Murder by the Cup

by Abigail Thornton

  The chief grumbled under his breath and pushed a button on his phone. “Strongclaw! Get in here!”

  Wynona bit her lip. What was Rascal going to say to her? Would he even want to talk to her at all?

  “Yeah, Chief?” Rascal looked as bright-eyed and as handsome as ever as he stood in the doorway, his hand on the knob. His golden eyes snapped to hers. “Ms. Le Doux.” A small grin played on his lips. “What brings you here this morning?”

  “I’m trying to get your chief to listen to the information I found last night.”

  Rascal raised an eyebrow and folded his arms over his chest. “Was that before or after you grabbed dinner?”

  Oops. She shouldn’t have phrased it quite like that. “I just mean that I figured something out and I need the police to help me prove it.”

  Rascal looked to his boss. “Whattya say, chief?”

  “I say I want you to get this woman out of my office and never let her back in.”

  Rascal made a face, looking torn. “Is that really necessary, Chief? Shouldn’t we hear what she has to say?”

  The chief put his palms on his desk and slowly started to rise. “No. I don’t want to hear what she has to say. I want her gone and I want you to make sure she stays gone. She has no business—”

  “Your coffee, Chief.” An officer Wynona didn’t recognize stepped around Rascal, holding a steaming mug. He carefully set it on the desk and straightened. It took him a moment to realize he’d interrupted something and soon he slowly began to back out. “Uh, anything else you need?”

  Red eyes did their best to glare holes in the officer’s forehead.

  “No? Alrighty, then, I guess I’ll just get back to work.” The officer jabbed a thumb over his shoulder, then darted into the hallway.

  “You really shouldn’t scare him like that,” Wynona said in a slightly scolding tone. “It’s not good for morale and it’s not good for that headache.”

  Chief Ligurio opened his mouth and pointed a finger in her direction before snapping his mouth shut and shaking his head. “Get her out of here, Strongclaw. Or it’s your neck on the line.”

  Rascal sighed and walked over. “I’m sorry, Wynona. But you need to go.”

  She pursed her lips and clung to the side of her chair. “You have to listen to me,” she demanded. “This is important. You’ve got the wrong killer!”

  “Wynona,” Rascal urged.

  “No.” She stuck her chin in the air. “I won’t let you take down Delila just because you found some circumstantial evidence.”

  “Oooh.” Chief Ligurio made a face. “Learning the lingo, are you? Planning to make a habit of being a pest?”

  “Chief,” Rascal groaned.

  Wynona leaned forward. “I know where Delila was the night of the first murder.”

  Chief Ligurio huffed and leaned back in his seat. “And just where do you think she was?”

  Wynona gave him a triumphant grin. “She was at The Goddess’s Table.” A little pause for added drama. “With a date.”

  Chief Ligurio eyed her while picking up his mug and drinking half of its contents. “And just how do you know this?” he asked.

  “I had a hunch and followed it.” Wynona waved at his phone. “Feel free to call them. They’ll confirm exactly what I just told you.”

  Still looking like he was drinking rancid blood, Chief Ligurio shoved the phone at Rascal. “Strongclaw!”

  Rascal muttered under his breath, but grabbed the receiver and punched a button. “Hey, Amaris? Can you find the number for The Goddess’s Table?” He nodded. “Yeah, that one. No, I don’t want a reservation, I prefer to stay out of debt, thank you very much.” His eyes drifted toward Wynona when she snorted. “Uh-huh...thanks.” Rascal kept his eyes on her while holding a button and setting down the ear piece.

  “The Goddess’s Table. How may I help you?”

  “Hello, this is Deputy Chief Strongclaw of the Hex Haven police,” Rascal said in an official tone. “We’re calling about a suspect who might have visited your establishment a couple nights ago. One Delila Caseis. Can you please see if you can find her on your reservation list?”

  “One moment, please.”

  The same manager who had helped Wynona came on the line. “Hello, Officer Strongclaw. What can I do for you today?”

  Rascal repeated his request and then they were on hold, elevator music tinkling through the line while they waited for the manager to come back.

  “Yes, sir. I found her four nights ago. She was here for an eight o’clock reservation.”

  “And was she with a companion?”

  “She was,” the manager hedged.

  “Who was it?” Rascal pressed.

  Wynona grinned, pleased with the fact that the police were having trouble as well. At least she had figured out a sneaky way around the man’s reticence.

  The manager hesitated. “I’m afraid that—”

  “Sir, this is an official investigation and could be a matter of life or death. I assure you that anything you tell me will be kept in trust and will not be traced back to you.”

  “I understand,” the manager said in a resigned tone.

  Wynona wanted to roll her eyes. What she wouldn’t give to have been able to use that authoritative line. It would definitely have made life so much easier.

  “She was eating with Mr. Kayne Droxon.”

  The words landed in the room with all the finesse of a baby dragon. Both Rascal and Chief Ligurio were dumbfounded as they stared wide-eyed at each other and then at Wynona.

  She tried to hold back her gloating, she really did, but for just a split second, it felt really good to know that she had been one step ahead of the game. “Now do you believe me?” she whispered, noting that the phone line was still open.

  “Deputy Chief Strongclaw?” the manager asked. “Was there anything else you needed, sir?”

  Rascal quickly said his thanks and goodbyes and hung up the phone. Leaning back against the desk, he folded his arms over his chest. “Mind letting us know just how you figured that out?”

  Wynona did her best to shrug nonchalantly. “Just a hunch, but it panned out.”

  Rascal narrowed his eyes. “A hunch, huh?”

  She opened her eyes wide and did her best to look innocent. “Look, Deputy Chief Strongclaw. It really doesn’t matter how I came across my information. The point is, she was with someone else. Which means she didn’t kill Mr. Skinflayer. And if she didn’t kill Mr. Skinflayer in search of the binder, why would she have killed Chef Droxon?”

  “It’s possible we have two murderers on our hands,” Chief Ligurio said with a slight pout in his tone.

  Why was it that when men didn’t get their way, they often reverted back to little boys? Wynona held back a small laugh. “It is,” she said carefully, “but I don’t think that’s the case.”

  “Another hunch?” Rascal asked.

  She grinned at him. “You could say that.”

  Rascal’s eyes flashed with pride and Wynona wanted to soak it in. She’d had too little of that in her life.

  “Alright, Ms. Le Doux,” Chief Ligurio said in a tired tone. “Just who do you think did the murders?”

  Wynona shook her head. “I’ll admit I don’t have that one figured out yet. But I do think I can help with the missing will.”

  “They’re two different cases?” Rascal inserted.

  Wynona nodded. “I believe they are.”

  Chief Ligurio took a long swig of his forgotten coffee, then made a face. Obviously, it wasn’t hot anymore. “I can’t promise to believe you, but I’m willing to listen.”

  “Good enough,” Wynona said eagerly. She leaned forward. “This is what I propose.”

  CHAPTER 23

  Wynona’s heart was pounding in her throat as she walked casually across the road to the front entrance of an apartment building. From the outside, it looked like any other highrise. Built with steel and glass, the collection of residences appeared to be for the business cla
ss folks. Which immediately gave Wynona a confidence boost. She was almost positive her idea was correct, especially if a secretary could live in a place like this.

  “Wynona Le Doux to visit Delila Caseis,” Wynona said politely to the doorman.

  The man looked at her with startled eyes. “Le Doux?” He looked her up and down and frowned, obviously noting that she didn’t appear as lush as the rest of her family.

  “Yes, Le Doux,” Wynona said more forcefully. “My father is President Le Doux.”

  The doorman continued to frown. “How come I’ve never heard of you?”

  Wynona decided now was not the time to spill the fact that her family had kept her a secret because of her curse, not when she was on a mission. “Would you care to call my mother, Marcella?” Wynona pulled out her phone. “Or, perhaps, Celia instead?” Wynona’s smile was far from warm at this point. “I’d offer to let you call Granny Saffron, but she passed a few months ago. Did you know?”

  The man, who looked like a normal human, branding him as a possible warlock, folded his arms over his chest. Wynona couldn’t help but swallow hard. If he decided to use powers on her, she was toast. Although, a warlock working as a doorman meant he wasn’t very good, but still... “Everyone knows who the Le Doux family is,” he said condescendingly. “Doesn’t make you related.”

  Wynona sighed. She didn’t want to do this, but needed to get inside. She dialed her sister’s phone.

  “This is Ms. Celia Le Doux’s personal line. How may I help you?”

  Wynona wanted to dance a jig. How lucky was she that Celia’s personal assistant had answered, rather than having to deal with Celia herself?

  “Hello, Airian,” Wynona said in a perky tone. “It’s Wynona. Is my sister around?”

  There was a pause and a shuffling sound on the other end. Wynona held the phone up so the doorman could hear. “Just one moment, Ms. Le Doux. Let me see if she’s receiving calls.”

  The doorman rolled his eyes and pushed a button. “Come on,” he said.

  “Never mind, Airian, it sounds like she’s busy. I’ll chat with her another time.”

  “Is that my sister?” A screech could be heard in the background and Wynona’s eyes opened wide as she realized Celia had obviously entered the room. “What does she need? A handout?” she asked with a snicker.

  Wynona hung up and stuffed the phone in her purse, ignoring the buzzing that resulted when Celia tried to call her back. “Thank you,” she said to the smirking doorman. It had been too much to hope that he hadn’t heard that last comment.

  Once inside, Wynona realized she didn’t know what floor she was going to, but she wasn’t about to go back out and ask the doorman. Even magicless witches had pride. Instead, she headed toward the elevator. Hopefully another resident could help her along the way.

  The elevator dinged and a well dressed gentleman stepped out, adjusting his cufflinks.

  “Excuse me, sir. Could you, oh!” Wynona broke out in a smile, then immediately panicked. This was definitely not according to the plan.

  “Wynona,” Roderick said warmly. His smile was as bright as ever. “What brings you here?” Stepping closer, he leaned and gave her another cheek kiss. “Are you here to see me?”

  Wynona shook her head. “No, actually. I had no idea you lived here.”

  Roderick looked slightly disappointed, but he hid it fairly well. “I’ll pretend that didn’t hurt my ego,” he teased. “Do you have another friend in the building?”

  That was just the opening she needed. “Yes! I was told that Delila Caseis lives here.”

  Roderick frowned. “The siren arrested for the murders? Yes, but isn’t she at the station?”

  Wynona shook her head. “They received some new evidence and had to let her go.”

  Roderick’s frown grew and his eyes went toward the ceiling as if he could see her through the floors. “I see...”

  “You wouldn’t happen to know what apartment she’s in, would you?”

  Roderick immediately came back to himself and focused his silver eyes on Wynona. “I didn’t realize you two were such good friends.”

  “Oh, we’re not, but I have a few questions for her,” Wynona said easily. “You know, trying to solve the murder so I can clear my name and open the shop.” She scrunched her nose. “I’ve only got two days left.”

  Roderick nodded sadly. “If I didn’t have to head to work, I would help, but alas...” He held his arms wide. “I’m afraid business waits for no man.”

  “It’s fine,” Wynona assured him. “Go do what you need to do.” She gave him a grin. “But letting me know Delila’s apartment number would be an easy way to prove what you just said.”

  Roderick chuckled. “Thirteen A, if I remember correctly.” He gave her another quick kiss, this time on the top of her head. “Good luck. I must go.”

  Wynona barely noticed that he left as she rushed to catch the elevator. How grateful she was that this time she would not be walking the stairs. She was certain her thighs and tush would never be the same.

  Soft music played as she rode up, but it did nothing to soften Wynona’s nerves. She had come here today to run a con and it was wreaking havoc with her emotions. After another hour of persuasion, Chief Ligurio and Rascal had reluctantly agreed to her plan. The problem was, Wynona had never done any acting in her life, unless she counted pretending not to care that her family hated her.

  She practically jumped out of her skin when the elevator door opened to the thirteenth floor, and Wynona walked on wooden legs out into the hallway. Glancing at the doors, she turned to the left, finding apartment A immediately.

  “Send help, Granny,” she muttered to herself. Wishing for the millionth time that she had powers to help protect herself beyond the Banshee Scream in her purse, Wynona raised her hand and knocked.

  She fidgeted with her shirt hem and straightened her skirt, hoping she looked professional but approachable.

  “Who is it?”

  Wynona frowned. The voice sounded hesitant and it worried her. “Delila? It’s Wynona. Wynona Le Doux?”

  More noises came from the apartment for several seconds before the door cracked open. “Oh, Wynona!” Delila gushed. She opened the door all the way and reached out to pull Wynona into a surprisingly tight hug. “I don’t know how you did it, but thank you for getting me out!”

  Wynona pulled back. “How did you know it was me?”

  Delila smirked and walked over to the couch. “Who else could it have been? I have no family and you’re the only person I spoke to who actually listened to what I said.”

  Wynona sat across from the beautiful siren. Delila was dressed casually today, more than likely only having been home for an hour or two, but it didn’t matter. The woman was still gorgeous. “Delila, I need to ask you some questions.”

  Delila huffed in disbelief. “More? What in the world could I offer that I haven’t already confessed?”

  “How about the truth about where you were when the first murder occurred?”

  Delila’s plush lips pinched and turned white.

  Wynona tilted her head. “Was the salmon good?” she pressed. “Or perhaps you had the filet mignon? I’ve heard that it's especially tasty.”

  Delila’s face drained of color and she sunk into her seat. “How did you know?” she rasped.

  Wynona shook her head. “I followed a hunch.” Wynona dropped the other woman’s gaze for a moment, struggling to come up with the courage to say what needed to come next. Taking a deep breath, she looked up. “Perhaps Kayne would like to join us for this next part.”

  Before Delila could respond, Kayne burst from the bedroom. “Don’t say a word, Delila,” he snapped. “Having dinner together isn’t a big deal, especially not with Dad dead.”

  Wynona’s heart hurt. She knew exactly what it was like to break free of a parent’s prejudiced expectations. Even if hers were still alive, they had little say in her life at the moment. “When did you first start embezzling from
him?”

  Delila gasped and brought her hands over her mouth. “Kayne,” she squeaked.

  Kayne’s blue eyes were glued to Wynona, as if daring her to say more. “She’s just guessing, Dee. Stay quiet.”

  And here was where it was going to get tricky. Wynona knew she wasn’t the world’s best liar, but she needed to convince Kayne she was. “You do realize that with Delila cleared, the police will be looking for a new suspect?” she asked coolly. “How do you think it’s going to look when they find the bank records in Delila’s desk? Or the receipts of your dates that she’s been writing off as business expenses?”

  Kayne stiffened even further if that were possible. “I didn’t kill my father,” he said tightly.

  “He didn’t!” Delila cried. “He’s innocent! He was with me!”

  “Quiet, Dee!” he shouted. “They can’t pin anything on me. We’ll get a lawyer before we say any more.”

  Wynona shook her head. “The police are investigating now,” she said, slowly rising to her feet. “If you’re innocent, doesn’t cooperating look better than fighting?” Wynona fought to keep her knees steady and her voice from breaking. A single drop of sweat trickled down her spine, tickling and distracting her from her mission. “You’ve been using Delila’s position to suck him dry for years.” Wynona stepped forward even though she wanted to step back. “When did he first tell you you were cut off? It wasn’t when it leaked to the press. The records go back way before then.”

  Another step.

  “With your father out of the way, you were free to be with the woman you loved,” Wynona continued, keeping her voice low and steady. “The woman your father thought beneath you. Her powers weren’t enough, were they? He wanted someone like your mother. Someone who could bring wealth and prestige to the table instead of just good looks.”

  Kayne’s face was growing a dangerous shade of purple, while Delila muffled her sobs on the couch, curled into herself like a young child.

  “Perhaps you killed him in self defense,” Wynona argued.