Bryony gasped as she heard the news about Lizzie’s death. “That can’t be true.”
Gabriel turned to her. “What makes you say that?”
“Well, I was just, I mean, she’s so young.” Bryony didn’t know how much to reveal to Gabriel. She knew he wouldn’t like it that she was snooping into an active investigation.
“Looks like another poisoning,” said the image of Eddie. “We’re going over there now. She was found at her cottage in the Magical Forest.”
“I’m coming with you,” said Gabriel.
“No can do, boss,” said Eddie. “Jacob’s got you on bed rest.”
“I’m Jacob’s boss,” said Gabriel. “And I’m coming with you.”
“Angelica is here, and she is your boss. You might need to sneak out. She won’t like you disobeying her orders.” Eddie raised his hands before blinking out of sight.
“I didn’t know Angelica was due to visit,” said Gabriel to himself. Angelica Blaze looked after a dozen Charm Police bases across the South of the country. She was a fierce, super smart angel who was not to be messed with.
“I’d better go, it looks like you have work to do.” Bryony hurried to the door.
“I still want to talk to you,” said Gabriel. “We need to clear things up. Just in case this poison can’t be dealt with.”
“Don’t think like that,” said Bryony. “You’ll get an antidote and everything will be fine. I have to go.” She yanked open the door and almost ran out of the station, keen to get back to Ivy and let her know what she’d heard. Lizzie Green was dead! How did the poisoner get to her? She would never have touched any flowers after they’d had their conversation.
Bryony dashed through the Love Cauldron door and over to the counter, where Ivy stood, Spike at her side. A timid looking female elf stood in front of Ivy and was peering intently at two different vials.
“I’ve got some terrible news,” said Bryony to Ivy.
“Is Gabriel dead?” asked Ivy. “That wouldn’t be terrible news as far as I’m concerned.”
“Be serious,” said Bryony. “This is about what happened to someone we visited recently.” She looked over at the elf, not keen on revealing their secrets to an audience.
“Have you chosen yet?” Ivy asked the elf.
“I can’t decide between the peppermint or the eucalyptus scent,” said the elf.
“Have both of them,” said Bryony. “We have to shut the store for a few moments.” She bustled the elf to the door.
“But I’m not sure which scent I like,” said the elf.
“Try them both,” said Bryony. “A gift from me.” She opened the door and gestured for the elf to leave.
“Okay. Well, thanks.” The elf tugged on one of her pointed ears before walking away.
Bryony slammed the door shut and turned the latch. “Lizzie Green is dead.”
Ivy raised an eyebrow. “She wasn’t stupid enough to accept a bunch of flowers?”
“I don’t have any details. I was at the station when the call came in about her being dead. They said it was poison.”
“So she’s also a target,” said Ivy. “This is interesting.”
“It’s scary,” said Bryony. “When we were there, she hadn’t been poisoned. A few hours later, and she’s already dead. Whatever the poisoner is using, they’ve upped the dosage to make the poison more effective and faster acting.”
“It does sound like it,” said Ivy. “Unless Lizzie was hiding something from us, and didn’t want to reveal she’d already touched some poisoned flowers.”
“I don’t think it’s that,” said Bryony. “I believed her when she said she hadn’t received anything. And why would she hide that information from us?”
“How was she poisoned?”
“I didn’t find out. It must have been something she drank or was inserted into her blood for it to act so fast,” said Bryony.
“Stick out your tongue,” said Ivy.
“Why do you want to see my tongue?”
“Because you drank her tea and ate two of the tarts she gave us,” said Ivy. “You may have been poisoned too. I want to see if your tongue is black.”
Bryony immediately stuck her tongue out.
“Well, there’s no sign of poison,” said Ivy, after staring into her sister’s mouth for a few seconds.
“But she’s not the poisoner,” said Bryony. “And her tarts were delicious. You missed out.”
“You don’t feel ill at all?” Ivy's stomach did that annoying twisting spasm it did every time she thought Bryony was under threat.
“I feel fine,” said Bryony. “Someone must have slipped the poison to Lizzie another way.”
They both jumped at the sound of someone knocking at the store door.
“We’re closed,” shouted Ivy.
Bryony turned to the door and felt the color drain from her face. It was Chad Thunder, Gabriel’s second in command at the Charm Police. This could only mean trouble.