Chapter Twelve

“I have to find the new Mountie,” Shirley said, trying to pull away from me.

I let her go and slumped back against the rough brick side of the building, barely feeling it digging into my back. This couldn’t be happening. Not again. This would ruin us. Ruin me. But it made no sense. I’d used proper methods and perfect ingredients that I trusted. Placed the Kismet Spell. Where could I have gone wrong?

Shirley came out with Ace in tow not thirty seconds later, a small crowd streaming behind them. He nodded at me and moved closer as he caught my expression. “You okay, Charm? You look pale.”

I waved my arms about. “Go. See to Boyd.”

He called someone over. “Ivana will take you home.”

“Okay, whatever.”

Ivana took my arm, for once not accusing me of anything. “I get you to home.”

I didn’t struggle but let her lead me back to the Tea & Tarot, the moon taunting me all the way.

“What happened—not good, my friend. I make some coffee. We talk,” she said, opening the back door of the café and turning on the kitchen lights. She bustled about getting the coffee on as I slumped down on a chair. The aroma of the fragrant brew coming out of the instant Bunn machine triggered something primal. The strong smell of almond roast in Boyd’s office earlier. Is it possible?

I stood up, electrified by the idea.

“I have to go.”

Ivana looked at me, alarmed. “Charm, that no good for—”

I raced out of the back door, cutting her off mid-sentence. I ran all the way to Boyd’s Wheels, my lungs burning by time I made the car lot. A small crowd had beaten me to the punch, standing around the doorway. I pushed past them and reached the showroom without anyone stopping me.

Ace looked up as I entered Boyd’s office, his expression changing when he caught sight of me standing there, wheezing and out of breath.

“Charm, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

“Check the coffee pods. I noticed a strong odor of bitter almond earlier when I dropped off his favorite brownies.” I studiously avoided looking at Boyd.

Ace frowned, his voice stern enough to freeze water into perfect ice cubes. “I will. Now you have to leave, or I will arrest you, Miss McCall. You’re interfering with a crime scene.”

At the mention of the word ‘crime’, my eyeballs seemed to take on a life of their own, pulling me towards the body of Boyd slumped in his office chair. Ace stepped in front of him, obscuring the body from view. But I had caught sight of him for a split second, and the blue tinge to Boyd’s face gave the game away. Cyanide symptom. Chocolate frosting was smeared down his shirt front, leaving no doubt that he’d eaten some. Oh boy. Two murders in two days. What was Snowy Lake coming to? My nerves twitched, reminding me I would once more be a suspect. And this time, I’d bet my hiney I’d be called in for questioning.

I stumbled out of the room, not certain where I was headed. Just anywhere away from having death shoved in my face seemed a good idea.

“Charm. Are you okay?” Sean Blackmore put his arm around my shoulders, leading me away. “Let’s get you home.”

I didn’t object to the help. Home. Yes. It was a good thing Sean was holding me up, my legs were as malleable as dough, ready to fold to the floor at a moment’s notice.

“Thanks,” I mumbled. The full moon was still visible in the Northern sky when we made our way outside, but right then, it looked different to me, as if it was saying, ‘I told you so’. It was strange, thinking the moon could talk. Maybe I’m in shock?

Sean led me to his vehicle, oozing platitudes. “You poor thing. What you need is a drink. I’ll stop by the vendor and pick us up a six pack.”

“I don’t drink.”

“Tonight, you do. Do you good.”

He tucked me into the passenger side seat then hurried around to the driver’s door.

Get out! A voice shouted in my ear.

A shiver of dread shot through me. No. Going anywhere with Sean Blackmore was a bad idea. I went to open the passenger-side door, but it was locked.

Sean slipped into the driver’s seat and buckled the seatbelt. The smell of peppermint wafted in the air.

“No, I’ve changed my mind. I’ll walk home. I need the fresh air to clear my head.” I jerked at the locked door again, nearly yanking the handle off in my frustration. “Unlock the door, Sean, or I’m warning you, I’ll scream.”

“Relax, Charm. You’re exhausted, overly emotional. Sit back and I’ll drive you home. I’m just trying to be a friend here.”

“I don’t need any more friends. Listen, Sean, I’m not kidding around, unlock the door!”

“For crying out loud,” he half-shouted, giving me a look of barely controlled rage. “I was just trying to help you. I wasn’t good enough in high school to date you, and apparently, I’m not good enough now to help see you home safely. And half the town is now watching us have an argument.” He slanted his head at the interested crowd observing us from not fifty feet away, still clustered around Boyd’s Wheels showroom.

He was right. I’d never given him the time of day. And with so many residents of the town knowing my whereabouts, I couldn’t be safer. Right?

“Sorry. I guess I overreacted. Such a shock seeing Boyd dead and all.”

“Apology accepted.” His mercurial mood change was discombobulating.

“But take me straight home. I don’t drink and I don’t intend to start. Deal?”

“Sure. Whatever you say, Charm.”

Still leery, and ready to drop-kick Sean with one of my defensive moves at a moment’s notice, I waited for him to pull into the alley behind the Tea & Tarot.

Unbuckling, I turned to offer my thanks, but he was suddenly right in my personal space.

He reached out and ran a finger down my cheek, making me cringe. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve wanted to get you alone, Miss McCall? For years and years. The only woman I’ve never been able to charm.” He chuckled at his non-joke.

“Was Mrs. Hurst blackmailing anyone else in town, do you know?” I threw out a line complete with accompanying fishhook.

His hand dropped away, his expression tightening, the street lamp near our business turning his skin an ominous gray.

“What do you know about that? Did she have something on you too?”

Bingo. “How many people do you suppose she was blackmailing?”

“I have no idea. Not me, that’s for sure.” He turned his head away.

“Then who?”

“You should stay out of things that don’t concern you. But I do know that Boyd hated her guts. Always going on about how she was sucking him dry. Getting a new vehicle each year for next to nothing.”

“What did Mrs. Hurst have on Boyd?”

“No idea—he wouldn’t say. How about that drink? We can talk more, get to know each other better.” He’d regained some of his color along with the bluster.

“I’ll take a rain check. I’m bushed. Thanks for the ride.” I went to open the door of his Lexus and found it still locked.

“The door.” I added steel to my tone.

“Ah, sure.” He pressed the unlocking mechanism, and I scrambled out.

“You’ve been a big help, Sean. Oh, have you shared any of this with our new Mountie?”

“The stuff about Boyd? No. Why? I only told you because we’re friends.”

And because I wormed it out of you.

“Well, he’ll be asking. It does fall under a lawman’s purview.”

“None of any outsider’s business.” The chill in his voice hinted at more animosity than the situation called for. Or maybe it was just a guy thing. Hot Mountie moving in on his supposed territory. Eww.

“Thanks again.” I shut the passenger door and waited for him to drive away.

Exhaustion overrode any other concerns, forcing my weary feet to walk the short distance into the café then up the back stairs to my suite. It had been the longest day of my life. Ever. I face-planted on the bed fully dressed, intending to rest for a few minutes to gather myself. I woke instead to bright sunlight streaming through my bedroom windows, Ling Ling curled up at my feet, a white puffball. My awesome guard cat.

“Hey, baby Ling Ling, you finally showed up. Don’t worry. I won’t mention anything about you know who. Deal?”

She got up and stretched, moving up the bed to butt her head under my hand, insisting on her morning rubdown. I worked her head absently, scratching behind her ears, her favorite spot, letting my mind drift. The likely motive for the first crime. Blackmail. But why Boyd? His death made no sense—he was one of the people being blackmailed. Unless he knew something about the crime, was in on it in some way and was considered the weakest link? Threatened to tell someone. Sean knew more than he was saying. Though I found him creepy, it wasn’t grounds for accusing him of murder. And he and Boyd were friends. Hard to believe he’d murder a friend. Now, Mrs. Hurst. Maybe. The thought that there might have been two murders chilled me to the bone.

Or maybe Boyd had committed suicide the same way he’d might have poisoned Mrs. Hurst—some kind of bizarre twist of punishment and guilt? Nah, that didn’t set right at all. Well, then, that only left Sean as the suspect. The realization made my head reel. Had I been in a vehicle with a murderer last night? But there’s no way he killed his best friend, right? I just couldn’t quite put all the pieces together.

I checked the bedside clock. I’d better hurry into the shower and prepare for the day. And hopefully this one would prove less exciting. Please, please. My heart rate sped up alarmingly, another thought firing in my brain. Granny would be home today and learn what was going on, and the crime, instead of being solved, had been compounded.

I jumped up, annoying Ling Ling with the abrupt departure from her rightful massage, a stark series of meowing complaints for my efforts following me all the way to the bathroom.

“Sorry, baby, got to get going, or that lawman might catch me unprepared.” I showered in record time, not bothering to do more than apply a swipe of lip gloss and pull my hair into a neat ponytail.

“Okay. Will I do?” I asked Ling Ling, bending down and adding a few extra love pats.

She meowed in the affirmative, leading the royal way into my apartment’s small kitchen nook, tail held like the standard bearer of our ancient clan. I needed to make time today to give her a serious combing—bits of white fluff danced through the air at each planted paw on the linoleum.

I reached into the cupboard for a tin of Fancy Feast, agreeing with our furry companion that chicken and gravy was the breakfast of champions. While Ling Ling got down to the serious business of picky eating, I put on a pot of coffee and made myself a quick bowl of oats.

After adding a sprinkling of brown sugar and cream, I consumed my breakfast, eating quickly over the sink in case of an interruption. And there was always an interruption because someone needed something. Not that I truly minded. Family was family, the most important thing in the world.

I scrubbed my bowl in the sink, dried it then tucked it back into the cupboard. There was no money for a dishwasher but that was no problem—elbow grease was free. I picked up my cup of coffee, surprised I’d had so much time alone, and made my way downstairs. The back of the café was empty as well, not a soul in sight. Hmm. Odd.

The front of the café was still deserted too, the lights off. I switched them on and went to the front window that looked out on the street, pulling up the horizontal venetian blinds by the knotted cord. It was quiet on Main Street, just a few stragglers making their way to their businesses. Of course, it was early. I took a sip of my coffee, contemplating the day while watching the activity. It boded well, I congratulated myself, that no one was running around yelling the sky was falling. Even though a part of me wondered if it had already happened while I wasn’t looking. Most likely scenario.

Deciding it was too soon to open the café unless someone was banging on the door, I hurried back to the kitchen, Ling Ling at my heels. With Granny due home today, I’d better use wisely what could be my last few hours of freedom. Duck and dive the Mountie while trying to get at the truth. Something told me he’d not be all that unhappy to throw my behind in jail if the opportunity presented itself.

A candid talk with Emma was the first thing on my new agenda. I opened the back door and ran smack right into a wall. Again.

“We have to quit meeting like this,” he quipped, his tone all jovial and nicey-nicey.

I mumbled something, a rise of anger and dread making my throat tighten. The last person I’d wanted to run into right then was Constable Ace Collins.

What had that been? A half-hour of uninterrupted bliss before the circus began? Hardly fair.

“Glad I ran into you, darlin’. We need to talk.”

That made one of us.

“Care to go back inside?” he asked. Dressed in his Mountie uniform, fresh from the shower, he presented a formidable, all-too-nice-smelling package.

“Whatever.”

“Do I detect a hint of reluctance on your part?”

“Not at all, Officer. I’d love to be questioned about something I had nothing to do with. Just makes my day.” Why am I being like this?

He rubbed the nape of his neck, following me back into the café. He set his Stetson carefully on a chair, then ran his hand over his hair to smooth it. It looked unnecessary. In fact, everything about the lawman seemed a bit too posh. Why had I ever thought he was the right man for Star?

“Would you like coffee?” Etiquette runs deep in our family, even when we’d like to push people into an alley and pull up the drawbridge.

“No, I’m fine, thanks.”

“Then have a seat. You’re making me all antsy.” Not to mention I had to crank my head to look up at him. I rubbed the back of my neck to ease the tension, his focus unnerving.

He sat down across from me, the expression in his eyes unreadable. I folded my hands on the table top and waited. He cleared his throat but didn’t say anything. What, no witty banter this morning? This is serious.

“Are you here in an official capacity, Constable Collins?”

“I’m just trying to get to the facts of the case. Find out why the murder rate in this town, that has been nil for more than a decade, now resides at two in two days. I would think that would be of interest to you as well, Miss McCall, being a town supporter and all.”

“Yes, of course. I will help in any way I can.” Properly chastised, I pressed my lips together.

He nodded his approval. “Why did you take brownies to Boyd Thompson last evening?”

“I wanted to get on his good side, pick his brain. He has a fondness for my triple chocolate variety with buttercream frosting.”

“Had,” he corrected me.

I winced. “Yeah. Are you sending them in for testing? Along with the coffee pods?”

“Seems like the thing to do, yes. We’ll know by later today. I put a rush on it. Sooner you’re cleared, the better, unless your brownies prove it overwise. Anyone else have an opportunity to mess with them?”

My heart slammed. “No. I baked them fresh. Even ate some of the batter raw. And I’m fine.”

“I can see that.” He rubbed the back of his head, wincing.

“Something wrong?”

“No. It’s nothing. Someone sucker-punched me with something last night, maybe a baseball bat or tire iron, when I was leaving Boyd’s Wheels with the evidence I’d collected. I was going out of the back with the lights off. They tried to grab the bag, but I managed to hold on to it and drive them off. Kind of touch and go, but the strong arm of the law prevailed.” He gave a lop-sided grin.

I sat up straighter. “You okay?”

“Yeah, I’ve had worse headaches.”

“So, someone’s worried that what you find will incriminate them. Now we’re talking. Any surveillance at the back of Boyd’s?”

“No.” He shook his head. “Already checked. The perp was wearing a ski mask, if that helps.”

“Lots of those in this town. You’ll be buying one yourself come winter.”

A soft knock on the back door drew my attention. “Excuse me.”

I opened the door to find Helen Davis with a friend in tow—Elsie Arnold, her next-door neighbor.

“I hope we’re not bothering you, dear. But we have a matter we’d like to discuss with you,” Helen said, her expression serious. Elsie added an enthusiastic nod.

“Okay. Come on in. Would you like some coffee?”

Ace got to his feet, his chair scraping on the floor. “Ladies.” He gave a charming smile that made both women light up like it was Christmas and Easter and Valentine’s all rolled into one. He picked up his hat, addressing me. “I’ll be going now. We can continue this later.”

“Sure, anytime.”

His eyes warmed at my words and he gave me a courteous salute with his Stetson. There’s something about a lawman in a hat…

“My, what a gentleman,” Elsie twittered.

“He does seem to have taken a liking to you, Charm,” Helen added, a twinkle in her eyes.

“Ah, did anyone say yes to coffee?”

“No, we’re fine, dear. But we’d like to sit and have a chat with you.”

I gestured at the chairs around the kitchen table. “Will this do?”

“Fine.” The two women sat, hanging their purses out of the way on the backs of their chairs. Both leaned forward, drawing me in.

“What can I do for you?”

“Seems that your visit of the other day had some rather good side effects on my health.”

“I’m glad you’re feeling better.” I smiled warmly at Helen, noting her high color and the healthy sheen to her skin. Did she have fewer wrinkles, as though she’d gone in for a facial lift or something? It wouldn’t be polite to ask, though, so I kept quiet, waiting.

“Now, I don’t need a doctor to tell me I’m a hundred percent better.” Helen sounded stronger as well, her tone suggesting she’d not be suffering fools gladly.

I nodded. Where was this headed? I glanced at Elsie. She was favoring her right shoulder, wincing when she rubbed it.

I glanced back at Helen, who gave a nod at her friend. “Elsie’s hurt her shoulder in a fall and I think you can help her. Will you do for her what you did for me, Charm?”

“Ah, I don’t know if I can. I’m really not sure what I did. Maybe it was all coincidence.” I shrugged, though a part of me was ecstatic to have it confirmed that I had not harmed the woman with my intentions. I crossed my fingers. Please let it hold, goddess.

“No. It was far more than that. I felt the healing. And now I’m right as rain. It won’t hurt to try, dear.”

“And I do want to get away from using medical cannabis if I can,” Elsie said, startling me and making the recent conversation with Tulip about making edibles to bring in more money come to mind. “For my glaucoma. It helps ease eye pressure,” she confirmed. I tucked the information away for now.

“I didn’t know you had eye problems and taken a fall. I’m sorry to hear that. Okay, I can try.”

“Thank you, dear.”

“What do I do?” Elsie asked. She was a tiny little woman, bird-like with pretty eyes. Her curly gray hair was styled rather clumsily, a product most likely of her bad shoulder.

“I just need to hold your hands while you think about what’s troubling you.” I reached to take her frail-looking hands, careful not to grasp them too tight. Her fingers were swollen and bent from arthritis and could be painful.

Helen smiled at her friend, giving her a nod of encouragement. “Do as she asks, Elsie, it can’t hurt.”

“Now, close your eyes,” I said.

Elsie’s cool, thin fingers trembled in mine. I closed my own eyes, letting my mind roam free.

An image appeared. Again, I followed a strange path through her inner body, zooming down nerves that branched and curved as if I was gliding on a bobsled down a given track, leading me onward. But instead of finding an invader, I found some purple-red bruising in a muscle that looked attached to her shoulder. I sent thoughts of it being healed and of the area losing its inflammation, feeling rays of power pulse into it at my direction. Make it work perfectly, I prayed to the goddess.

But it didn’t end there. The journey continued, with a sensation of rising higher, to the beautiful sight that was her brain. Ah, nirvana. An electronic marvel that made me give a gasp I managed to stifle completely, not wanting to interrupt the beauty of discovery. And then I was on a long curving section that opened in the distance to an egg-like shape. An eyeball. The nerve appeared squeezed in one spot like a bent tube, and I tried freeing it, giving it back its rightful rounded shape. When it finally filled out, I felt such incredible joy that I was nearly overcome, tears running down my face unheeded.

And then with a rush I was back at the beginning, holding her twisted hands. Could they be helped as well? I gave them what little energy I had left, envisioning them straight and true. I gasped, suddenly wrenched free of her. I took a deep breath and opened my eyes, falling back against my chair.

The two women were staring at me, mesmerized, unblinking.

“Are you okay, dear?” Helen asked, her eyes dark with worry. “You’re crying.”

I swiped at my cheeks, surprised my hand was trembling. “I’m fine. Just need to catch my breath. How are you, Elsie?”

“Fine, I think. I’m feeling kind of energized.” She moved her shoulder tentatively, a smile lighting her face. “It doesn’t hurt at all.” She beamed at me. “You healed it.”

“I don’t know. I hope so. Better have a doctor look at it though.”

“No need. It’s fine.”

“What did you see, dear?” Helen asked, her bright blue eyes filled with curiosity.

The door opened and voices came through loud and clear.

“No! Absolutely not! Charm will kill us.”

My sisters rushed in, squabbling as usual, their arms filled with trays of fresh-baked cookies. Right, the bake sale was today, although I wasn’t sure how many people would buy something from our café.

“Phhht. Once it’s done, she’ll come around. Way more benefits than not, especially as things stand.”

The both stopped dead in their tracks when they spotted company.

I got up, swaying a bit before I got my bearings. I waved off Helen’s assistance.

“I will kill you both if you don’t share. Right now!”