One Poison Pie

by Lynn Cahoon

  “I really can’t see a connection between this murder and Adele’s. Maybe Dorothy was confused. She said her memories kept swirling on her.”

  Grans shook her head back and forth. “No. There’s a connection. Your guardian wouldn’t have made themselves known unless there was a problem. We just have to find it.”

  “About the guardian thing . . .” Mia was interrupted by a knock on the door. She glanced at her grandmother as she stood to let Trent and Levi in. “We’re not done talking about this.”

  “When the time’s right,” Grans agreed, postponing the discussion.

  Mia didn’t like her answer but knew it would be all she’d get until her grandmother thought she needed to know the facts. She checked the peephole, then opened the door.

  The two men hurried inside, shutting and locking the door behind them. “Doors, windows, construction entrances, all locked and sealed. No one is getting in the school tonight without you knowing.”

  She pointed to the chairs. “Well, maybe. You need to hear this.”

  For the second time she went through her visit with Dorothy and the hidden tunnel. By the time she was done, Christina had returned from the kitchen.

  Christina’s eyes widened. “You saw a real live ghost?”

  Mia’s lips curled into an involuntary smile. “Don’t you mean a real dead ghost?”

  Christina bounced in her seat. “Whatever. What did she look like? Did the room grow cold? Did she try to possess you?”

  “Calm down, girl.” Levi laughed. “You act like you’ve never seen a ghost in your life.”

  “Some of us didn’t grow up in magical families,” Christina shot back. “I’m a newcomer in the paranormal department. Besides, don’t you have a party with your fawning admirers waiting for you to go to?”

  Trent chuckled and Levi shot him a look.

  “I chose to be here.” Levi shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe I should choose differently.”

  “Maybe you should,” Christina shot back.

  Mia watched the interaction with interest. Apparently Christina and Levi knew each other before tonight. Could Levi be the guy she was dating? Mia glanced at Trent, who smiled.

  “Are we done?” Trent glanced at his brother. When Levi nodded Trent focused on Grans. “Tell us the stories you heard about the tunnel. Anything you remember?”

  Grans shook her head. “Except for where the body was found, I don’t think they ever said anything about the tunnel. Malinda, Mia’s mother, told me the other kids talked about the tunnel. The girl was meeting someone in the woods over by the entrance from the town square.”

  “Dorothy said the entrance was on the second floor. How is that even possible?” Mia frowned, thinking about the outside of the building. The rectangular shape didn’t have any signs of an outside stairwell.

  “Look, it’s almost midnight.” Trent looked around the room. “Let’s build up the fire, bring in blankets and pillows, and get some sleep. Sorry about kicking you out of your rooms, but I’d rather have us together tonight, where we can watch over the group.”

  “I’ll take first watch,” Levi offered.

  Trent shook his head. “You sleep. I’m so wired, I doubt I could relax. I’ll wake you at three. You can finish off the night.”

  Mia grabbed blankets and pillows from the rooms and the linen closet. She set her grandmother up on the couch, shushing aside her protests that Mia or Christina should take the couch.

  After everyone had a makeshift bed she followed Trent into the kitchen, where she made a fresh pot of coffee. She sat at the table.

  Trent tapped the table with his fingers. “You should get some sleep.”

  “I will.” Mia hesitated, trying to phrase the question. Finally she just blurted it out. “You think we’re in danger?”

  Trent sighed, playing with the spoon that sat next to his coffee cup. “Your grandmother thinks so. Your ghost friend thinks so. So, yeah, I think I’d be stupid not to listen.”

  “It just feels like we’re missing something. I’m pretty sure if I called Officer Baldwin and asked for police protection because the local ghost is worried about my safety, I’d be locked up in the state mental hospital.” Mia shook her head. “How do you live with this woo-woo surrounding you?”

  “Like I said before, I leave that part of the family heritage to Levi. He likes the mystery.” Trent stood and carried his cup over to the counter, where he poured fresh coffee. “I like running a grocery. Ordering supplies, paying bills, helping people. Normal stuff.”

  Mia nodded. “That’s why I love cooking. You cook, people eat, you clean up. Rinse and repeat. The only magic involved is the food.”

  “I think you’re selling yourself short.” Trent sat back and sipped his coffee.

  “What do you mean?”

  “One of the ways our magic flows through us is through what we produce. For me, it’s a cute little store that tourists want to stop and spend money at, even if they don’t need something.” He nodded at the kitchen. “For you, the magic is here, in your kitchen. And in the food you create.”

  “I like that.” Mia considered his words and grinned. “I really am the kitchen witch.”

  “Something like that.” Trent smiled. He leaned closer. “A very pretty kitchen witch.”

  Mia closed her eyes, waiting for the kiss. When it came Trent’s lips were soft, teasing, making her want more, even with a living room filled with people next door. As she responded, a sound broke them apart. She stared at Trent. “Is that—?”

  He nodded. “Someone is knocking on your apartment door.”

  CHAPTER 18

  Mia stepped over Levi’s sleeping body. His makeshift bed blocked the path to the door and, she noticed, kept him within reaching distance of Christina. No way those two weren’t seeing each other. The girls would have a little talk as soon as they weren’t snowed in with the testosterone.

  Trent pushed her behind him with one arm; then, holding a broom he’d pulled out of the kitchen closet, he slowly opened the door. Mia couldn’t see around his body or the door, but she heard the grunt when Trent shoved the broom forward. She followed him out of the door, where Isaac was sprawled on the floor with Trent sitting on top of him, pinning down his arms.

  “Isaac? What are you doing here? I thought you went back to Boise.” Mia stood over her ex-boyfriend. She felt a tad bit bad that she liked the fact that Trent had knocked him over so quickly.

  “Let me up and I’ll tell you.” Isaac grunted. “This guy’s crushing me.”

  “I don’t think you’re in a position to make any demands here.” Trent looked up at Mia. “You tell me if you want me to let him up or not. I’m in no hurry.”

  “What are you doing here?” Mia asked again. “I know you don’t have a key, and the guys made sure all the doors were locked. So either you were hiding in the school or . . .”

  “Or he knows where the tunnel is,” Trent added.

  “Maybe I should lean a little harder on him.”

  “You’re crushing me now. I can barely breath.” Isaac panted.

  “Then talk.” Mia waited. She couldn’t believe she’d once loved the weasel.

  “Christina told me where the tunnel started in the woods. I’ve been parked there since ten. She was supposed to meet me there and deliver—” Again, he paused.

  “Deliver what?” Trent glanced at Mia.

  Mia shook her head. “My cookbook. You conned Christina into helping you steal my recipes?”

  “I owed him for getting me out of Vegas.” Christina’s voice cracked as she spoke. Mia turned to see her standing in the doorway, Levi’s arm around her. “He said he wouldn’t tell Mom what happened if I came here and got your book for him.”

  “What a crappy brother you are.” Mia glared at him.

  “It was a business arrangement.” Isaac sneered. “You could have rotted in that jail for years if I hadn’t rescued you. You owed me.”

  “No, you were her brother; she should have been
able to depend on you without being in your debt. Family matters.” Levi looked like he wanted to be the one sitting on Isaac’s chest, choking the words out of him.

  “Mia, I didn’t know how to tell you. He said you’d kick me out if you knew what happened.” Christina was sobbing now, the words hard to understand. “I only stole enough for dinner for my friend and me. We hadn’t eaten in days and there was so much left over.”

  “You were arrested for stealing food?” Mia blanched. So much for the land of plenty. “What happened, Christina?”

  “I got a job dancing at this party. A bachelor party or something. Carolyn, the girl I was staying with, well, she’d lost her job on the Strip and we couldn’t pay the rent. So we were living in her car.” Christina flushed and looked at Levi, “They didn’t want just a dancer; the guy who set it up had promised more. Apparently he picked up girls off the street and, well, hired them out.”

  Isaac interrupted. “You were a prostitute. Tell them the truth.”

  Christina closed her eyes at the verbal assault. Pressing her lips together, she paused for a minute, then ignored her brother and focused her gaze on Mia. “As soon as I figured out what was really going on, I grabbed my tote, along with some roast beef, rolls, and appetizers in a plastic bag. Then I tried to leave. But the cops had been called, and all of a sudden I was in jail, charged with hooking.”

  “So when you called big brother, he made you an offer.” Mia kicked Isaac in the leg. “How could you put her in this predicament? You’re just as bad as that pimp.”

  “Ouch,” Isaac roared at her. “She owed me. We cared for the brat for an entire summer. Who paid for her food or put a roof over her head? Me!”

  “We did,” Mia corrected. “But apparently I was taking care of family, while you were just racking up favors to be called in later.”

  “Mia, I’m sorry. I’ll leave and you’ll never see me again.” Christina straightened.

  “You’re staying here. Isaac, on the other hand, can go to hell.” Mia kicked him again for good measure.

  “You could charge him for breaking and entering,” Trent offered.

  “I could. Then I’d have to see him in court.” Mia shook her head. “Isaac isn’t worth the time. If he ever contacts Christina again, I’ll make him worth my time.”

  “Witch,” Isaac muttered. “I want my recipes.”

  “Keep it up, loser, and I’ll make you my personal project, even if Mia wants to let you sink back into the cesspool you crawled out of.” Trent tightened his hold on Isaac’s arms. “Got me?”

  “Whatever. I can cook better than she can anyway. I don’t need her or her recipes. I’ve got a hot piece waiting for me at home.” Isaac stared at Trent. “You want to let me up?”

  Trent looked at Mia. “Ready for Levi and me to take out the trash?”

  “More than ready.” Mia went over and pulled Christina into her arms. “You’ve been through so much. I’m so sorry.”

  Christina started sobbing in her arms. Mia led her back into the apartment, where Grans put a coverlet over her and slipped next to her on the couch.

  “You don’t have to be so nice to me,” Christina choked out. “I was planning on giving him your recipes. The copies are in my bag.”

  Mia grabbed the floral tote bag Christina had purchased at her weekly visit to the thrift store. She pulled out the rubber-banded pages. “You mean these?”

  Christina nodded. “I found the book when you left with Trent to drive to Twin Falls and made a copy at the library.”

  “The book you copied wasn’t my recipes. I made a new cookbook with recipes out of the old Betty Crocker cookbook I found in the kitchen. Isaac would have been bringing 1960s back to the hotel.” Mia threw the paper copies into the fireplace.

  “You knew?” Christina wiped her face with a tissue Grans had offered.

  Mia pushed a lock of hair out of Christina’s face. “I suspected. And when Isaac arrived in town I knew he wasn’t here just to see if you were okay.”

  “You need to learn to trust the right people, Christina.” Grans watched the fire spark around the pages.

  “I know. I thought I could trust Isaac.” Christina squared her shoulders. “I should have talked to you when he first sent me here.”

  Mia grabbed the envelope out of her purse. “And I should have given you this a long time ago. Things just kept happening.”

  “What is this?” Christina opened the manila envelope that Mia had kept in her purse until now.

  “These are the papers from your lawyer in Vegas. All charges were dropped. I guess when you filed for your health department license, they picked up your new address.” Mia glanced at her grandmother. “When Isaac came to town I had a feeling what was in the package was important. I planned on giving them to you once I got back from Twin Falls, but with everything that’s happened, I forgot.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I shouldn’t have opened your mail.” Mia looked up when Trent and Levi returned to the apartment. Trent locked the dead bolts and his brother came over and stood near the couch.

  Christina shook her head. “I knew you suspected something. You’d look at me so sad sometimes, it almost broke my heart. Opening my mail wasn’t half as bad as what I was doing to you.”

  Mia stood to let Levi take her place. “I think I’ll start us some breakfast.” Mia smiled as she saw Levi take Christina’s hand and whisper in her ear.

  She stood in front of the sink watching the sun rise over the Magics when she sensed Trent come behind her. “Some night.”

  “Your ghost was right. We were expecting company. I just wasn’t expecting Isaac.” Trent smiled. “Can I help you with something? I’m excellent at peeling potatoes.”

  “You’re hired. My sous chef is preoccupied by your brother at the moment.” Mia pulled out some country sausage to brown and started chopping an onion.

  “Yeah, I didn’t see that one coming. I hope he doesn’t break her heart.” Trent glanced at the door to the living room. “He can be a bit flighty as far as women are concerned.”

  Grans came into the kitchen and headed to the coffee maker to brew a fresh pot. “Your brother was just sowing some wild oats. Now that he’s found the one, they’ll be fine.”

  “Grans, they’re just dating.” Mia dumped the chopped onions into a bowl and started in on a mixture of sweet peppers.

  “I know when true love hits someone. Those two have been shot with Cupid’s arrow. We’ll be having a wedding before you know it.” Grans finished with the coffee and sat at the table. “Just like I told you that Isaac wasn’t the one for you. When you first started dating you came up here for a Sunday dinner. I told you then that man was nothing but trouble.”

  “Thanks for the support.” Mia smiled at Trent. “Can I help it if my heart thought I was in love?”

  “Pshaw. You knew it wasn’t real. You were just working too hard at the catering job to let your body catch up.” Grans was studying Adele’s family tree again. “I never thought he’d be this big of a pain, though. I should have started my wish therapy on your breakup sooner.”

  “You were spelling for our demise? If I wasn’t so happy to be rid of him right now, I might be mad at you. You’ve got to stop meddling in relationships.” Mia pulled a cup out of the cupboard and filled it with the fresh brew. She set the cup in front of her grandmother. When Grans reached for it Mia pulled it out of her reach. “Especially mine. Promise me.”

  “I only do these things because I love you.” Grans reached for the cup again.

  “Promise me,” Mia urged, moving the cup farther away.

  Her grandmother shot a glance up at Trent’s back, then focused on Mia. She cocked her head, then sighed. “If that’s what you truly want, I promise.”

  “Good. Now, let’s talk about William Danforth again. Where were we when we gave up for the night?”

  Trent turned. “Hold on, let me in on the discussion. I’m done peeling. You want these diced or shredded?”


  “Diced. We’ll mix them with the sausage, onions, and peppers and do an oven bake.” She went back to the sink to finish the chopping. She sautéed the onions and peppers, then added the crumbled sausage.

  When Trent finished chopping he put the potatoes in a greased baking dish. Mia drained the oil from the meat mixture into a collector pan and layered the mixture over the potatoes. She put an aluminum foil cover over the top, slipped the dish into the oven, and wiped off the cabinets. She joined Trent and Grans at the table, where he had already poured her a cup of coffee. She sipped the dark brew and sent up a blessing for the people who surrounded her. Thank the Goddess the men had been stranded here by the storm. If Isaac had figured out her recipe swap, he would have come back. A black cloud swirled around her mental picture of her ex-boyfriend. Grans was right; she should have seen the black sooner. She’d excused it away. Never again.

  She realized she hadn’t seen Mr. Darcy since the blowup with Isaac. Had the cat snuck out again? She stood from the table. “Hey, I’ll be right back.”

  “We’ll be here,” Trent shot back.

  The man knew the punch line, Mia thought as she checked the apartment for any sign of Mr. Darcy. When she didn’t find him curled up next to Christina she knew the cat had snuck out again. She smiled, looking at the two lovers asleep on the couch. Levi had better be good to her or he’d have to answer to Mia. Christina was more than just a houseguest or a roommate, she was family.

  She unlocked the apartment door and left it open a crack. The lights had been left on downstairs, giving the staircase an eerie glow. “Stupid cat,” she muttered. Stupid cat you love, came Gloria’s response in her head. At least now Mia knew where the cat had been disappearing to. He’d found the secret passage and probably was hunting in the woods as she spent time searching the house for him. She was on a fool’s errand, but she hated to think of him locked up in a room all alone. When she reached the second story, a noise drew her toward the last classroom on the right. The rising sun lit the room with a soft glow.

  “Mr. Darcy,” she called. “Here kitty, kitty.”

  No response, no patter of little feet. Mia started to feel uncomfortable, like she was being watched. “Mr. Darcy, come here.”