Charmed to Death (A Farmer's Market Witch Mystery Series Book 1)
Page 11
“About time you called,” my mother said. “I’ve been worried about you.”
“I’ve been worried about me, too,” I said. “I need to talk to you about Tabitha.”
“What has she done now?”
I did a quick recap of Larson’s murder, the amulet, and the battle inside Cooper’s house. My mother listened without interrupting, which was something like a miracle. At the end, my mother sounded tense.
“You must leave Tabitha and the amulet alone,” my mother said.
“That’s it?” I asked.
“That’s it. And I have to go. Your father is calling.”
The phone went dead, and I stared at it. It was the strangest ending to a call that I could remember. I wondered if it was just a coincidence.
On my way home, I wondered what other odd thing was going to happen to me. I avoided any oddity that night, and most of the next day. I was closing up my booth at the market when it happened.
CHAPTER 27
As the day was winding down, Betty Hassens stopped at my booth. Betty owned a flower shop, and she sometimes sold bouquets at the market. When she didn’t sell everything, she would give me a bouquet for my house. She was a nice woman, somewhere in her thirties, who had many friends. I didn’t know a single person who didn’t get along with her. Her husband, David, was not so well-liked, but that hardly mattered. I didn’t deal with him.
“Here you are, Elle,” Betty said. “Enjoy.”
I grabbed a good luck charm and handed it to her. “And something for your house. It will bring good luck.”
“I hope so. I need it.”
“Oh? Something I can do?”
“No, no, just the usual problems. I can handle them. But I have to go. And thanks.”
Betty started off, and I spotted Jason before he arrived at my booth. He still wore the bandage—and a sheepish grin.
“I owe you an apology,” he said.
“Sounds interesting,” I answered.
“I should have listened to you. As a panther shifter, I’ve run into magic before, and, well, it never affected me like the amulet. I thought I was immune. Obviously, I was mistaken.”
“You’re not the only one,” I said. “I’ve never seen magic quite like what was in the amulet. It’s powerful stuff. And there’s a back story that I need to unravel.”
“You’re not giving up on solving the murder?”
“Not on your life. Tabitha is still in the wind, and it seems there’s some sort of larger force out there. I need to reign it in. I need to understand the amulet and the murder. This won’t end until that larger sphere is exposed to daylight. But I do believe Tabitha murdered Larson to get the amulet. Unfortunately for her Brad got it first.”
“I hear you. And I understand. There’s something inside me that feels the same way. Abbot won’t be safe until the amulet’s power is corralled somehow. We’ll talk.”
I watched him turn away, and I was disappointed. I thought his agreement meant we would spend some time together. Perhaps, he was interested in me. Not gonna happen. I turned back to Gus and the display I had to break down.
“You should ask him out.”
“Hush Gus. He doesn’t want to go out with me.”
“You always talk to your dog that way?”
I spun. Jason was standing a few feet away.
“In fact, she does talk to me that way,” Gus said.
“A talking dog?” Jason asked. “You’re kidding.”
“Hey, watch it. Dogs have feelings too.”
Jason laughed. “That I can understand your dog, tells me he’s a lot more than just a dog.”
“He is,” I said. “Although, he doesn’t always know when to keep his yap shut.”
With that, Gus started off, without a word. I knew better than to think he was miffed. He was just taking the opportunity to leave me in good hands.
“Well, he’s wrong about one thing. How about dinner? I owe you one after you saved my life against Tabitha.”
I studied him a moment, wondering if he was for real. Did he really want a date? Or was he just trying to work some play. He had been under the amulet’s power, if only briefly. Did he want it back?
“Sure,” I said. “Let me pack up. You pick the place.”
“Great. You like Italian?”
“Love it.”
We had a very nice Italian dinner in a little place out by the mall. The food was good, the wine better, and the conversation neutral. He told me stories about the parks, and I explained the bond between me, Millie, and Percy. By the end of the date, we were both mellow. He took me home and walked me to my door.
“Elle, I had a very nice time tonight,” he said. “Can I call you? Arrange for another date?”
“Sure,” I said. “And I promise you won’t have to listen to Gus.”
He laughed and backed up and headed for his car. I went inside, because I knew he would wait till I was safe.
“You’re glowing.”
“I am not glowing, Gus. Besides, it’s the wine.”
Gus laughed, and laughed, and I went to bed wondering if Jason would call.
As I put the vase of flowers on my nightstand, I smiled. I certainly hoped Jason would call.
Don’t miss the next book in the Farmer’s Market Witch Mystery Series:
Third Crime’s a Charm
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Catalog of Books
The Farmer’s Market Witch Mystery Series
Charmed to Death
Third Crime’s a Charm
A Devilish Charm
Tabby Kitten Witch Mystery Series
Familiar Magic
Creature Magic
Adventure Magic
Spooky Magic
Ghoulish Magic
Shadow Magic
IVY’S BOTANICAL SHOP Cozy Witch Mystery Series
Brewing Up Trouble
Brewing the Midnight Oil
A Storm is Brewing
Back to the Brewing Board
Brewing Up the Wrong Tree
Brewing Down the Hatches
WITCHES BE CRAZY COZY Witch Mystery Series
Down the Hatch
Down But Not Dead
Down and Out
Down and Dirty
Down in Flames
Down for the Count
THE HOCUS POCUS COZY Witch Mystery Series
Spooks and Spells
Freaks and Felons
Crooks and Crystals
Graves and Goons
Brooms and Brains
Moons and Magic
THE HAPPY BLENDINGS Cozy Witch Mystery Series
The Potion Commotion
A Pumpkin Potion Explosion
A Drop in the Potion
A Notion of a Potion
A Deceptive Potion
A Formidable Potion
A Risky Potion
CALAMITY CORNERS COZY Witch Mystery Series
Calm Before the Witch Storm
The Witch is in the Details
Better the Witch You Know
A Witch Axe to Grind
A Cauldron of Witch Tricks
TRIPLET WITCH SISTERS Mystery Series
Two’s Company, Three’s a Coven
Resting Witch Face
Bewitched and Bewildered
Triple Toil and Trouble
THE WITCH SISTERS OF Stillwater
Hoodoo and Just Desserts
A Shade of Murder
Tha
t Ol’ Black Magic
A Whole Lotta Witchin Goin On
The Beast Cometh
Secrets and Sorcery