I had less than sixteen hours to solve my aunt’s case and present it to Greta.
Yeah, no pressure.
My Aunt Ruth had already been found guilty by the Gray Council. She’d been tried, convicted, and was going to see the inside of the witch prison tomorrow morning.
Yet Greta had given me a slip of paper that suggested otherwise. At least, if by a miracle I could prove her innocence. I believed there was still a chance to dismiss the charges. The question was why did Greta?
Did she hate my family so much that her desire to fail me amounted to her giving me a case that couldn’t be solved? Is that what she hoped? Was she that evil and devious? Or was there another reason?
My mind was flaring with questions as I jumped the ley line home. Right now, it didn’t matter why she’d done it. I had planned on solving it on my own anyway—with the help of my family and friends, of course.
And I was going to need all the help I could get.
“Estelle Watch and Michael Blackwood,” read Dolores, her finger on Gilbert’s red book that rested in the middle of the kitchen table. She pursed her lips. “Never heard of them. Beverly?”
Beverly cocked her head, her coffee mug wrapped in her delicate fingers. “Never heard of Estelle Watch. And I’m afraid Michael Blackwood doesn’t ring any bells either.”
“You sure?” pressed Dolores. “I thought you knew all the males here in Hollow Cove. Married or single.”
A smile curled over Beverly’s lips. “Why, yes, Dolores. Forgive me, but my memory’s not like it used to be. I’ll have a look in my book.”
“Does that include the names of those you’ve had sex with?” asked Ronin, his face transforming into a goofy grin.
Beverly flashed him a smile. “Maybe.”
“Nice.” The half-vampire moved next to Dolores and started snapping pictures with his phone as he turned the pages of Gilbert’s book. He caught me staring and said, “Leverage.”
I did not want to know.
Beverly pushed her chair back and stood. “I’ll see if Ruth recognizes those names. She might.” Beverly lost some of her smile at the mention of her sister.
“Good. That’s a good idea.” Dolores’s face went blank as she stared at Ronin flipping through the pages and snapped more pictures.
Ruth had been the first person I’d gone to see as I walked through the door at Davenport House. I’d run upstairs to tell her the news that I’d be officially working on her case—sort of—but my aunt didn’t even acknowledge my presence. She sat at the edge of her bed staring at the floor as though she didn’t see me and couldn’t hear me.
It had freaked me out. I didn’t recognize her like this. Gone was her bubbly charming personality, replaced by a morbid, lost soul. I wanted my aunt back, and the only way I was going to get that was to solve this case—my way.
From my pocket, I yanked out the folded piece of paper and flattened it on the table. “Why do you think Greta would assign me this? She knows Ruth’s already been tried by the Gray Council. I don’t get it. What am I missing here?”
Dolores moved to stand next to me, her eyes on the piece of paper. “I don’t know, Tessa. She’s angry with us. Not with you.”
“No, I’m pretty sure she hates my guts too.”
“Well, she shouldn’t. We made you a Merlin.”
“And she took it away.” Angrily, I grabbed the piece of paper, folded it again, and stuffed it back in my jeans pocket.
Dolores watched me for a few seconds without a word. “I’ll have a word with Gilbert,” she declared suddenly. She looked at me. “He’ll tell me who these people are and where to find them.”
“And if he doesn’t?” asked Beverly, as she set her coffee mug in the kitchen sink. “You know how he can be. Useless little rat. I should show him to the basement.”
The idea of Davenport House giving Gilbert a lobotomy didn’t sound so bad.
“And you know how I can be,” said the tall witch. “I’ll pluck the feathers off that owl if I have to. I don’t care. This is Ruth’s life we’re talking about. Not his overpriced bags of flour and table salt.”
“His table salt tastes like vinegar,” said Iris as she entered the kitchen with Dana tucked under her arm. “My theory is that he takes the leftovers from the restaurant across the street—Garden of Eden—repackages it and sells it.” She pulled out a chair from the kitchen table and sat, securing Dana on her lap.
I stared at Iris for a moment. “If you’re right, makes me wonder what else he reuses and repackages.”
Ronin shook his head. “If you say condoms, I’m going to hurl.”
I pursed my lips. “I didn’t say anything, you big baby,” I told him, making Iris laugh.
Dolores moved to the wooden peg rack on the wall, put on her long gray wool coat, and wrapped a scarf around her neck. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Please don’t murder anyone,” I said, letting go of the breath I was holding. “I can’t lose another aunt.”
Dolores stared at me and then made for the back door. “Can’t make any promises,” she said, as the back door thumped shut behind her.
I frowned at the door. “Damn it.”
“You think she’ll hurt him?” asked Ronin.
“I’d hurt him,” interjected Iris.
I shook my head. “I don’t know. Maybe? She’s under a lot of stress. The guy’s a little anal.”
Iris looked at me expectantly. “What do we do now?”
My eyes moved between my friends. “Well, I can’t just sit here and wait for Dolores who might or might not have any information to give. This is my case.” I stared down at Gilbert’s book. “Who besides Gilbert has a list of all the people in this town?”
“The town clerk,” said Ronin.
Hope blossomed in my chest. “Excellent. This is good. Why do you look like you just ate raw liver?”
“Because Gilbert’s the town clerk,” he answered.
My hope bubble burst and I hid my face with my hands. “Great. I’m so screwed. There has to be someone else. Someone who would keep tabs on—” My hands fell from my face. “Marcus would know,” I said. My stomach clenched at the mention of his name. I remembered him telling me how he had a list of all the visiting paranormals when Hollow Cove had hosted the Night Festival. I was certain he had a list of everyone in this town. “We could ask him.”
“No. You should ask him,” said Iris. “If you tell him why, I’m sure he’ll be willing to help.”
“I’m with Iris, Tess,” agreed Ronin as he slipped his phone in his pocket. “You need to do this.”
“I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” I told them, my stomach playing tug-of-war with my intestines at the thought of speaking to Marcus. “Not after what I did. I was a total jerk to him. I doubt he would want to speak to me. Probably will slam the door in my face. That’s what I would do if I were him.” I totally deserved that.
“You’re not him.” Iris exhaled, looking at me like I was a five-year-old kid who didn’t understand grown-up conversation. “He gave you this book. Didn’t he?” she said, gesturing at Gilbert’s red book. “He didn’t have to, but he did. And he did it because he cares. He cares about Ruth, and he cares about you. We all lose our tempers. No one’s perfect.”
“Speak for yourself,” said Ronin, hooking his thumbs at himself. “Ten out of ten right here, baby.”
Iris did have point. Marcus didn’t have to give me the book, but he did. That had to mean something.
“You’re right.” I had grown some serious lady balls over the past weeks. I had to own up to my mistakes. I had to deal with what I’d done. I had to face it. There was no going back, only jumping forward.
Part of the problem was I didn’t want to admit to myself that I’d probably ruined my chances with a wonderful man. Men that good, that honest, were practically an endangered species. And I’d screwed it up.
My love life was inconsequential at the moment. None of it would matter if I didn’t help Ruth.
And to save Ruth, I knew what I had to do. I had to ask the man I’d been horrible to for help.
It was going to be awesome.