by K. J. Emrick
Willow shook her head. “No. Sorry, sis. Hey, is that your detective that was just in here? Now I understand why you’re so hot to work with the police on this one.”
“Shut up,” she said, but she still had to whisper with the café filling up. “I don’t understand how you couldn’t see them leave. They were right over there.”
She reached over and took Gary’s hand, playing with his fingers as he drank his coffee with a stupid grin on his face. “We were busy paying attention to each other,” she told Addie. “Just like you were too busy paying attention to Mister Lucian Knight to notice them leaving, either.”
“I was not!” Now her voice did get louder, and conversations around them stopped as people turned to look. Addie let out a long breath. “It isn’t like that, and I have work to do. You two enjoy your breakfast.”
Slowly, so that she wouldn’t draw any more attention to herself, Addie got up and made her way back into the kitchen. She put the new orders on the rack, where Darla would see them and make sure they got out in time. Maybe she should meet Lucian in the parking lot. It would be better if they talked out where there would be fewer ears to listen. Not to mention, it would mean she didn’t have to listen to her sister or Darla or anyone else making comments about how good looking they thought Lucian was.
Because he was, and she didn’t need to be reminded of it.
When she went to go out the back way, she stopped. There were people out there. A man and a woman. She could hear them talking. Easing the door open just a little, she listened closely. It took her only a moment to recognize Misty’s voice, and then Connor’s. He sounded nothing like his brother Leo. His voice was much gruffer, with a sort of growl. Yes, it was definitely him.
“We can’t keep meeting like this,” she heard Misty saying.
“I’ll meet you anywhere I choose,” Connor argued with her. “You and I are forever. You belong to me. It doesn’t matter what anyone else says.”
Addie’s mouth fell open as she processed that. Misty and Connor were… dating? If anything, she would have thought that Misty was with Leo, based on what she’d seen in the café earlier. Still, Misty was a married woman, and married to a Norris as well, and for her to be dating a Raithmore was so scandalous that Addie couldn’t even begin to comprehend the social fallout if something like this became public knowledge.
“You’re only with me,” Misty said, “because you want me to agree to this deal between our families.”
His laugh was mocking. “I don’t need you to make this deal go through, now that Esmerelda is dead. Without her, I could force this deal. My lawyers are in place, and the Norris family is already on the edge of ruin. No, that’s not why I’m with you. I’m with you because you make me feel more like a man, than a monster.”
A monster? What did he mean by that?
There was no time to figure that part out, because there was more to hear.
“I’m just so stressed out, Connor.” Misty’s voice took on an edge. “If my husband finds out about us, I could be out on my ear. Then I won’t have what’s left of the Norris fortune to support me, and I won’t have your family to support me, either.”
“Hush, now. Do you think I’d turn you out just because the Norris’s sent you packing?”
“I know we have to keep this secret,” Misty answered. “You would never claim me publicly. You couldn’t. Not if you want your precious deal to go forward. Half the time I think you plan on getting rid of me once the deal is done.”
“Well, my dear. We’ll just have to wait and see, won’t we?”
There was silence, and then a wave of strong emotion washed over Addie from those two out there. Thinking they were alone with no one to spy on them, they had taken advantage of the moment to steal a kiss. Whatever else might be wrong about them being together, it was clear that they were in love.
At least, Misty was. It was hard to say what Connor’s intentions were. Or his brother Leo’s, for that matter. Could it be that both brothers had fallen in love with Misty? Were they both trying to use her by toying with her emotions, maybe? Or could there be more to this love triangle than Addie could see from the wrong side of this door…
She had to wonder how all of this played into the murder of Esmerelda. Maybe she should raise the woman’s ghost again and ask her what she might know about her sister-in-law’s extramarital affairs with the Raithmore twins.
A hand settled on her shoulder, making Addie jump and slam the door shut.
Darla stood there, an uncertain look on her face. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” Addie said quickly. “Um. Nothing. Really. I was just looking for Lucian. Detective Knight, I mean. I was looking for him because I thought I might be able to catch him at his car and do the interview with him out there where it’s quieter, you see. He must have parked out front though. Yup. He’s not back here so he must have parked out front.”
She made herself stop talking because she was only making herself look more suspicious with every word that came out of her mouth.
Darla crossed her hands over her round belly. There was a strange look in her eyes. “Listen, Addie. I know that there’s more that goes on here with you than just running a café. I know that you and your sisters are into something.”
Addie started to protest, but Darla held up her hand to stop her.
“No, really. I know there’s something going on. Maybe you just think I’m stupid but if you’d trust me then maybe I could help. I’d like to help you. Really. I thought we were friends, you and me. We’ve worked together for a long time now and I just thought that we were closer than that.” She held her hands up like she couldn’t take it anymore. “Just go talk to the police detective. I can take care of things in here for a little while. That is, if you trust me enough for that.”
She didn’t wait for an answer. She just turned away to the counters and started mixing fresh blueberries into a bowl of pancake batter.
Addie knew she should say something, but truthfully she couldn’t think of anything that would help. She did think of Darla as a friend. Or at least, someone she was very close to. It had always been hard for her to make real friends, because of who she was, and because of the secrets that she and her sisters had to keep.
Maybe it would be easier to bring Darla into the loop as far as she and Willow and Keira being witches. Or maybe it would be more complicated. And maybe it would put Darla in danger from the magical threats that were very real, and very much waiting for a chance to get at the energy of places like Shadow Lake.
Secrets on secrets.
In the end she left the kitchen without saying anything because she knew in her heart that it would be better for everyone, Darla included, if she didn’t tell anyone about who she was and what she could do.
That included Detective Lucian Knight. She was just going to have to solve this murder with him, using her magic, without him realizing.
Sure. No problem.
Chapter 10
She found Lucian coming in the front door of the Hot Cauldron again. Doyle eyed them both, probably waiting for someone to rub his ears again or at the very least offer him some bits of bacon. Addie ignored him, as well as everyone else in the café including Willow, and suggested they go outside to talk.
“Sure,” he said without hesitation. “Away from the madding crowd, right?”
“Don’t you mean ‘maddening’ crowd?”
“Common misconception.” He stopped them over by his car, a blue Nissan two door with rust around one back fender. “Thomas Hardy wrote that novel back in the late 1800s and he called it ‘Far From the Madding Crowd.’ That’s where the line comes from. Ever read it?”
She was going to be constantly surprised by this man, she could see it now. “No, I can’t say that I have. You’re a fan of classic literature?”
“Of the greats, yes.” He chuckled and rubbed at the back of his neck self-consciously. “Don’t worry, I’m not a snob. I’m not any sort of Renaissan
ce man, either. I just enjoy the way men like Shakespeare could turn a phrase. Macbeth is one of my all time favorites.”
The irony of him saying that, standing this close to her, was too good for Addie to pass up. “That’s the one with the three witches, right?”
“Yup. Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble. That’s the one.” He pointed up at the sign for the café, a black kettle pot over an open fire. “I figured that might have been the inspiration for your Hot Cauldron Café.”
“Uh, no. There was other inspiration at work there.”
“I’d love to hear about it sometime.”
She liked the way he said that, but then she reminded herself that this wasn’t a social call. He was working, and on his day off at that. “I’ll tell you about it sometime. For now, let’s get your paperwork done so you can get back to the investigation. Oh. I have some other information that might be helpful as well.”
It only took a few minutes for her to tell him about Connor and Leo and Misty, first at the table in the café, and then the scene between Connor and Misty outside. She told him what she’d heard, leaving any discussion of magic out of it, and what she knew about the two richest families in Shadow Lake as well.
When she was done she thought for a moment. “I guess that’s everything,” she said. She expected something this serious would take longer to explain.
Lucian scratched at his cheek. “So, there was some mystery deal being worked out between the Norris family and the Raithmores just before Esmerelda died, and as we all know money is a great motive for murder. Misty Norris has been having an affair with Connor Raithmore, and as we all know, secret love affairs are always a great motive for murder. Leo Raithmore seems to have a thing for Misty Norris, and as we all know…”
“Jealousy is a great motive for murder,” Addie finished for him. “Right. Those were my thoughts exactly. Except, I can’t see how those last two theories would get Esmerelda killed. Misty or Connor, maybe, but not Esmerelda. The money angle makes sense because Esmerelda was the one in charge of the finances. She might have been about to squash whatever deal was in the works. Now Misty is handling the money for the Norris family. That all tracks. But what does a secret love affair between Connor and Misty have to do with Esmerelda?”
Lucian shrugged. “She might have found out about what Misty was doing, and confronted her and Connor, and gotten herself killed. She was out of town until just recently, from what we’ve been able to determine.”
Addie saw where he was going with that. “So whatever she found out that got her killed…”
“It was probably the whole reason she came back.” He nodded. “We just need to follow her movements from the time she stepped foot back in Shadow Lake. Ha. If only we had a time machine.”
“Or a crystal ball?” Addie asked with a wry smile. Calling a Vision with her sisters could do exactly that. They would just need something of Esmerelda’s to use in casting the spell, so they could focus on her life and not their own. They were going to the Norris house later, if everything worked out, so they could swipe something of Esmerelda’s then. If everything worked out. “
“Right. A crystal ball is exactly what we need.” He laughed again. “Too bad we don’t have one. Well, well. I have to say I’m glad I came here today. If the coffee is half as good as the conversation, then it’s going to be a great day. Got three good suspects, and three decent motives. So let me ask you this. If you were a betting woman, which one of them would you put your money on?”
The question caught her off guard. “Me? You’re asking me?”
“Sure. You seem like a really smart woman, and seeing Esmerelda Norris dead in the woods didn’t freak you out, and from what I’ve seen you’ve got a good instinct for what’s happening in this town. Since I live up in Birch Hollow I really don’t know the players in Shadow Lake that well. So, yeah,” he said again, “I’m asking you. What do you think?”
Addie found that she liked that he asked her. Most men in any kind of authority position were at best polite to the woman running the town café, and at worst they were dismissive. The code enforcement officer had insisted on calling her ‘Hon’ until he started getting a toothache every time he did it. It was a petty use of her magic, sure, but she figured it was for the greater good of women everywhere.
Lucian was obviously not that kind of man. He surprised her once again. “Well, I figured we could rule Misty out, because we know it was a man who choked Esmerelda.”
He cocked his head, considering that. “We do?”
“Sure. The size of the fingertip impressions on her neck indicates a man’s hands, and the boot size as well. That’s what you said, right? I’m just agreeing. Either a man, or a very large woman.”
“And since none of our suspects are very large women,” he said, “then we can still assume the murderer was a man. But, Misty might still be involved, is what I meant. It’s too early to rule her out”
“She could have asked one of the brothers to do the murder, sure,” Addie agreed, “or someone else, but that still means she wasn’t the actual killer. We’ll need to find that person first, right?”
“I agree.”
“So Leo and Connor both have the same anger issues, but…” She thought back to what she’d overheard between Connor and Misty. “Connor already has what he wants. He has Misty. This deal he wants so badly would have gone forward even if Esmerelda was still alive.”
“At least that’s what he said.”
“Right,” Addie nodded. “Okay, that’s a good point. He could have killed Esmerelda if she was going to kill the deal. Maybe that’s the information that Esmerelda found out, the thing that brought her back to Shadow Lake?”
“You have to wonder,” Lucian said. “Connor could be lying. We deal with liars all the time as police officers.”
“All right, but until we know what brought Esmerelda back I have to go on what we’ve heard. Based on all that I think Leo is your stronger suspect. He wants what Connor has.”
“Meaning, he wants Misty.”
“Right, and maybe he thought killing Esmerelda would disrupt Connor’s plans all the way around. Get him discredited. Make her fall into his arms. Something like that.”
Lucian considered all of that for a moment before reaching through the open car window for the clipboard on his front passenger seat. “All good points,” he told her. “Like I said, I think it’s very interesting how much you know about this place, and the players, and even the murder.”
“Well, I’m just glad I can help.” Something was starting to nag at the back of her mind. Some detail she was missing even though it was right in front of her face. “I know you have a lot going on, what with this investigation and the car accident you mentioned before. Anything new on that?”
Lucian shook his head. “I’m afraid not. We still can’t find the driver.”
Addie thought about the Vision she and her sisters had brought up during their coven circle, where they’d seen the driver’s face for just a moment before Kiera had shut their spell down. She remembered his scared face. “What was his name? The driver, I mean.”
He scratched his cheek again, like he was debating whether to answer. Then he shrugged. “You’ll get to read it in the papers tomorrow anyway. Alan Pierson was the registered owner. We have a missing person alert out. Can’t quite figure out why he was coming up this way.”
She committed that name to memory. Alan Pierson. She’d ask Kiera about it later.
“So, just a couple of other questions,” Lucian was saying. “Just little things.”
That nagging feeling at the back of her mind was turning into a warning bell. The way he said that put her on edge, although she couldn’t explain why. “Ask me anything,” she offered, knowing she didn’t have anything to hide.
“Well, we need to know about this woman you said brought you to the scene out on Luna Moth Trail.”
“I’ve told you everything I could.” Addie spread her hands helplessly. “I
wish I could tell you more. I didn’t get her full name. She said she lived in Bellewood and had family somewhere else that she was going to visit. I gave you her description. That’s all I know.”
He was still watching her, not saying a thing. She found it a little creepy, actually, and that was coming from someone who dealt with the magical and the paranormal on a regular basis.
“What is it?” Addie asked him. “Lucian? Is there something you’re not saying?”
“Addie…” His words trailed off, and he had to take another, deeper breath. “Look, I hate all this pussy-footing around. I’d rather be direct.”
She folded her arms, a sensation building inside of her like the feeling of a thunder storm on the horizon. “I’d rather you were direct, too. You wanted me to tell you everything I know, now isn’t it only fair if you do the same? What’s going on?”
His expression changed, just a little bit. “Right. Well, here’s the thing of it, then. There’s no evidence of a woman named Donna living in Bellewood. The phone call to our office came from your phone. She wasn’t there when I got there. It was just you.”
“Well, of course. That’s because…” Then the lightning struck. Addie finally understood what this conversation was really about. “You think it was me who called, don’t you? You think I made the whole story up and it was me who found Esmerelda out there? You think…”
Oh, for the love of her Irish eyes.
She backed away from him a step as her temper flared. “You think I might have killed her, is that it? Or… or what? I hired someone to do it and now I’m trying to steer your investigation in the wrong direction?”
He shrugged helplessly. “You have to admit, there’s things that don’t add up. The way you knew her name, for instance. You weren’t the least bit upset at seeing her dead, but you claim to have known her. That doesn’t quite add up.”
Addie remembered that lie, and wished again that she hadn’t slipped up like that. She was livid. Angry with herself and angry with him. She was furious to think he would even suggest she was involved! “I’ve got no reason to want anyone dead! How was I supposed to have killed her, by the way? Borrowed somebody else’s hands? Do you really think these fit the marks on Esmerelda’s neck?”