Hell of a Witch (Crypt Witch Cozy Mystery Series Book 2)

by K. E. O'Connor

  “What nonsense,” Jenny said. “Other people use this van. I’m not strong enough to kill anybody.”

  “You would if you had possession of the Ring of Halo.”

  “The ring of what?” James asked, his eyes gleaming with the promise of a story to tantalize his readers.

  “Never mind,” I said. “Jenny killed Nick and moved him. It was all because of this ring.”

  “I’m not admitting to anything,” Jenny said. “You have no proof I was involved.”

  “Hold on. If it’s proof you need, I can show it to you,” James said.

  “How can you do that?” I asked.

  “Easy. When we first got here, I rigged a fixed camera at the standing stones. I wanted twenty-four-hour footage of the place. Sometimes, you get funny shots or interesting pictures of wildlife. More often than not, though, the cameras simply catch couples making out in the dark, thinking no one can see them. All that footage has its uses.”

  My heartbeat kicked up a gear. “You’ve recorded everything that happened at the stones?”

  “Everything. And it’s all time stamped.”

  “You won’t find anything.” Jenny sounded frantic as she blocked access to the equipment.

  “If we won’t find anything, then it doesn’t matter if we take a look,” I said.

  “No, I mean, you won’t see me doing anything.” Jenny’s panicked gaze looked around at the growing crowd of people behind the van. “I’m innocent.”

  “Sure you are.” I gestured to James. “Show us the footage.”

  James grinned, seeming happy to be the center of attention despite the bizarre circumstances. He hopped into the back of the van and sidled past Jenny.

  She lunged at the equipment and grabbed a laptop. I was ready for her this time. I wrapped my arms around her and flooded her with calming magic. It took effort, and I was trembling by the time the spell had an effect, but Jenny lowered the laptop and slumped in my arms.

  James looked at me, alarm clear in his eyes. “What did you do to her?”

  “It’s a bit like a Vulcan death grip. Squeeze a person in the right place, and they pass out. Get the footage up.” I lowered Jenny onto a seat and pinned her down with magic.

  James was still staring at me when I turned back around. “You are the oddest person I’ve ever met.”

  “It won’t be the first time someone’s told me that.” I gestured at the bank of equipment. “The footage?”

  He glanced at the crowd outside the van. “Very well.” James spent a moment bringing up files and checking through them. “This is the one. I fixed the camera on top of one of those old stones.”

  “You do realize how important those stones are,” Brogan grumbled, his eyes still gleaming silver as his magic lurked beneath the surface.

  “It’s a bit of old rock,” James said. “I didn’t do it any harm when I climbed on it.”

  I raised a hand to Brogan as he approached the van, his fists clenched. Now wasn’t the right time to sucker punch James. Later, definitely later. Those stones were sacred to Willow Tree Falls, and no one got to climb on them.

  “Bring up the footage from just after midnight on the night Nick was murdered,” I instructed.

  James scrolled through the footage for a few minutes.

  “Wait, go back a bit.” I’d spotted a lone figure come into the camera’s view.

  James muttered under his breath, something about him not being my slave, but I chose to ignore him.

  I watched as Nick appeared and wandered around the stones, slipping in and out of sight.

  “What was he playing at?” James said. “I hope he wasn’t trying to get a story over me.”

  “He won’t be getting anything over you,” I snapped. “He’s dead, remember?”

  James huffed and shoved his hands into his pockets. “I remember. I’m the one being forced to write his memorial message in the blasted paper.”

  “Make sure you do a good job.” I kept my gaze fixed on the laptop screen. I tensed as I saw Nick standing alone and a figure run up behind him. They jumped him and whacked him over the back of the head.

  James sucked in a breath and leaned closer to the screen.

  “Come on. I need to see your face,” I whispered as I continued to watch the footage.

  “I thought Nick died in the cemetery?” James said.

  “It doesn’t look like it,” I said. We scrolled through the footage, stopping it again when the back of a van appeared in the camera’s view. The killer ran to Nick’s body and dragged him toward the van. I still hadn’t seen their face, so I couldn’t be sure it was Jenny.

  As they got closer to the van, the killer stumbled and fell backward. The hood they wore came off, revealing Jenny’s dark hair.

  James gasped and looked over at Jenny. “She’s the killer? What about Rachel?”

  “Rachel is innocent,” I said.

  James rubbed his forehead, and a smile spread across his face. “This is brilliant. I thought I was here to cover a story about the solstice, and I’ve got an exclusive on a murder.” He glanced at me. “And I want to talk to you. There’s something off about you.”

  “I have no story to tell you.”

  “You’re involved in this. Maybe this isn’t a love triangle between Nick, Rachel, and Jenny but a love square. Are you also in love with Nick?”

  “Wiggles, Brogan, can you deal with this problem?” I gestured at James.

  “Our pleasure.” Wiggles grabbed James by the ankle as Brogan wrapped a hand around James’s arm and yanked him from the van.

  James yelped and disappeared from view.

  “Is everything okay in here?” Rhett poked his head inside the van. His eyes widened as he saw Jenny slumped in a seat.

  “It will be. Can you message Angel Force and tell them to haul their feathered butts over here? They’ve charged the wrong person with Nick’s murder.”

  Concern flashed in Rhett’s eyes. “Of course. Are you okay?”

  I nodded as I slumped against the side of the van. “I will be.” All I needed was a week in bed with a stack of cupcakes, and I’d be just perfect.

  Chapter 21

  It had been two days since Jenny had been revealed as Nick’s killer, and everything finally felt back to normal.

  I stretched out on the large checked picnic blanket in the cemetery and smiled as I took in the scene around me. Everyone was there. Mom handed out sandwiches, Aurora sat with Auntie Queenie and Uncle Kenny in the shade of a tree, Granny Dottie and Grandpa Lucius debated whether clotted cream or double cream went best with strawberries, and Wiggles was off bounding around the gravestones chasing butterflies. I was happy to be surrounded by it all.

  Mom handed me a glass of something sparkling. “Don’t worry. It’s not alcoholic. It’s sparkling apple juice. You deserve a treat after your hard work finding Nick’s killer.”

  “And for clearing my name,” Auntie Queenie said as she peered out at me from under the brim of a large purple hat, a pastry in one hand.

  “That was tough,” I said. “I really thought you’d end up behind bars. Maybe be more discreet when you make your threats to journalists. And no more mention of demon sacrifices.”

  Auntie Queenie had the decency to look embarrassed. “It was a little joke. Who would actually believe I’d do such a thing?”

  “What’s going to happen to Jenny?” Aurora asked.

  “Angel Force has seen the footage, and she’s been charged with murder. They’re holding her until they can figure out what to do with a non-magical who broke our laws. She will need special treatment. They can hardly shove her in a demon prison and expect her to thrive.”

  “She deserves it,” Granny Dottie said. “She caused a lot of trouble here.”

  “Nick started it,” I said. “With his magic ancestral roots and him discovering information about the Ring of Halo, he started this hunt and ended up putting a lot of people at risk.”

  “It’s a shame it ended in his death
,” Mom said. “We’ve got the ring tucked away in the house, so no one can get to it. The sooner it’s back where it belongs, the better. And we need to be quick. Your gran has been dropping hints about trying it on.”

  I shuddered. Granny Dottie caused enough trouble without having a dark magic ring jammed on her finger. “Suki is having a few days off before she gets back to her forest duties. She found the recent events overwhelming. I’ll be keeping a close eye on her.” I took a sip of the apple juice. “In fact, I was thinking of offering her a part-time job at Cloven Hoof. I’ve got to watch out for her, so she keeps her nose clean and doesn’t punch any more angels.”

  Granny Dottie snorted a laugh. “Punching angels, what fun.”

  “What sort of job can Suki do for you?” Grandpa Lucius asked as he glanced affectionately at his wife.

  “I was thinking a bouncer,” I said.

  Aurora smiled. “Oh, yes! That will be perfect. She’s intimidating to look at. Anyone who wants to cause trouble at the door will think twice when they run into Suki.”

  “Exactly. I haven’t officially asked her yet, but it will do her good and give her a chance to socialize more. She must get lonely in the forest. I also need to get the word out that she wants an apprentice. Managing the forest on her own is too much for one wood nymph, even more so if she’s going to spend time at Cloven Hoof.”

  “I can put a note up in Heaven’s Door,” Aurora said. “I’m sure we’ll find someone lovely to assist her.”

  “Thanks, I’ll do the same at the other stores,” I said.

  “We need to look after Suki,” Mom said. “It must be hard being alone and scared of what other people think of her. When she’s ready, we’ll invite her around for dinner and discuss her job prospects.”

  I grinned at Mom. “It’s going to take a while before she can handle dinner with all of us.”

  Mom tutted and clipped me around the head.

  “I saw that other journalist and the rude non-magical woman scurrying out of here yesterday,” Granny Dottie said. “I’m glad to see the back of them.”

  I nodded as I accepted a huge plate of sandwiches from Mom. “So did I. I got the impression Rachel has latched onto James as her next conquest. He’s too confused to know what’s going on. I had to do another mind wipe on him after he saw everything. He’s a stubborn one and doesn’t let go of a story easily. With a bit of luck, he’ll write the most boring story about us imaginable. No one will want to come here after they’ve read his article.”

  “I was thinking it would be nice to do something to remember Nick,” Aurora said. “We can have a little plaque or something in the cemetery as a way to remember him. He did mess up in his hunt for the Ring of Halo, but it wasn’t his fault. It was his natural curiosity that killed him.”

  “It was a magic crazed woman with a rock in her hand that did that,” Granny Dottie said.

  Aurora tutted at her. “Don’t you think it would be nice, though? We can keep it discreet.”

  “That’s a lovely idea,” Mom said. “Maybe we can have something we can put flowers in, as well.”

  I nodded as I munched on a smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwich. It felt good to be surrounded by my family. It would be so easy to get used to this and think I could stay here all the time. Despite Frank’s recent efforts to get free, he wasn’t happy, and I knew I’d need to leave again soon. Frank needed a proper day out, and Willow Tree Falls was not the place to do that.

  Aurora shuffled over and joined me on the blanket. She snaffled a sandwich from my plate, and we ate together in silence for a few minutes.

  “I feel like I’ve hardly seen you,” she said quietly. “When I do, I’ve had to run away before you throttled me. And I know you’re going away again.”

  My shrug was apologetic. “How do you know that?”

  “Dazielle was in Heaven’s Door and said you’ve accepted a new job from her.”

  I frowned. Dazielle talked too much. “I’ll be back.”

  “We’ve barely spent any safe time together.”

  “There’s a good reason for that,” I said. “Plus, I got my arm twisted in helping to solve this murder.”

  “I know, but next time you come back, let’s see if we can’t figure out a way to hang out more without Frank causing us problems.” She nudged me as she stole another sandwich. “I miss you.”

  I stared up into the sky and repressed a sigh. I’d love that. I’d love to hang out with my sister all the time, but even her sitting next to me had perked Frank’s attention. “I’m sure we can do something.”

  “Great. Maybe we can have a girlie day at the spa. It’s been awhile since I’ve been in the thermal waters.”

  “I’m not sure about a girlie day.”

  “How about a girlie morning?”

  “Maybe not a girlie anything.”

  Aurora pouted at me. “I can come demon hunting with you. You can teach me all about the non-magical world on the other side of the barrier.”

  “Nope, out of the question,” I said. “When I’m out of Willow Tree Falls, Frank is much more prevalent. If you spend time with me in the land of non-magicals, he will eat you alive.”

  Aurora shifted on the blanket and eyed me with caution. “Well, I don’t want that. Maybe we won’t do demon hunting together.”

  “Good plan. We will do something, though. I promise.”

  “Since you’re about to leave us, I got you two going away presents.” Aurora grinned at me and sat up.

  “You’ve never done that before.” My gaze narrowed as I saw the wicked smile on her face. “What have you done?”

  She pointed over my head. “They’re arriving now.”

  I turned my head, and my heart skipped a beat. Rhett and Axel strode through the gates of the cemetery toward us.

  I groaned and closed my eyes for a second. “Why did you invite them both?”

  “Oh, come off it. You like them. There’s no harm in them coming here and enjoying some of the food Mom’s spent hours preparing.”

  “Ooooh, gorgeous men to enjoy.” Granny Dottie chuckled and smoothed her skirt over her knees. “This day keeps getting better.”

  Mom grabbed two more plates. “I made extra. I know how growing boys like to eat.”

  I glared at her. “You knew about this?”

  Mom shared a smile with Aurora. “I might have known something about it.” She hopped up and hugged Rhett and Axel. “Welcome to the picnic. There’s plenty for everyone, so don’t be shy about helping yourselves.”

  “Thanks, Mrs. Crypt,” Rhett said as he smiled at me.

  “None of that Mrs. anything. It’s Cora.”

  Rhett nodded, and Axel smiled at my mom, his grin so bright it dazzled me.

  After they’d loaded their plates with food, they looked around for somewhere to sit. Aurora hopped up from the blanket. “There’s plenty of room for the two of you on here. I need to stretch my legs.”

  “Don’t leave me alone,” I whispered to her.

  All Aurora did was wink at me and skip away like the treacherous, matchmaking fool she was.

  Rhett and Axel looked as uncomfortable as I felt as they squashed themselves onto the blanket.

  I smiled at them, trying to ignore how mortified I felt by being so obviously set up by my entire family.

  “It sounds like you’ve been having quite an adventure,” Axel said. “A dead journalist, an enchanted ring, and a fight with a crazed non-magical.”

  “Tempest handled herself just fine,” Rhett said.

  Axel glared at him. “I never said she didn’t.”

  “It’s all dealt with now. The dangerous magic is contained, the killer has been arrested, and all the journalists have vanished.” I did not like the whiff of alpha dog building between these two. I would not be fought over like a piece of prime steak.

  “When will one of you fine young men ask for my granddaughter’s hand in marriage?” Granny Dottie asked.

  I cringed and glared at her.
“Ignore her. We think she’s losing her marbles. She says all sorts of ridiculous things.”

  Granny Dottie frowned at me. “Less of your lip.”

  Rhett and Axel grinned as I looked at them. “Don’t you dare indulge her. She’s trying to stir up trouble.”

  “It’s not a terrible idea,” Axel said.

  Rhett frowned at him. “You want to marry Tempest?”

  Axel shrugged. “Well, I have to settle down sometime.”

  “Thanks! I’m not settling for anyone,” I said.

  Axel’s cheeks flushed. “I didn’t mean that. I meant I wouldn’t be settling if I picked you.”

  “You’re assuming I’m interested in settling. I might like being single.”

  “It gets boring,” Auntie Queenie said, clearly listening in to the conversation. “Find yourself a handsome stud and enjoy yourself. Remember what we talked about?” She nodded her head vigorously at Rhett and Axel.

  “What did you talk about?” Rhett asked.

  “Nothing important. Auntie Queenie has strange theories when it comes to controlling Frank. All of it is nonsense.” There was no way I’d tell Rhett and Axel Auntie Queenie’s theory about having lots of sex to keep control of her magic and reduce stress.

  Rhett smirked as he ate a mini quiche.

  My cheeks flushed. “Just to be clear, I’m not in the arena for marriage.”

  “Are you in the arena for dating?” Rhett asked.

  “You should choose the one with the motorbike,” Granny Dottie said. “I like his stubble. And anyone who knows how to control such a powerful machine has got to have strong muscles. Can I feel your biceps, Rhett?”

  “Please, don’t show her your biceps,” I said to Rhett. “She’ll get overexcited, and her heart will give out.”

  He laughed. “Sorry, Dottie, I haven’t been to the gym in a while. There’s nothing to feel.”

  “There’s no need to be shy,” Granny Dottie said. “Any time you want someone to ride pillion with you, you only have to say the word. I have my own helmet.”

  Grandpa Lucius patted her knee. “I’ll take you for a ride, old girl, so long as you behave yourself.”

  “Less of the old.” Granny Dottie stroked his cheek affectionately.