Faerie Cake Dead

by Неизвестный

  Stuttering, she glanced anywhere but at him. Marry him? He really wanted her to marry him? He was right, they had joked about it, but she’d hardly considered it a real possibility. The thought of his arms around her at anytime, especially in bed, filled her with a plethora of feelings.

  He understood and looked out for her. But best of all, he was a believer. Her pulse raced, heat flushed her body and her breathing quickened at the thought of his touch.

  Luna stepped close to him, staring into his handsome face.

  “You’re sure this is what you want?” Her voice drifted away on the breeze.

  “I haven’t wanted anything this badly in a very long time. Say yes, please, Luna.”

  She nodded and stepped into his embrace. “I will, yes,” she murmured as he kissed her.

  Laughter sounded behind the couple and they separated, turning. Ida and William stood arm in arm, their gaze focused on them.

  “We’re about to make the formal engagement announcement, so please come inside,” Ida said with a broad grin.

  Devin parted from Luna and walked inside with Ida, whispering in her ear. She nodded as they moved toward the front of the room. William followed with Luna, his face‌—‌and, she suspected hers‌—‌filled with delight. His hand covered hers, tucked into the crook of his arm.

  “You’re absolutely stunning tonight, my dear. Your happiness is well deserved.”

  Luna hesitated a moment and leaned close to the attorney. “William, I wasn’t aware you knew Mrs. Gregory.”

  “I’ve known her for a long time, and what’s more, I think it’s time I settled down, don’t you?”

  Surprise left her breathless. Luna gawked at him, made wordless by his statement.

  Soft laughter and a warm hug brought her voice back. She smiled and said, “You do need someone to watch over you. You’ve been a bachelor far too long, William. I do want to say, though, that Devin just asked me to marry him for real. I’ve accepted, so this could be a double wedding.”

  A hearty embrace followed her words when William managed to take in the information. His laughter cheerful, he kissed her cheek.

  “This is wonderful news. I’m so glad you realized how you felt. Everyone else knew long ago that the two of you would be a perfect match.”

  Rolling her eyes, Luna left him and went to stand with Devin, who beckoned her to his side. Ida Gregory commanded the audience to silence and presented the newly-engaged couple to them with an added bonus of a final marriage proposal having just been made. The crowd cheered, applauding the news, and toasted the couple’s health.

  Luna gazed at the smiling faces of new friends and old. Her heart soared as she smiled and sipped the champagne. Gazing around the room, she caught sight of Rudy behind one of the wait staff, his face cold as he turned away. Why? Why would he look that way? Luna wondered, her nerves tight.

  The evening wore on while Luna and Devin made the rounds of well-wishers. At midnight, Luna murmured to Devin it was time to leave. With a nod, he made their farewells and drove her to the Junction.

  Chapter 19

  Faerie Cake Junction lay swathed in bright moonlight. Luminous stars sparkled in the clear night sky overhead. Luna breathed the brisk air, filling her lungs with sweet, summer fragrances.

  She couldn’t get enough of it and breathed deeply again. Somewhere in the distance, an earsplitting yowl met her ears.

  Panic hit her full on. Racing toward the back door, her high-heeled feet clattered against the porch floor. Devin moved ahead, barring her entry through the open door.

  “Stay here. Don’t go in yet. Let me check things out first,” he warned in a soft whisper.

  She nodded and stood back while he stepped inside. The cat wailed over and over. Luna’s heart jolted as fear coursed along her tightly strung nerves. What could be wrong? Why wasn’t Devin helping him? These and other worrisome questions flew through her mind as she waited impatiently on the back porch. Luna counted to ten before she burst through the door and ran up the steps, her shoes swinging from her hand.

  Lights glowed inside the apartment, streaming across the shadowed landing when she topped the final step. Luna entered the loft in search of the yellow cat, calling his name as Devin stepped out of the bathroom. A more subdued meow rang out. Striding to the closet, she rummaged through a jumble of storage boxes. The cat stared up at her, his fur puffed out and ears laid back flat against his head. He hissed as she stood over him until he heard her soothing voice.

  “You poor darling, come here. Who stuffed you inside that box?” Luna glanced at the remaining cartons. Curious about the intruder, she smoothed the fur on Riddles’ back. Holding him close, she wandered through the loft and down the stairs into the tearoom.

  At the doorway, she heard Devin on the phone, requesting a rescue team be dispatched to her address. Luna stepped forward to see the body of a man sitting at a table, posed the same way as the first dead man. The only difference was that Thomas Devere wasn’t old and decrepit. He was simply dead. His pallid index finger curled through a teacup handle, a store-bought cupcake on the plate before him.

  She backed away from the scene and fled through the back door, her body trembling uncontrollably. Frightened, Riddles scrambled from her grasp, leaping to the ground as they reached the porch. Luna clung to the rail, sucking in heavy drafts of the cool night air as though she were unable to get enough of it into her lungs. She shook and cried all at once, not knowing why, or caring. Her problems had become more than she could handle, especially now that Thomas was dead.

  She warmed as Devin caressed her back while he turned her body to his. Murmuring softly, he held her tightly while she sobbed. After several moments, she moved away from the safety of his embrace to stare into his face.

  “He’s dead, right? Thomas is dead?” Tears streaked down her cheeks.

  “Yes, he is. I’m sorry, Luna.”

  “Don’t be sorry.” She sniffed. “I wanted him gone, not dead. Just gone.”

  He smoothed her hair and then wiped her tears away. Concerned, he peered into her shadowed face.

  “I didn’t think for a minute that you would mourn him. I already knew things had become too much for you to deal with.”

  “He wasn’t a good man. I don’t think he ever was. A conman without any remorse at all, he just looked for the next mark.” Luna glanced away for a second, and then turned her eyes back to Devin’s. “This couldn’t be set to make me look like the murderer, could it?”

  He shook his head. “No, he’s been dead long enough for rigor to set in. There’s no way you could be accused of his demise. I would look more toward Arvi or his partner, whoever that is.”

  Within minutes, the blare of sirens pierced the air. Headlights accompanied by flashing lights glaring through the front windows. Devin released Luna and walked into the building to open the doors.

  Luna ran to the restroom to pull herself together and face the EMTs, and especially the sheriff, who she knew would make his accusations despite Devin’s assertions. She wiped her smudged makeup from her face and tried to clean away the smears of mascara under her eyes. When she emerged, Gus was already hunched over Thomas’s body; he straightened and turned to look at her.

  “Luna, I’m sorry, but this guy is dead.” He tipped his head toward the body. “Did you know him?”

  “He’s my ex-husband.” She sniffled and wiped an errant tear as Devin slipped an arm around her shoulder. “Did somebody notify the sheriff?”

  “He’s on his way. Can I get you a glass of water or something?” Gus asked.

  “No, I’m fine. It was just such a surprise to find him dead and all, here in the shop.” Luna turned away and strode to the rear porch. Gazing out over the yard, her mind blank, she gathered Riddles to her and smoothed his thick fur.

  Moments later, an eternity to Luna, Sheriff Tiddler and a deputy arrived with Doc Hardy in tow. She watched them work from the edge of the corridor door. Eventually, the rescue personnel loaded Thomas’
s body onto a stretcher and carted him away. Doc Hardy left on their heels without a single word to Luna. Sheriff Tiddler strode along the hallway, motioning Luna onto the porch where he stood in front of her.

  His hat in his hand, he rolled it around by the brim. After a while he said, “I’m sorry you had to come home to this after such a special evening, Luna. I have some questions, if you don’t mind.”

  In all his visits, Sheriff Tiddler had never exhibited any sincere kindness. She glanced at him and said in a voice that sounded low and listless even to her ears, “Sure, go ahead.”

  He leaned in to hear her answers as he questioned her about finding the body. He wondered if she had any idea why Thomas had come by. She didn’t know, or had no idea. When he seemed satisfied, the sheriff bid her goodnight and drove away. Luna breathed a sigh of relief.

  Devin stood inside the doorway, watching Luna pet the heavy beast cuddled in her arms. Her face remained blank. Able to hear the soft murmur of her voice, he couldn’t make out the words. He stepped closer and realized she sang a sweet, tender melody to the cat as he rested easy against her.

  Devin lifted a hand toward Luna, but she stepped away.

  “There’s nothing here to be afraid of now, so why don’t you go home. I’ll see you tomorrow. I have the day off.” Luna failed to look at him as she spoke, not seeing how her words affected him.

  In a fraction of a second, he grabbed her arms and shook her lightly as worry and anger vied for space in his mind. The cat scrambled away, racing off the porch while Luna blinked at Devin as though awakened from a dream.

  “Don’t handle me like a sack of potatoes, Devin Radford. I don’t like it,” she snapped.

  “That’s better,” Devin said. He had the old Luna back. He let go of her and stepped away.

  “I’m not leaving you alone, and that’s final. Don’t think this is over yet, Luna, because it isn’t. Not by any stretch of the imagination are you safe from harm. Now, call the faeries and ask them what they saw.” His tone brooked no nonsense, and Luna did as instructed.

  In a soft lilting voice that swept over the gardens, she called forth the faeries. At first, they hesitated, their glow flickering among flower petals and leaves of bushes. At last, one fluttered close and landed on Luna’s outstretched hand. She stared up with mournful eyes while her gossamer wings jittered up and down.

  “Saddened you are this night, Luna,” she said in a musical tone.

  “There has been a mishap, faerie, and I need your help.”

  The faerie nodded. “The pixies know, about here they were. Stay we can’t, for the moon dance begins.” Her wings spread wide, the faerie rose into the air and darted away to join the group lingering nearby.

  “Pixies,” Luna complained. “Just what I need tonight. Pixies.”

  “We have no choice but to ask them if they saw anything. You don’t think they had anything to do with the murder, do you Luna?”

  Luna couldn’t believe Devin thought the pixies would murder anyone. Her voice tense, she said, “Listen up faerie lord, pixies don’t kill people. They play pranks, but aren’t vicious creatures, they’re just annoying wee folk.”

  His brows rose at her attitude. “Sorry, I’ve never experienced pixies, only faeries. They’re beyond my realm of understanding, but I’ll take your word for it,” Devin remarked.

  Luna turned toward the trees that ran along the forest edge. She called the pixies and waited.

  Three raggedy sprites edged from the trees bordering the garden. They danced toward her as Luna stepped on the path to wait their arrival. She turned and whispered to Devin that he should bring bits of brightly colored ribbon from the gift shop, explaining that pixies liked finery, and the gay snippets of ribbon would please them.

  He turned and left her in search of them.

  As they neared her, Luna noticed their feet wrapped with tiny leaves held together with vine, which curled up at their toes. Ragged leaves twined around their heads, serving as caps atop their shaggy hair. Though they loved the meadow, they kept to the forest and lived among the faeries in peace.

  Luna stared at them while they danced about in a circle along the moonlit path. Her gaze fixed upon one pixie in particular. Elongated tips of his ears wobbled when he moved and his eyes sparkled. She found the sound of his gleeful laughter charming.

  When their internal music ended, they stood before her and bowed. Luna smiled, offering a couple of snippets of the ribbon Devin handed over her shoulder.

  Luna murmured to the wee folk, “Pixie gifts for you.”

  They giggled and chose the pieces they wanted. Two of the creatures tucked ribbon into their hats, while the other placed his in neckerchief style around his neck. Luna watched while Devin remained still.

  “I ask for your help, dear pixies,” Luna said.

  With a deep bow, the tallest pixie, nearly a foot in height stepped forward and swept his ragged cap to her.

  “How may we serve you, human?”

  “We are in great fear for your safety, ours, and that of the faeries. A loss of a fellow human has taken place tonight, and we are perplexed by it. Can you help us?” Luna asked with great respect.

  “See the human, we did. His person came with another,” said the pixie, while the other two pixies swayed in the moonlight, to a tune only they could hear.

  Surprised, Luna asked, “Both persons were walking together, alive and well?”

  The pixie nodded and stepped forward a tad. His hand came up and cupped the corner of his mouth. He leaned toward Luna. “Two came, the one left,” the pixie whispered.

  She leaned back for a second before she offered another bit of ribbon to the pixie. He lifted it from her hand and smiled with glee, brandishing it at the other two pixies. They both snapped to attention and stepped closer.

  “Have you seen the one person before?” Luna asked.

  “The one we have not, only the one who stayed.”

  One of the other pixies stepped forward. A cap made of leaves in hand, he flourished it and bowed to Luna.

  “Bides his time in another home, he does. Across the wood to the sea he is,” the second pixie offered. His hand came up and Luna placed a bit of ribbon into it. The pixie danced joyously and bowed before stepping back.

  A snort of laughter sounded behind Luna. She glanced over her shoulder in warning for Devin to remain quiet. When she turned back, the pixies were gone. She tossed the remaining piece of ribbon into the trees at the edge of the garden and wandered back up the steps.

  Chapter 20

  They settled into wicker chairs on the porch. A lit candle offered a pale glow from its holder. Devin sipped tea Luna had brought him while she gazed out over the shadowed yard. The moon hung suspended in the sky, a giant cheese wheel, while stars sparkled in the darkness.

  “Across the wood to the sea,” Luna murmured.

  “That means the killer lives on the coast, doesn’t he?”

  She turned toward him. “This man must be stopped before another death takes place. I have no idea who he is. I can’t tell the sheriff what the pixies told me, or he’ll have me dragged away to the funny farm.” Luna shook her head. “The only option we have is to ferret out the killer by ourselves.”

  “You’ve gotten your initial shock under control, I see.” Devin peered at her over the rim of his teacup.

  “I’m just angry now. It isn’t as though I loved Thomas any longer, or ever did for that matter,” Luna said with a shrug. “I simply didn’t wish him dead.”

  “No, just beaten to a pulp, or covered with a cat dander rash, right?” Devin snickered when Luna cast him a narrowed glance.

  She chuckled. “I guess so. He didn’t deserve to be killed though.” She thought a moment. “Do you know how he died?”

  “Doc Hardy said he’d been conked on the head. The sheriff took a cursory look around, but didn’t find anything handy that could have been used. He did ask me to keep you from working in the shop or baking in the basement. As a matter
of fact, he wants you to stay at my place for the night.”

  She shook her head before he finished speaking. “I’m not going anywhere,” she said. “If you want to stay, you’ll sleep upstairs tonight, not in the basement.” His eyes crinkled mirthfully as a lascivious grin spread across his face.

  “In your bed with you?” Devin asked.

  “That would be correct. I’m not letting you out of my sight for a second.”

  “Ditto,” Devin said with a suggestive laugh.

  “You’ll have to put up with Riddles, though. He likes to snuggle into the comforter.”

  “I can deal with that.” Devin glanced around. “Where is the beast, anyway?”

  “Good question. He’s probably chasing pixies.”

  The phone echoed its high pitched sound throughout the building. Luna glanced at Devin went to answer the call.

  “That was Sheriff Tiddler. It looks like we are about to be invaded by a forensic team from the Maine State Police. He said we’re to stay out of the way and cooperate.”

  She gave Devin a wry smile. “As if we have any choice in the matter.”

  The team arrived within a half-hour of the phone call. Luna turned on every light in and outside the building for them, before resuming her seat on the porch.

  “They’ve taken their equipment out. They’re searching every nook and cranny in the place,” Luna said in an undertone as she peeked through the window.

  “We can always leave and go to my place, Luna,” Devin offered.

  “No, I refuse to be pushed out of my own home. It’s not happening,” she retorted.

  Hours later, the team left in silence, the same as they’d arrived. No questions, no nothing.

  In the loft, Luna changed from party clothes to sleepwear while Devin checked the grounds and locked up the building. She picked debris from the floor, sorted through it all, and placed each item in its appropriate spot. Her foot pressed against a round object under the rug. Luna stared down at the lump. Lifting the corner of the rug, Luna squinted at the silver button like the one she’d found in the grass.