“Anyway,” Scarlett said, straightening her shirt again. A flush was starting and if she didn’t get out of there or change the subject, she was going to be glow-in-the-dark pink. “I have an ancient car. Brad works at a dealership. I should go check out getting a new one. I’ll do a few test drives and see what I can find out.”
“I don’t like you going alone,” Gus said looking as if he could somehow stop Scarlett.
Scarlett smiled up at him and then chucked him on the arm. “Get over it.”
She left before they could object and wound her way through the garden. She let her fingers trail over the flowers and bushes, asking for courage and strength. And because she was druid, she could feel the garden’s love for her. It infused into her skin, her veins, her soul. She didn’t realize it, but it made her almost luminescent with their love. She took a deep breath of the gentle breeze, saying hello to the wind and then let her fingers touch the earth, saying hello to it at as well. The breeze followed her, as it often did, playing with her hair and tickling at her skin.
The differences in the species who lived in Mystic Cove were many and varied, but Scarlett was a druid. She could, therefore, communicate with nature, draw strength from it, and use its power for herself. Today—she needed its power to infuse herself with courage. She doubted that Brad was the killer. The memory of how broken up he’d been over the little shrine to Lacey—it was too clear in Scarlett’s mind.
That wasn’t how a killer acted, was it? Brad had loved Lacey. Then again, Scarlett didn’t need someone to tell her love could so easily turn to hate. She didn’t need an explanation about how swiftly that could occur. She needed to remember that just because Scarlett wouldn’t kill Grant didn’t mean that Brad wouldn’t kill Lacey. Scarlett and Brad were, after all, very different creatures. And not only because Scarlett was druid and Brad was a witch.
Maybe he and Lacey were fighting when Lacey died. Maybe he’d wanted Lacey back, and Lacey had disregarded him. If he’d been tossed aside like an old shoe, how would he react? He’d been the king of Mystic Cove in his day. Would he lash out? Would he strike her down and only feel regret after? Had he killed Lacey? Had it been his hand that had crushed Lacey’s skull and stolen her life away?
Scarlett took a deep breath as she started her SUV and reminded herself that because someone hated Lacey enough to kill her didn’t mean that they’d kill again. The killer knew that Luna had seen something. It would have been easy for them to strike Luna down too, but instead, they’d hexed Luna. Surely that was a big step? Surely whoever killed Lacey had done so in a fit of rage and not in some sort of calculated move that could encompass others?
The drive to the other side of town and to the dealership was a slow one. On purpose. Nerves were setting in and Scarlett opened the windows of the SUV to feel the wind and let it speak to her. She pulled into the lot and was approached by an older salesman that she sort of recognized. He was at least 20 years older than Scarlett with thin hair, a pot belly, and an orange spray tan.
“Hello there,” he said, giving her a smile that was a touch too smarmy.
She blinked, tossed her hair, and said in her most chipper voice, “Is Brad around?”
How weird was it that she was channeling Luna’s voice and trying to make it a bit husky? Given that the man’s eye twitched, it was either super weird, or he was passed over for Brad a lot. Scarlett wanted to pat him on the arm and say she had no intention of buying a damn thing.
“He’s on his break right now.”
That was a lie. Lies revealed by every bit of discernment that Scarlett could channel. She flipped her hair again and adjusted her shirt across her chest and then said, “That’s ok. I’ll wait.”
She walked towards the office and the man let her go. She could hear his muttered curse behind her and felt almost bad for him. But, of course, he’d lied to her face to try to steal what should have been Brad’s sale.
Scarlett walked into the office and saw Brad’s father walking across the showroom. He owned the company, and Scarlett crossed to him, holding out her hand before he could disappear into backrooms.
“Hello, Mr. Day. I don’t know if you remember me, I’m Scarlett O—”
He nodded, taking her hand, and cutting her off before she could finish.
“Of course,” he said heartily and a little too loud, “Of course, Maye’s little girl. Of course, I remember.”
His smile was over-the-top smarmy and Scarlett thought the salesman outside could use some lessons. He looked like an older, fatter version of Brad. Mr. Day’s hair was mostly gone and his gaze focused far too long on her breasts. Scarlett reminded herself that was why she wore this shirt, but she had to admit it made her feel a little dirty.
She flipped her hair and said, “Mr. Day—”
“Oh, don’t call me that. Makes me feel old. Mr. Day was my father.” He laughed, again too loud, and Scarlett had to force herself to chuckle along with him. Surely he knew how ridiculous he sounded or did he not care? “Call me Jimmy.”
Scarlett smiled and said, “I was hoping Brad would be around to look at a new car with me. I…”
“Oh, he’d love to. Bridget,” Mr. Day snapped, “Find Brad.”
Scarlett blinked as he went from smarmy charming to fief lord. Bridget, the young redhead behind the desk, didn’t even blink at the switch. Leaving Scarlett to guess this was normal for him. She wanted to explain to him some things about honey and flies, but his employees weren’t her problem.
Thankfully Brad came quickly. His eyes were bloodshot but that didn’t prevent his gaze from roving over her body. He seemed to follow the same path that his dad had which seemed super incestuous. Scarlett wanted to point out the location of her face.
Instead, she grinned, tossed her hair, and said, “I hope it’s ok that I asked for you. I thought it might be fun to catch up. Plus, I’d rather hear about the cars from someone I trust.”
She almost choked after that massive lie, but it seemed to be the right thing to say. His grin broadened into something that seemed legitimate and his shoulders straightened. The druid in her wanted to take him aside and talk to him about finding self-esteem within himself. But he’d probably laugh and say something snide about druids.
He quizzed her about what she wanted and she went vague and ‘family’ and ‘safe.’ Beyond that, she left it open, so she’d have him captive for as many drives as it might take to pick his brain.
“You have two kids?”
She nodded and asked brightly, “I heard you’ve got a few too?”
“Two boys and a girl.” And his face changed from dissipated and hungover to brightened by love. It was amazing what the thought of your kids could do. “They’re great. So funny. Who knew, huh?”
She nodded and smiled at him understanding without needing elaboration. He loved being a dad. It softened her towards him, but it didn’t change her goals. Being a mom—her sweet Luna—was the reason why Scarlett was here, and his being a dad too wasn’t going to change her need to protect Luna.
He led Scarlett to a minivan she could definitely not afford and handed her the keys. She felt the moment she sat inside of it that she’d somehow gotten into a jet. It took her a few minutes to move past the sheer awe to the murder.
With that thought, she put the car into reverse and then leaned down to her charm anklet. She pretended to scratch her foot above her shoe as she pinched the Reveal Charm that Lex had given her. It would make them both susceptible to sharing more than they might otherwise. It wasn’t enough to make a murderer confess, but it would get him to talk more freely.
The difference between a high-end minivan and a late 90s SUV was drastic in the extreme. She took a deep breath and let Brad talk the vehicle over before she said, “So you and Kelly, huh?”
He paused and the selling points were stilted for a second. Before he said, “Yeah.”
He tried changing the subject back to the side view cameras and the USB drive in the car, but Scarlett adju
sted her shirt to show way more of her breasts than made her comfortable and said, “I was surprised by that. You and Lacey were such a meant-to-be couple. I hope it’s ok that I said that, but I remember thinking in school that you’d be grandparents together.”
Brad choked and turned a pale shade of green before he tried for a hearty laugh. Scarlett was shocked at what a poor liar he was, but maybe it was the grief and the booze because he was not pulling off anything other than grieving lover. Unfortunate given that he was not supposed to be Lacey’s lover.
Scarlett’s voice softened as she added,“You guys still had something, didn’t you? It didn’t die.”
He laughed but it was choked out by a sob, and Scarlett reached over taking his hand. She glanced around and saw the high school, turning into the lot and parking by the track field.
“I remember it so clearly. Lacey in her pretty little cheer uniform and you all strong and broad—the hero of the sport of the moment.”
Brad glanced over and then back to the field. Tears were shining at the corner of his eyes, and she felt like a real shrew.
“But Lacey didn’t want that. She wanted more,” he said with a bitterness that—even knowing he was grieving—shocked Scarlett. “She wanted to keep being prom queen. Wanted the biggest house. The fastest car. The tiara.”
He sounded so disgusted but also hurt.
“So I married Kelly. We had kids. It should have been enough, but there was always Lacey there—looking, touching, knowing all about me. I…” Brad cursed and then turned to Scarlett and suddenly she felt like she was in a confessional. By the stars, she wondered, what would a reveal spell do to someone who was still somewhat drunk? She bet it made him more susceptible. She wouldn’t have thought that, but here she was now. And she thought—what if he did confess? A reveal charm wasn’t going to save her from him being stronger and faster. It wasn’t going to protect her from the things he said. She suddenly felt her heart starting to race. What was she thinking?
“I’m a terrible husband. Kelly does so much and yet I am angry with her. All the time. Furious. And you know why?”
Scarlett shook her head, afraid to speak and break the hold of the charm on him. Afraid to draw his attention to the fact he was dumping all his secret thoughts. It had been a mild little reveal charm. It shouldn’t have hit him like this. Not this hard. Not this deeply.
“I hate my own wife. Why? Because she isn’t Lacey. I mean…what’s wrong with me?”
Scarlett wanted to tell him. She had all kinds of thoughts on men who cheated on their spouses, who loved someone other than the person they’d promised to love. Who ruined families.
“She makes us breakfast every day. She packs a lunch for me. She’s sexy as hell. And yet…she’s not Lacey.”
Scarlett’s jaw clenched to hold back all the thoughts she had. Which was good since they focused into one laser thought—Did Kelly know? Did she realize that her best friend had her husband’s heart? Or maybe it was his libido.
Had Brad finally had enough of Lacey stringing him along? If Kelly knew about Brad and Lacey—why had she waited so long to strike? What about embezzling from the city? Surely that was why Lacey had been killed? If Lex was right about that, surely it had something to do with the murder?
“So you and Lacey were still a couple? On the side?”
Brad looked at Scarlett for a long, long time before he said, “How do I fix things with Kelly? How do I get her to…love me again?”
“Brad, if she hasn’t left you yet, she wants to stay with you.”
He took too-tight hold of Scarlett’s hand and squeezed until she had to hold back her yelp. She tried pulling her arm away, but he didn’t even notice.
“Really?” His eyes searched her face frantically. “Do you think I have a chance?”
“Let go of me,” Scarlett said calmly. Her heart was beginning to race even faster. Maybe she should have brought Gus or Lex with her. Maybe this had been a stupid idea. Maybe…by the stars what had she been thinking? She should have known better than to put herself at risk—she was a mother. What would happen to her daughters if something happened to Scarlett?
“Oh,” Brad said, sounding horrified. “Sorry.”
Scarlett opened the door of the van and stepped out. She couldn’t stay in there anymore. The thought of her girls was panicking her. She was alone with a man who was stronger and faster than her. She was alone with a species who was more immediately powerful than hers.
“Scarlett? I didn’t mean to…” Brad’s voice was so soft, so stricken. He’d opened the car door so quietly that she jumped when she heard his feet on the gravel.
She spun to face him.
“I…please don’t be upset.”
He sounded broken. Was that how he’d sounded when he stood over Lacey’s body? It could so easily have been. He could have had enough, he could have lashed out, he could have murdered the woman who had her claws into him for the entirety of his life. He could have done it and then realized what he’d done. It could have broken him and turned him into the drunk, weeping man Scarlett was looking at now.
“Did you kill Lacey?” Scarlett’s voice was a mere whisper.
Brad staggered back at the question shaking his head in fierce denial. He had paled, and his face turned even sicklier. He didn’t answer. It was like all the booze of all of his life came up in one endless vomit, and Scarlett stepped back.
The panic was palpable rendering him temporarily incapacitated. This was her chance to go. And she was going to take it, just in case. She tossed the keys into the van and pulled out her phone, calling Gus. Scarlett glanced around and then decided to head through the field in case Brad decided to come after her. Maybe the reveal charm would fade, and he’d realize what he’d told her. All the motive he’d handed over to Scarlett without a quibble and he’d decide that he needed to kill her too.
He hadn’t really answered Scarlett, but from his reaction, Scarlett doubted he was the killer. Regardless, though, she knew one thing, she wasn’t going to risk her daughters’ happiness. Not even for the chance to stay in Mystic Cove.
What would she have done if Brad had been the killer? She wasn’t stronger than him. Being a witch was a far more immediately powerful skill set than being a druid. It was possible that she could protect herself against him, she had no idea what kind of witch he was or his abilities. what if he were stronger?
By the stars and the roots, she needed to be smarter than this.
Chapter 20
“You did what?” The disgust in Harper’s voice made Scarlett want to slap the back of her head.
“I fled.”
“Like a rabbit?”
“Yes, Harper, like a rabbit. I ran away like a little bunny rabbit.”
“You’re a…oh hi, baby. Ella! Don’t call Luna a chicken. Luna don’t cry. Call Ella a turkey. For the love of a willow tree, are you a baby? Why are you crying? Is being called a chicken so bad? I like chicken when I’m not pretending to be vegetarian. Did you want to talk to your Mommy?”
Scarlett spent several minutes listening to Luna cry and then describe a black kitten with one white foot—though Luna wasn’t sure which foot was white and discussed the possibility of them all. As Scarlett listened to Luna jabber, she changed the story to a teeny tiny dragon and wolves and then pink ninjas and Scarlett suddenly felt as if the sun had come out.
The fears she’d felt when she’d been trying to investigate Brad on her own faded.
Luna switched to Ella who asked for new shoes, new books, and a new dress and then asked why it was taking so long to fix up the apartment. Her disdain was back, but Scarlett could sense Ella’s happiness. And her worry that this was all going to get snatched away.
“You know I love you, Ella?”
“Yes, Mommy,” Ella said with that snark that was so natural to her. If Scarlett were being honest with herself, she was terrified of teenage Ella.
Scarlett’s eye twitched and she said brightly, “I’m going
to figure this out, Ella. You be good for Harper, you take care of Luna and Max, you be naughty for Gram, and you let Mommy do the worrying, ok?”
Gus pulled up alongside Scarlett as Ella said, “Ok, Mommy.”
“Are you all right?” Gus’s voice held a note of panic. She nodded, told her girls goodbye, and got into his car.
“This is nice,” she said, running her hand down the armrest of his car. It was shiny and black and clearly expensive.
“Are you all right?” Gus asked again, taking Scarlett’s hand, twining his fingers through hers and said, “You’re fine, aren’t you?”
“I’m ok,” Scarlett said it with all the confidence she could, but there must have been something in her eyes because he didn’t seem to quite buy it.
“You never should have gone by yourself. It was dangerous.”
“You know what’s weird?” Scarlett said, leaning her head back against the headrest and letting her eyes close, reveling in the feel of safety of being with him, in his car. “I don’t disagree. Isn’t that strange? I’d have pounded you for saying that when we were kids.”
Gus pulled the car over to the side of the road and watched Scarlett as she explained, “I’m a mom now. Isn’t that weird? It’s surreal. Sometimes I look at Ella and Luna and I think how the heck did this happen? Why do these adorable little people count on me? Don’t they know I’m kind of a flake?”
“You’re not a flake.” His fingers squeezed hers and she could feel, through their touch, that he wanted to lift her hand to his lips and kiss it. But he didn’t. And for that, she was grateful.
Scarlett laughed—a full and real belly laugh and then she said, “Do you remember when I forgot our 3rd-grade teacher’s name for like three months? I mean…we spent six hours a day in her classroom. You’d have thought that I’d have cared enough to remember her.”
Gus laughed as she suddenly sobered and said, “What would happen to Ella and Luna if something happened to me? Their dad? He doesn’t want them. Harper? She’ll love them to their dying breath and raise them as criminals.”
Bedtimes and Broomsticks Page 18