Murder by the Cup

by Abigail Thornton

  Lean arms grabbed her from behind, causing Wynona to jump. “It’s going to be so perfect,” Prim gushed. She squeezed extra tight before releasing Wynona. Purple eyes surveyed the room with a content sigh. “The shabby chic thing is wonderful. Cozy, yet elegant. Beautiful, yet touchable. No one will want to leave!” Prim squealed.

  Wynona gave her friend a grateful smile. “Let’s hope so. I’m a little worried no one is going to show up.”

  “Oh, they’ll show up,” Prim said knowingly. She glanced slyly at Wynona. “Did you see the full page spread the ghosties put out this morning? Someone at the police station is claiming you solved the whole case single-handedly.” Prim put a hand to the side of her mouth in a mock whisper. “And it wasn’t the grumpy chief.”

  Wynona laughed a little, her cheeks heating as she thought of just who might have worked so hard to give her a boost. “I did,” she admitted. “But I definitely didn’t deserve all that credit. The police did much more than I did. I basically stumbled into trouble and they saved my tush.” She blew a hair out of her face. “More than once, I hate to say.”

  “At least it’s a cute tush to save,” Prim said with a laugh.

  Wynona joined her. “Should I count that as a compliment?”

  “Of course!” Prim nudged Wynona’s shoulder then tilted her head toward the door. “I think it’s time.”

  Wynona gasped and looked up at the clock. Ten seconds until the official time. Tiny paws scrambled across the floor and Wynona barely noticed when Violet began pushing on her shoe. With a skirt on, the mouse had nothing to climb. Reaching down, Wynona held out her hand and Violet automatically jumped on.

  “Wouldn’t be a grand opening without a rodent in the house,” Prim grumbled, still frustrated that Violet wouldn't let the fairy hold her.

  “Violet bathed this morning,” Wynona protested. “But she’s as much a part of the shop as I am. And you.” She wrapped an arm around Prim’s shoulders. “We’re all in this together.”

  The clock dinged the hour and Wynona felt sick to her stomach. “This is it,” she whispered.

  “Go let them in,” Prim urged, giving Wynona a little push.

  “What if there’s no one there?” Wynona asked, her panic clearly audible.

  Prim just smirked and pointed to the door.

  Sighing in resignation, Wynona reached a shaking hand to the knob and unlocked the door. Knowing procrastination wouldn’t help anyone, she pulled the door open and nearly collapsed to her knees.

  There must have been fifty people waiting outside her shop door. Flashes of light went off from unseen sources, letting her know the ghost media was there. A limo waited on the curb with three bodyguards standing nearby, glaring at anyone who got too close. Dozens of other smiling faces were beaming up at Wynona as they all waited for their chance to come inside.

  Gasps rang through the crowd and Wynona noticed the door of the limo opening. Ms. Kimoko slid out in perfect movements, as usual. She had on a cocktail dress and large sunglasses. Waving to the crowd, she smiled brilliantly and sashayed up the suddenly empty sidewalk.

  Her bodyguards were apparently very good at their jobs because the mass of people simply parted without any kind of command.

  “Ms. Le Doux,” Akina purred as she got closer. She held out both hands as if she and Wynona were long time friends. Grabbing Wynona’s clammy ones, the actress air-kissed Wynona’s cheeks. “I came for another sip of that marvelous cat mint tea.” She turned and smiled at the adoring crowd, utilizing the free publicity to its best advantage.

  The custom tea blend wasn’t one of the ones Wynona had prepared for the opening, but luckily, she still had the ingredients on hand. “Of course,” Wynona said, forcing herself into action. “If you’ll come in, I’ll show you to your favorite table.” If Akina could live it up, so could Wynona.

  The small smirk on Akina’s face said she didn’t miss Wynona’s choice of verbiage. “Lead the way.”

  After getting her celebrity guest settled, Wynona began to let in other small groups, setting them up with a full tea service until the small shop was full to the brim. Since there were others still outside, she began to run trays of pastries and sandwiches around to those waiting, hoping none of them would grow tired and go home before she could show off what her shop would really offer.

  “Thank you so much for coming,” Wynona said as she handed out the food. “I’ll be delighted to have you inside very soon.”

  “Have room for a tea drinking wolf?” The words were low and whispered directly in Wynona’s ear.

  She nearly lost her tray as she spun. “Rascal!” she cried. Her heart did that funny flip-flop again and a wide smile spread across her face. “I didn’t know you were coming.”

  He put a hand to his heart. “And not see how all this turned out?” He tsked his tongue and shook his head. “It’s not often I meet a woman willing to take on a murderer in order to serve tea.” He leaned in. “I figured I needed to come and see it for myself.”

  That stupid blush. One day Wynona really needed to get it under control. “I’m so glad you did,” she said softly.

  Rascal tugged on his collar. “You don't happen to serve iced tea, do you?”

  “I don’t normally,” Wynona said. “But for you...I think I can make an exception.” She finished passing out the food, then walked up the front stoop. “I’m sure if we look around in the kitchen, I can find exactly what we need. And Lusgu is so efficient with the dishes that I have no doubt we’ll even be able to find a clean glass.”

  “As long as your tea doesn’t lead to any more cases like we just finished,” Rascal drawled. “I think I need a break before another big one hits.”

  “It better not,” Wynona said, smiling at her patrons as she weaved her way to the kitchen. “I have no intention of ever getting involved in a murder investigation again.”

  The kitchen was a quiet relief from all the chattering going on in the dining room and Wynona allowed herself a moment to breathe.

  “Never?” Rascal pushed. “You have a pretty good eye for detail,” he complimented. “We could always use good informants for the team.”

  “Absolutely not,” Wynona said decisively, though she tempered the words with a smile. “While I’m extremely grateful for those of you who make it your life’s work to put criminals behind bars, if there’s anything I have learned from this experience, it’s that I absolutely, under no condition, ever want to deal with the seedier side of Hex Haven again.” She finished fixing Rascal’s tea and handed him the cold glass.

  “I’ll drink to that,” he said with a grin. “To the success of Saffron’s Tea House, to killers being behind bars, and to beginning again.” He nodded toward her, his golden eyes glowing with warmth before taking a sip. He paused, then sniffed the glass. “Is there rosemary in this?”

  Wynona grinned. “Yep.”

  “Huh.” He tilted his head. “How did you know wolves like rosemary?”

  Wynona shrugged and leaned her hip against the counter. “Figuring out people’s tea preferences is a gift of mine.”

  Rascal frowned. “And you’re really sure you don’t have magic? Like none?”

  Wynona shook her head. “None. I tried for years under Granny’s tutelage. If anyone could find a way through this curse, it would have been her.”

  “Hmm...” Rascal said in an absent-minded tone.

  “Wolves.”

  They both jerked toward the sound.

  Lusgu stood glaring at Rascal.

  “Lu!” Rascal said loudly. “How are you today!”

  A couple of large metal spoons began to swirl around Lusgu’s head as he glared at Rascal.

  “And that’s my cue,” Rascal said with a wink. Taking one last gulp of the drink, he set it down and raced out of the room. “Thanks, Wy! I’ll be in touch!”

  The kitchen door closed just as one of the spoons clanged against it.

  “Lusgu!” Wynona scolded. “Stop!”

  The brown
ie shook his head, but the spoons went back to their regular places on the counter. “Messy, messy, messy,” he grumbled, turning back to wherever it was he came from.

  Wynona huffed. “What in the world is that all about?” No one answered her and she figured they never would. Her eyes went to the door as voices filtered through the cracks. A slow smile spread across her face. She was open. Everyone knew she wasn’t a murderer. And her shop looked like it was going to be a success.

  Toss a handsome werewolf into the mix, and Wynona had a feeling her future was about to become very, very fun.

  She couldn’t wait.

  THANK YOU!

  I hope you enjoyed Wynona’s first venture into

  Solving mysteries! If you enjoyed yourself, I would

  Encourage you to leave a review on your favorite retailer.

  Kind words are the best way to thank an author

  and help other readers find books they enjoy!

  Sugar, Cream or Murder

  Not ready to be done with Wynona and the gang?

  Catch her next in “Sugar Cream or Murder”.

  Wynona and her team are back...but she's not exactly happy about it.

  Wynona's sister, Celia, is at the top of Wynona's list of least favorite people.

  But when one of Celia's friends ends up dead...Wynona can't bring herself to let it go.

  Despite having a little sleuthing experience under her belt at this point, Wynona is completely out of her comfort zone as she's surrounded by some of the most powerful witches in Hex Haven, trying to pretend she's not upset about her lack of magical ability.

  Wynona's family might not see her worth, but with Primrose, Violet and a dashing werewolf at her side...Wynona might just find where she belongs, and solve a murder or two along the way.

  Grab it at you favorite retailer!