ARDEN TOLD KERRY that Seraphine owned some sort of costume shop along the main drag of Black Hollow. As soon as she dumped her trash in a bin at the park, she started heading back toward the bank. Arden said that Seraphine Disguise was just down from End of the Rainbow and on the other side of the street, not too far of a walk. Of course, so far, nothing seemed like too far of a walk in any direction in Black Hollow.
Kerry still wasn’t sure what she thought of everything Arden told her during their lunch. She sighed as she gripped her purse strap tighter, trying to get a grip on her frustration. Of course, her gaze kept drifting to his strong hands and powerful legs, to his lips as he spoke, and she felt guilty she had even been distracted that way while her sister was missing. Still, it wasn’t as if Kerry could control how her body reacted to a sexy man, even if that man was a leprechaun. She found that fact still hard to believe. Arden was nothing like the stories of leprechauns she heard when growing up. Most were greedy drunkards who played pranks on unsuspecting humans. Yet, Arden didn’t strike her as a drunkard or one who enjoyed playing pranks on people, suspecting or not. So, what was he? Then her mind wandered to other curious thoughts, such as whether or not Arden could have sex in his natural form and if all body parts became…well, tiny. That would be a bucket list item crossed off.
Kerry pushed her way into the shop, the cold air-conditioning blasting her in the face a sharp contrast to the warm afternoon outside. Strange music drifted from overhead speakers as Kerry weaved her way through racks of clothes and costumes looking for Seraphine, the woman who sent Brandie into the arms of a kidnapper.
The interior of Seraphine Disguise was a cluster of racks and tables of various sizes, some long and rectangular, others round, but all dripping with exotic clothes from all periods of time. There were even some cartoon costumes, space suits, and an Elvis outfit. Kerry was a little confused by the odd assortment, since according to Arden most of the residents of Black Hollow were already a walking costume. Wouldn’t paranormal creatures prefer dressing up like normal humans as the alternative to their everyday persona like humans dress up like odd characters from legends? Kerry stopped, staring straight ahead at the wall where a duck costume hung. Why was she even thinking of this type of crap?
“May I help you?” a woman’s voice drifted toward her from the left, soft, almost musical.
Kerry turned, shaking the thoughts of how odd the place was as she did. She stared at an even odder woman, who had one violet eye and one a weird shade of emerald green, with hair that bordered between dirty blond and walnut feathering her shoulders. Still, she wasn’t the oddest member of Black Hollow. Kerry took a deep breath. “I’m looking for Seraphine.” A buzzing sounded in Kerry’s ear, and she waved her hand around the side of her head to chase the fly away as she focused on the woman in front of her. “Is she here?”
“Oh, dear, I would say so,” the woman said with a soft, melodic giggle, “since I am she. How can I help you? A party coming up?” She examined Kerry, raking her with her gaze. “Maybe a Pocahontas to someone’s John Smith? I have just the outfit to keep him salivating all night long.”
“Actually, I want to know how you heard about Underwood Investigations,” Kerry said with impatience, knowing full well her tone didn’t sound pleasant or inviting. “Seems you recommended my sister’s company to Arden McCarthy, and now, my sister is missing.”
“Oh dear,” Seraphine said, her expression one of genuine shock. “I’m sorry to hear that. Does anyone have an idea of what might have happened to her? What does Arden say about it?”
Kerry crossed her arms over her chest as she diverted her gaze away from the woman. “He hasn’t said a lot to be honest, but then again, I’m not sure he knows a lot, either.” She saw Arden’s troubled face in her mind, his soft blue eyes, his full lips, his… She shook the image from her head, turning her attention back to Seraphine. “So, as I understand it, the residents of this perplexing town rarely leave its borders, so how did you know about my sister’s investigation business?”
“Do you like tea?” Seraphine asked as she turned and started walking back to the rear of the store. She glanced over at another woman in the store as she passed. “Rachel, I’s going to be having tea with Miss Underwood. Please, watch the store.”
“Yes, ma’am,” a young Rachel said, and Kerry wondered what type of creature she was with her dark hair and even darker eyes.
“I didn’t tell you my name,” Kerry said as she scurried to catch up to the older woman.
“Well, of course you did, dear,” Seraphine said as she continued walking. “You said your sister ran Underwood Investigations. Wouldn’t that make you an Underwood yourself?”
Okay, good point. “You still haven’t told me how you knew about her business.”
Seraphine led her into a back room stacked with boxes and clothes hanging from closet poles along the walls. A small table sat in the middle of the room with a teapot in the center and several teacups. Kerry arched her eyebrows. Did this woman already know I was coming to see her?
Seraphine gestured to one of the chairs as she walked around the table and slid into the one opposite. “No, I didn’t,” she said, but Kerry wasn’t sure if the woman was commenting on Kerry’s last statement or the question in her head. “I know Arden is trying to keep his little problem quiet, so I thought discussing things out in the open like that counterproductive.” She started pouring the tea, her expression still soft. Then she shrugged. “As far as how I knew about your sister’s investigative business, I happen to know quite a bit about different things. I hear quite a bit, tucking the information away for a time it may be needed.” She wrapped her hands around her teacup, lifting it up in front of her. “Now, you say your sister is missing?”
Kerry stared at the woman a moment before picking up her own teacup. She wondered what type of paranormal creature Seraphine was and if the knowing of things was part of her magic. She debated within herself whether to tell the woman what was happening or not, but then decided if Arden trusted her with the secret of his gold, then she should trust the woman as well. After taking a sip of her tea, rubbing her lips together to savor the warmth, Kerry told Seraphine everything she knew about her sister’s disappearance.
Seraphine sat there, listening intently, sipping her tea, and not interrupting. By the time Kerry finished her recounting of the facts, Seraphine’s tea was finished and Kerry’s was cold.
“So, you see, I need to find out who is after the gold myself so I can find Brandie,” Kerry said, finishing up her tale. “She came here without knowing what type of town this is. She wasn’t prepared to face magic and mystical creatures. She was out of her league.” The fly buzzed around Kerry’s head again, annoying her as she swiped it away. The frustrating part was that she couldn’t even see the damn thing.
Seraphine shook her head. “I highly doubt that. I wouldn’t recommend an outsider if I thought they weren’t up to the task. Brandie struck me as a woman who could handle anything thrown at her. I’m sure she’s fine.”
“She’s missing,” Kerry snapped. “How the hell is that fine?”
“I bet she’s closer than you think,” Seraphine said, nonplussed. “You just have to open your eyes to see her.”
What the hell does that mean? Kerry stared down at her cold tea. This was a waste of time.
Seraphine shifted in her seat. “Arden is a smart man. Stick to him, and I’m sure the two of you will figure it out. I think you’d make a great team, and Arden needs the distraction.”
“Distraction?” Kerry repeated, not believing what she heard. “My sister’s disappearance is a distraction?”
“Not at all, dear,” Seraphine said, refilling her teacup. “You are. Leprechauns have one disadvantage over other paranormal creatures. I’m sure you’ve noticed there are no females in sight. Female leprechauns rarely leave the faerie knolls, choosing a domestic existence rather than getting out into the world with a sense of purpose. It’s hard to get to know someone if they never leave their home.” She shrugged. “They’ve handled it better than their cousins, the cluricaun, who have taken the slight as an excuse to run amuck on the world, causing mayhem where they can. I suppose we all deal with our pent-up frustrations in our own way.”
“I’m here to find my sister,” Kerry said, not believing the direction this conversation turned. “Not to be someone’s distraction because they haven’t gotten laid in a while.”
Seraphine just smiled at her as she lifted her teacup to her lips. “Dear, everyone comes to Black Hollow for a reason, and most don’t realize the real reason until it hits them in the face. You are here for more than just to find your sister. Don’t close your eyes or your mind to the possibilities.”
Kerry just stared at the woman. Was everyone in Black Hollow crazy?