“I always protect confidences,” Mannie said. “And, might I say, you’re being overzealous in your pursuit of somebody else for Deacon’s murder. My understanding is that your sister was very fond of Deacon. She spent a number of nights in his company.”
I jabbed a finger into his gut. “That’s not true. They went on a few dates. Aurora was undecided about Deacon.”
“That’s not what I heard.” Mannie’s smile was self-satisfied. “He told me she put on quite a performance in the bedroom one night.”
I grabbed hold of his beard and yanked it. “Aurora is not that kind of girl.”
Mannie tried to pull his beard out of my grasp, but I held on. “I’m only telling you what I heard.”
“Tempest, please, not here.” Giovanni touched my arm. “We don’t want to upset Mother.”
As if summoned by the sound of Giovanni’s voice, footsteps stamped down the stairs. Mrs. Romer peered around the door, her black beady eyes staring straight at me. “What’s going on down here? All I can hear is you simpering, Giovanni.”
“Nothing, Mother. Go back to your puzzles.”
“I can’t think with all this noise.” She stamped out from behind the counter. “Tempest Crypt, what are you doing with that dwarf’s beard?”
“Stroking it while he gives me information about Deacon Feathers’ murder,” I said.
Mrs. Romer’s eyes widened. She sniffed and nodded. “I heard all about that. Bad news indeed.”
“You need to stop protecting Aurora.” Mannie succeeded in untangling my fingers from his beard and brushed it flat against his stomach. “I understand why you’re doing it. She’s your sister, and you care for her. But if she is guilty, she must pay.”
“She’s innocent,” I snarled.
Frank’s interest perked up again. His voice was just a whisper in my head. “It’s up to me to decide how guilty your sister is. No one else. Remember, she’s all mine.”
I slammed the door on Frank and his mutterings. He could keep his demon claws off my sister, as could everybody else.
Mannie grunted and ran his fingers through his beard. “You need to go back and talk to Aurora. Perhaps she isn’t as pure as you think.”
“You Crypt witches are all the same,” Mrs. Romer said.
I turned slowly and glared at her. “Meaning what?”
“Meaning you have too much power. You expect everyone in Willow Tree Falls to be grateful for what you do.”
“Shouldn’t you be a tiny bit grateful that we keep those badly-behaved demons in prison? I’d like to see you handle a fifteen-foot horned demon who breathes fire and has metal claws.”
Mrs. Romer sniffed again. “I’d give it a good go.”
“Good luck with that,” I said. The Romer women were strong. She probably could give a demon a good butt kicking. I glanced at the panic-eyed Giovanni. The Romer men clearly didn’t have the fierce backbone trait of the women, or maybe it had skipped a generation.
“You tell me where and when,” Mrs. Romer said. “I’ll show you a thing or two about fighting a demon.”
“That sounds good. I’ll suggest my family go on an extended holiday and forget all about our guardian role at the cemetery. When we get back, there might be a Willow Tree Falls left. I doubt it, though.”
Mrs. Romer scowled at me. “Do you want to send a telegram? Or did you come into my store to cause trouble for my paying clients?”
I shook my head. “Don’t worry. I’m leaving.”
“Don’t come back any time soon,” Mrs. Romer said as I turned away. “And we don’t want your murdering sister in here either.”
“Mom, maybe you shouldn’t,” Giovanni whispered.
“Aurora wouldn’t come in here if you paid her.” I slammed the door as I left the telegram store, fury seeping through my veins and exciting Frank to the point I had to stop walking, close my eyes, and take several long, deep breaths to get him back under my control.
“You really showed them,” Wiggles said.
“That was too close. Frank is kicking up a storm.” I looked back at the telegram store. Giovanni and his mother were staring at me through the window.
I resisted the urge to gesture rudely and stalked away. I had to double-check Mannie’s alibi, but from what he’d said, it sounded like he was telling the truth and had witnesses to prove it. But I wouldn’t accept what he’d said about Aurora. She wasn’t into Deacon, and she certainly wouldn’t spend the night with him.
My options seemed to be narrowing when it came to finding Deacon’s killer. Maybe I should head back to Angel Force and see about raising Deacon from the dead. I could ask him face-to-face what happened and solve this whole thing.
I snorted a laugh. Like they’d let me get anywhere near his body. I looked down at Wiggles. Raising the dead was not easy magic and came with unexpected consequences.
I looked along the street and studied the faint shimmer of the magic barrier surrounding Willow Tree Falls. I should get out of here while I had a chance. Frank was getting strong, and my patience was running out. It was a toxic combination and one that meant trouble for everybody.
Wiggles nudged me with his nose. “Any time you want to share those thoughts whizzing around in your head, you let me know.”
I petted his tummy. “As frustrating as it is that Aurora’s hiding something, we can’t give up on her. We need to talk to other people about Mannie’s alibi and find out what was discussed at that meeting.”
“That cute little dancing pixie is always at his meetings,” Wiggles said.
“Star? How do you know that?”
“She’s always going on about it. Before I could talk, I had no choice but to listen. I understood everything.”
I glanced down at Wiggles. “Which means you know all my secrets.”
“Every dirty one. What do you reckon, shall we go have a dance with a pixie?”
I nodded. “Let’s see what Star Fairfax has to say about Mannie’s alibi and find out if she knows who wants to mess with Cloven Hoof.”
Chapter 14
My nose wrinkled as I pushed open the door to the dance studio. It smelt of rubber-soled shoes and lady sweat.
Star was surrounded by a group of eager-faced teenage girls all wearing lycra, tutus, and ballet pumps.
“The same time next week, girls.” Star’s blonde hair was pulled off her face in a tight bun, and her cheeks glowed from the exercise. She had the figure of an established dancer, all long limbs and tight muscles.
She smiled as she saw me and Wiggles. “Are you here for the next dance class?”
Wiggles’ bark sounded remarkably like a laugh.
“No, it’s not my thing,” I said, shooting Wiggles a warning look.
“I’m sure you’d enjoy it. I’m teaching beginners Cuban lessons in half an hour.”
“I’ll leave the dance lessons to the tourists.”
Star’s smile faded. “It’s not just tourists who come here. Several of our local ladies enjoy a good boogie. I’ve even got a few men on the books.”
“I don’t suppose you’ve had any complaints about the studio?”
Her eyes widened. “Never. Everyone loves coming here.”
“I meant the noise you make. All that Cuban music must annoy people.”
“I’m always considerate of my neighbors,” Star said. “Why, do you have a complaint?”
“No, but I’ve had a few issues at Cloven Hoof. I’ve been talking to one of our potential mayors. It seems he’s had supporters on his back about my late license and the noise that occurs when people roll out at the end of the night.”
Star brushed her hands down the front of her sparkly lycra vest. “Oh, that must be tricky.”
“You volunteer to help Mannie with his campaign, don’t you?”
“Now and again. Only when my dance classes don’t occupy my time. Despite what you think, it gets busy here. And then there’s the planning, marketing, and choreography to sort out.”
“Do
you know who was talking about trying to have my license altered?”
Star shrugged and looked away. “I’ve got to get the studio ready for the next class.”
I caught hold of her elbow before she could walk away. “Who’s been talking about Cloven Hoof? Who doesn’t like the late license?”
Star clasped her hands in front of her. “Don’t take it personally, Tempest. It’s just that I get woken up with people stumbling back from Cloven Hoof late at night. I’m a light sleeper, you see, and I like to have the window open at night to get fresh air. I often get woken several times a night.”
My eyes narrowed. “It was you? You’re the one trying to mess with my business?”
Star let out a sigh. “Yes, it was me.”
“You don’t know for sure that these people are leaving Cloven Hoof. They could be coming from the Ancient Imp.”
“I have spoken to Mannie about that place, as well.”
“You hate all the local businesses that have late licenses because it disturbs your beauty sleep?”
“No, don’t get me wrong. I don’t hate Cloven Hoof,” Star said quickly.
“I should imagine you don’t since you have a monthly standing order with me for Moon Burst mushrooms.”
“Your produce is great, and I love your service. It’s first class.”
“If you think it’s so great, you shouldn’t make complaints about me.”
“I promise you it isn’t personal.”
“It feels personal. If I have to close early, I’ll make less money. I might have to cut staff, which will impact on my produce dispatches. That could include canceling monthly deliveries, especially to people who have tried to put me out of business. I have to look after my loyal customers first.”
Star’s mouth fell open. “No, I’d never want that. Maybe you can ask your customers to be a little quieter when they leave late?”
“My clientele is always quiet and considerate. They’re not hyped-up and energetic. They come to relax and chill out. They don’t leave wanting to cause trouble. I’m sure you aren’t talking about Cloven Hoof customers.”
Star stepped back and looked at the door. “You could be right. I just get so tetchy when I haven’t had my sleep. I even snap at my dancers, and they’re all so sweet.”
“You could always try closing the window.”
“No, I need my fresh air.”
“How about wearing earplugs?”
“They make my ears too hot, and I don’t want to risk getting an infection. If a dancer loses her inner ear balance, it can ruin her.”
“How about moving your bedroom into another room?”
Star’s nose crinkled. “I don’t think that will work.”
She was not making this easier or me any happier. “How about you get your own late license? You could run evening dances.”
Star pursed her lips. “Actually, that’s not a bad idea. People are always asking me about holding evening events. I’m more interested in teaching dance, but I have the space to hold something less formal.”
“Then we both have a late license, and you have nothing to complain about,” I said.
Her eyes sparkled at the possibility. “Would you come to my dance evenings if I held them?”
“Not likely, but I know Aurora would drag me to one. She loves to dance.”
Star’s smile faded. “Oh, of course, your sister. How’s it going? I heard about her arrest.”
“That’s something I want to talk to you about,” I said. “Mannie was telling me he had a meeting with some of his supporters on the night of Deacon’s death.”
“That’s right,” Star said. “We held it at his house.”
“What did you discuss?”
“Other than the late license issue,” Star tweaked her hair bun, “we discussed new campaign materials and what to do with the empty land over on Mystic Street.”
“What time did the meeting take place?”
“I got there just after dinner. I ate upstairs, had a quick shower, and was at Mannie’s by seven. We talked for about two-and-a-half hours. I was home by ten at the latest.”
“Which means you left Mannie’s about nine forty-five?”
“That’s right. I was the last to leave.”
With those timings, it gave Mannie plenty of opportunity to head to Deacon’s and kill him. It also meant he hadn’t been truthful as to how late the meeting had gone on. He didn’t have an alibi for the whole night. “Do you know what Mannie did after the meeting ended?”
“He didn’t say he was doing anything,” Star said. “I left him drinking brandy. I assumed he finished that and went to bed.”
“Did he have any problems with Deacon that you’re aware of?”
Star’s cheeks paled. “Oh, no. Do you think Mannie is involved with his murder?”
“They were rivals in the upcoming election.”
“I don’t think it was Mannie,” Star said.
“Deacon was a strong candidate. A rival to Mannie’s ambitions.”
“Yes, but Mannie had so much support. It wasn’t really a fair fight.”
“Not everyone was planning to vote for Mannie.” I was definitely in the undecided camp.
“You were on Deacon’s side?”
“I’ve given the election no thought. All I know for sure is that my sister is being quizzed by Angel Force for something she didn’t do. I’m trying to figure out who had it in for Deacon.”
Star frowned. “Mannie had a few drinks that evening and seemed jolly. Surely, someone who was planning a murder wouldn’t be happy just before they did it.”
“Maybe he went to Deacon’s in a good mood, and they fought,” I said. “If Mannie had been drinking, he could have gotten angry and lost control.”
“But Mannie is so... compact. He’s no match for a half-angel. If they’d gotten into a fight, Deacon would have floored him.”
“Not if Deacon was asleep and Mannie caught him unawares. He could have overpowered him using the element of surprise.”
The shake of Star’s head was so fierce her bun came loose. “I can’t believe it.”
“And I can’t believe my sister did it.”
Star’s eyebrows shot up. “No, of course, you’re right to think that. Maybe you should look elsewhere, though. Mannie is a decent guy.”
I didn’t agree. As far as I was concerned, he was still on the hook. “I’d better get going,” I said. “Before you get Cloven Hoof shut down, I need to get some work done.”
Star hurried after me as I headed to the door. “I never meant for it to go that far. Please don’t cancel my monthly order. In fact, double it. I want to show my appreciation for your business.”
I glanced at her. “No more trying to get my license revoked. And maybe look into getting your own late license. It could be fun.” And it would give Star something to think about other than messing with Cloven Hoof.
Star let out a relieved sigh. “Thanks, I will.”
I left Star to her next dance class and headed out the door with Wiggles.
“Star likes Mannie,” Wiggles said.
“She does seem like a super fan. People get crazy over anyone with a little authority. She’s convinced he’s not involved.”
“He needs looking into. I don’t trust Mannie. Anyone who spends so much time on beard maintenance is not okay in my books.”
“Neither do I. We need to do more digging into Mannie and his alibi.” I checked the time. “First, we need to check in with Cloven Hoof before Merrie resigns.”
“Then we get something to eat,” Wiggles said.
“Good thinking. Work, eat, and sleep.”
“You do the working,” Wiggles said. “I’ll do the eating and sleeping.”
Chapter 15
“It’s time to get up.” My duvet was yanked off me, wafting me with an unwelcome blast of cool air.
I rolled over and blinked sleepily at my mom. “How are you even here?”
She pulled open the curtains
and smiled at me. “Wiggles let me in.”
I groaned. “I’m going to kill that dog.”
“Killing a hellhound is a tricky business. Come on. You need to get up. There’s work to be done.”
“I worked all night, which is why I’m having a lie-in.” I rubbed my eyes, grabbed my pillow, and stuffed it over my head.
“I mean with your sister.” Mom’s voice sounded quieter, but I could still hear her. “You have to get her out of that awful cell. What progress are you making in finding out who killed Deacon?”
I groaned into the pillow. “No progress.”
“I’ll make breakfast, and you can tell me everything.”
I raised the pillow an inch. “Will you make waffles?”
“Only if you hurry.”
The pillow was yanked out of my hands. Wiggles stared at me, the pillow gripped between his teeth. He spat it out. “This one’s my favorite.”
“Don’t remind me about your weird interest in my pillows.” I eased myself upright. “We need to have a conversation about who you let into this apartment.”
“She’s your mom. Of course I’m letting her in.”
“Not when I’m asleep.”
“Of course I will. Any time. She often brings treats.”
“You’re such a suck-up.”
“She is making us waffles,” Wiggles said as he hopped off the bed.
“She’s making me waffles.” I grabbed another pillow and threw it at his retreating butt.
Fifteen minutes later, I was showered, dressed, and sitting at the table as Mom served up coffee and waffles. She’d even made a waffle for Wiggles.
I gave her a quick update about my talks with Mannie and Star.
Her expression grew increasingly worried as she watched me over the rim of her mug.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“I know I told you to help your sister, but I don’t want you overstretching yourself.”
“I haven’t got a choice. I can’t stop working at Cloven Hoof, and I need to keep questioning people who could be involved in Deacon’s murder. Something will soon shake free. Someone must know what happened to Deacon.”
Luck of the Witch (Crypt Witch Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) Page 12