| |
“Mint...chamomile...ashwagandha...” Wynona handed the individual teas to her guests. “And one lavender cookie.” She grinned when she set the plate down for Violet, who squeaked in delight. “You’re welcome,” Wynona said with a laugh.
“I didn’t know you could bake,” Prim said as she tested the temperature of her tea.
Wynona shrugged. “I’ll never be Chef Droxon, but I spent a lot of time in the kitchens growing up. Sometimes I was with Granny and sometimes I was with the cooking staff.” She smoothed her skirt and sat down. “You pick up things. Plus, I’ll probably have to do my own baking at first, until I can find another professional.”
Prim crossed one long leg over the other before reaching for a cookie from the middle plate. “Mm...not bad,” she said around her mouthful of dessert.
Wynona smiled her thanks, then passed a napkin to her friend.
Prim rolled her eyes, but accepted the suggestion with good grace. She patted her mouth. “So finish telling us the story.”
“Yes.” Roderick came into the conversation. “How exactly did you figure out that Kayne and Delila were embezzling funds?”
Her blush skittered up her neck. “I may or may not have seen it inside Delila’s desk.”
“You were looking through her desk?” Prim whispered loudly. “Nona! Did the police know?”
Wynona shook her head, her fingers resting against the warmth of her tea cup. She had retrieved one of Granny Saffron’s cups today, needing to feel close to the one family member who loved her. Wynona had gone way outside her comfort zone today. It might have been for a good cause, but that didn’t mean it hadn’t taken its toll on her. “I didn’t tell them,” she responded to Prim. “Though it took careful wording to keep from admitting it.”
Roderick chuckled as he set his cup down. “I can only imagine.” He leaned forward a little. “While I’m proud of what you managed to accomplish, I’m concerned that this is getting too dangerous for you. You’ve removed a couple of thieves, which leaves only the murderer. Such a creature wouldn’t hesitate to hurt someone as delicate as yourself, Wynona.”
Prim sighed as stared longingly at Roderick. “You say the sweetest things, Mr Caligari.”
He smirked just slightly and took another sip of tea. “It can’t be helped when I’m trying to protect such lovely ladies as you two.”
Before Prim could melt into a puddle of goo at Roderick’s feet, Wynona changed the subject. “Thank you for your concern, Roderick, but I’ll be alright.” She hoped. “Now...the question is, what to do next?” She took a sip of the slightly floral tea, closing her eyes as the flavors danced on her tongue. Granny had taught her to always take a moment to savor the flavor. She claimed the herbs always did their job better when you gave them a little recognition.
“That’s a good question,” Prim mused, breaking into Wynona’s moment. “With Delila and Kayne out of the running, who are the leftover suspects?”
Wynona slumped. “Me,” she muttered. “And Mrs. Droxon, who had an alibi with her butler, if you recall.”
Prim pressed her light pink lips together and squished them to the side. “Well, we know you didn’t do it and if Mrs. Droxon didn’t do it...then it seems like we must be missing something.”
“I agree...but what?” Wynona asked, her frustration bleeding into her tone. “Or maybe the question is who? Who have we overlooked?”
Prim shook her head. “I don’t know.”
Roderick tapped his finger on the table. “The object was to steal the binder, so perhaps we need to turn our attention to Atherton’s competitors.”
Wynona paused. “That’s actually a really good idea,” she said, slightly distracted as her mind began to churn. “But wait.” She put her palms on the table and leaned in. “That doesn’t explain why Mr. Skinflayer was killed in my shop.” She shook her head with a frown. “Actually, that doesn’t make sense at all. Why was Mr. Skinflayer here? Was he meeting someone? Who? And why my shop? Especially after almost being caught here earlier, why return to the scene of the crime?” She gave Violet another cookie. “He knew Chef Droxon wasn’t here, so what did he hope to gain? Ahh!” Wynona pressed her clenched fists to her temples. “It makes no sense! We have to be overlooking something.”
Large, cool hands landed on her shoulders and began to work the tight muscles. “Take it easy,” Roderick said in a low tone, very close to Wynona’s ear.
A shiver ran down her spine from his touch and words. She kept her eyes closed and hung her head, letting him work a little magic on her back. She could practically feel the sparks transferring from his fingers to her body.
After a minute, his massage became a little less helpful and more...carressive. “Better?” he whispered.
Wynona nodded. “Thank you,” she said in a slightly hoarse tone. Straightening, she gave him the signal that it was time for him to let go, which he took with his usual aplomb.
Roderick sat down with grace, his silver eyes still fixated on her.
“I’m sorry,” she said with a sheepish smile. “I didn’t mean to have a breakdown.”
Roderick shrugged. “I think it’s completely understandable under the circumstances.”
“Oh yes,” Prim said quickly, nodding her head too fast. “You’re supposed to open in only two days and we still haven’t found the killer! I can’t imagine how you’re feeling.” She frowned. “Not to mention, you just put two people behind bars this morning.”
Wynona wanted to groan again, but she fought the sensation. Prim meant well, but sometimes her rants weren’t helpful. Instead, Wynona nodded. “Thanks. I appreciate you two...a lot.”
Violet squeaked in outrage and ran up Wynona arm, nuzzling just under her ear.
Wynona laughed softly and gave her new friend a pat. “And you, Vi. I’m grateful for you as well.”
A regal nod followed Wynona’s recognition and Violet promptly settled into a tight ball, a nap obviously next on the agenda.
“And that’s my cue,” Prim said, bouncing to her feet.
Sometimes Wynona was jealous of her friend’s energy. It had to be a fairy thing.
“I’ll check in with you soon,” Prim said, giving her usual kiss goodbye before hurrying out the door.
Roderick watched Wynona for a moment longer before sighing. “You sure you won’t let this go?” He leaned forward, taking her hand in his. “I’m worried about you.”
Wynona let the warm feeling of his concern wash over her. “I’ll be fine,” she said. “But I need to see this through.”
Roderick nodded reluctantly. “I suppose I understand, but it doesn’t mean I won’t keep checking in.”
“I’ll look forward to it,” Wynona replied.
He stood, took her hand and gave it a squeeze before leaving.
Wynona sat, watching the room entrance as if he was going to come back and help solve all her problems. What would that be like? Her friends were wonderful, but they all had their own lives and she was mostly on her own as she worked on this case.
Flashing golden eyes of a man who had helped her more than once came to mind and Wynona had a flash of shame. She felt like some kind of floozy for the fact that she enjoyed both men’s attention. While she hadn’t done much to encourage either of them, she also hadn’t done anything to dissuade them.
Wynona shook her head. “So ridiculous,” she scolded herself, gathering all the tea cups and saucers together. “Neither of them has done anything but flirt. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying that.” She huffed. “If only I could get a little more information rather than attention. Maybe it would help me break this mystery.” What she wouldn’t give for just a small portion of Granny’s powers right about now.
Carefully, she stood and prepared to take the dishes to the kitchen when the cups began to rattle.
“What?” Wynona blinked rapidly and stepped back slightly. A tiny pressure on her neck had Wynona glancing down to see Violet standing on her hind legs, eyes focused on the table. “Are you doing this?” Wynona whispered, noting that the cups were all starting to rise into the air.
Violet blinked black eyes up at Wynona and shook her head.
“Whoa!” Wynona stepped back, her heart starting to race. The three cups stayed in the air and then began to spin. “What is this?” She searched the room, wondering if someone was playing a prank on her, but Wynona didn’t see anyone or anything.
One cup broke free from the spinning group and slowly floated her way.
Wynona leaned back, afraid someone had hexed her dishes and touching them would spread it to her. The cup, itself, waited patiently in the air, as if understanding her reticence. “Lusgu?” she called out over her shoulder, keeping her eyes on the cup. “Lusgu, are you here?”
The brownie didn’t respond to her call, but Wynona knew that didn’t mean he wasn’t around. He had magic. Could he be doing this? But why? Was it some bizarre way of trying to clean up?
The cup shook slightly, as if urging her to take it.
“Lusgu?” Wynona called out one more time. Still nothing. She glanced down at Violet. “What do you think?”
Violet chattered and waved at the cup.
“You think I should take it?”
Violet nodded quickly, clasping her paws together.
Wynona pinched her lips together. “Okay, but if I end up in the hospital, I’m blaming you.”
If a mouse could roll their eyes, Wynona was fairly certain Violet had just done so.
Taking a deep breath, Wynona reached out and gingerly grasped the cup. She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the spell to hit her, but nothing happened. Well, nothing except that the other cups lowered themselves to the table and the one Wynona was touching stopped holding itself up.
She cautiously brought the cup closer, studying it for clues as to its weird behavior. “What in the world just—” Her eyes became glued to the tea dregs and Wynona found herself transported back to Granny’s greenhouse.
Remember, Wynona...the tea always knows.
Granny would tap the end of her nose and smile.
The longer Wynona stared at the dregs, the less she became aware of her surroundings. The room disappeared and every worry that had been running through her head dissolved as if they had never existed to begin with. She felt as if she had been sucked into space and that nothing else was real.
Hidden.
The word boomed in her mind, after Wynona recognized the shape in the bottom left corner.
Dark.
Underground.
Murder.
After the last word rang through her head, Wynona stumbled backward and blinked until she came back to the present. Her chest was heaving and she struggled to catch her breath. The cup was quickly set down on the table and Wynona stepped backward several feet. “What was that?” she gasped, looking at Violet.
Violet looked unperturbed as she stared at Wynona with her nose twitching in anticipation.
The words that she had heard came back to Wynona and she sat down in the closest seat, her legs feeling weak. “Hidden. Dark...” Wynona struggled to remember the other two. “Underground, I think.” She paused before saying the last one. It wasn’t like saying a word was bad, but the feeling behind the voice when it said the last word had made Wynona feel dirty. “Murder,” she whispered. “What could it mean, Vi? Hidden and dark and underground. That makes it sound like it’s beneath the city.”
She stiffened.
No. It couldn’t be. Could it?
Her heart rate, which had been starting to slow down, sped right back up. “Vi...do you think it was talking about the paranormal underworld? Do you think the tea reading was literal?”
Wynona shook her head and rubbed her aching forehead. “What am I talking about? I can’t read tea leaves. I have no magic.”
Violet chittered viciously until Wynona held up her hand.
“Okay, I get it. Whether I have magic or not, something just happened and I was able to read those leaves.” She slumped, feeling like she had been hit by a rock troll. “Do you think it had to do with the case?”
Violet sniffed.
“And the words were literal?”
Violet sneezed.
Wynona cursed, then immediately apologized. “Sorry, Vi. I shouldn’t have said that.”
Violet nuzzled her neck.
“Thanks,” Wynona said softly. “But if the underground has something to do with these murders, I’m not sure even your kisses are going to fix it.” Wynona swallowed hard. “I’m not sure anything is going to fix it. Because this situation just went from dangerous to deadly.”