“Tell that to the thorns.”
“Deer don’t ask,” Harper said. “And flowers give themselves to us, Scarlett. They wouldn’t jump into Lex’s hands unless he was able to tell them they were for you.”
“They’d give themselves to me,” Gus said. “I’m just that…”
“Stop it,” Gram said. “The weird mating rituals the 4 of you have running between yourselves is making me uncomfortable.”
“Says the grandmother who has her cane-carrying boyfriend sneak into her room,” Scarlett muttered, but she wasn’t loud enough for Gram to hear it.
“What?” Gram asked dangerously.
Scarlett was sure Gram had no idea what had been said, so Scarlett shrugged carefully and avoided direct eye contact.
“Maybe it was a charm that made the bullet arc,” Harper suggested to catch Gram’s attention before Scarlett got in trouble.
“They don’t make bullet turning charms for the….I don’t know…average detached druid to use,” Lex said and Gus nodded.
“I’m not detached. I’m selectively attached.” Harper started walking towards Gus's car knowing the others would follow. Scarlett had to grin at the move, and she caught Gus’s smirk.
“You’re as likely as me to make drugs," Lex told Scarlett as he followed.
“But neither of you would,” Scarlett said, reaching forward to slap at both of them. “Lex is a good man. Harper is a good woman. Both of you have an interesting sense of right and wrong. But you do have one.”
Lex and Harper looked at Scarlett as if she were some sort of alien creature and she was forced to give one of Lex’s charming, ambiguous shrugs.
“I’d believe the making of drugs for both of you,” Gus said conversationally. “Especially Harper. Her sense of right and wrong is skewed. Remember when she took the librarian’s cats. Scarlett’s too much of a mommy to manufacture drugs. And I’m too rich to need to.”
“The woman had 27 cats. And being rich is no excuse.”
“Stealing cats is cruel,” Gus said. “She was just a little old lady.”
“Some of those cats weren’t getting enough food. There were dead kittens in there. Her house was filthy. She needed help. I gave it to her.”
“You left her 27 cats in crates outside the animal shelter. She only got 2 back,” Gram said. “She still hates you.”
“Her children came home, cleaned out her house, and visit her regularly,” Harper said with a sniff. “She’s welcome.”
“So,” Scarlett said almost frantically, “What did Jimmy Day say?”
“Lied through his teeth, I’m pretty sure,” Lex replied. He had none of his languid arrogance and Scarlett was surprised by the difference in him since he’d put the badge on.
“Real responsibility isn’t something you’re used to boy,” Gram said as she set the pace by walking much slower than she was actually needing. “Looks like it'll be hard for you to adjust. Not sure you’ll make it as something so straight and normal as a sheriff. But we can use you here. And…I think you know that you can use us.”
“Gram,” Scarlett asked as they followed her. “Are you being nice?”
“It’s out of self-interest. We need to reset Mystic Cove after the damage done from the last murder let alone this one. This is Mystic Cove. This is not how we live. This is not what this town is about. I raised my daughters here because it was what it was, and I will be damned if my great-granddaughters don’t have the same.”
Scarlett turned at the sound of someone approaching. It was a member of the Druidic Circle. She didn’t know her well, but she recognized the creamy skin and the nut-brown eyes. She thought her name was Kendra as she asked, “What do we need to do now?”
Lex shook his head in exasperation and said, “How about nothing? I am the police. This is my job. I know I’m new, but I have years and years of investigative history.”
The woman shrugged and glanced at Gram for direction, but it was Scarlett who answered. “Get rid of the Social Worker, we’re keeping Maeve, and we’re not losing her while we do paperwork. Keep an eye on people around here. We don't know who knows what, but when we work together, we don’t need to be in danger.”
Harper was flicking her fingers against her palm and Scarlett turned to her and said, “What?”
“Brad Day and his kids. Keep an eye on them. Make sure they’re ok. Jimmy Day wouldn’t have killed Bridget. He’s a ripe a—”
“But,” Gram cut in, “Jimmy Day wouldn’t have shot Bridget. He wouldn’t feel the need to. He’d trap her, pressure her, he’d be absolutely certain he could manipulate her. She’s a stupid kid. He’s Jimmy Day.”
Harper nodded in agreement and the Circle woman—Kendra—shook her head and said, “I’m off. Jimmy Day. You wouldn’t have thought that someone like Jimmy Day…”
“So we need someone meaner than Jimmy Day.” Scarlett sighed.
“Not meaner,” Lex said. “Jimmy Day is a nasty man. He’s just so arrogant.”
“We aren’t going to find the killer that way,” Gus said. “We need to know where Bridget was going. If Jimmy Day pulled Bridget into trafficking drugs, and he won’t tell us who his partners are…”
“He won’t,” Lex said. “He knows he didn’t kill her. He might be able to remove all signs of himself in regards to the drugs. He won’t risk walking away clean to give up a killer.”
“Maybe he made sure there weren’t any from the beginning,” Scarlett said.
“Just a moment,” Scarlett said walking away from the group. The conversation was making anxiety run through her veins and into her stomach. She pulled out her phone and called her mother. There was just something about thinking about this murderer—who had no regard for Bridget’s life being in the same town with her daughters—and now Maeve. Scarlett knew they were safe in the grove. She knew they’d be fine. She knew they were fine, and it didn’t matter. She needed to hear their voices.
Scarlett walked farther away from the group and listened to Luna talk about Chitters and Piper. Ella was much more casual, but you could hear the distress in her tone. Ella was just old enough to recognize that Maeve was mourning and afraid, and Ella was mourning with Maeve.
“Ella,” Scarlett said. “Wrap Maeve up in your love, but give her space if she needs it.”
“Mommy,” Ella said, sounding tortured.
Scarlett could hear the sounds of her footsteps and the slam of a door and then Ella’s whispered voice, “Mommy she has a lot, a lot of money. Like piles of it. It’s in her backpack. I was coming up to see if she wanted an ice cream, she didn’t. She yelled at me a little bit and then said she was sorry. So I pretended I didn’t see it.”
“Oh,” Scarlett said, breath jerking in her chest. “Oh, goodness.”
“I…” Ella’s tears started.
Scarlett sat on a nearby bench, curled into her lap to keep the conversation between the two of them. “It’s ok, baby. It’s ok. You did the right thing.”
“Nana says Maeve can stay with us. And now she’ll hate me.”
“No, no. She won’t. You two were born to be friends, love. Mommy’s got this.”
Scarlett looked up and saw the others staring at her. She tapped her finger against the phone for a long moment as she thought about what to do and then texted her sister.
Harper read the message quickly, glanced Scarlett a look, and gave a quick shake of the head.
“Oh goodness,” Scarlett said, looking beyond her group of friends and rising to join them before she missed anything.
“Well now,” Wally was saying as Scarlett arrived. “Why are you people bothering Jimmy Day? Do you know who he is? He’s one of the most important people in this town.”
Harper started to speak and Lex put his hand over her mouth. Before he could respond to Wally, Gram did.
“Jimmy Day,” Gram said marching towards Wally to jab her knobby finger on his chest, “Was involved with the murder of a young woman and the creation of warlock heroin in Mystic Cove. W
ally Shrope you are the mayor of this town, but we are not going to let you mess things up again.”
“Now, now,” Wally started, holding up his hands. But Gram stabbed him with her finger again.
“Let me be clear, druids won’t vote for you again if you mess this up. And, we can get you removed from office right now. You play this right, Wallace Shrope, or I will destroy you simply by telling my Circle I don’t care for you.”
Wally backed up. His stomach was straining at the edges of his suit. And there was a grease stain on his sleeve, and he had dirt under his fingernails. Scarlett shook her head as she glanced him over.
“Now, now,—don’t you think you can just order me around. I ain’t no puppet. I’m the mayor now.”
“Don’t make me take that away from you,” Gram said. She looked around the park, nodding at person after person. It wasn’t just druids who were watching carefully. Gram was a long time denizen of Mystic Cove, and she was respected.
“You caint do that! I don’t know who you think you are! You aren’t the queen of Mystic Cove.” He stomped away. He was furious but when he saw everyone watching him, he paused for half a step and then physically shook himself.
“She could do it,” Scarlett said. “I mean…Mr. Throdmore could do it if he wanted to.”
“Or Henna,” Gus agreed.
Harper bit Lex’s hand and then said, “Please. The only ones who couldn’t do what Gram is threatening is me and Lex.”
“Hey now,” Lex said.
“I knew we shouldn’t have voted Wally in as mayor. It’s just so much paperwork for someone else to do it. No one really wanted to do it but him. And he did such a crappy job as sheriff I figured it couldn’t be worse.”
“Idiot,” Harper said immediately and then dodged Gram as she slapped at Harper.
Wally stormed away faster, but Gram’s eyes narrowed and she followed after, haranguing him and explaining that he didn’t get to direct police investigations now that Mystic Cove had a real sheriff.
“Your grandmother is terrifying,” Lex said, glancing at Harper and Scarlett.
“Yeah,” Harper and Scarlett said in unison.
Then Harper replied, “Let’s get out of here before she gets back.”
Chapter 12
“I love your Gram,” Lex said. “She is utterly fantastic.”
She was actually smacking the back of Wally’s head.
“Save it, warlock,” Harper replied. “She’s already got one of your kind in her bed.”
“Where are all the male druids?” Lex asked, glancing around.
“Don’t ever talk about Gram’s bedroom habits again, please,” Scarlett said. “Unless she’s here to torture, it’s not worth the pain.”
“What do we do know?” Harper asked. “We don’t have anyone left.”
As a group, they all looked around the park. The ferris wheel was turning, the picnic blankets to save spots for the evening fireworks show were beginning to be placed. The food stands were starting to do a steady business. Antiquers and tourists were wandering among the locals. Usually, you could tell at a glance who was from Mystic Cove and who wasn’t. The magic wasn’t there in their eyes, but some non-magical humans still had magic in their souls. On days like the one they were experiencing, with the sun high—but not too hot, with the wind friendly and frisky, with the skies full of puffy clouds—even non-magical humans had that extra light in their eyes.
“We’re going to hunt,” Gus said.
He had a bit of red in his gaze and his fangs were out.
“Hunt?” Scarlett said and glanced at the others. Lex and Harper were both staring at the fangs as if they’d never seen vampire fangs before. Scarlett gave them all a nasty look and took Gus’s hand.
“Wuss,” Scarlett told Harper.
“Shut it,” Harper hissed back.
“Everyone in our town is dangerous. Vampires just don’t hide it as well,” Scarlett said. “Suck it up, you two. You’re both dangerous. And Harper you play around with being downright disturbing.”
“You’re a flower witch, Scarlett,” Lex said, “I mean…I know you’re buddies with the east wind, but come on.”
Harper cackled as Gus shook his head at Lex.
“What?” Lex said, shrugging. He adjusted his gun belt and then said, “You know it’s true. She’s a baker mommy who roller-skates. She’s about the sweetest person I’ve ever met.”
Harper had to stop for a moment because she was laughing so hard and then she looked up and said, “I needed that. I need to laugh and not…feel guilty about Bridget.”
“Bridget isn’t your fault,” Lex said, glancing at Gus who nodded and Scarlett who understood entirely.
“Do you know why druids are called tree witches?” Harper asked. “Because we’re woven together with roots entwined. It’s why…”
Harper cut off, but Scarlett knew. It was why Harper’s birth mom self-medicated with drugs. She didn’t understand who or what she was. She craved connection to nature and her people. Unlike Bridget who had followed the quiet knowing to Mystic Cove, Harper’s mom had ended in cycles of drugs, jail, and finally death. That had to be why Bridget and Maeve had landed in Mystic Cove--they'd followed the knowing. She’d put herself in the middle of the forest of druids--ready to weave her roots in--and they hadn’t seen her.
“It’s why we need each other. Our magic works better together,” Scarlett finished so Harper didn’t have to. She looked at the others. “We’re all humans. Variations of the same type of bird. We’re pack animals, and we need each other.”
Scarlett looked at them and then reached up to kiss Gus on the cheek before hugging the others. “Do you know why Bridget really died? Because she was alone. The only person even trying to help her was that idiot Brad Day. We won’t ever be like Bridget. It won’t ever be my girls who face what Bridget faced. We have each other.”
“Let’s find the killer,” Gus said. “Find him and let Maeve play soccer and go to school and legally be safe with your mom. Let’s finish this.”
“By finish, I assume you mean burn him with all of his drugs and money. To a pile of charcoal. We’ll let Maeve spread the ashes somewhere horrible so she can feel better.”
“Harper you are the terrifying one, flower witch or not,” Lex said at Harper’s casual tone.
“That’s true,” Scarlett and Gus said in unison. They loaded into Gus’s Land Rover with Lex and Gus in the front and Scarlett and Harper in the back. Gus drove to the end of the path where Scarlett had emerged the other day. He parked on the side of the road, and they left the vehicle to stare down the dark, bare trail through the trees. It wasn’t so bad now that the sun was out. The creepiness factor had faded, and it was possible to see why Bridget had talked to these particular trees.
The way their branches arched seemed to make an avenue of shade specifically for any passerby. The light filtered through the trees polka dotting the ground. The birds were singing, the bugs humming, the wind danced through the trees and everything in it called to the nature magic in Harper and Scarlett.
“Well, hello there,” Harper said. She crossed to one of the larger trees and knelt down placing her forehead and hands on the trunk. “Hello, you lovely thing.”
Scarlett followed, but it was a little sapling that caught her attention. A baby tree with a sparkly spirit and a broken branch. Scarlett reached out to the nature magic that came so easily to her and fed it into the tree, repairing the break and saying hello to the trees at the same time. An overture to one tree was an overture to all of them.
“What are they doing?” Lex asked Gus.
“They’re accessing the magic here.”
“Huh,” Lex said as Scarlett and Harper rose. If you know what to look for, the signs of the local magic flowing through Scarlett and Harper was obvious. Harper’s hair floated just a little bit, the wind seemed to pause around her before it carried on. Scarlett’s gaze was sharper as if she could see more than she had before but also as if she w
eren’t looking at the same things Gus and Lex were seeing.
“Are you ready?” Gus asked.
Scarlett and Harper nodded in unison and then Scarlett placed a solitary finger on Gus’s forehead. He blinked several times and then, he too seemed to see more than he had before. Only with Gus, it was different, he always saw more than the others with his vampire magic. The combined effects made his sight even more extraordinary. He blinked several times and took a deep breath and then said to Lex, “You joining in?”
Lex hesitated, but finally, he shrugged that arrogant, confident shrug, spread his charming smile, and said, “I don’t want to throw off what’s so easy for you.”
“We share magic back and forth,” Scarlett said to Lex. “We’ll have better chances if we can share Gus’s speed with you.”
“And his night vision,” Harper said. “Plus, ya big wuss, you’ll get to feel what real power feels like.”
“Real power?” Lex asked.
“Who’s the half-warlock and the half-druid here?” Harper tossed her hair and lifted a brow at Lex’s disbelief. His expression said just how very unlikely he felt Harper’s claim to be.
“It’s the same old saying,” Gus told Lex with glowing hunter’s eyes. “Druid against any other creature—they almost always lose. Druid’s stand together though. It’s what makes Maeve and the little girls safe while Harper and Scarlett hunt.”
“What you are missing,” Scarlett said, “Is that we are not the only druids hunting and if you think Gram, Henna, and their…beaus are not going to show up wherever we end up you’re wrong.”
Lex glanced between all of their faces, adjusting his gun belt, looking as if he were ready to go back to his nasty police car and hunt alone. Being a part of things when it wasn’t on his own terms didn’t seem to sit so well with him.
Karma baby, Scarlett thought, and she was sure he caught the line of her thought from the way her lips twitched.
“They’re probably already there,” Harper said, “Giving the killer a piece of their minds as if he stole candy.”
Runes and Roller Skates Page 11