Chapter Six

I didn't quite remember how I'd called for help, but there was more than a little screaming involved as I ran down the beach. Somehow, I'd found my way to the Cove, and Aimee had deciphered my hysterics enough to alert the police. Within moments, five magical policemen appeared, and I had the unfortunate task of returning to Maria's body. One of the cops cast a bright light into the sky above us, illuminating the beach in grotesque detail. I turned away, unable to stomach the sight of someone who'd been alive not an hour ago suddenly dead.

"You'll be all right," Aimee said, rubbing my shoulders in a motherly sort of way. "Poor Maria."

I nodded, grateful she was there to keep me steady. We both stared at the body, unable to speak, holding our breaths while the police did their inspections. Some part of my brain told me I should turn around and go home, but I knew the moment I did, I'd be seeing her dead eyes looking back at me.

"You're the one who found her, Jo?"

Vinnie McDaniel was another Cove kid, a bit closer to Danny's age than mine. It seemed he'd followed in his mother's footsteps and joined the Eldred's Hollow police force. For all my jokes about how they only wrote speeding tickets, they seemed to be on the ball, as they weren't fazed by the dead body like I was.

"Jo?" he prompted again. "You were the one who found her, right?"

Numbly, I nodded.

"If you're feeling up to it, I have to ask you a few questions," he said, giving me a once-over. "Why don't you start at the beginning?"

Yikes, how far back should I go? "I was…taking a walk on the beach," I said, deciding against going on the record about how I was using my grandmother's wand and cast the wrong spell. "It was dark, and I could barely see. Tripped over her. Called for help." I shuddered. "What do you think happened?"

He closed his pad, which had been magically writing everything I said. "Unclear. Kind of looks like she suffocated."

"Suffocated?" I put my hands to my throat and swallowed. "What makes you say that?"

"Well, she still had her tail, and she was found on land."

"Her…" I hadn't even noticed a tail. Too focused on the pair of dead eyes staring back at me.

"Goodness," Aimee whispered.

"It seems she was doused with mermaid-stunning potion," he said, giving Aimee a too-long stare. "But we'll have to run some tests to know for sure."

"I can't believe she's… I saw her tonight, at the Cove," I murmured, more to myself than to him. "She was…well, she was alive, then."

His pen began scratching on the pad behind him. "What else can you tell me?"

"She left with Carver Briggs," I said, my heart sinking into my stomach. Carver was a pain in the butt, a ridiculous spoiled brat, but…a murderer? Even as much as I disliked him, it was hard to reconcile that idea. "They didn't seem happy about it, either."

"Leaving together?" He looked confused. "Maria was leaving with Carver?"

"He said something about unfinished business or business or something like that," I said, scratching the bottom of my brain to remember the details. "Told the other girl to wait in the car. Then he came out onto the beach with Maria." I shook my head. "But he's not a murderer. He's an ass, but…"

He let out a loud sigh. "You'd be surprised what people are capable of. Regardless, he's already on my list."

"Really?" I frowned. "Why?"

"That's right, you haven't been here in a while," Vinnie said, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly.

"Carver and Maria were involved. Really involved," Aimee said.

There wasn't anything really dramatic about a werewolf and mermaid dating. "And?"

"Well, it was volatile. Always getting into some big argument in the middle of the Cove," Aimee continued, when Vinnie didn't say anything. "Then the next day, together like nothing was wrong. Carver thought he was the more impressive of the duo, of course. But when Maria got her big promotion, she dropped him like a bad habit. And I'm sure you can understand how Carver took that."

I doubted the man had ever experienced rejection before that. "Maturely, I'd guess."

Vinnie snorted. "We've been called out here a number of times because of their arguments. Thought it might've lessened when he got his new girlfriend a few weeks ago, but…" He looked back at Maria's body. "Perhaps not."

"He spoke to her the night of Big Jo's funeral, too," I said, my memory finally coming back to me in full force. "They seemed to be arguing then, as well. Can't tell you what about, but…"

"Probably the same thing they've been arguing about since they broke up," Aimee said.

"I wish I could remember more," I said, a little more eager to help than was necessary. The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea of Carver Briggs spending a night in jail. I doubted it would humble him any, but it would sure give me great pleasure.

"And you said you were just…taking a walk?" Vinnie asked. "In the dark?"

"That's me," I said with a laugh I hoped didn't sound nervous. "Town weirdo."

Aimee watched me carefully, as if she knew I was lying, but blessedly, didn't say anything.

Vinnie didn't look like he was buying it, either. "Well, if you think of anything else, give me a call."

He handed me a basic business card with the Eldred's Hollow Police Department logo and his contact info—most prominently, a wand call sign. I was grateful a phone number was right underneath. I didn't plan on using Big Jo's wand again any time soon.

I stuck his business card next to Danny's in my pocket. Had it really only been one day since I'd arrived? It seemed like so much longer.

"Come on," Aimee said. "Let's get you back to the Cove."

We walked the short distance back, not a word said between us. I plopped down at one of the picnic tables near the water and put my head in my hands while Aimee went to get something to steel my nerves. I wasn't eager to drink more alcohol, but perhaps I needed it. The bright light of the police's spell was close, attracting the attention of everyone at the Cove who stood around discussing the scene with beers in their hands. I was grateful none of them came over to question me, because I wasn't sure I'd be nice if they did.

Suddenly, my whole world went white. I blinked, rubbing my eyes to clear them. Then another flash blinded me.

"Jo Maelstrom, as I live and breathe!"

I recognized that voice and groaned loudly. "Lewis Springer. If you don't get that camera out of my face, I'm going to smash it."

The photographer backed away as my eyes readjusted to the darkness. He was tall and gangly, as he'd been as a teenager, but he'd grown out his hair into a large afro and was now sporting what appeared to be an attempt at facial hair. He wore a wide, eager smile and there was a pen hastily scribbling on a notepad behind him. But unlike Vinnie, there would be nothing "official" about Lewis's report.

"Just wanted to see if you'd give a quote to the Holl-Call," he said, inching closer to me. "It'll be the front page tomorrow. Second death in town in one week. Probably a record."

I'd purposefully avoided reading the local newspaper because most of the stories were egregiously made up. That, and I'd never forgiven Lewis's uncle for somehow getting photos of my parents' car crash and plastering them on the front page for a week straight.

"Here's a quote," I said, rising to leave. "Beat it."

"Back in town, eh?" He scurried around to block my path. "How long are you planning on staying? Are you going to be selling the bar? Word on the beach is—"

"Word on the beach is that if you don't get out of my way, I'm going to throw you in the sound and let the mermaids deal with you."

"Oh, is that any way to treat a fellow Cove kid?" He flashed another smile.

I glared at him as I moved to walk away. "Yes."

He blanched then scampered to stand in front of me again, the camera following behind him. "Look, just a quote. You were the one who found her, right? What did Vinnie say about it?"

"Ask Vinnie."

He was undeterred. "What were you doing out on the beach when you found her?"

"Sunbathing, obviously."

"Is there any truth to the rumor that she was arguing with Carver Briggs the night she died?"

I opened my mouth, and the brief hesitation was enough to confirm it for him.

"Yes! I knew I saw them talking." He inched closer. I hadn't even seen the weasel at the bar, but I hadn't been paying that close attention. "What did they say? Was it a passionate lover's quarrel? Did it get physical? Spare no detail—"

I sighed, looking up at the moon and gauging whether I wanted to try hexing this annoying cub reporter with Big Jo's wand. But then again, I might end up in Paris if I attempted it.

Paris did seem nicer than here, though.

"All right, all right, take it easy," he said, watching me reach for the wand. Apparently, he was the only one in town who'd forgotten that me and magic didn't mix. "Just trying to get the truth."

"So is Vinnie," I snapped. "And he won't add a bunch of speculation to his truth, either."

He brushed off my words. "There's a lot going on in town you might not know about. This isn't just any mermaid—"

"I'm aware of who she is," I drawled, closing my fingers around the wand.

"Then you'll know that you want me on your side," he said. "The mermaids are going to blame you for this."

I whirled on him, fire in my veins. "I'm sorry, what? Me? What did I have to do with anything?"

"Oh, Duke Pinfish is going to have a field day. Or…whatever mermaids have." He cackled, almost gleeful. "You know, he's never liked the Cove or the witches speeding up and down his waterway. Now his favorite clan leader shows up dead on your beach? You'll be lucky if he doesn't flood the place."

"Lewis Springer, if you don't get off Cove property in the next five seconds, I'm going to hex your face green." Aimee stood on the deck, glaring at the reporter, who wilted under her attention. She held a mug of something steaming in one hand and her wand in the other, pointed at him.

"A thousand apologies, Ms. Aimee," he said, backing up. "Just trying to do my civic duty and—"

"Five, four, three…"

He yelped, conjured his broomstick, and took to the sky before she could finish counting. It was so dark that he disappeared quickly, but I still waited a good few minutes before exhaling in relief.

"Here." Aimee handed me the mug, which, when inhaled, loosened more of the tension in my skull. "You look like you needed a pick-me-up, and you've clearly had enough beer tonight."

"Thank you," I said, taking a sip. The taste of lavender hit my tongue, and the rest of the nerves melted from my body. A calming draught. I hadn't had one since…well, since that night. But in my relaxed haze, I couldn't even dredge up the memory. With a sound that wasn't entirely human, I sank back down onto the picnic table and let the steam hit my face.

"Glad I could be of assistance," Aimee said with a chuckle.

"This is incredible," I said, more drunk than I'd been with the beer. "You're incredible. Thank you. I take back all the mean things I said."

She made a face. "What mean things?"

I honestly couldn't remember. "I'm sure I said something mean recently."

"It's been a weird week," she said, her gaze landing on the bright lights in the distance. "First Big Jo, now Maria? I can't remember the last murder we had in Eldred's Hollow. No wonder Lewis was so excited." She clicked her tongue. "He's got all the unfortunate qualities of his uncle and none of the shame."

"Thank you for dealing with him," I said. "No telling what would've happened if I'd tried hexing him." I felt her piercing gaze on me. "What?"

"You told Vinnie you were walking on the beach," she said slowly. "But I'd left you in the office five minutes before you started screaming."

The relaxation evaporated. "And?"

"And unless you managed to sneak out of the office without me seeing, which is impossible, and speed walk to the other end of the beach, which is also impossible…" She tilted her head. "What really happened?"

I cleared my throat, glad the dark night hid my burning cheeks. "Well, I might've…attempted a spell with Big Jo's wand, and it went a bit sideways."

"Attempted?" She chuckled. "What did you try?"

"I asked the wand to find Big Jo's will," I squeaked.

"You…" She seemed to suppress a laugh. "Okay. And what happened when you did that?"

"I ended up at a murder scene," I finished. "Should've known using someone else's wand was a recipe for disaster. Using my own wand usually was, too."

There was something like pity on Aimee's face. "Do you still have it?"

I nodded, reaching into the back of my pants to pull it from my waistband. I didn't remember sticking it in there in my mad dash back to the Cove, but I clearly had.

"Well, at least you didn't chuck it into the sound this time," she said softly.

I nodded, placing it on the table between us as if it were a poisonous snake. "Probably won't be using it anymore, though. I've had my fill of surprise trips lately."

She snorted as she sat beside me. "I can't believe Maria's dead. She was so young. Just a few years older than Gracie. She had a life ahead of her, too. Can't imagine who would want to hurt her."

Aimee looked shell-shocked, and I couldn't help my curiosity. "Maria thought you didn't like her that much."

"I mean, I don't like mermaids in general, but I didn't mind Maria. She, at least, had spent enough time on land to know that we all gotta coexist. The other mermaids, especially ones over in the Gulf, seem to think they own everything. They can kill, hurt, and ruin lives, and get away with it because they've got some deal with the bigwigs in New Orleans."

"What do you mean?" I asked. I had only a cursory understanding of the supernatural law enforcement system, having rarely interacted with anything beyond Eldred's Hollow.

"Duke Pinfish, the lord of the Gulf, he's on some council in New Orleans with the rest of the supernaturals. I hear they've got a couple witches, a vamp—maybe even Cal Reaves, for all I know. A werewolf, I'm sure. Maybe some more creatures I don't even know about." She paused. "And they decide what punishment gets doled out for these things. And typically, if a mermaid is involved, there is no punishment."

"You seem to have some experience in this arena," I said softly.

She nodded, her eyes growing distant. "Gracie's father was a warlock who fished in the Gulf. A mermaid decided that he'd taken one too many fish and toppled his boat. He never came home." She sighed. "We'd separated by then, but it still wasn't fair. Nobody was arrested. Nobody held accountable. Just because one day a mermaid got a funny idea."

"Surely the other members of the council have some sway," I said.

"They told me the mermaids were going to have their own justice," she said with a scowl. "But I never knew if they actually went through with their promise, or if they thought his death was justified." She sighed. "Maria wouldn't have been involved in that, and she seemed a fair leader during the few weeks she was in power. But I can't help the way I feel about the rest of them. Especially Duke Pinfish."

"You don't think he's going to cause trouble for us, do you?" I asked, thinking back to what Lewis had said. "Obviously, Maria's death wasn't our fault. It was probably Carver Briggs."

"Carver?" She snorted. "He's a pup. All bark and no bite."

"Yeah, well, he sure was barking a lot at Maria this evening," I replied.

"It's as I said, they bark all the time," Aimee said. "Look, I'm going to close up for the night. Why don't you head on back to The Shack and get some rest? Maybe tomorrow, we'll both wake up and realize this has all been a horrible dream."