The Midsummer Murders

by Jill Nojack

  Natalie simply humphed in return as the police chief’s face settled into a self-satisfied grin.

  Her head swiveled as she looked for a hidden camera. She didn’t see one. But something other than the easy-to-evade front door alarm had gotten her into this mess. And if she couldn’t see the camera, she couldn’t wipe the video. Sending a magical pulse that impacted electronics out into the general environment was too dangerous in a room where tasers and police radios were present; she was in trouble. The video could have picked up the blue sparks leaping from her fingertips to disable the front door alarm and unlock it. Denton would be sure to assume she had used an electronic device to get in undetected.

  If Ling was more than she appeared, hiding her abilities in the craft somehow, then perhaps there was no video. She could have other ways of knowing what happened in her shop. Natalie hoped for that, that the video would never appear, that she had underestimated her opponent.

  And if she had, how had she been so stupid? She should have spent more time casing the place instead of making assumptions. It was sheer laziness on her part, a general trend toward a relaxed attitude as she settled into a pleasant, mind-dulling domesticity precipitated by the recent changes in her family life.

  Clearly, none of that was good for her. No, as soon as she settled this mess and had the bottle that was causing the deaths, it was time to reevaluate.

  ***

  William wasn’t expecting a call from Marcus, particularly one so late at night.

  Natalie.

  Something had happened to her. That’s the only thing it could be. His heart stopped beating as he picked up the phone.

  “Marcus?”

  “Bill...Gram’s been arrested. She told me not to tell you, but...”

  “Thank you.” He relaxed as the familiar, but not strictly necessary, rhythm of his heart resumed. “Did they take her to the station?”

  “Yeah. I’m gonna stay with the Sanders tonight since they have plenty of room. But if Gram is in trouble with the police, then...”

  The worry in the boy’s voice came across loud and clear. This could jeopardize his placement. If Natalie was convicted, she might be determined not to be a suitable caretaker, no matter how well she’d faked her familial relationship. Marcus would end up back in the group home in Boston where he had to guard his possessions all the time from the other foster children and the house parents treated him like a criminal in the making.

  “She won’t even be there for the full night. I promise you,” William assured him.

  He hoped that he hadn’t just told the boy a gigantic, whopping lie.

  ***

  Denton was grinning as he filled out an arrest report by hand when William knocked on his office door.

  “Bill? Burning the midnight oil on the mummy cases?”

  “No, chief. I came in special when I got a call from Marcus Wilkerson telling me his grandmother had been arrested.”

  Denton’s grin broadened. “She sure has! I finally have something I can charge her with after all these years of her skating around the edges of the law, interfering with investigations. I know she had something to do with that explosion at the hospital years ago. I could just never prove it. She’ll get more than community service for shoplifting this time, if I have anything to say about it.”

  “Now that’s a real surprise to me, Karl. What’s she accused of?”

  “B and E, Bill. B and E. She won’t get out of this one easily. Not with the video Mrs. Li is bringing in tomorrow morning. Apparently it feeds to a service rather than being kept on site.”

  “Are you sure you haven’t got this wrong, chief?”

  “She says the door was open and she was doing her civic duty, but I don’t believe that for a minute. An elderly woman entering a shop where a burglar may lay in wait for her? The woman was mugged once already this year. She’s annoying and infuriating, but I’ve never taken her to be stupid—”

  “The thing is, Chief, I’d believe her if she told me that story,” William said, trying to look convincing, even though he didn’t believe the story for a minute, either. It just wasn’t for the same reasons as Denton. She sure hadn’t filled him in on it before she went charging off to be the bull in the consignment shop. At least the next part wasn’t a lie. “I’ve never known anyone so fearless.”

  “Don’t know why you’re defending her.”

  “It’s just that—I see it this way—if she was going to take on a new job as a second-story man, I think I’d know.” Once again, he tried to look convincing. “I don’t think she would hide something like that from me. We’re close.”

  Denton’s eyes held his for a long time as realization dawned. “You’re not saying that you...and she...that you...” Denton’s chest inflated as he sucked in a lungful of air and red patches began to spread across his cheeks. “You...the two of you?” He stood, leaning on his hands on the desk, his fingers bent at the tip like Cat’s, trying to rip their way into its surface.

  “Yes, we’re a couple.” William continued nonchalantly, genuinely, pretending not to notice the other man’s distress. “Well, I mean...we’re a couple as far as I’m concerned. She’s resistant to the label, but I know she’ll come around.”

  Denton was apoplectic now, his mouth wide like a fish on the hook, gasping.

  Chief? You okay?” He moved toward the side of the desk to go to the man, but Denton waved him back.

  “I’m fine. I’m just...it’s a shock.” Denton turned away abruptly to look out the window. “I should have seen the signs.”

  “I thought everyone knew.” Another lie. He’d intentionally kept it from his coworkers. Natalie was really getting him in deep this time. “You know, the way the rest of the force has it figured out about you and Charity Barnes.”

  Denton turned back from the window. “What? There’s nothing—”

  “Gosh-a-rootie, Chief. Do you really want me to believe that? I mean, sure, she’s a witness, but no one could possibly think she was a suspect, so it’s fine that you and she are—”

  “We’re not!” Denton roared, his big voice booming as both of his hands slapped the surface of his desk. “What’s wrong with this department? The rest of you may be living some sordid cop romance novel, but leave me out of it.”

  Well, that worked. Denton was no longer focused on Natalie, at least.

  “I didn’t mean to upset you, it’s just that the signs are all there. I mean, the two of you, the way you look at each other. Golly, a guy would have to be blind not to notice. And she’s a great gal.” He was going to say that she reminded him a little of Natalie when she was younger, but he caught himself in time. His fake bio made it impossible for him to have known her in her younger years. Plus, there was no point in making the chief’s head explode. “I mean...you haven’t noticed how Miss Barnes has that special walk and smile she uses whenever she’s with you? ‘Cause I sure have.”

  Denton softened and smiled to himself, eyes slightly out of focus. He sat down and tilted his chair back, his hands, now relaxed, resting on the wooden arms. “Do you really think so?”

  “You know it, Chief! She’s got it bad and you know that’s good. Are you saying you haven’t even asked her out yet? Gosh. What are you waiting for?”

  “She’s involved with an open investigation for one thing.”

  “Sure, but she’s not even close to being a suspect. Is she?”

  “Of course not! A woman like that, whose entire life is devoted to the health and comfort of others? She’s a saint.”

  “A saint who—pardon me for saying it—sways her hips like a sinner for the benefit of only one man.” William grinned. “When it’s me and the other guys around, her back is stiff as a board. I’m not kidding, Chief. Ask Rogers. We’re all happy for you. You deserve to have someone nice to go home to after giving your all to the town every day. And being a nurse, she’ll understand about the hours you work and how the people you protect will sometimes need you more than she does.”
>
  William could see that hadn’t occurred to Denton, whose face grew thoughtful.

  “My ex-wife always said that I was married to the job and not to her. At least, that’s why she said she left. She never understood. And I’ve avoided relationships for a long time to prevent making another woman that unhappy.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that, Karl. I just think...well, there’s a perfect woman for every man. That’s what I believe. Maybe you’ve found yours.”

  Denton looked both hopeful and sad for a moment before he said, “You’ve given me something to think on Bill. Thank you. Anything else?”

  “I’d just like to reassure young Marcus about his grandmother. You think it would be okay for me to visit with her for a while? Have something to tell the boy to calm him down?”

  Denton’s eyelids dropped minutely, suspicious. William hoped his naturally innocent-looking face did its job under the scrutiny.

  After a beat, Denton said, “Go on. But don’t give her the idea that I’ll go easy on her. What I just learned about your relationship doesn’t change a thing, Bailey.”

  “I understand that, Chief. I know it looks bad, but it’ll get sorted out soon enough. You’ll see. I’m sure it’s just a misunderstanding.”

  ***

  A guy might think that when his girlfriend gets arrested, she could be a little friendly when he shows up outside her cell to let her know he’ll do everything he can to help her out.

  Sure, another guy might think that. But not a guy whose heart belongs to Natalie Taylor. Because that guy would be a real maroon if he thought that she’d be happy to see him. And William was no maroon. No sir. He wasn’t at all surprised that Natalie greeted him with demands instead of words of love and gratitude.

  “That’s the first thing! We need to find where that bottle is. It has to be at Ling Li’s. Find it and then don’t let it out of your sight. I don’t care what you have to do to keep hold of it. Don’t eat. Don’t sleep. Don’t even blink.”

  He nodded his head and sighed. “Got it. Find the bottle. The bottle is important.”

  “I know you can’t leave town with it, which is a frustration in itself, but it can’t be left unattended near anyone with magic who isn’t immortal. Do you understand?”

  “I understood you about five minutes ago.”

  “Good.” Her face screwed up impatiently. “Well, what are you waiting for?”

  “I’m waiting for what I came here for—to to make sure you’re okay and find out what really happened. Marcus is real worried about what happens with this.”

  “Marcus will be fine. He’s a sensible boy. I’ll reassure him myself soon enough. Now, get going and find that bottle. I’m sure it’s back in that shop. Ling Li knows much more about it than she’s telling, I can promise you that.”

  “I don’t think you understand. Marcus loves you and he’s worried about you, but he’s also worried about the county putting him back in a group home if the charges stick.”

  The air of command left her face in a rush and was replaced with shock as his words hit her.

  Finally, he had her attention.

  Her eyes squeezed shut as she groaned, “What have I done?”

  William whispered, “Take care of the camera for a minute or two, please.”

  She waved weakly toward the corner of the room that held the two cells.

  In the blink of an eye, he was through the bars and standing next to her to hold her as she collapsed against him. One of her hands beat gently against her chest with the rhythm of her words. “I’m an old fool. That’s all I am. I nearly had it fixed up for him, and then I do something this stupid and sabotage it all.”

  Her voice broke, and a sob escaped.

  “Don’t,” he told her. “Please. It won’t fix anything. Just give me something I can use to convince Denton that it happened the way you said it happened.”

  “But I can’t. Denton says Ling Li is bringing video to the station tomorrow. If there really is video, then I’m sunk. It’ll show me breaking in through a door that was closed before I reached it. It’ll show sparks as I reach for the door, too, which Denton will interpret as use of a tool to disable the lock. I’ll be caught in my lie.”

  She straightened, looking more composed now, but still jittery. “Go on. Back to your side of the bars before someone comes to investigate why that camera isn’t broadcasting.

  “It’s just me and Jean in the station right now, but you’re right. I shouldn’t be in here. And if she thinks I did something to the camera while I was here, I don’t think I could soothe Denton out of revoking my visiting privileges if you’re in for a longer stay.” He transported himself out of the cell, then Natalie brought the camera back to life.

  “I’ll check every corner and cubbyhole at Ling’s Things for that bottle. An insect can go just about anywhere without anyone catching on. And if I don’t find it, I’ll shadow her in the hope that she has it stashed somewhere.”

  “Good. Find it and destroy it.”

  “I’ll do my best,” he said, reaching a hand out to rest on the cell door’s crossbar.

  “And don’t mention any of this to the boy. He doesn’t need anything else to worry about.” She reached out too, to rest her hand on his, her eyes searching his face for a moment before she spoke.

  “William, if I don’t say it enough—or admittedly, at all—I hope you know that I love you. And no matter what happens, I’m glad that you persisted and came back to me no matter how hard I tried to push you away.”

  He froze, stunned.

  “Don’t look so surprised. You’d think I’d cut out my liver and offered it up for dinner. Go on, off with you.”

  Her tone was kind and didn’t match her words, but he obeyed. As he blinked himself away, he wondered, why is she saying this now?

  19

  “Hey Twink,” Cassie called as she entered the shop. The tinkling bell above her head had only one mood—merry. But today sure wasn’t the right day for that. Cassie faked perky anyway. She didn’t need to bring the kid down, too.

  “Thanks for coming in early to help. With Natalie out, there’s so much that still needs to get done before tonight. I’d do it myself, but I’m already going crazy splitting my time between the shop and the gallery. We’ve got a new artist to hang before tonight. Dash is all over the place. Somebody has to keep him from a total meltdown,” Cassie said.

  “Whatever. And you guys thought I was going to be the unreliable one?” Twink stowed her bag under the counter, then smirked. “Natalie was out late clubbing, I guess?”

  “Are these the lapis lazuli?” Cassie asked, ignoring the good-humored request for information about Natalie’s whereabouts as she put a hand on the large cardboard box on the counter.

  “Don’t know. Didn’t open it yet. I just got here.” She reached under the counter, then handed a box cutter to her boss. “But really, where’s Natalie?”

  Cassie counted the large uncut blue stones she found in the box and, satisfied that they were all there and intact, took a few of the smaller ones out and put them in the mortar that sat on the counter top. Twink could crush them into powder later.

  “Are you just going to ignore me?” Twink prompted.

  “I’m thinking about something else, okay?” Cassie replied, then picked up the box and pivoted away.

  She turned what she should say around in her head as she carried the box to the glass-front wooden case where the shop’s crystals, minerals, and gemstones were displayed, then finally answered as she arranged the stones in the cabinet with her back to the teen. It wasn’t like she could avoid it forever. After all, what Natalie had done could end up affecting Twink’s boyfriend in a big way.

  “Well, ummm, Natalie uh...actually, she’s in jail. Some misunderstanding. I’m sure it will be cleared up any minute. Oh, and Marcus says he’s going to watch the triplets today so Jenny can go shopping. He may be late picking you up, depending. He stayed at our place last night.”

  The
re was no sound from behind her as Cassie slid the last two stones into place. That surprised her. Twink never missed a chance to take a swipe at her mentor if she deserved it. Cassie decided she must not have been listening. So, great. She’d have to repeat herself.

  But no, she wouldn’t. When she turned, Twink was standing in the same place she’d been standing when Cassie left her behind the counter, still as a statue, eyes wide with anxiety, arms crossed over her chest.

  “They’ll take Marcus back to Boston.” Her voice was so small, so insecure, so not like Twink. “He loves it at Natalie’s. Says it’s a real home.”

  “That won’t happen. It won’t.”

  Twink looked angry suddenly. “What did she do?”

  “She, um, she allegedly broke into Ling Thing’s. She was looking for something that might be involved in the deaths in town.”

  “How could she do that to him? What she wants is more important than what anyone else wants! Always! Marcus will get sent back to that stupid group home because she thinks pretending to be a detective is more important than taking care of him, even though she promised him she would.”

  “You’re not wrong about her,” Cassie admitted. “Nat isn’t good with feelings. Hers or anyone else’s. And she’s been on her own for a long time, so sometimes she doesn’t think about taking other people’s needs into consideration. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t care.”

  “Yeah, but it doesn’t matter what she feels—it matters what she does!”

  Cassie reached a hand across the counter to comfort her, but Twink pulled her hand away and stormed down the short hall to the kitchenette and slammed the door. It was a heavy door; it could muffle a lot of sound.

  But Cassie could hear sobs through it anyway.

  ***

  Officer Ben Rogers led Natalie to an interview room where Ling Li and the Chief sat on the far side of an old wood table. Its pitted top was stained with ancient coffee and cigarette burns. It had been in use long before smoking was banned in all of the town’s government buildings. She imagined many of Giles’s most notorious citizens had at some point taken a seat at that table, her own grandfather among them.