level you found in her system, would it have been enough to kill her?” Detective Ben asked. He felt as though his entire body was on pins and needles.
“Most likely not. My initial opinion is that either Mrs. Tory was using it to help her sleep or someone else gave it to her to ensure she stayed unconscious. Is there anything else?”
“Not right now; thank you.” As soon as he spoke the words, the line disconnected.
“Well, she’s not much for conversation,” Ben mumbled to himself.
He looked up, and Linda had appeared at his side again. She had a fresh pot of coffee and started to fill his cup.
“Was that about the case?” she asked and raised her finely plucked eyebrows.
“Linda,” Detective Ben chastised gently. “You know I can’t talk about that.”
“Sorry, Detective. It’s hard not to be curious when you’re in my diner going on about it.”
“It’s okay. I’m just on edge. You can help me, though.”
“Oh really, how?” she asked with a look of sheer delight on her face.
“You can tell me if anyone around here grows the belladonna plant?” He asked quietly, already aware that he didn’t want to know the answer.
“Is that…”
He raised his hand to cut her off.
“Linda.” Detective Ben’s voice had a tone of warning, and a touch of sadness, too.
“Alright. There’s only one person I know of that grows it locally. I think you know who. However, Detective, Belladonna keeps her garden gate locked and the actual deadly nightshade plants are in a separate part of her garden behind a second locked gate. She takes caring for them very seriously.” It’s apparent to the detective that sharing this information makes Linda feel terrible.
“But, Linda, why does she grow it?”
“You should talk to her about that, Ben. I think it has something to do with her family heritage, but I don’t want to speak for her.”
“Okay, I’ll go by her place later today. I was just at her shop a couple of hours ago. She did an excellent job with my hair, didn’t she?” he asked in an attempt to lighten the mood.
“More of your face is showing now. I’m not sure that’s much of an improvement,” Linda said with a wink and a hearty laugh.
Since his next moves were to wait for the autopsy and talk to Belladonna early in the evening, Detective Benjamin ordered some lunch and then walked around the town square. He went into several businesses to ask if anyone had seen anything last night before the fire, but he got a lot of…
“Nope, nothing.”
The town was usually quiet by dinnertime, so this didn’t surprise him at all. Detective Ben was fairly confident that the townsfolk weren’t just shutting him out because he was an outsider. Although if he were from around here, they might have been a little more pleasant about telling him they hadn’t seen anything.
Sometimes he got the feeling that the entire town of Winterfield was hiding some big secret from him, but that had to be paranoia, didn’t it? What kind of secret would an entire village have? There were many possibilities, but none of them seemed grounded in reality, as he understood it.
His next stop was back to the police station. Detective Ben hadn’t planned on going back there until it was time to check out for the day, but he was really spinning his wheels on this case. Moreover, it was his only case. Until Mrs. Tory’s death, the town of Winterfield hadn’t even needed a detective. But they had one in their city budget, so here he was.
The virtual fax on his desktop computer dinged, and Ben couldn’t click on the PDF documents fast enough. They were from forensics, and as he suspected, the fire had rendered any forensic evidence useless.
Detective Ben shook his head and ran both of his hands through his thick hair in frustration. It was a frustration he’d have to quell because this case wasn’t going anywhere. He’d still go talk to Belladonna later, but the detective didn’t believe this case was going anywhere anytime soon.
He’d hoped that solving this case would help the people of Winterfield open up to him. It looked like he’d have to find another way in. Something had to give, though, because everything else about this place felt like home.
777 Cornland Lane
Belladonna was home from work much earlier than normal. Her last appointment was at three, and since she’d gone into the shop early, she didn’t feel too bad about knocking off for the day at four. Any walk-ins that came by after that would just have to wait a day. It was one of the benefits of being the only beauty parlor and barber in town.
Sterling was waiting by the front door when Bella arrived home, and despite being inside for a long stretch, she made no attempt to leave. The silver cat did meowl loudly at her new mistress hoping for some dinner.
“Let me guess, you want something to eat,” Belladonna said and knelt down to pet her new cat’s head.
Sterling started to purr so loudly that Bella knew she’d hit the nail on the head. Bella made her way down the hall to the kitchen, and Sterling trotted alongside her.
She opened up the pantry and took out a can of salmon cat food. Belladonna knew from Sterling’s many previous visits that this was the cat’s favorite.
“Salmon sounds like a fantastic idea, kitty,” Bella said, and Sterling pranced impatiently around her feet as she opened the can and dumped it onto Sterling’s fancy china feeding plate. “Maybe that’s what I’ll have for dinner, too,” she said and set the plate down on the floor.
Bella walked across the kitchen and pulled open the freezer drawer. As she fished out two frozen salmon fillets, every broom in the house fell over at once. Bella even heard her mother’s ceremonial broom, which hung over the fireplace mantel, fall with a loud thump to the ground.
It startled Sterling for a moment, but the cat went back to eating, as Bella stood frozen in place. The hair on the back of her neck stood up, and Belladonna understood that important company was coming. Whether it was good or bad she couldn’t tell, but for some reason the spirits wanted her to pay attention.
Unfortunately, moments later a fog crept into Belladonna’s mind, and the urgency was replaced by an artificial relaxation. She walked around the house and set each of her many brooms right, as if in a dream state. Then, the usually very sharp witch completely forgot the entire episode. She drifted back into the kitchen and started to thaw her salmon without giving the spirits’ warning a second thought.
An hour or so later, the doorbell rang. Sterling the cat hissed and skulked off to hide under the antique china cabinet in the formal dining room. For half a moment, Belladonna thought Sterling’s behavior was alarming and odd, but then that thought drifted away as if on a light spring breeze.
She picked up her wand from the kitchen counter and waved it over the pans simmering o
n the stove. At once, the sautéing salmon in lemon butter and the parmesan risotto froze in a magical suspended animation. Bella chuckled as she thought about how much she wished she could cast that spell on humans sometimes, but at least she could keep her dinner from burning as she answered the door.
The doorbell rang again, and this time Bella could swear it sounded more insistent. That was silly, though. Even in a town like Winterfield, doorbells could not grow impatient. She wiped her hands on her apron and quickly shuffled to the front door.
“Sterling, hush now,” she called sweetly back into the house when she heard the cat start her low rumbly growl.
Just as she opened the door, a lawn mower started up. Jeremy was at the edge of her yard, getting ready to start her weekly lawn maintenance. Standing on her front porch was none other than Lexi Whitlock, the Mayor’s wife and president of the Winterfield Ladies Brigade. Directly behind her was Murielle, who happened to be rolling her eyes and sticking out her tongue gleefully.
Lexi’s white skirt suit was so bright that it was almost blinding. She had on white gloves, and her perfectly coifed blonde hair let Belladonna know Lexi had recently traveled to the city to get her hair done. The mayor’s wife certainly never stooped low enough to come into Bella’s shop. Although, with the inheritance, Belladonna and Sterling might just be richer than the Whitlocks now. That would explain her sudden appearance on Bella’s doorstep, carrying what looked like a basket of cat toys and treats.
“Hello, Lexi. Hello, Murielle. What are the two of you doing together?” Belladonna asked a little incredulously.
“We’re not.” Lexi’s voice dripped with disdain.
“Nope. Just happened to be coming up your sidewalk at the same time.” Murielle said and then squeezed by Mrs. Whitlock and Belladonna as she took the liberty of letting herself into her best friend’s house. “Ooooh, salmon and risotto.” Bella heard Murielle call from the kitchen.
“I’m sorry, I don’t have enough for three,” Belladonna said awkwardly and apologetically. “I could whip up something else really quickly for myself and you and Murielle could have the salmon.”
The Nightshade family customs dictated that its members offer hospitality to anyone who crossed their threshold. While the idea of sharing a meal with Lexi Whitlock was unpleasant at best, it was what Belladonna felt was right.
Not to mention that this was her home, so running interference between Murielle and Lexi would be Belladonna’s responsibility. The main issue being that Lexi and the Winterfield Ladies Brigade did not like witches. They were quite vocal about the fact that they believed using magic, even in a place like Winterfield, was improper.
If Lexi and her gaggle of “proper ladies” had their way, the witches of Winterfield would have to keep their magic a secret. Better yet, they’d get all practice of magic banned in Winterfield. Belladonna, Murielle, and the others already had to keep it under wraps until Detective Ben could be properly introduced to the realities of the town he now called home, but that wasn’t good enough for Lexi.
So, what was she doing on Belladonna’s doorstep?
Five
“Thank you for thinking of me, Ms. Nightshade.” Lexi’s emphasis on the title Ms. was intended to make Bella feel bad about not being married and Bella had to physically restrain herself from rolling her eyes and sighing. “I’m watching my figure, though. Whatever you’re cooking in there smells delicious, but it’s probably much too rich for my diet.” Yet another backhanded compliment delivered with a rehearsed fake smile.
“Oh yes. Very rich. You know how we witches like to eat,” Belladonna returned with the same fake smile and tone dripping in false sincerity.
Bella stuck her belly out and patted it proudly. She wished she could bottle the look on Lexi Whitmore’s face.
“Yes, indeed. Well, as to why I’m here.” Lexi was flustered, and that made Bella feel a little more gleeful than she probably should have. Belladonna hoped that Murielle was listening to it because this was the kind of thing that really floated her boat.
“Go on, Lexi. I’m all ears.”
“The Winterfield Ladies Brigade wanted to send over a care package for Sterling. We know that she’s been through a trauma, and we ladies are concerned with the health and well-being of all of Winterfield’s residents. Cats and humans alike,” she said and thrust the basket forward into Belladonna’s arms.
Bella noted that Lexi said cats and humans. She left out the Winterfield residents who were witches, werewolves, fae, and Old Man Jenkins, who most everyone agreed was probably a zombie. Fortunately, he liked tomatoes more than brains.
“Thank you, but this wouldn’t happen to have anything to do with Sterling’s inheritance, would it?” This was the only reason Bella could think of for someone like Lexi bringing a care basket to a cat.
“What? No. Of course not. We just...” But Bella cut her off.
“Jeremy is getting awfully close to the house with his lawnmower. You’d better come in or you’re going to get grass clippings all over your suit,” Belladonna said and stepped back so Lexi could enter.
“Oh! Look at the time. I must be going. So, make sure Sterling gets the basket and give the little sweetheart a pat on the head for me,” Lexi said and then hurried off the porch before Bella could say anything else.
“Seriously,” Bella grumbled and went into the house.
She walked into the kitchen and could see that Murielle was conducting dinner like it was an orchestra. The flavors pulled out of the food by her wand as she made it dance above the stovetop.
“What are you doing?” Bella asked and set the basket down on the counter. Something about it smelled dark and dank, but those thoughts quickly escaped her as her attention was pulled towards the flavor symphony playing out in her kitchen.
“Sorry, Bells. I had to do something, or I was going to walk out there and give that harpy a piece of my mind,” Murielle said and then used her wand to plate the food perfectly.
“It’s okay. Well, I know why Lexi was here,” Belladonna said and pointed to the overpriced gift basket. “But what brings you by? Not that you’re not always welcome here.”
“Oh my God. Seriously, Bella? Tonight is the Fall Festival in the square. I told Officer Terry that I was going with you. I wasn’t about to let him corner me into a date so quickly,” Murielle said and carried the finished plates into the breakfast nook off the kitchen.
“Right. Sorry. I completely forgot, but Murielle, that wouldn’t be letting him off easily. He’s been pursuing you for months. When are you going to cut the guy some slack?” Bella asked and grabbed two sodas from the refrigerator.
“Soon. Very soon, I promise. I swear our first date won’t be New Year’s Eve.”
“Yeah right. That man will still be chasing you come Valentine’s Day,” Belladonna said and took a bite of the salmon. “Mmmm. This is so good, Muri. Thank you for fixing it.” Bella noticed that Sterling, now in better spirits, was sitting at her feet, looking at her dolefully.
“Meoooooow,” Sterling yowled when Bella made eye contact.
“You already had your salmon,” Bella chastised playfully.
“Meoooooooow.”
“Alright, alright,” she responded and put a forkful of the perfectly cooked fish on the floor. “I suppose you are the boss around here now.”
“What do you mean?” Murielle asked with her cheeks stuffed full of risotto like a chipmunk.
“Like the risotto, eh?” Bella asked.
Her friend nodded her head, yes, and Bella proceeded to explain Sterling’s trust fund. She had to laugh more than once as Murielle’s eyes widened into huge saucers.
“You’re an heiress now!” Murielle exclaimed after a huge gulp.
“I guess so. I mean, technically Sterling here is the heiress. I’m just the help,” Bella said and smiled.
On cue, Sterling jumped into her lap and made herself comfortable. “While I’m eating? Really?” Belladonna asked with a laugh and Sterling st
arted to purr loudly.
After they were finished eating, Belladonna moved the sleeping kitty into the parlor and lit a fire for her. Sterling must have found this acceptable because she rolled onto her back and fell back asleep.
Meanwhile, the two women went upstairs to Bella’s room to root through her extensive costume collection. Murielle chose a mermaid costume with a sequined tail, opaque glass shell bra, and a long blond wig studded with tiny sparkling starfish barrettes.
Belladonna, on the other hand, had gone as some kind mythical, or not so mythical, creature for the last few years. This time she selected her Marie Antoinette costume.
“Oooh, you’ve never worn that before. Is it for someone special?” Murielle asked and waggled her eyebrows at Bella.
“Shut up. You’re such a witch sometimes. No, I’m just doing something different.” Bella teased and playfully whacked her friend on the arm with the peacock feather fan that matched the dress and the feathers in her tall, white wig.
Belladonna put out the fire before the two women departed for the festival. Sterling looked at her, annoyed for a moment, and then got up, sauntered over to the hearth, and laid back down.
“We won’t be late.”
Belladonna and Murielle walked arm in arm towards the town square, completely, and abnormally, unaware of the shadowy figure following close behind.
Town Square
Detective Ben told himself that he was only attending the Winterfield Fall Festival to gather information on the case. He’d convinced himself that he was only dressed in a pirate costume to blend in. He was just following customs.
Ben also told himself that he wasn’t excited to see Belladonna; he just needed to speak with her about the lab results. He would in no way try to get a glimpse of the full moonlight reflected in her gorgeous eyes. That was silly. Detective Benjamin Carmichael needed to speak with her regarding her deadly nightshade crop and nothing more.
So why did his heart feel like it skipped at least three beats when he saw her walk into the festival area?
Magic & Mystery: A Cozy Mystery Sampler Page 10