Murder Kicks the Bucket

by Diane Darcy

  She glanced up from the book. “Here it is, here it is. Here’s what it says … ‘Only an earth witch can see the manifestation of her power.’”

  She glanced up and looked at Lena. “You’re an earth witch.”

  “What?” Lena’s heart started to pound.

  The room seemed to go quiet for a moment, until Scarlett laughed.

  She snapped her fingers, held her hand open, and a flame floated above her palm. She moved her hand back and forth as she played with it. “I control the element of fire.”

  Chills ran up Lena’s back as she watched the small flame swirl above the other girl’s hand.

  Ava waved her hand in the air, and the paperwork sitting on the nearby desk seemed to take life and spiral like a small hurricane above her. “I control air.”

  Esmeralda moved her hand in a circle. The water in a nearby pitcher rose up swirling into another mini hurricane, before settling back once more. “I control water.”

  The three of them were now looking at her expectantly, and Lena shook her head. “No. It’s not what you’re thinking. I don’t have any abilities similar to the ones you’ve just shown me. I mean, I can make plants grow, but that’s the extent of it.”

  Esmeralda carefully set the book of spells back on the tabletop, sliding it toward Lena. “I’m not really sure you’re aware of what you can, or cannot do.”

  “Regardless, sweetie,” Scarlett moved to stand beside the table once more. “Your spell packed a heck of a punch. So, if it’s all the same to you, can you do it again?” The impish smile, and Ava’s laughter, had Lena grinning back at them.

  Esmeralda was quick to set the mortar and pestle back in the center of the table, straightening the herbs until they were close at hand.

  With all three witches grinning at her, she did it again.

  Lena walked down Fremont Street, taking her time getting to the Gypsy wagon.

  The night air was a little cool, but that didn’t seem to stop anyone from coming out to listen to the bands, watch the street artists, or show up at the many kiosks and stores.

  Lena realized it must be the top of the hour when the light-show above started to flash on the huge Megatron screen.

  Her life used to seem weird but so much had changed in the last week.

  Paranormal creatures were real.

  She might even be one herself.

  And, contrary to her former beliefs, true, soulmated love, might exist. What was she supposed to think about that?

  “Hey, Lena. How’s business today?” Coming out of her reverie, she glanced up to see Crazy Tom, one of the regulars, sitting on his usual tall stool at his kiosk, wearing a flamboyant pink and blue Hawaiian shirt.

  Moving around a couple of tourists, she headed over with a smile.

  Crazy Tom had been a fixture on Fremont Street for at least the last five years or so. He was of indeterminate age, probably somewhere between fifty and sixty and when he’d originally introduced himself, he pointed to his lazy eye and called himself Crazy Tom.

  When she addressed him in any other way, he was always quick to correct her.

  “Hey, Crazy Tom.” She stopped in front of him. “How’s business?”

  He gave an exaggerated shrug. His sparse hair stuck out about an inch from his head, dark today, where it had been white-blond the week before. He liked to change it up.

  “Springtime in Vegas is always good,” he said. “Everybody’s ready to shed the winter blues, and enjoy the good weather once more.”

  She looked at his wares, an eclectic combination of keychains, sunglasses, photo frames, and belt buckles. Scarves hung down one end, and he even had a few mirrors for the sunglass crowd. “I hear you; it’s been busy lately.”

  “For sure.”

  The music playing on the Megatron was deafening, catching the attention of the crowd and causing many to crane their necks to watch the show.

  A few opportunists looked for unaware tourists but, these days, for the most part, theft was down. People were more aware, often didn’t carry purses, and there was enough security that it usually discouraged theft. It wasn’t good for business, and so the mayor frowned on it big time.

  So did the rest of them for that matter.

  “I’d better open my caravan if I want any business today.”

  With a smile and a lift of her hand she was about to turn away when something caught her eye.

  “It looks like you’ve got some new stock in.”

  “I do, indeed. You like what you see? For you, I will discount the price.”

  Lena grinned, knowing he wouldn’t, but it would be fun to haggle anyway.

  She looked at the silly little knickknack and wondered if it would be a good enough present for William’s birthday.

  This was a man who’d tried to buy her a new car, after all, but just because he didn’t know where to draw the line, that didn’t mean she had to follow suit.

  She reached out to rub the lettering on the keychain with her thumb.

  If she gave it to him, he would immediately attach it to his keys, and carry it forever.

  So, maybe a silly, insignificant gift wasn’t a good idea?

  She started to turn away, and then a picture frame, similarly shaped, caught her eye. She picked it up, reached out, and plucked both items off the display.

  “You know, I didn’t want to say anything, but business really hasn’t been that good recently, though I could probably spare a dollar for both of these.”

  A grin spread across Crazy Tom’s face, and he put a hand to his chest. “A dollar? For something as fine as those? I couldn’t let them go for under thirty.”

  Lena laughed, and Tom’s grin widened. “Well…” she sent him a sly look. “Perhaps I could go as high as three dollars?”

  After a choked sound of indignation, and more laughter from both of them, they got down to business.

  Chapter 15

  William found he was missing Lena. Not that that was new, because ever since he’d met her, he was jealous of every second he didn’t spend with her.

  He parked his Maserati in one of the crummy parking garages off Fremont Street, wondered if he was crazy for doing so, and decided that to see Lena, it was worth the risk.

  He took the stairs to the ground level and joined the crowds walking toward Fremont. He hoped his broken-in jeans and T-shirt didn’t offend, but besides being comfortable, he wanted to mix with the crowd as much as possible.

  He found himself weaving around people slower than himself and quickly reached the street.

  The place was packed and he made his way through the crowd, past street artists vying for attention, the stores, the casinos, until he could finally see her caravan in the distance.

  As he approached, his height allowed him to see the line of people waiting for her services.

  As he got even closer, he recognized many of them.

  “What is going on here?”

  Heads turned in his direction, and several beings ducked out of line and melted away, disappearing almost immediately.

  “Well?” he asked those that remained.

  Several werewolves, two vampires, a shapeshifter, a warlock, and a siren looked at him with expressions ranging from nervous to belligerent.

  Finally, one of the werewolves spoke up.

  “We’re all just curious, don’t you see?”

  The shapeshifter lifted his chin. “Rumor is, she’s quite powerful. As your soulmate, who’s to say if she’ll keep telling fortunes? Gotta get in what we can, or before she becomes too popular.”

  “And too costly,” the warlock said darkly.

  William scowled at the lot of them. He should have seen this coming. He knew how word spread like wildfire in the paranormal community, but it gave him an antsy feeling to think of her being talked about, the speculation, and he especially didn’t want her holding hands with anyone not himself.

  “Go on with the lot of ye! Get out of here!”

  Within seconds, every
single being had scattered into the crowd, and he realized it might have something to do with the fact that he had started to turn, his muscles bunching larger, his voice rough, and his veins popping.

  “William? What are you doing?”

  The beast in him immediately calmed, shrinking back inside of him, and he glanced up to Lena’s concerned face, sudden guilt over his actions making him swallow. “Lena. Hi. I was just…”

  The customer with her, a nymph, sidled out from around Lena, and was down the stairs and in the crowd within seconds.

  Lena leaned against the doorway of her caravan, crossed her arms and raised a brow. “Scaring away my customers?”

  “Err…” Heat seared his face, and his mind raced, though he came up with nothing fast. “Ye see, the thing is…”

  After a moment of staring into each other’s eyes, Lena sighed and threw up her hands. “Well, come on in. It looks like you’re my only customer at the moment.”

  Stress turned to pleasure in an instant. He quickly made his way up the stairs and into the small space of the caravan.

  Lena sat down and indicated he should sit on the bench across from her.

  It was a tight fit, but nothing would have kept him from wedging into the small space.

  “Forty dollars please.”

  He was quick to dig out his wallet and hand over the cash.

  “Tarot cards, crystal ball, or palm reading?”

  “Palm reading,” he was quick to insert.

  Lena looked like she was trying not to smile. He took in the dark hair curling around her shoulders, her gorgeous face, and slight figure sitting across from him.

  When she held out her small hand, he slowly offered his own, anticipation of her touch stealing his breath.

  Her fingers were cool when she wrapped her hand around the back of his and held it firmly. She looked down, the fingers of her opposite hand skimming over the lines in his palm and he shivered.

  Her dark eyed gaze finally met his. “You have a very long life line,” she said as she skimmed her index finger down his palm.

  “Yes.”

  Three of her fingers now skimmed his palm, causing him to shiver again, and making her smile. “And … your fate line is broken up into three parts. Does that make sense to you?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Her gaze was warm, friendly, and flirtatious when she said, “But … it’s your love line I find the most interesting.”

  His heart started to pound hard in his chest. “I’m glad tae hear ye say so.”

  She chuckled at that, and William could no longer hide his own grin. “Tell me, is yer name etched in my palm, for ye tae see? Because if it isnae, it ought tae be, and I’ll gladly take a knife and rectify the matter.”

  She laughed. “No need for that, as I can clearly see…” she looked down, drew her fingers three times over the line, and glanced up at him again, her gaze searching. “I can clearly see you’re faithful, devoted, and loyal to the lady in your life.”

  Humor fleeing, he nodded, anxious to assure her that was, indeed, the case, but unwilling to break her concentration if she was realizing it for herself.

  She glanced down again. “In fact, it’s the deepest line in your hand.”

  William found he was holding his breath, as he tried to decipher the emotion in her voice, any message behind her words.

  “Lena —”

  They both leaned forward at the same time, their faces slowly coming closer together, and William’s heart stuttered, when their lips met.

  She was clutching his hand between hers, and the softness of her mouth moving beneath his own left him quite undone, the blood rushing in his veins, his world narrowing to the feel of her lips against his.

  “Nice! Can I be next?”

  Lena jumped back, and William turned his head to look at the man peeking his head inside the caravan, a grin on his face.

  William was out of his seat and through the door within seconds, as he grabbed the other man by the throat. “Seriously, Thorne? I let you out and you come here? What in the name of all that is holy do ye think ye’re doin’?”

  Lena hurried outside the caravan in time to see William push Thorne against a nearby casino wall.

  People quickly started to watch, to lift phones to video the fight, and Lena hurried down the stairs and quietly said to William, “I don’t think this is such a good idea.”

  William gave the man one last shove, and then let him go, but continued to glare. “Thorne? What are ye doing here? Why are ye lookin’ for my soulmate?”

  Eyes wide, Thorne lifted both hands in the air in a calming gesture. “Now, now. Slow down. I’m just here trying to find out what’s been happening.”

  William looked around, and then took a step back, and Lena was quick to surge forward and take his hand, presenting a united front against Thorne.

  “What do you mean?” Lena asked.

  “I mean, I’ve been told I’ve been making inappropriate advances toward you.” He indicated Lena with a nod of his head, and quickly started speaking again before William could interrupt. “I don’t remember it, but I’ve been told that’s what’s been happening. So, I came out to meet her for myself.” He looked at Lena meaningfully. “For the first time, I might add. I have no memory of any earlier events.”

  “And? How are you feeling? Toward me, I mean?” Lena felt confident asking the question, as the man wasn’t looking at her in a crazy or lovestruck way.

  “And, no, I don’t have any desire to try and steal you away from William.”

  Lena grinned. “Glad to hear it.”

  “I am, as well,” William said, though he still eyed the other man with suspicion.

  “Actually,” Thorne said. “I’m glad you’re here. I’m just trying to figure out what’s been happening.”

  William studied the other man for a long moment, before he finally said, “We’ve had some murders at the casino, and tis my belief the killer is throwing you intae the mix in hopes that I’ll be distracted.”

  Lena’s mouth parted in surprise. As possessive as William had been acting since they’d met, the plan wasn’t a bad one and would probably work.

  Probably had worked.

  “We took some love potions off a vampire. It turned out to be corn starch. Tis my belief he used the real spells on you, and replaced it. The witches confirmed it wasn’t theirs.”

  Lena’s eyes widened. “It isn’t looking good for Heath, is it?”

  “Nae, lass.”

  Thorne’s expression hardened. “As it looks like I’ve somehow become mixed up in it, I’m willing to help. What can I do to help you catch the perpetrator?”

  “You want to help? Stay out of my way.” William’s shut down expression said he was still struggling with jealousy.

  Lena squeezed his hand. “Actually, if whoever is doing this to Thorne thinks his ruse is working, we might be able to use that.”

  After a long moment, William finally nodded. “I’m not going to say I’m happy about it, but it might work.”

  Lena shot Thorne a smile. “So, are you ready to make a play for me for real?”

  A growl out of William had Lena laughing. She was being bad and she knew it. “What I meant was, are you ready to fake an interest in me for the sake of our investigation?”

  William squeezed her hand gently and shot her a chiding look. “That’s more like it.”

  Thorne pressed his lips together for a moment, then smirked. “Since my throat barely healed from your earlier aggression, I’m not going to lie. I’m going to enjoy this.”

  Lena bit her lip to stop from smiling and William let out a long-suffering sigh. “This courtship is going tae be the death of me.”

  “Only if I have anything to say about it.” Thorne was openly laughing at him now.

  William ran a hand over his mouth. “All right, let’s figure something out, and fast. Because I’m not sure how long I can stand to put up with this.”

  Lena turned away to c
lose up shop, and so William wouldn’t see her smile, and especially so she wouldn’t laugh. Still, her ribs felt like they were creaking.

  It was nearing ten o’clock when they arrived back at the casino in separate cars.

  William called a local BMW dealership on the way back to the Hemlock and arranged for delivery. They were more than willing to accommodate.

  Lena and William made their way to William’s office, and about fifteen minutes later, Thorne finally showed up with Quinn and Caleb.

  “Did anyone see ye?” William asked.

  “Nope. Quinn brought me up the back way, so chances are slim.”

  “I hope so,” William said darkly. “As we seem tae be dealing with murder, invisibility spells, and love potions, nothing seems certain anymore.”

  William indicated that Thorne should sit in the chair across the coffee table from Lena. He still wanted the man as far away from her as possible. William sat beside her and took her hand.

  Caleb leaned against William’s desk, and Quinn against the wall near the door.

  “All right, Lena and I have been talking about some ideas, so let’s see if we can get some more input, refine our plan, and catch this weasel once and for all.”

  “Are you still thinking it’s Heath?” Caleb asked.

  “I’m almost positive it is.”

  “Then why not let his queen deal with him?” Quinn wanted to know.

  “I want proof before we bring Dorinda intae it. She’ll be troublesome and hamper the investigation. Besides which, while she may be harsh on them, she likely willnae turn them over to the judge. We’ll let New York deal with Dorinda and her progeny. As far away from The Hemlock as possible.”

  Caleb crossed his arms. “Okay, what do you want to do, Boss?”

  “I’m going tae announce the removal of the Corvette tae a different location. A less secure location.”

  “What will that accomplish?” Quinn asked.