The Rhinestone Witches Omnibus: Books 1-3

by Addison Creek

  “It’s a shame Michael can’t track his packages more precisely,” said Lowe. “Maybe it was Bethel who stole his stuff. I wouldn’t put it past her.”

  “She views ingredients as sacred,” I said. “I have a feeling that if she wanted a feather of Michael’s, she’d just ask him for it. Unlike a lot of other townsfolk, she actually has something that she can trade in return. As a second option, she’d probably threaten to make him go up into her attic. Then she’d definitely get what she wanted.”

  When we got home, Lowe started a fire and got dinner going while I went to take care of the unicorns. We had been out all day, so there was plenty to do for them. They needed their evening meal, and the dung they had produced had to be gathered. If I had been having any more fun than I did while doing that, I’d have been on a beach in the Caribbean.

  NOT.

  The unicorns had noticed how unpleasant I found the task of gathering their “produce,” so naturally they now watched me while I did it and whinnied and neighed among themselves, noises that I was convinced were unicorn laughter.

  When that was finally over, I waved goodbye to the unicorns and headed for the house. My hair had come loose as I worked, and I looked like a mess. On the other hand, I really needed to wash before I put my hair back into place, so for now I was stuck.

  Extra stuck.

  It was with an electric jolt that I realized someone was watching me.

  Standing at the side of the house, Quinn raised a hand in greeting.

  I raised one back and put it down again. Feeling an overwhelming sense of embarrassment, I hurried to say hello.

  “Evening,” he said. “Sorry for interrupting like this. I tried calling the house earlier, but no one answered.”

  He was dressed in his black sheriff’s uniform with a black jacket over it. His dark hair matched his attire, and his deep blue eyes swam in front of me.

  “We were out,” I told him. I tried to stand close enough to seem friendly, but not so close that he might smell anything that I had accidentally gotten on my clothing.

  “I gathered that,” he said, and then cleared his throat. “How are you holding up?” he asked.

  “A murder in the house is awful, but I’m okay,” I told him. What I really wanted to say was, “How is the investigation going?” But I didn’t.

  “Our appeal for a warrant to search the place is being heard tomorrow. The judge rushed the request, so we might be back,” he said. I couldn’t tell what he thought of this information.

  I also couldn’t tell what the conclusion would be. Of all the things Bethel would be furious about, letting strangers, even Quinn, search the cottage was high on the list. In fact, the only thing that would infuriate her more was if something happened to one of the unicorns or cats.

  “Was there something else?” I asked, as Quinn continued to stand there.

  “How are you doing?” he asked. “You found a dead body last night.”

  “It was awful,” I agreed. I kept thinking about Sammy waltzing through the kitchen, happy to have a glimpse of the unicorns, dead a short while later.

  “Is there anything else I can do?” he asked.

  I shook my head. “I just want to know who did it. These damn Vixens, they’re ruining everything Twinkleford cares about. Why?”

  “If we could answer why, we’d probably be well on our way to catching them,” Quinn said.

  “That’s true.” I bit my lip, thinking hard. The Vixens didn’t like the coven. What they did like was destruction. Plus, I was sure they traded goods on the black market. Yet we didn’t know who they were or what they wanted beyond an apparent desire to get rich through illegal means.

  “Jade?” said Quinn, with some urgency in his tone. “Don’t go after the Vixens, okay? They’re a nasty bunch. I don’t like the thought of you in that kind of danger.”

  I looked away, pondering. Quinn might not like it, but there was a good argument to be made that I wouldn’t have a choice. They had come into my cottage. They were already closer than any of us wanted to admit.

  “Jade?” he asked again.

  I glanced up at him. I had forgotten to respond. “Okay, I’ll leave them alone as much as they leave me alone.”

  He squinted. He didn’t like the qualifier, but it was the best I could do, and he knew it.

  “Would you have dinner with me tomorrow night?” he asked. “I thought I could come over and cook you something.”

  “What about your place?” I shot back.

  “My roommate doesn’t like company. I’ve told you that,” he sighed.

  “George is all right, though,” I said.

  “Try visiting George, and he also won’t be pleased,” said Quinn grimly.

  “Where does George live?” I asked.

  “Greely,” said Quinn. “He’s far away from any neighbors. He used to have a place in Crown, but they forced him out.”

  “He what?” I squeaked.

  Quinn smiled, delighted to have caught me off guard. “The Grim Reaper Business makes you wealthy. The only problem was that George was a little strange for their lot. They like everything to look pretty, and George . . .”

  “Isn’t pretty,” I finished for Quinn. Now I was amused as well. Maybe George had lived next door to Hannah’s mother. The Carlyle queen would have been appalled by George.

  “Don’t feel too sorry for him. He enjoyed causing all of them to set their hair on fire,” said Quinn.

  “I won’t feel sorry for him,” I promised. “I would also like to have dinner tomorrow night.”

  “Excellent. I’ll plan to come by after work and pick up some supplies from the grocery store on my way. Just let me know if there’s anything specific you’re in the mood for.”

  After that he left, saying he had a lot to do before his workday was over. As Quinn walked away, I wondered if he had come all the way out to Misdirect just to give us an update, or if he’d had some investigative reason for being there.

  The fire was roaring and the purple kettle was whistling. The cats were happy to have us home, mostly because they could now insist on being fed large amounts of food. Lowe had thrown together a simple dinner for Jackie and Kelly, and our guests had promised to bake cookies and bring them for dessert. How could Lowe and I possibly refuse such kindness?

  Once the spaghetti was drained and some onions had been thrown on top of a green salad, I was just starting to set the table when the doorbell rang. I was expecting Jackie and Kelly, so I hurried to open it.

  “Hey!” said Jackie, her cheeks bright pink from the cold. “How are you?”

  I led my friends into the kitchen, where Lowe was just grating some parmesan cheese.

  “Holding up all right,” I said.

  Jackie was looking at me with extreme concern. “Good,” she said. “The Rhinestones are again the talk of Twinkleford,” she announced.

  “How did your mom take the news that you were out last night at a party where a murder was committed?” Lowe asked.

  As my friends removed their mittens, hats, and coats and hung them by the fire to warm up, Jackie laughed and said, “She threatened to visit the troll colony and marry me off.”

  “What did you say to that?” I asked.

  “Trolls aren’t so bad. Obviously,” said Jackie.

  “Are they bad?” Lowe asked.

  “They’re not the prettiest, but they’re hard workers,” Jackie said. “Usually their table manners leave something to be desired.” She shrugged. “Anyhow, I’m used to it. If it were up to my mom I’d never leave the house, and then she would never be embarrassed. Besides, it’s not as if you plotted that murder. That was the Vixens. That could have happened anywhere.”

  Once we were seated and dinner was in full swing Kelly said, “Do you have any news?”

  The only real news was what Michael had told us, and that a lawyer was sniffing around. Neither Jackie nor Kelly was surprised about Mr. Fairview.

  “Yeah, lawyers are always dealing
with situations for the trolley company. I’m surprised he acted so quickly, but maybe I shouldn’t be,” said Jackie.

  “Was Michael upset about his shipments?” said Kelly. “He sounds formidable.”

  “He was,” I said. “He was even more upset when he found out that they could be traced to this neighborhood. I have a feeling that if he had his way he’d come to the trailer park and find out who stole them.”

  “I wonder if it’s possible that the Vixens are in the trailer park,” said Lowe. “It’s a largely ignored part of Twinkleford, but it’s awfully close to us. If the Vixens are hanging out that close to our place, it seems like Bethel would have known.”

  “Maybe she would have and maybe not,” I said. “Bethel doesn’t suspect the trailer park of any wrongdoing, but they’ve had some new people move in there lately. It’s where a lot of families end up when they have no other options.”

  “Like ones who are cast out of the coven,” said Jackie. We were all thinking of Glory Trophi and her family.

  After a few moments of silence Jackie shook herself out of her funk. “I have a bit of news about the case,” she said. “A sheriff’s deputy came into the office today asking for the address of one Pebbles O’Douglas. She lives in Merigold in one of those big apartment complexes. I think Pebbles is Sammy’s roommate.”

  “So she didn’t have family, but she did live with someone,” I said. “That makes sense. Housing around here is expensive. Did the sheriff go talk to her?” Quinn had just been here, but he hadn’t said anything about it. I mean, why would he? But it did irritate me that he had kept quiet if there was news. Surely he would know I was curious. To say the least.

  “I don’t know. I shouldn’t even be telling you as much as I have,” said Jackie. “It’s against the rules for me to give out addresses like that. So you didn’t get it from me.”

  “We won’t tell,” Lowe promised.

  My friends stayed to help clean up, but not for long after that. Neither of their families wanted them out and about when a girl had just been murdered in this very house.

  “Really, you’d think we hadn’t just become coven witches,” said Kelly, shaking her head. “I can take care of myself. I can at least blow up a half mile radius if necessary.”

  One of the hallmarks of younger witches was that it was easier for us to perform large magic than small. That being the case, everyone was careful to watch out until our control was better.

  As Jackie and Kelly were preparing to leave, I noticed one of the cats waiting by the door. Sleek was black, shiny, and much bigger than the other cats. He was also standoffish most of the time, but he did a lot of guard duty. Now he was waiting by the door.

  “He’s going to escort you to the trolley. Tiger’s orders,” Lowe said once he had explained what he was doing there.

  “That’s so nice of him! Aren’t you a handsome thing!” Lowe cooed to him as she bent down to rub around his ears.

  After the guests left, we finished closing up the house. I’d had an uneasy feeling all night, and when I glanced out toward the pasture I saw more cats on the fence railings than usual, and all the unicorns standing out clearly in the moonlight. Nothing else moved on the dark landscape. Just around the bend sat the trailer park and whatever secrets might be lurking there.

  Even secrets big enough to harbor Vixens.

  And murderers.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Are you sure we can leave the unicorns alone?” I asked as Lowe and I prepared to head out the next morning. We were going to Merigold in hopes of speaking with Pebbles. After that we might try to talk to some of the residents of the trailer park. I had agreed to meet Jackie and Kelly in the afternoon to complete our work for the next Young Witches meeting.

  In short, the day was full.

  “The cats are on the lookout,” Lowe said. “If they have any problems, they have ways of getting in touch with us. I’m sure Lisa and Lucky would help as well if they’re home. All the spells Bethel left around the place should kick in if all else fails.”

  What she said was right, of course, but I couldn’t help being a little bit nervous. I sighed. “We have to snoop. At least Quinn is coming over tonight, and I’m not going out. You’ll only be alone for the afternoon.”

  “I’ll be fine,” Lowe assured me. “The Vixens aren’t likely to attack in broad daylight.”

  As we made our way out of the house we found that Sleek had decided to guard the front yard. The pixies and the fairies, battling it out through the cold winter, gave him a wide berth.

  We were just reaching the bend in the road when I realized that there was something wrong.

  “Do you hear that?” I asked Lowe.

  She frowned and listened. “I don’t hear anything.”

  “Exactly,” I said grimly.

  We kept going. Once we were around the bend I could see what was wrong. The trailer park was deserted. Usually there were fires outside and people gathered around them, not to mention lights in the windows and people walking about.

  Today there was nothing.

  “Where did everyone go?” asked Lowe.

  I saw a ratty curtain brush shut as I scanned the trailers. “I think they’re all staying in,” I murmured.

  “Because of what happened at our place?” Lowe asked.

  “Must be,” I said. A rumble deep in my stomach made me pause. I felt eyes on me and a creeping feeling down my spine.

  “This can’t be good,” said Lowe.

  “Not even a little bit,” I agreed.

  The trailer park was silent as we walked along. I found myself trying to walk lightly on the crunching snow.

  I was relieved when we reached the trolley without incident. The one that came shortly thereafter was red and tan, and we rode it uneventfully to Merigold. When we got out I let Lowe lead the way, since I didn’t know the neighborhood well. We had come to the nearby hospital once to see Kyle’s friend Henry while Kyle was missing. It had been while Lowe and I were there that the Vixens had murdered Henry.

  Lowe and I were still shaken up about that.

  “Where are the apartment buildings?” I asked.

  “Right near the station,” she said. “For people who work downtown and that sort of thing.” She pointed to the skyline, where three tall buildings reached into the sky. I followed as she made her way to the second building.

  “What is it?” Lowe asked, noticing my frown.

  “These are drab,” I said.

  “That’s the word you’re going with?” she asked.

  “Ugly? Depressing?” I offered.

  “Yeah, that’s what everyone thought when they were built,” she said.

  “Then why were they built this way?” I wondered.

  “Because they were cheap. The developer didn’t want to spend the funds it would have taken to make them look better. Everyone would have to live with them either way, because the demand for housing was high,” she explained.

  “Who’s the developer?” I said. If I was going to live in Twinkleford, these were things I should know.

  “Banister Carlyle. Hannah’s father,” she said.

  “Why am I not surprised?” I muttered. “Have I ever seen him?”

  “He isn’t around much. He works all the time. There are always new deals to be made and new buildings to be built,” she said.

  “I guess so,” I said.

  We had almost reached the depressing row of apartment buildings, which stuck out like a sore clobber to the head, whereas the Twinkleford Hospital was a gorgeous rainbow-colored creation. Downtown was filled with charm and cobblestone streets. The only part of town where these apartment buildings would possibly fit in was the Bleak Area. The people who had to live in them deserved better.

  “It’s this building,” said Lowe. We reached the front door and searched for O’Douglas on the tags next to the doorbells. Lowe found the right one, rang it, and waited. After a while she rang it again and then squinted skyward.

 
; Finally a voice came over the intercom. “Yes? Is this the police again?”

  “No, it’s Lowe and Jade Rhinestone. We were just hoping to talk to you for a few minutes,” said Lowe, trying to sound as pleasant as possible.

  “How do I know it’s you?” the voice asked.

  “Who would claim to be a Rhinestone? We’re one of the social pariahs of Twinkleford,” said Lowe.

  The silence on the other end of the line lasted so long that I thought the woman was going to send us away. Then the door buzzed open and we went through it into a drab and dingy lobby.

  Pebbles was on the eighth floor. I wasn’t thrilled about getting into the death trap of an elevator, but since the stairs probably weren’t much better, we didn’t have a lot of options. When the elevator doors opened I was nearly trampled by several skinny guys who came piling out, laughing and joking. Their hair was all different colors, and they sported lots of piercings. A couple of them had card suit tattoos in prominent places. They barely gave us a glance as they headed outside.

  Lowe stopped in surprise.

  “Who were they?” I asked as the doors closed.

  “They were part of Double Cast or Spell Something. I didn’t know they had a presence here. There’s a big underground gambling ring in Twinkleford. They must be a part of it. Dealers or something.” Lowe continued to frown as she gazed after them.

  To the untrained witch (me), an underground gambling ring sounded an awful lot like an underground black market. I wondered if any of the groups were above ground. Hopefully the garden club . . .

  Like the rest of the apartment complex, the eighth floor wasn’t pretty. The tiles were kind of dirty and the paint on the walls was peeling a bit. The place obviously hadn’t been painted or taken care of since it was built. One of the rooms we passed had loudly thumping music coming out of it.

  Down at the end of the hall a door opened a crack and a blond head peered out. Pebbles started to pull back into the room when she saw us, then stopped and waved us forward, encouraging us to hurry. When we reached her door she pulled us inside.