“Got it. These angels won’t know what’s hit them.”
“Don’t draw attention to yourself. If they think we’re working against them, they might shut us out of the rest of this investigation.” I wanted to see this through and make sure the angels didn’t make any more blunders. I was also curious about this ring. I didn’t want to use it, but it intrigued me.
As we arrived at the stones, there were six angels and Dazielle already assembled. So much for the element of surprise and getting a head start.
I recognized the team of angels. They were all tall, stunningly blonde women with bright blue eyes and perfect skin. For once, they weren’t wearing their trademark white but dark brown and black clothes.
Dazielle finished up her conversation and walked over. “I’m glad you could join us. We’re about to begin.”
“Great. Lead the way.”
The angels formed a line. Dazielle led from the middle as we walked into the forest. It was tricky to see all the angels but easy for me to break away without being noticed and head to the place where I’d shared the squashed apple pie with Suki.
A shout came up from the end of the line Wiggles was covering. “I see someone.”
All the angels dashed toward the sound of the voice. I stayed where I was and continued on my own. I didn’t want to alarm Suki, and I had to hope they were following a false trail; otherwise, she’d be in real trouble.
I spotted movement ahead and sped up. I might be tracking a rabbit, but it would have to be a huge rabbit. “Suki, wait up,” I whispered loudly.
I slowed as I tried to catch a glimpse of her. A rough-palmed hand shot out from behind the tree I was passing and grabbed hold of me. Suki slammed me against the trunk. Her eyes were wild, and her whole body shook.
“What’s happening? Why are angels in my forest?”
“Listen, you don’t have much time. Angel Force thinks you’re involved in Nick’s murder. They’re here to bring you in for questioning.”
Suki’s bottom lip wobbled. “Why do they think that?”
“We don’t have time to talk about it. You need to get out of here. Lie low for a few days until I’ve figured this out and talked sense into them.”
Her dark gaze fixed onto me. “You don’t think I had anything to do with it, do you?”
“No, but the angels think they’re onto something. Once you’re in custody, it will be harder to convince them of your innocence.”
“I can’t leave my forest.” Suki looked around, fear in her eyes. “It won’t be safe if I’m not here.”
“Which is why you’re going to stay hidden. Have you got somewhere safe you can hide?”
She nodded and dropped her hold on me. “I can stay out of people’s way if I need to do so.”
“Then do it. I’ll lead the angels in the opposite direction and give you a chance to get away.”
“Thanks, Tempest.” Suki raced away into the gloom of the trees.
I watched until I couldn’t see her anymore before heading in the direction I’d last heard an angel shout. I side-stepped a huge tree and walked straight into Dazielle.
“What happened to you?” She glared down at me as I backed up a few steps.
“I heard a noise and went to check it out.” I resisted the urge to check over my shoulder. “Did you find anything?”
“It was a false alarm. We spooked a deer.”
“Great. I mean, better luck next time. Let’s keep looking.”
Dazielle narrowed her eyes. “I heard you talking to someone.”
“It was just Wiggles.”
“I don’t see him.” She looked around. “Where is he?”
“Off hunting for Suki, just like we should be.”
Dazielle shook her head. “He was at the other end of the line. I saw the two of you separate when you joined us. What’s going on?”
“I’ve got something,” a voice yelled through the trees.
Dazielle opened her mouth as if to say more but then snapped it shut. “We’ll discuss this later. Let’s go.”
We’d discuss nothing if I had my way. Dazielle might not be the brightest angel in the box, but I hadn’t fooled her. I hurried after her, worry running through me as we headed in exactly the same direction as Suki had run. She didn’t have a big enough head start, and angels could move quickly. Fortunately, the densely packed trees made it impossible for them to take flight; otherwise, it would be easy for them to spot Suki.
The sounds of scuffling and a muffled yelp came through the trees.
“Let’s move.” Dazielle trotted along in front of me.
As we entered a small clearing, my eyes widened. Suki stood in the middle of the clearing, an angel on either side of her. Her hands were balled into fists and her teeth bared in a terrifying snarl.
“Be careful,” Dazielle said as she inched closer. “We don’t know what we’re dealing with.”
“We do,” I snapped. “She won’t harm you. Suki’s a wood nymph.”
Dazielle’s jaw dropped. “That’s impossible. She’s gigantic.”
“It doesn’t matter how big she is. Suki’s here as a protector of the forest. She thinks you’re a threat to her sanctuary, so she will defend herself.”
“She’s the threat. Angels, take her down,” Dazielle ordered.
“No, wait!” I lunged forward, trying to block the angels’ path to Suki.
Dazielle shoved me back. “Stay out of this fight, Tempest. You’re not needed.”
“Suki, get out of here,” I yelled as I watched the angels drop into a fighting stance and extend their wings. They had muscular wings that spanned over eight feet and could break a man’s arm with a single swipe.
Suki’s panicked gaze went to me as an angel landed on her back. She flicked the angel over her shoulder and kicked dirt in her face before spinning and sucker punching another angel who dared get too close.
“Don’t fight,” Dazielle said. “It will only make things worse for you.”
“Of course she’s going to fight. You’re attacking her.” I silently willed Suki to kick their butts. She did not deserve this treatment.
“It’s my forest,” Suki gasped. “There’s no fighting in my forest.”
“Then come quietly,” Dazielle yelled.
Suki shoved back an angel who’d tried to grab her. She picked up a huge branch and swung it in a circle around her, the remaining angels scattering as she did so to avoid being pulverized.
“We don’t want to hurt you.” Dazielle held out her hands, trying to placate Suki, and almost ended up with a head full of splintered wood.
“You’re doing a terrible job of proving that,” I muttered.
Dazielle glared at me before continuing. “Come quietly, and we’ll have no more problems.”
Suki threw the branch like a javelin. It slammed into an angel’s chest. She charged another angel and barreled her backwards into a tree.
Despite how angry Suki was, I could see her shaking with fear. The angels weren’t playing fair. I dodged past Dazielle and ran to Suki. “Calm down. This isn’t doing you any—” I flew through the air, punched in the gut by Suki in her blind rage and panic.
The breath slammed from my chest as I hit a tree and thudded to the ground.
I could do nothing but watch as the angels overwhelmed Suki. She was lost under a pile of white feathers and fists.
Dazielle stomped over and glared down at me. “I should arrest you, as well.”
“What for?” I struggled to my feet and sucked in air, my lungs feeling almost as bruised as my back.
“You interfered in Angel Force business. You’re supposed to be on our side, not helping a murderer escape.”
“First off, Suki is not a murderer. As usual, you’re getting this wrong. Second, you asked me to be involved because you can’t cope with sunburned, hung-over non-magicals complaining about losing their ice cream. And third, I never side with bullies. You didn’t need to come here with feathers blazing. Suki’s d
one nothing wrong.”
Dazielle scowled at me. “That’s for me to decide. Stay out of this. Your work is done on this case.”
“What are you talking about? You can’t charge Suki just because she lives in the forest and prefers trees to people.”
“I will charge her when she confesses.” Dazielle turned to the angels, who held Suki firmly between them. “Take her to the station. Get her ready for questioning.”
“You’re being an idiot,” I said to Dazielle. “She’s not involved in this. She isn’t the murderer.”
Dazielle glared at me before walking away.
Wiggles trotted over and licked my hand. “That didn’t go so well.”
“Where were you when the angels went all Lara Croft on Suki?”
“Watching from a safe distance. I should have brought some popcorn. Those ladies can fight.”
I groaned and thumped my head against a tree. “We’re not letting them get away with this. The angels can’t charge Suki because she’s an easy target.”
“What’s the plan?”
I stared through the trees at the wispy white feathers floating in the breeze. “It looks like we’re going to be hanging out with the angels. I’m not going to stop pestering them until they let Suki go.”
Chapter 16
My back protested as I jerked awake. I’d been waiting all night at Angel Force’s headquarters. Every attempt I’d made to see Suki had been blocked. Dazielle had been serious when she said I was to have nothing more to do with this investigation.
I wished she’d make up her mind. This was the last time I’d do them any favors.
I stretched and stood from the chair I’d been dozing in. The day was brightening outside, and I was in need of a strong coffee to get my brain to register it was morning.
Looking around the quiet waiting room, there was a definite lack of Wiggles. The last time I’d seen him, he’d been dozing by my feet. The door to the room was ajar. He must have slipped out when I was asleep, most likely looking for something to eat.
The angels had been reluctant to let him in, especially after the last time he’d been here and had helped break me out of my cell. They’d even put up a sign outside the front door saying no hellhounds allowed, but I’d negotiated with them, and Wiggles had promised to stay quiet and behave himself if he could stay inside.
I strolled into the reception area and nodded at Sablo, the angel on the desk, before checking outside. There was no sign of Wiggles.
“Lady, I’m going to bite you so hard on your feathery butt that you’ll remember me for months.” I turned as I heard Wiggles and saw two angels carrying him in a large white mesh net.
“Hey! What are you doing to my dog?” I hurried over, watching with alarm as Wiggles writhed in the net, only succeeding in getting himself more tangled.
They dumped Wiggles on the ground and left him in the net.
One of the angels looked at me and scowled. “You need to keep your hellhound under control.”
I knelt and unwound the net from around him. “Where did you find him?”
“Poking his fuzzy nose where it shouldn’t be. He stays outside from now on.”
They both turned and stalked back into the building.
I pulled the rest of the netting off Wiggles. “What’s going on? Why are the angels so mad at you?”
He stood and shook out his fur. “Those pesky angels, I should pluck them like chickens.”
“Less plucking, more talking. What were you doing that made them net you?”
Wiggles slid me a sideways glance. “Nothing bad. They left the reception desk unattended for a few minutes. I snuck out back to take a look. I wanted to see how Suki was doing.”
I stroked a hand along his back. Other than some ruffled fur, he looked fine. “Did you find her?”
“No, just a lot of angels sitting around doing nothing. It’s amazing Willow Tree Falls doesn’t fall apart with them in charge of keeping everything safe.”
“Sometimes, it does feel like it’s falling apart.” I sat back on my heels. “You got caught snooping?”
Wiggles grabbed the net he’d been wrapped in and tore a big hole in it with his teeth. “All I was doing was trying to get a cookie. There was a whole plate on the sideboard. No one was touching them. That is a serious crime. I’d reached the plate and had my mouth open when I was covered in this sticky, gross, sweet smelling angel net. They bundled me up and brought me out here.”
“Trust you to get caught over cookies. I thought you were doing something noble, not scavenging.”
“Consuming unloved cookies is a noble thing to do.” Wiggles glared at the closed doors. “I’m telling you it’s time to break out Frank. He could have fun with those stuck-up angels, who do not eat cookies that so desperately need a home.”
I was almost cranky enough and desperate enough to let Frank out. Being nice to the angels had gotten me nowhere, and now they’d mistreated Wiggles. Maybe time playing with a demon would make them see things differently.
“Tempest, what’s going on?”
I turned and saw Aurora and Auntie Queenie approaching.
“What are you doing here?”
“We heard what happened last night in the forest,” Aurora said. “We were worried you might have been arrested, especially after the whole... Frank incident at Tilly’s.”
“It wasn’t me this time,” I said. “And sorry about Frank chasing you. I’m glad you got away.”
Aurora raised a hand. “No need to apologize. We all let our demons get the better of us at times.”
I shared a smile with my little sister. She was always so understanding when it came to my Frank issues. “The angels arrested Suki. Dazielle’s got it into her thick head that Suki is involved with Nick’s murder.”
“First me and then that poor girl,” Auntie Queenie said. “These angels are something else.”
“If you discount the angels she pounded into the ground, Suki wouldn’t hurt anybody,” I said.
“You’re right there,” Auntie Queenie said. “She does a good job looking after the forest. If she has to break a few angel heads to do so, it’s understandable.”
“She did do a number on a couple of the angels.”
“With those angels stamping around, crushing plants, and making a nuisance of themselves, she had a right to defend what she loves.”
“Suki does have some awesome moves when she’s riled,” Wiggles said.
The door to Angel Force opened. Dazielle stepped out, a scowl on her face. “You’re needed,” she said to me, completely ignoring everyone else.
I folded my arms across my chest. “I thought I was off this case.”
Her lips pursed. “You are.”
“So, why do you need me?”
Dazielle’s scowl deepened. “Suki won’t talk. We’ve been questioning her all night, and she just sits looking in the corner of the room with her back to us.”
“Good for her,” Auntie Queenie said. “She’s a nice girl. You shouldn’t mistreat her.”
“She’s a suspect in a murder investigation.” Dazielle’s gaze hardened as she looked at Auntie Queenie. “And you need to be careful because you might go back on my suspect list if you start causing problems.”
“Then you’re as dumb as you are pretty if you do that,” Auntie Queenie said.
Dazielle looked momentarily confused by the insult mingled with a compliment. She focused back on me. “Suki will not speak to us before she’s spoken to you.”
“You’ve had me waiting here all night,” I said. “I could have talked to her at any time.”
“Not before we conducted our own interview.”
“You’ve been asking questions for hours, and Suki hasn’t said a single word?”
Dazielle sniffed. “Something like that. She asks for tea and crumpets a lot.”
“You’d better go in,” Aurora said. “It sounds like Suki needs you.”
“Yes, go get that poor girl out of there
,” Auntie Queenie said. “Send her to your mom’s for tea and crumpets when she’s free. Then you can continue your hunt for the real killer.”
Part of me was tempted to drop Dazielle in it and walk away from this mess. The angels had wasted everyone’s time, forced me to sleep upright in a hard white chair, and netted Wiggles and tossed him out of the station. But that wouldn’t be fair to Suki. I could talk to her, make sure she was calm, and try to get the angels to see sense.
“Lead the way.” I waved goodbye to Aurora and Auntie Queenie and headed back into the station for Dazielle. Wiggles remained outside, a glare on his face as Aurora rubbed his belly. He was holding a serious grudge against the angels if a tummy rub didn’t improve his mood.
“Any chance of a coffee?” I asked Dazielle.
“No.”
We walked past the reception desk, along the corridor, and into a small, white interview room.
Suki jumped from her seat when she saw me. Panic flared in her eyes, and her bottom lip quivered. “Tempest, I’m so sorry about hurting you when we were in the forest. I didn’t know what I was doing. I heard your voice but reacted on instinct. It’s a wood nymph thing. When we sense danger, we get mad. It’s like a momma bear gets protecting her cubs.”
I lifted a hand to slow her flood of words. “It’s fine. I just have a few bruises.”
Suki ducked her head and clasped her hands. “You must hate me.”
“No, I don’t. I’d have done the same if someone had invaded Cloven Hoof and started laying down the law.” I glanced at Dazielle and arched an eyebrow.
“You’ve got what you wanted,” Dazielle said to Suki. “Tempest will sit with you while we do the interview. You agreed you would talk, providing she is here.”
Suki gulped in air and nodded. “I’ll talk.”
I took a step back as Suki’s panic flooded the room. No matter how shallowly I breathed, it overwhelmed me. If there was one thing Frank loved, it was a bit of unadulterated, uncontrolled panic. His hot energy curled around my spine in a sticky swirl.
Hell of a Witch (Crypt Witch Cozy Mystery Series Book 2) Page 15