Enchanted Island Mysteries : Serena & Grant

by Jenna St James

  Her response had the customers in the bakery chattering once again. Words of encouragement rang out to Treena, and she smiled bravely as I hurried to fill her order.

  After I rang her up, Treena gathered her goodies and made a beeline for the door—stopping quickly in front of Mom and Aunt Serenity’s table. Once again the bakery went deadly quiet.

  “I heard what you did yesterday,” Treena said to Aunt Serenity. “It’s not near as harsh as the things I’ve said this last week, but I appreciate the sentiment.”

  Aunt Serenity reached up and squeezed Treena’s arm. “You be strong.” Aunt Serenity closed her eyes then opened them and smiled at Treena. “The hurt will pass and soon you will have what you have been yearning for.”

  Treena gasped. “Really? Oh, thank you!”

  With a bounce in her step, Treena turned and scurried out the door…and I practically leaped over the counter to hurry over to Mom and Aunt Serenity’s table.

  “Did you feel something?” I asked.

  My Aunt Serenity didn’t so much have visions as she had feelings. She once described it to me as being able to touch someone and feel their true essence and emotion. Not the one they may be showing, but their deep-rooted feeling. I always thought that was why she was drawn to—and fell so hard for—Shayla’s father.

  “I felt joy and happiness and love,” Aunt Serenity said.

  “Good for her,” I murmured. “Hey, did you guys hear about Officer Hexton’s mom?”

  My mom clucked her tongue. “We did. So sad. I hope she’s able to fully recover.”

  “I’m a little surprised Grant didn’t call me this morning to tell me,” I said. Okay, it may have come out more of a whine, but I felt I was entitled.

  “Speaking of Detective Delicious,” Aunt Serenity teased, “here he comes now.”

  Chapter 4

  Sure enough, Detective Grant Wolfe strolled through the bakery door looking handsome in his blue suit and bright red and green Christmas tie.

  He was just shy of thirty, with short dark hair, hazel eyes, broad shoulders, and a handsome angular face with a permanent five o’clock shadow.

  Grant had a complicated past with Enchanted Island. While his father and grandfather had not had an active wolf gene, Grant’s wolf gene—after moving to the island—went from dormant to active. I had noticed the signs on our last case together, and I immediately put a call into Tom and Linda, his grandparents. We all had an intervention with Grant, and after much reluctance, he finally acknowledged subtle changes he’d noticed since his move to the island two months ago. Tonight was a full moon, and Tom and Linda both thought Grant might be able to shift with their guidance.

  I took a step toward Grant, stood on my tiptoes, and kissed his cheek. “How’s it going, detective?”

  He sighed. “Not well, I’m afraid.”

  “I heard about Officer Hexton’s mom,” I said. “I’m sorry about that.”

  Grant nodded. “Thanks. That definitely puts us in a bad spot right now.”

  I frowned and motioned for him to follow me back toward the counter. “Why’s that? I mean, it’s not exactly like Enchanted Island is a hotbed of criminal activity. Surely he can be gone for a few weeks without it causing too much hardship?”

  “Well, that’s the—”

  “Do you want a cinnamon roll?” I interrupted. “And a regular coffee?”

  He sighed again. “Yes, please.”

  “I got the coffee,” Tamara said.

  I snatched up the tongs and dropped the biggest cinnamon roll into a bag. “Why do I get the feeling you’re being cryptic?”

  Grant took the bag from me then glanced surreptitiously around the room. “I need to talk with your aunt.”

  Alarm bells instantly went off in my head. “Why?”

  “Official business,” he said. “We can talk after I speak with her.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t like the sound of that, Grant.”

  He reached into his back pocket, but I waved him away. “It’s on the house. At least, as long as you tell me afterward what’s going on.”

  He snorted. “Bribing a police officer is against the law. You do realize that, don’t you?”

  I grinned. “I’m willing to take my chances.” I motioned toward the table where Mom and Aunt Serenity watched our exchange with rapt attention. “Go on then. Go tell Aunt Serenity whatever it is you need to tell her.” I gasped and felt the blood drain from my face. “Grant! It’s not about Shayla, is it? She’s not hurt is she?”

  He shook his head. “No. This has nothing to do with Shayla. But I do need to talk with your aunt in an official capacity.”

  I narrowed my eyes again. “Are we going to have our first fight?”

  He grinned. “It would be far from our first fight, Serena.”

  “Our first fight since we’ve started going out then,” I corrected.

  “I’ll be right back.”

  Frowning, I watched him saunter over to where Mom and Aunt Serenity sat by the window. The two women excitedly motioned for him to sit at their table.

  “What’s all that about?” Tamara asked.

  “I don’t know,” I said honestly.

  Glad for the small reprieve from customers, I crossed my arms and watched Grant talk to Mom and Aunt Serenity. After a few minutes, his relaxed pose became more rigid. He leaned in and said something to Aunt Serenity.

  “Murdered!” She bolted up from the table, and every eye in the bakery turned to her. “Are you sure?”

  I set my coffee down on the counter and sprinted over to their table. “What’s going on?”

  Grant motioned for Aunt Serenity to sit back down. “The Enchanted Island Sheriff’s Department received a call this morning around nine-twenty regarding a possible homicide. When I arrived at the scene, it didn’t take long to ascertain that indeed the gentleman had come to a bad end.”

  “What’re you talking about?” I mused. “Or rather who are you talking about?”

  Glancing around the rapt room again, Grant sighed. “Grover Burns was found dead this morning after being bludgeoned then buried beneath a pile of coals.”

  Chapter 5

  The whole bakery exploded into chaos. Questions and exclamations were tossed around like confetti at a party. No one knew what to make of Grant’s announcement.

  “I’m going to need you to come down to the station with me, Serenity,” Grant said.

  I gasped. “You can’t possibly think Aunt Serenity had anything to do with the murder? While I was in the store yesterday, I witnessed Grover fighting with at least three different people.”

  Grant held up his hand. “I just need to take her down to the station for some questions, Serena.”

  “Fine.” Aunt Serenity stood and snatched up her purse. “But I don’t know anything.”

  “I’m coming with you two,” Mom said. “And don’t you dare shake your head at me, Grant Wolfe. That’s my sister you’re hauling away.”

  Grant sighed. “Starla, I’m not—never mind. Please feel free to come with us to the station.”

  “I will,” Mom said stiffly.

  “I’ll call you later,” Grant said to me.

  Mom waited until Aunt Serenity and Grant reached the front door then turned to me. “Call Shayla and get her here as fast as you can.”

  “On it,” I promised.

  ***

  Two hours later, I finally received a call back from Mom. She quickly filled me in on everything that had happened down at the station. Grant had asked Aunt Serenity to go over her story a number of times, each time ending with her hexing Grover.

  “Did you get hold of Shayla?” Mom asked.

  “Yes. I explained everything that had happened, and she said she’d be here tomorrow evening at the latest. She has some vacation time coming, and she’s going to put in an emergency request.”

  “Good. I’m going to take Serenity home with me so she can rest up and not be alone.”

  I caught Tamara’s
eye. “I need to run, Mom. Still got the lunch crowd in here.”

  I said goodbye and dropped the cell phone into my apron pocket then hurried back over to help prepare orders. We worked steadily for the next hour, laughing and talking with customers who were out doing last-minute shopping. By the time two o’clock came, and the bakery had pretty much emptied out, I was exhausted.

  “Tomorrow’s our last day,” Tamara said wearily. “I’m so glad we decided this year to close the bakery on Christmas Eve day.”

  “It’s too hard to run the bakery and help Mom with her party,” I said. “Besides, we don’t really get that many customers. It won’t hurt us to close shop.”

  “I agree,” Tamara said. “Plus, we could use two days off in a row.”

  “You aren’t kidding,” I said.

  The front door opened and Sheriff Hawkins and Detective Wolfe strolled through the front door.

  “This can’t be good,” I murmured.

  The two men waved to a couple sipping coffee near the window before making a beeline to the counter. Tamara, quick on her feet, already had coffee poured.

  “Here ya go.” She handed the coffee over to the men. “What else can we do for you?”

  “I need to speak to Serena,” Sheriff Hawkins said.

  I crossed my arms over my chest. “About what?”

  Sheriff Hawkins sighed. “I need your help.”

  “Nope. I’m not going to leave Tamara alone today and tomorrow. Especially with tomorrow being our last day open before Christmas.”

  Tamara snorted. “We’re only open for another forty minutes today.”

  “But we have to clean the shop, and we have three people picking up orders tonight.”

  Tamara laughed and lifted her hand. “Hello? You forget I’m a witch too? I can wave my hands and have this place cleaned up in a matter of minutes. And the people picking up orders are coming at four. I’ll be home by four-thirty today.”

  “I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t an emergency,” Sheriff said.

  It wouldn’t be the first time Sheriff Hawkins had asked for my help over the years. Since he was practically my second dad growing up when my real one passed away from a boating accident, he’d made sure I was trained in police procedures, even though I never went into the law enforcement field. Wishful thinking on his part.

  “I’ll tell you what,” Sheriff Hawkins said, “I can promise you this will be the last time I ask you personally for help.”

  The look Grant shot Hawkins told me there was something to that statement. I didn’t have time to dwell on it though because the sheriff kept on talking. “With Officer Hexton away, I’m down a helper. Please, Serena?”

  “Go!” Tamara said. “I have it handled here. If you’re still needed tomorrow, I can always call my sister to help out.”

  I narrowed my eyes at Sheriff Hawkins. “Last time? You promise?”

  Sheriff Hawkins smiled. “Last time I ask you personally. Promise.”

  Another unspoken communication passed between the two men before Sheriff Hawkins leaned over and kissed me on my cheek. “You’re the best, Serena. Always my girl. You be careful now.” He grinned. “I don’t want your momma mad at me any more than she already is.”

  Sheriff Hawkins exited the bakery, and I hurried to the back to grab my coat, scarf, and purse. I’d hitched a ride with Tamara, so there’d be no reason for me to come back to the bakery once I was finished helping Grant.

  Five minutes later, Grant and I strolled toward his police-issued Blazer.

  “If Grover was struck on the head,” I said, “and then buried under a pile of coal, do you think someone is trying to frame Aunt Serenity?”

  “I think the killer took advantage of what happened yesterday in the store, and the hex or whatever she said.”

  He unlocked my side of the car and opened the door for me. Smiling, I hopped inside. “So who are our suspects?”

  Grant shut the door, hurried around the front of the car, and jumped inside. “After talking to your aunt, I have four suspects I want to focus on—Treena Oakley, Clyde Moonstone, Maxwell Swift, and Mrs. Myra Mystic.”

  I laughed. “Mrs. Mystic? You must be kidding?”

  “Nope. I realize it’s probably not her, but I need to rule her out. Our first stop is to question the ex-fiancée. Then I want to question Clyde Moonstone.”

  “We aren’t questioning all four suspects today?” I asked.

  Grant winced. “I need to be back at my grandparents’ house by five-thirty. It’s the full moon tonight, remember? I’m going to have supper with them, and then we’ll see what happens later.”

  I slapped my hand over my face. “I’m a horrible girlfriend. How are you feeling?”

  He snorted. “Scared, amazed, excited, shocked.”

  I reached over and touched his hand. “You’ll be fine.”

  He gave me a tight smile. “Let’s go find out who killed Grover Burns.”

  Chapter 6

  Treena Oakley lived five miles outside town back in the woods on about four acres. Everything about her place screamed she was a woodland fairy. Her modest stone cottage was covered in ivy, and Glory of the Snow peeped out from her two window boxes.

  “Woodland fairy, right?” Grant asked as he shut off the engine.

  “Yes.”

  The front door opened before we even reached the walkway, and a weepy Treena motioned us inside.

  “I figured it was only a matter of time,” she said. “Please make sure you knock off the snow from your shoes. I usually don’t wear shoes inside. Let’s sit in the kitchen. It overlooks my back property. Can I interest you in hot tea?”

  We all seemed to want to ignore the fact Treena was babbling. I finished knocking the snow off my ankle-high boots and shook my head. “I just had a cup of coffee. So I’ll pass.”

  “Same with me,” Grant said.

  She motioned for us to follow her around the back of the house and into the kitchen. “I’ll have a cup if you don’t mind.”

  Grant and I sat at the table as Treena moved a kettle from the back to the front burner and ignited the gas stove. As she waited for the kettle to boil, she leaned back against the counter and stared at Grant.

  “You know why I’m here, right?” Grant asked.

  Treena nodded. “Yes.”

  “And I’ve been deputized since the department needs more help,” I added.

  “I know you help out some, Serena,” Treena said.

  “How long did you and Grover Burns date?” Grant asked.

  “Almost four years.”

  “And you recently broke up?” he asked.

  She sent me an accusing stare.

  “I didn’t say anything,” I said.

  “It’s common knowledge around town,” Grant said gently.

  She nodded and wiped her eyes. “I can’t believe he’s dead.”

  “When was the last time you saw Grover?” Grant asked.

  “He stopped by three days ago.” She sighed. “This all happened so fast.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked. “What exactly happened?”

  The whistle blew, and Treena turned off the burner and poured the water into another pot sitting on the counter. Closing the lid, she carried the pot and a cup to the table and sat down next to us.

  “A couple weeks ago out of the blue, Grover started hounding me about how he knew I was seeing someone else. I was so shocked. I didn’t know how to respond. He said he received a letter with a photograph of me with another man.” She poured the steeped tea into her cup. “I’ve never been out on a date with another man. And then last week, I received the same thing. A letter came addressed to me with a photograph of Grover and another woman.” She snorted. “I showed it to him and asked him why he thought someone was doing this to us. And instead of discussing what had happened and why, he freaked out and accused me of sending the note to myself and doctoring the photograph just to get even. I was so shocked and confused.”

  “Do you still h
ave the letter and photo?” Grant asked.

  Nodding, Treena got up from the table and rummaged through some papers on the kitchen counter. Grant took out one latex glove then handed me the other. After a few seconds, she returned and handed the paper and photograph to Grant.

  “Thank you.” Grant read the letter, looked at the photograph, then handed them both to me.

  I immediately discovered the issue. Taking off my glove, I gingerly touched a spot on both the photo and paper.

  “What do you think?” I asked Treena, handing the paper and photograph back to her.

  She looked down at the picture and sighed. “I think it’s Grover…but it’s not.”

  “Whaddya mean?” Grant asked.

  Treena shrugged. “I don’t know how to explain it.”

  “I do,” I said. “I think this is a spell of some kind. I can almost make it out with my eyes, and I definitely felt it when I touched the paper and photo.”

  Both Grant and Treena stared at me incredulously.

  “You’re serious?” Grant asked.

  I nodded. “Very much so. There’s deceit and confusion swirling in the paper and photo. It’s been spelled and doctored to look like Grover.”

  Treena started to cry. “We broke up for nothing?”

  Grant waited a few seconds for Treena to regain her composure. “So the last time you saw Grover alive was three days ago?”

  “Yes! He stopped by to collect the ring and get some of his things.”

  “You’re aware there was an—well, there were quite a few altercations at Grover’s store yesterday late afternoon?”

  Treena slid me a glance. “Yes. I heard. I had dinner delivered last night to my house, and the delivery boy told me all about Serenity putting a hex on Grover in his store.”

  “Where were you between ten o’clock last night and eight o’clock this morning?” Grant asked.

  Treena crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. “I was home. Alone! I went to bed around eleven and got up around seven. I got dressed and went to Serena’s bakery around eight or so. Then I came back home.”