by Erin Johnson
Avery Ann shook her head, her brown waves swishing back and forth over her shoulders, but Daisy let out a whine that turned into a growl. Partial lie.
I could understand Avery Ann being grossed out by the idea of being with Ralph, but the other way around? She was way too cute for that kind of reaction. I doubted this guy would be so troubled by minor scruples, such as being married and older than her by decades, as to find the idea of being with her repugnant.
“My dog says you’re not being truthful.” Peter glared at Ralph, who shrank back, playing with the many gold and silver rings on his stubby fingers.
“Fine.” He ducked his head for a moment. “We’re not having an affair”—he gestured between himself and Avery Ann— “but there may have been others.”
Daisy growled and Ralph huffed. “Fine—there were definitely a lot of others!”
Daisy wagged her tail. Smells like truth.
I smirked—knew it!
“While I appreciate your honesty, the evidence is still stacked against you.” Peter nodded at his fellow officers, and a couple of them marched up to Ralph and snapped enchanted, glowing handcuffs around his wrists. He didn’t struggle—merely choked and let himself be led by the elbow around the desk toward the door.
“But—but I didn’t kill her!” He scowled at Peter. “I want my lawyer.”
Bags hung under Peter’s eyes, and his shoulders slumped. When was the last time the guy had gotten some sleep? He shrugged. “You’ll be allowed to contact your lawyer once you’ve been processed at the station.”
The cops dragged him out the door, and Peter and Daisy moved to follow.
I grabbed Peter’s arm. “Are you so sure that—”
He stared down at my hand, and though my stomach twisted that he’d look at me like that, I released him and let my arm hang at my side. “I’m just saying, Daisy says he’s telling the truth and if—”
Peter cut me off. “Look, Bon’s pressuring me to make an arrest, and it’s usually the husband, right?” He shrugged. “He handed Pearl the vial full of poison and stands to inherit the whole company.”
I nodded, glancing back at Avery Ann before lowering my voice. “I get that, but—isn’t that all kinda obvious?” I raised my brows. “Why would he poison his wife on stage, in front of everyone, and hand her the vial himself?”
Peter gave me a weary look. “I don’t disagree, but—it’s all we’ve got right now.” With that, he turned and followed the other cops out the door. Daisy followed a few steps behind, but Peter, out of it as he was, let the door slam shut behind him in her face. The dog recoiled and turned her wide eyes to me with a yelp.
He forgot me!
20
A New Lead
My first instinct was to tease Daisy, my second was to be a nice person and comfort her, and then finally, I remembered Avery Ann was still in the room and I couldn’t speak dog in front of her. Daisy stayed by the door, her nose to the frosted glass, fogging it up with her breath.
I turned to the young woman who stood with her arms hugged tight around herself, face pinched with worry. Her lower lip trembled. “Ralph’s a good man!”
Daisy briefly turned from the door and bared her teeth—Lie—before pressing her nose against the glass and whining. Peter… Peter….
Oh snakes, this was depressing. I sighed and leveled Avery Ann a sympathetic look.
“Alright, fine.” She shrugged. “He was an okay man.”
I rolled my eyes, out of patience. “Okay enough to cheat on his wife with you, then kill her for the money?”
She stuck out her tongue. “Gag. For the last time, we weren’t having an affair.”
Daisy’s tail wagged without her even looking around. True.
She threw a hand toward the dog, who kept her back to us. “See? That means I’m telling the truth, right?”
I quirked my lips to the side. “I know you’re hiding something; I just don’t know what yet.” I gave her my best tough lawyer look—it’d come in handy back when I was practicing. “But I will find out.
“Oh, fine.” She heaved a great sigh and threw her head back. “He’s my dad, okay?” Her big eyes darted to the door and she lowered her voice. “We hadn’t told Pearl yet—he said he needed to break it to her gently. My mom just told me.” She pressed her hands to her heart and gazed at me earnestly, while the tip of Daisy’s tail wagged.
Whatever she’s blabbering on about, it’s true.
Snakes. I’d been so sure she was involved. I guess that explained why both she and Ralph had seemed grossed out by the idea of an affair between them. Maybe Pearl had found out and threatened to divorce Ralph? Maybe he’d killed her to keep from losing his stake in the company? Unfortunately, this meant Peter had probably been right. I mean yay, if we’d found the killer and solved the case, but I’d really wanted to be right.
“They had an affair ages ago, and Ralph was so nice when I told him—he even gave me a job!” Her expression crumpled as she glanced toward the door. “I haven’t known him long, but I want to help!”
I scoffed. “My advice? Run far away from these people—they’re trouble.” Oh, Avery Ann, you poor little doe-eyed fool. She reminded me of this kid I’d defended years ago. It’d actually been the case I’d been working when I’d been cursed. Emerson, my boss, had urged me to take a plea deal. But I took a liking to the kid—he was a good guy, just young and naïve and had gotten caught up with the wrong crowd. The more I looked into it, the more I’d realized he was taking the fall for someone—someone in a position of power. He was going to go to jail for years for a crime he didn’t commit.
I’d had a sense there was something bigger at play. He’d staunchly refused to cooperate, but over time I’d worn him down and he’d finally admitted that he’d been paid off to take the blame. Then just as quickly, he’d changed his tune and insisted on pleading guilty again. He’d even warned me off pushing anymore. I’d always suspected someone had gotten to him, and I’d bet that if this girl wasn’t careful, she’d end up either going down with the company or taking the fall for something.
Avery Ann shook her head. “I know he didn’t kill his wife.”
I cocked a brow. “You know it? How? Because you killed her?”
The young woman gasped. “No, I didn’t kill Pearl.” She lifted her chin. “It’s just a feeling.”
I rolled my eyes. “Uh-huh.”
She huffed, looked around the empty office, then edged closer to me, voice low. “Okay, I’m not allowed to tell you this but that woman… Maria Wu.” She flashed her eyes significantly at me. “You should talk to her.”
I frowned. “Should I know who this is?”
She shook her head. “It’s very hush-hush—even I’m not supposed to know about it, but Ralph told me. She claimed Potent Potions messed up her husband. She sued the company, and the company paid her off to keep quiet, but the night Pearl died, Ralph was drinking and talking about how he’d bet she was after revenge.”
I frowned. This actually sounded like it might be a legit lead—maybe Avery Ann wasn’t the simpleton I’d taken her for. I glanced toward the door where Daisy continued to whine. What about me? Peter?
For sand’s sake, this was getting pitiful. But maybe we’d arrested the wrong guy. It was worth looking into.
“Do you know how we can find this woman?”
“Um.” Avery Ann bit her full lip, frowning in thought. She perked up and dashed behind Ralph’s desk, then dug through a drawer full of files. “He pulled these all out the other night and I reorganized them for him after he sobered up—I remember seeing her name on something… here!” She pulled out a manila file folder and opened it on the desk.
I leaned forward and read upside down as her finger traced down the top page. I recognized the legal document—the case would’ve been sealed after the settlement, both parties legally obligated to keep quiet about it.
Avery Ann found the name of the woman and her contact info at the bottom and rummaged
around in the drawer for a quill and scroll, then copied her address down for me. I mulled over the information as she did so—if the potions had somehow harmed this Maria Wu woman’s husband, she might not have been content with some merkles to keep quiet. Maybe Ralph had been right and she’d come after Pearl for revenge.
Avery Ann tore off the corner of the parchment and handed it to me. I looked over Maria Wu’s name and address—then paused and glanced up at her. The girl had dotted all her i’s with hearts. She was in way over her head with these scam artists.
“Please look into it?”
I nodded. “We will.”
She clasped her hands. “Oh, thank you.”
I nodded and tucked the paper in my jeans pocket. I headed toward the door, but frowned and spun to face Avery Ann. “Hey—where’s Opal, by the way?” I’d have thought Pearl’s sister would have rushed in here as soon as she heard we were arresting Ralph. She’d basically told us she thought he was guilty the other day.
Avery Ann cupped one hand around her elbow. “She’s been working from home the last couple of nights.”
I nodded. “Understandable.” She probably wasn’t keen on coming to work with the man she assumed was her sister’s killer.
I sidled up to Daisy and grasped the door handle. I bent forward and let out a quiet yelp. Free at last.
She just tapped her front paws.
I rolled my eyes and whined again. Desperate much?
Without taking her eyes off the door, she growled. Try being trapped in a room with you, and you’ll know how I feel.
I opened the door, and she bounded out.
21
Maria Wu
Peter, weary though he looked, was only too happy to have another lead to follow. I knew he trusted Daisy’s abilities and had to have strong doubts about Ralph’s guilt, given Daisy had smelled him as truthful—at least about not having killed Pearl. The affairs were a different story.
The sky was lightening as dawn approached, when we finally tracked Maria Wu down. The address Avery Ann had given us turned out to be an old one—she’d moved right after the settlement with Potent Potions from a run-down studio in the Darkmoon District to a clean and comfortable town home on a middle tier of Bijou Mer. It’d taken us a bit to coordinate with Edna, and in the end, a former neighbor had given us the deets on Maria’s new digs.
The woman answered the door and ushered us into the front room of her home. Peter and I sat on a new velvet sofa, a huge window behind us that looked out over the quiet, brightly lit street. After asking if she could get us tea or coffee, which Peter declined for both of us—though I’d have gladly accepted some caffeine, thank you—she settled down on a loveseat across the polished coffee table from us.
The place seemed like the picture of a normal, comfortable middle-class home—tasteful, framed paintings of the sea and a bowl of fruit hung on the walls, the place smelled of beeswax candles, and the bookshelves against the far wall were lined with leather tomes and glowing tchotchkes. Which made it seem so unusual for the woman to be gently stroking an enormous iguana on the seat beside her.
Maria cast a beaming smile on Peter and me, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. She blinked rapidly. “So, Officers…, how can I help you then?” She sat with perfect posture in her capris, her straight black hair in a neat bob just skimming her shoulders, her cardigan buttoned nearly all the way up.
I sucked on my lips to keep from smirking about the lizard.
Peter scratched his scruffy face. “We’re actually here to ask you about your husband.”
“Oh! John?” She swept her hands toward the iguana, and I choked. I had to turn fully away from her and pretend to be interested in something out the window as I fought the giggles. She was married to a lizard?
“Uh….” Peter shifted in his seat. “Could you, uh—tell us a little bit about John? We’re investigating the death of Pearl Litt and understand you had some dealings with Potent Potions?”
He turned toward me and muttered, “Get it together. Please.”
I covered my mouth and shook my head, eyes watering. “I’m trying.” My shoulders shook as I fought another round of giggles. Knowing how inappropriate it was to be laughing just made it funnier.
“You’re not the only one who finds this hilarious, you know.”
I turned toward him and found a little twinkle of mirth in his deep blue eyes. Something in my chest relaxed just the tiniest bit—it was like I’d caught a glimpse of the old Peter. The one who’d been my friend, and more, before I’d told him about being a shifter. Just as quickly as it’d showed up, the hint of humor faded, and he cleared his throat and turned back to face Maria.
I heaved a sigh, suddenly less amused. Good to know that the Peter I’d come to know and well, love, if I was honest with myself, wasn’t dead—just dead to me.
My shoulders slumped as I turned to face Maria. Not sure which was worse.
Eyes tight, she kept that bright smile plastered to her face. “Well, I can tell you that yes, I used to be an independent consultant for Potent Potions until about six months ago.” She spoke slowly, as if carefully choosing her words.
Peter frowned. “What happened six months ago?”
She took a deep breath and began cautiously. “There… was an incident that led to my leaving the company.”
“Did that incident involve your husband turning into a lizard?” I blurted it out before I could stop myself.
Peter flashed his bloodshot eyes at me.
I grimaced back. Sorry.
Maria winced. “I, uh—unfortunately, I’m legally unable to give you more details.” She grimaced. “Sorry.”
I sucked on my lips. This was unfortunate, because now I was dying to know what the story with this iguana was. I leaned forward, elbows on my thighs and cupped my face in my hands. The giant green lizard, its tail stretching long behind it, slowly turned to face us. It blinked.
Peter cleared his throat. “I apologize for being so direct, but Pearl Litt was recently murdered. Did you kill her?”
Maria gasped and played with the button at the neck of her cardigan. “Sands below. No!” She shook her head. “I wish I could give you more details, but to be honest, if anything I should be thanking Potent Potions. After the settlement, I was able to afford a beautiful new home.”
She gestured around at her place, then leaned forward and held a hand to the side of her mouth as if sharing a secret. “And to be honest, before the incident, John and I had our fair share of issues. He was demanding and rude, and frankly, it only got worse as he got sicker. To be honest, we get along better now than we ever have.” She patted the lizard gently on its head. “We read together, take trips together, and never fight anymore.”
Peter and I exchanged wide-eyed looks.
He turned back to Maria, brows pinched together. “You know, Mrs. Wu, I think I could use a pick-me-up—it’s been a long night. Could I trouble you for that cup of coffee?” He turned to me. “Jolene?” He raised his brows significantly.
“Uh—yeah.” I frowned at him, puzzled, then grinned at Maria. “Make it two.”
“Oh, of course.” She gave a prim smile, then rose. She bent low over the lizard. “John, you keep our guests company while I’m gone.” She flashed us another bright smile, then bustled off, I assumed, to the kitchen.
Once she’d disappeared, Peter jerked his head toward the lizard. “Can you talk to him?”
I smirked. “Her husband?”
The corner of his mouth twitched toward a smile. “Maybe it knows what happened to her to make her think she’s married to it? Maybe the potions messed with her cognition?”
Daisy held very still, eyes glued to the lizard, and whined. Does it bite?
I leaned my face close to hers and woofed. Only dogs named Daisy.
Her dark eyes slid to me, unamused, but I chuckled and after a glance toward the doorway Maria had disappeared through, rose and sat beside the lizard. I sobered up a bit as it fixed its
cold, reptilian eye on me. Did it bite? I kept my hands tucked under my thighs just in case it went for my fingers.
I cleared my throat and let out a few sniffles and sneezes—the elegant language of iguanas.
The creature grew perfectly still except for its scaly sides ballooning in and out—the only sign it was alive and possibly listening.
Hi there—any idea why this woman thinks you’re her husband?
The iguana jerked its head up and stared at me out of one eye. It sneezed. You speak iguana?
I nodded and sniffled. I do. Can you tell—
It scrambled toward me, faster than I’d thought possible, and I yelped and jumped off the couch.
Oh, sands! I’m trapped in this flippin’ lizard body! Somebody else to talk to who isn’t my wife—she drones on and on!
I blinked down at it, looking from the startled Peter and Daisy back to the lizard. I pressed my eyes shut for a moment then sniffled and croaked.
Let me get this straight—you’re telling me you actually are her husband, John?
22
The Lizard
The lizard bobbed its bearded head up and down, its mohawk of spiny spikes bristling. I got sick about a year ago. Maria was a terrible caretaker. Granted, she tried everything she could think of to get me well and catered to me, but could she get anything right? No! The soup was always too hot or too cold, my bedsheets got tangled around my legs, I got bored all the time and she was terrible at entertaining me, and despite my repeated, very detailed instructions on how I needed to be cared for, she just couldn’t seem to follow them!
I shot a side-eye look at Peter. Maria hadn’t been kidding when she’d said they got along better now—this guy sounded miserable to live with, much less care for while sick.
I turned back to the iguana and hissed. So what happened to turn you into a lizard?