by Sonia Parin
“Other guests?”
“More presents.” Luna hurried to the door. “They all come bearing gifts. How attentive.”
Lexie recognized the actors from her mom’s theater group.
“I hope you don’t mind, darling. They’re like family and since you couldn’t come to us, I thought we’d all come to you.”
“Sure, the more the merrier.”
“You actually meant that,” Jonathan murmured.
Lexie smiled. “I guess all those years being an understudy have served me well.” In reality, she did mean it. Most of the cast members in her mom’s theater group were people who would otherwise not have anywhere to go during the holidays. The fact they all looked a little dazed meant her mom had woven her magic in getting them here.
Luna leaped up into her arms and brushed her little face against her cheek. “Thank you for making our first Christmas together magical. Now can I open a present?”
Lexie wove her way toward the tree; the distance twice as long as it had been before her mom had decided to weave her magic... “Sure.”
“What did you get me? Wait. Don’t tell me. I’d like it to be a surprise. Although I think I know what it is. Did you get me an Amish quilt? You did. You don’t have to answer. My heart’s pounding with excitement. I’m sure I’ll like whatever you got me... and if I don’t, I’ll just pretend I do...”
*****
Potion Heist
A Mackenzie Coven Mystery Short
SONIA PARIN
Copyright © 2018 Sonia Parin
All Rights Reserved
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Potion Heist
Lexie and her chatty feline companion, Luna, are in a rut. They’ve been housebound for days and desperately need to get out of the apartment. When they venture out, they discover love is in the air. However, something doesn’t look right. There’s a breakout of infidelity and people are falling for the wrong types with disastrous consequences…
Chapter One
“You’ve been staring at the wall for half an hour.” Lexie frowned. “Why do you do that? It’s weird.”
Luna flicked her tail. Without breaking her fixed concentration, she said, “What is weirder? Me staring at a wall or you watching me staring at a wall?”
They both huffed out a breath.
It had rained for three solid days and they’d been housebound playing endless games of cards, starting projects and not finishing them, rearranging Luna’s stash of food on the shelves by flavor and then starting from scratch and allocating a different flavor to each day of the week...
“I guess nothing is weirder than having a talking feline companion only I can hear.” Lexie jumped to her feet only to slump down again on the couch. “It’s been too quiet. Are we in a rut again?”
After a few seconds, Luna plunged into a frenzied sprint around the apartment. When she finished, she took a giant leap and landed on Lexie’s lap. “All right. You win. If you don’t want to carry me around, we’ll use the kitty carrier.”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“Three days ago, we had an argument because you refused to carry me and I simply refused to get my paws wet,” Luna reminded her. “You suggested using that ridiculous kitty carrier Octavia gave you for Christmas, and I refused to be made a laughing stock and then we… I forget what happened next. Hang on, I remember now. You received orders from the Coven to begin honing your potion making skills. I don’t know what you’re waiting for. You purchased a cauldron months ago and it’s been sitting around gathering dust. I know because I peered inside it and the dust made me sneeze.”
Potions. Ugh!
Once again, the Coven had omitted to include any pertinent information that could help Lexie with the task. Weren’t there any time-honored recipes passed down from generation to generation she had to learn? Oh, no… They expected her to figure it out. Of course, she could have called her personal assistant. Octavia would have been only too happy to help, but she would have turned it into a pet project and, knowing her, she would want Lexie to become an expert. In Lexie’s opinion, since the Coven had also omitted to say they specifically expected her to excel at potion making, she figured she would focus on her strengths. After all, she had the elements at her disposal. Figuring out what to do with them would take her a lifetime.
“Am I now supposed to be happy about having to lug you around on my back like a pack mule?” Lexie asked.
Luna licked her paw and brushed it against her cheek. “I see you’ve chosen to change the subject. Fine. You either carry me around or we risk suffering a severe bout of cabin fever. I’d be happy to resume watching the wall, but we haven’t been out in days. We should at least go out there to breathe some fresh city air.”
***
“This is more fun than I thought it would be,” Luna purred as they stepped out of their Village apartment.
“What? Being a backseat driver?”
“Yes. Watch out for that man lumbering toward you. He doesn’t look like the type who’d make way for anyone.”
When they arrived at the Kitty Café, they settled at a table by the window to do some people watching. “Climb out. The kitty carrier is digging into my back.”
Being a regular customer meant Lexie didn’t have to bother ordering her coffee. It simply arrived. However, after waiting five minutes she looked over her shoulder toward the counter.
“Am I getting a bowl of milk sometime today?” Luna asked.
“That’s what I’m wondering. I don’t see our usual waitress. What’s her name? Deidre. Marjorie. Brie?”
“You can’t remember her name? I wonder what that says about you?” Luna tilted her little head. “You’re not snooty and you’ve yet to let your powers go to your head. You’re an incoming High Chair and, someday, you’ll be the head of the Mackenzie Coven, but you’re still pretending you’re a regular person.”
“What is your point?” Lexie asked.
“I think you might have a limited attention span and with all the murder and mayhem happening around us, anything that is run-of-the-mill ordinary escapes your attention. Heads up, here comes a waitress.”
Not Deidre... or was it Brie?
“Hi! I’m Dawn.”
Luna leaned forward. “The trick is to repeat the name several times and associate it with a particular trait. In this case, I might suggest bright and sunny as a summer’s dawn, that is her name, Dawn.”
“Hi, Dawn.” Dawn of the bright, sunny smile. She wore her golden hair in a braid, curled around her head, like a burst of bright sunshine and held in place with a pretty hairpin. Dawn.
“Very good,” Luna said, confident only Lexie could hear her.
“Dawn, you’re a new face,” Lexie said.
“Yes, I started working here this morning. It’s been great fun meeting all the regular customers.”
“Where is everyone?” Lexie asked and then she noticed the decorations. Heart shapes were pinned everywhere. The owner of the Kitty Café had always refused to bow to peer pressure, saying he had the right to express his disdain for a tradition that excluded a significant proportion of the population. Mainly himself.
“There’s some sort of bug going around,” Dawn explained. “Just as well I’m here. You’ll have to bear with me while I get used to how things are done.”
“Well, we’ll make it easy for you. I’d like a triple espresso and my feline companion will have a bowl of milk, please.”
Dawn took her time writing down the order. When she finished, she read it back to them.
“Yes, that�
�s it. Great. Thank you.”
Luna watched Dawn skip away and said, “I give her a day. If she’s lucky, she might last two days, but no more.”
“That’s harsh.”
Luna inspected her paw. “Tell that to the customers waiting for her to take their orders. Do you think she’s from out of town? She looks bright eyed and bushy-tailed and far too cheerful.”
Lexie didn’t answer and she knew that if Luna could have clicked her paws, she would have done so to snap Lexie out of her reverie, or rather, the staring into empty space vagueness.
Luna purred. “You’re trying to get back at me for staring at the wall.”
Lexie sighed. “I think we should swing by the pub afterward. I feel right out of the loop. We must be missing something.”
“You think this is the quiet before the storm?” Luna asked.
“Either that or I’m coming down with a case of gloom and doom.”
“I think I know what that could be about.”
Lexie cupped her chin in her hand. “Yes?”
“Valentine’s coming up. My previous companion used to slide into a dark pit of despair because she didn’t have anyone special in her life while everyone she knew went about their cheerful way knowing they’d spend the night with the love of their lives.”
“That sounds dreary and you don’t need to worry about me being glum.” Lexie smiled. “See, I’m already happy. My coffee is here.”
Dawn wiped the table and set a mug of coffee and a bowl of milk down.
“Thank you.”
Luna sniffed her milk. “This doesn’t smell right.”
“Is it off?” Lexie asked.
“No.” Luna dipped the tip of her pink tongue in the bowl. “It tastes different. Nice but different. Here, have a taste.”
“I will not. Especially not now that you’ve dipped your tongue in it.”
“Are you afraid you’ll catch cooties? I’ve been vaccinated and I’m magical.”
“If you must know, I’m not a big fan of milk.” Lexie made a chocking sound.
“You are odd. It’s delicious. What do you do for milk and cookies?”
“I omit the milk.” Lexie took a sip of her coffee and grimaced. “What on earth is this?”
Luna leaned in and whispered. “You have a moustache.”
“Huh?”
“On your top lip. I’m trying to spare you the embarrassment of making a fool of yourself. Wipe it off or lick it off.”
“It’s frothy milk. Why would she put milk in my espresso?” Before Lexie could stop her, Luna dipped her tongue in the coffee.
“You’re right. Oh, and I rather like the taste. Why don’t I have coffee in my milk?”
“Because instead of staring at walls you’d end up climbing them.”
“This is interesting,” Luna purred. “I feel a buzz. It’s like a current of electricity. All this time I could have been enjoying a revitalizing beverage…”
Luna on caffeine?
Seeing Dawn approaching, Lexie caught her attention. “I’d hate to bother you, but this is not the coffee I ordered.”
Dawn smiled brightly. “I know. I thought you might prefer a latte.”
Lexie had no idea what to say to that. Dawn looked quite pleased with herself and Lexie didn’t want to hurt her feelings. “Thank you for the gesture, but—”
“You’re welcome.” Dawn trotted off.
“Wait. I…”
Luna purred deeply. “If you don’t want it, I’ll have it.”
“There’s something odd about that girl.” Lexie secured the kitty carrier in place. “Climb in. We’re going to O’Connor’s. Jonathan wouldn’t dare mess with my coffee.” She turned in time to see Luna almost falling into the coffee, her little tongue going at full speed. Lexie grabbed her and tossed her inside the kitty carrier.
“Hey, you threw me in head first,” Luna complained.
Just what she needed… Not. A fully caffeinated feline companion. “Do you still have your nine lives?”
“No thanks to you and try not to bounce so much when you walk.”
Chapter Two
“I’m not even going to ask,” Jonathan said when Lexie strode in carrying Luna on her back.
“Good. Less talking, more action. A triple espresso, please.”
The edge of Jonathan’s lip kicked up. “Wouldn’t you rather have a latte?”
As her guardian and chronicler of all her deeds… and or misdeeds, Jonathan had a direct line to whatever Lexie got up to. Until now, she’d opted to live in ignorance and not ask how he did it. “Did you happen to notice anything odd about—” She sank down on a barstool and tried to remember the girl’s name.
Luna rested her chin on Lexie’s shoulder. “You forgot her name.”
Sparkly smile. Bright. Bright as day. “Dawn.”
Jonathan set a cup of coffee on the counter. “Who’s that?”
“Don’t worry about it.” Either he was calling her bluff or he really didn’t know.
Luna leaned forward and inhaled deeply. “Wouldn’t you prefer a dollop of cream with that?”
“No, thank you. Hop off. I want to take this contraption off.” She turned to Jonathan. “So, what’s been happening? I haven’t seen you in days.” Before he could answer, she took in the heart shaped decorations hanging around the bar. “Hey, what’s up with all the Valentine decorations? You don’t like getting into the spirit of any holiday.” Although, the previous Christmas, he’d insisted she wear a Santa hat.
Jonathan shrugged. “I took a poll and the romantics won.”
“Since when do you cater to your customers’ desires?”
Jonathan gave the counter a brisk swipe. “I hear you’ve progressed to potions now.”
Fine. He didn’t want to answer and she wouldn’t push him, but she too could be evasive. She sipped her coffee and sighed. “Thank you. This is heavenly. You wouldn’t believe what happened to me at the Kitty Café.” So, she told him. Her story became stilted when he had to serve a couple of customers. When he didn’t return to hear the rest of the story, Lexie suspected he wanted to avoid her. She waited five minutes for him to return and, when he did, she had to recap the story. “What do you think that’s about? If she keeps it up, she’s going to lose her job.”
Jonathan shrugged and moved away again.
“What’s up with him?” When Luna didn’t answer, Lexie looked around her. “Luna? Where are you?” She searched around the bar, did a double take and saw an empty cup of coffee nearby. The rim had the sort of frothy residue she’d seen on cappuccinos. One moment it was there, and the next…
Gone. Swiped clean.
The little scamp had made herself invisible and was helping herself to coffee leftovers.
Narrowing her eyes, Lexie leaned sideways until she saw the vague shape of a cat. She lunged forward and grabbed hold of Luna who meowed in protest.
“What are you doing?” Luna demanded. “Put me down.”
“Do you know what coffee will do to you?”
“No, but I can hazard a guess. You seem to drink gallons of it and look at you.”
“Yes? What about me?”
“Oh… Well…” Luna rematerialized and rolled her eyes from side to side. “Where’s Jonathan?” she asked, her tone all innocence.
“Stay away from coffee,” Lexie warned.
Luna pressed her nose against Lexie’s and they both stared at each other cross-eyed. “Or what?”
“Sorry I’m late.”
The familiar voice had Lexie swinging around on her barstool. “Dawn?”
“Oh, hello.” Dawn gave her a cheerful wave.
Thinking this couldn’t be a coincidence, Lexie searched for Jonathan but he’d ducked behind the counter.
Smiling, Dawn made her way to the back room. Moments later, she emerged wearing a black apron with the O’Connor’s Bar logo printed on it.
“Are you working here too?” Lexie asked.
Dawn beamed a bright smile. �
�Yes.”
“What about the Kitty Café? I thought you said everyone had caught a bug.”
“They’re all well now and back at work.” Dawn swung away and began serving drinks.
Luna curled up on Lexie’s lap. A couple of seconds later, she sprung up and screeched only to curl up again.
“That’s the caffeine kicking in,” Lexie warned. Turning, she followed Dawn’s progress around the bar and tried to make sense of Jonathan hiring someone like her. Everyone working behind the bar had a deadpan attitude. Take the order. Fill the order. Thank the customer. Move on. Dawn, however, appeared intent on making new friends.
As she served the drinks, Lexie noticed several people frowning at their glasses.
“I think she’s at it again,” Lexie murmured.
Dawn approached the counter and smiled at Lexie. “Would you like another coffee?”
Lexie gave a tentative nod.
“This should be interesting,” Luna mused.
Smiling, Dawn set the mug of coffee in front of Lexie. “I think you’ll enjoy this one.”
Lexie dropped her gaze. It looked like an espresso. It smelled like one. Surely it had to be one. She took a tentative sip.
“Well? What’s the verdict?” Luna asked.
“Just as I like it.” Lexie cupped her hands around the mug and drank deeply. When she finished, she sighed with satisfaction. “There’s nothing like a cup of coffee to…” her thoughts wavered. She searched around the bar and only stopped when her gaze landed on Jonathan. He looked good today. In fact, he always looked great. Broad shoulders. Narrow hips. Strong arms. When he smiled, her heart skipped a beat—
Lexie frowned.
Taffy had been right! Taffy?
Luna leaped up onto her shoulder and pressed her nose against her cheek. “What’s going on with you? Who’s Taffy? And yes, I picked up the stray thought. I know you don’t like me prodding around your mind, but…” Luna sniffed. “Your breath smells of coffee and licorice.”
Why had she thought about Taffy? She’d met him ages ago at House St James right after her cousins had ambushed her and tricked her into speaking the words, which had reinstated her in the Mackenzie Coven. Lexie swung back toward the counter and reached for a glass of water. She tried to dislodge the image of Taffy from her mind but he wouldn’t budge.