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“You think this was premeditated murder?” Rascal asked, dropping into the seat next to Wynona.
Wynona breathed slowly, buying time. “I’m not sure.” She shook her head. “What I don’t understand is, why? If it was premeditated, why kill her at all? He had access to her wealth and everything he wanted. Killing her actually took that away.”
“But he didn’t know that,” Daemon inserted, stepping farther into the room. “Zander was convinced he was the sole heir.”
Wynona nodded. “I know. But if he already had the money, why bother to kill her for it?”
Chief Ligurio’s long fingers tapped an erratic rhythm against his desk. “Something had to be planned, however. Otherwise he wouldn’t have the pool chemical on his shoe.”
“We need to check Ms. Roseburg’s shoes,” Wynona said. “My guess is we’re not going to find anything, but the DA will want to know for sure.”
“Agreed.” Chief Ligurio grabbed his desk phone. “Give me a moment for a search warrant. At this time of night, the judge should be home.” He grinned, his sharp canines flashing. “He won’t be happy to be bothered at home, but I’m pretty sure I can convince him this is an emergency.”
Wynona smiled and shook her head. Men and their egos.
So did Zander heal his mom?
Wynona and Rascal both looked at Violet. “That’s a good point.”
“Interpret,” Daemon said with his eyebrows raised.
“Violet asked if Daemon healed his mother,” Rascal responded.
Daemon scratched his chin. “Some of it doesn’t make sense. Why the healing if he was going to kill her? Why kill her if he already had the money?” He shook his head. “It just doesn’t make sense.” He frowned. “Is it possible that Zander stepped in the chemical when he was pulling his mom from the pool?”
“He didn’t pull her from the pool,” Rascal pointed out. “She was still in the water when emergency services got there.”
“Which also doesn’t make sense,” Wynona murmured. “Even if he was sure she was dead, any son should have pulled his parent out of the water.” She gripped her head. “I thought we finally had an answer, but it’s only bringing more questions.”
Rascal massaged her neck and Wynona relaxed into it. His warm touch was exactly what she needed, especially since she was still a little sore from her earlier fall. “The chemical only had one slip through it,” Wynona murmured, her eyes still closed in bliss. “Which means Zander was the only one who went through it.” Her eyes popped open. “Was the chemical bucket tested for magical residue or fingerprints?”
Rascal looked at Daemon, whose ears turned pink. “I don’t think so,” the black hole admitted.
The phone landed on the cradle. “Then it sounds like we have more work to do than we thought.” He stood and began to gather his papers. “The warrant will meet us at the house.”
Wynona stood and followed Rascal when he took her hand, leading her out of the room and to his truck. “I should take my scooter,” she said, even knowing his response.
“No. You should ride with me.” He opened the passenger door.
“You’re getting awfully bossy,” Wynona said, putting her hands on her hips.
Rascal’s egotistical smirk was as appealing as it was annoying when he leaned in nose to nose. “My wolf calls it protective. You can’t override his alpha-ness.”
“I don’t think that’s a word,” Wynona teased, poking him in the chest.
Rascal growled. “It is if the alpha says it is.”
Wynona held up her hands. “I bow to your logic, O Great One.” She laughed when Rascal growled in her ear again as he helped her inside.
Let’s keep him forever, Violet said, fanning her face.
Wynona’s smile was wide. “I think I can handle that,” she whispered. It felt so good to enjoy a moment with her soulmate. She always came away feeling better...lighter. And with everything going on in her life, these moments were especially precious to her.
Rascal slammed his door and the truck roared into the street. He rested his elbow against the window and propped his head on his hand as he drove. “Any thoughts you didn’t say inside?”
Wynona shook her head. “No. Chief Ligurio has actually been really open to all my suggestions.” She huffed a laugh. “I’ve actually been really surprised.”
Rascal snorted. “Me too, even though he’s the one who pulled you in.” His golden eyes flashed in the darkness. “I’m glad he’s finally seeing what I see.”
Wynona’s cheeks grew hot and that dang smile refused to budge. “I’m just as confused as everyone else,” she insisted. “I don’t know why you think I’m so good at this.”
“Almost every lead we’ve followed has been yours,” Rascal pointed out. He tapped his nose. “You have a knack for seeing things.”
Wynona shrugged. “Either that or I’m just too detail oriented for my own good. Some might call that obsessive compulsive.”
“Maybe we should hire detectives like that more often,” Rascal responded.
Wynona shook her head with a soft laugh. The few minutes to the mansion were quiet but comfortable. She never tired of Rascal’s company and things were rarely awkward between them, especially not now that she understood the connection they had.
When they arrived at the mansion, Chief Ligurio was walking down the driveway toward a limousine. He leaned into the window, stayed a moment, then straightened just as the vehicle left.
Wynona whistled under her breath. “The judge travels in style. Though I’m surprised he came out personally to deliver the warrant.”
Rascal smirked. “He didn’t. That was the assistant.”
Wynona’s head whipped around, watching the taillights. “How do you know?”
Rascal tapped the side of his nose. “She’s a druid. The smell of wet forest never really leaves.”
“Huh.” They headed up to the house. “I bought my house from a druid.”
“I know,” Rascal said casually. “Your house reeked of it for weeks.”
“It did not!” Wynona protested.
“Just be grateful you have a human nose,” he said, tapping the end of hers.
Wynona glared, then headed inside just behind the chief. She tried to let go of what Rascal said, but the conversation irked her. She had cleaned that house thoroughly when she’d bought it and there was no way it had smelled of wet forest.
Maybe he was actually smelling the Grove of Secrets, Violet offered. It’s not far out in the backyard.
Wynona nodded. That could have been it. Druids got their magic from the earth and the one who had owned Wynona’s house liked privacy. The Grove of Secrets was the type of place that held untameable magic. Creatures went in, but no one ever came back out.
Normally, it provided just enough protection that people left Wynona alone, though they’d gotten braver lately with her name being involved in several murder cases. Still...most of the time it was a sanctuary she was grateful for.
“Where to first?” Chief Ligurio asked.
“Let’s check Ms. Roseburg’s shoes,” Wynona said. “I think that’ll be the easiest one to knock off the list.”
Chief Ligurio nodded and they had the butler lead them to Ms. Roseburg’s old room. As they were walking down the hall, they heard a screech of outrage.
“What are you doing here?”
Wynona spun, along with the officers, to see Silvaria standing with her hands on her hips. She was in silky pajamas, an eye mask propped just above her forehead and some kind of green concoction coating her cheeks.
Chief Ligurio held up the document in his hand. “We have a search warrant for the entire premises. We’ll be starting with your mother’s room.”
“Isn’t it enough that Zander’s dead?” Silvaria asked through clenched teeth. “Mother, I don’t care about, but now Zander? Why aren’t you out there finding his killer instead of digging through family heirlooms?” She jammed her manicured finger toward the door.
Wynona stepped back, letting Rascal crowd her a bit. She wasn’t about to get involved in this confrontation. Let the law handle it.
“We’re working on that,” Chief Ligurio said calmly. “And the leads have led us back here.” He turned and Silvaria screamed for the butler, but the man ignored her, leading the group farther into the house.
“President Le Doux will hear about this!” Silvaria bellowed.
Chief Ligurio’s red eyes darted to Wynona. “The law is on our side,” he whispered.
Wynona nodded, though the words unsettled her. Her father didn’t always play by the rules and if he decided to stick his nose into this case, she was a little afraid of what would happen. As they walked, that same feeling she’d had before crept up her spine. They were being watched.
“Cats,” Rascal hissed.
Filthy beasts, Violet agreed. They’re everywhere.
“How many did she have again?” Wynona asked, craning her neck to spy the pets.
“Twenty-three,” Daemon said dryly. “Enough to give anyone the heebie jeebies.”
Wynona’s conversation with her grandmother came back to her. Ms. Roseburg’s magic wasn’t nearly as strong as her family’s had been. Was that why she kept so many cats around? Did she utilize them to help her keep the pretense of power?
“It’s a thought,” Rascal agreed.
Wynona whacked his arm. “Would you stop reading my thoughts?”
“Would you stop broadcasting them like prime time television?” he teased back.
“Whatever.” Wynona put her focus back on the case. She refused to admit again that Rascal was right. Her block hadn’t been up at all.
He put his hand on her lower back. “You’ll get the hang of it,” he whispered, nuzzling her ear. “Time and patience, love. Time and patience.”
“Any more time and my family will realize just how weak I am.”
His hand flexed. “Not happening.”
“If you two would stop whispering sweet nothings, we can get to work,” Chief Ligurio drawled.
Wynona cleared her throat and stepped away from Rascal’s touch. “I need Ms. Roseburg’s closet.” She began opening doors until one of them finally led to a closet the size of Wynona’s bedroom. Her eyes were wide as she took in the beautiful gowns and clothes and shoes.
“You look starstruck,” Rascal commented. “Your family must have rooms like this.”
“My family did, sure,” Wynona murmured, her eyes still roaming. “But there was no reason to give me a wardrobe to impress. I wasn’t allowed out in public.”
“And yet now they’re clamoring for your attention,” Chief Ligurio said curtly. He gave her a meaningful look. “All that shimmers isn’t gold.”
Wynona nodded, grateful for his support. “Okay. Shoes.” She looked at the rows upon rows of footwear. “Do we know which ones she was wearing the night of her death?”
Rascal held up a finger. “Just a sec.” He scrolled through his phone until he had a picture. “Most everything was waterlogged, of course, but it was given back to the family.”
Wynona studied the picture, then scanned the wall. “They’re not here.”
“Got it.” Daemon picked up a box. “This is from the station.” He opened it and began pulling out Ms. Roseburg’s personal effects. Apparently, no one had been in a hurry to put them back.
Wynona and Rascal walked over and Rascal took the shoes, smelling the souls. He shook his head. “There’s nothing but the smell of pool water.”
“Could that have hidden the chemical?” Chief Ligurio asked. He walked over with his hand out, sniffing the shoes as well. He made a face. “Wrong chemical.”
“Yeah, but it’s not as strong as the one that was spilled,” Rascal pointed out.
Chief Ligurio nodded. “Agreed.” He held the soles up to the light. “And no sign of her stepping in anything. I’m sure the DA will want a forensics report though.” He bagged the shoes and set them aside. They were now evidence again, rather than simply personal effects.
“Daemon, can we check on the bucket?” Wynona asked. “I’d like you to look for residue.”
He nodded and they all walked through the mansion until they reached the pool room, the invisible eyes following them the whole way. Wynona gave a delicate shudder as they entered the door. The cats apparently didn't like water because the eyes seemed to go away once the door closed.
However, another feeling overtook the sensation of being watched. “Someone’s here,” she whispered.
All three officers stopped. Rascal and Chief Ligurio both sniffed, then looked at each other.
“I only smell cat and pool,” Rascal said.
“Agreed,” Chief Ligurio responded. He narrowed his eyes at Wynona. “What do you see?”
Reaching up to touch Violet, Wynona blinked until her vision went purple. She scanned the room but she didn’t see any specters. “I...” She snapped her mouth shut. “It’s the oddest thing.” The hairs on the back of her neck continued to stand up. “It’s the exact same feeling I get when the ghost reporters go invisible,” Wynona said. “But now I can’t see them.” She turned another full circle. “What’s going on?”
Rascal rubbed her back. “It’s okay. Your powers are still new. Maybe you just don’t understand this one yet.”
“But it worked with Mr. Hesa,” Wynona pointed out. “I can see him every time. And Granny!”
Daemon made a face. “I don’t sense any magic except what’s coming from you.”
“And you don’t smell anything unusual at all?” She first looked at Rascal, then Chief Ligurio. Both men slowly shook their heads. Her chin fell to her chest and Wynona blinked away her ghost vision. “How could I have been so wrong?” She rubbed her suddenly aching forehead.
“Hey, now,” Rascal cooed. “You’re doing great. Just because one power went wonky doesn’t mean we can’t figure it out.” He gave her a cheeky smile. “Now might not be the right time though. We have a killer to catch.”
Wynona nodded. “Right. Let’s find that chemical bucket.”
Daemon opened the side closet and rooted around until he found what they were looking for. He pulled it out carefully, not adding any more fingerprints to it than were already there.
“Do you see any magic?” Wynona pressed, doing her best to forget her flub with the ghosts.
Daemon’s eyes went pitch black and he leaned in and around. “It’s...huh...”
“Skymaw,” Chief Ligurio barked.
Daemon’s eyes went back to normal as he looked up at them. “There’s the slightest hint of blue,” he explained. “But it almost looks like the residue of a residue.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Chief Ligurio growled.
Daemon shrugged. “What’s there is too thin to have been a real spell. Almost like the spell had been on something else and then that touched the bucket.” He scrunched his nose. “This is a new one for me,” he admitted. His eyes went to Wynona. “You have an idea, don’t you?”
She nodded, biting her lip.
“Out with it, Ms. Le Doux.” The chief was obviously losing his patience.
“I think Zander healed his mother, touching the wound on the back of her head,” Wynona explained.
“And then brought the bucket out to cover up her death,” Rascal finished, his eyes turning a bright gold.
“But why heal her?” Chief Ligurio folded his arms over his chest. “Why bother?”
“I can answer that question,” a deep voice said from the doorway.
Wynona’s breath froze in her lungs. She knew that tone all too well and she wanted nothing to do with it. When Rascal closed ranks, hiding her from sight, she closed her eyes, knowing it wouldn’t be enough.
“Oh, come now, daughter.” President Le Doux sneered, Silvaria holding the same expression directly behind him. “Too afraid to face your old man?”
Wynona’s entire body was tight with tension, but she forced her fingers to unlock and pulled any and all emotion from her face. Ignoring Rascal’s warning growl, she stepped around. “I didn’t realize I had been granted the privilege of being called your daughter again,” she said stoically.
Niiice, Violet said with a laugh.
Guilt trickled down her spine. This wasn’t who Wynona wanted to be, but a strong defense had been her first reaction. But I’m better than that.
No question. Rascal took her hand, a move that didn’t go unnoticed by the president, if his scowl was anything to go by.
“Come, Wynona. Enough games. Come back to the house and I’ll share with you what I know.”
“If you have information, you’re required by law to share it with the police,” Wynona said tightly.
Chief Ligurio’s chest rose ever so slightly. “No one is above the law, President Le Doux.” His red eyes narrowed. “Especially not you.”
President Le Doux rolled his eyes. “No need for theatrics, Deverell. We’ve been through this circus before.” One side of his mouth curled. “And you lost.”
Wynona snagged Chief Ligurio’s arm before he could move forward, but she knew full well the only reason he was in the same spot was because he chose to be. She couldn’t have stopped him by herself.
“You seem to be losing your touch, President.” Chief Ligurio let a slow, predatory grin cross his face. “One daughter works for me and another doesn’t seem to be happy under your rule.” The chief tsked his tongue. “What will it be like when all that power just...slips...through your fingers?”
President Le Doux growled every bit as impressively as Rascal or the chief and brought his hand up, but there was nothing there. His glare jerked to Daemon, standing quietly with pitch black eyes. Realizing there was nothing he could do, the president straightened his suit coat, tugging on the sleeve cuffs. “If you would like to talk to me, I’m afraid you’ll have to get a hold of me the same way as everyone else.” He stepped aside, showing the man he was hiding.
Mr. Melion gave Wynona a sympathetic glance.
“Through my lawyer.” Without another word, President Le Doux made a dramatic exit that would have been at home on any stage in the world.
“Melion,” Chief Ligurio ground out. “We’ll meet you back at the station.”
Mr. Melion sighed, weariness written all over his features, and nodded. “I thought as much.” He turned to leave and soon the group stood alone.
“Bring the bucket,” Chief Ligurio snapped. “And anything else you think might be useful.” He stalked toward the door. “We’re not leaving here until every bit of evidence has been accounted for. Zander might have killed his mother, but someone else killed Zander.” Chief Ligurio stopped at the door, his hand on the knob. “And even if it’s the president himself, I want them caught.”