Chapter Nineteen

Pulling in at the designated location with Thor, I made a quick perusal of the people gathering— my neighbors. Obviously, the call had been heard loud and clear. The sound of dogs barking in the distance alerted me to the canine unit being called out as well. Going to be some day. On high alert, I jumped from my vehicle and half-ran into the campsite with my first armload.

Tension crackled in the air. I handed off my offerings and raced back to my Jeep for more trays. Within fifteen minutes we were set up sufficiently to offer the necessities of survival. Sustenance for body and soul.

I kept an alert eye out for my first targets, that mother and daughter team I didn’t trust one iota. The murkiness of the residue of the last image on the earring was a concern. Why? I knew it meant something important, but my mind couldn’t come up with the solution. It’d never happened before, so I didn’t understand its meaning. Until now, every image had been crystal clear. I could find anything. Any time. I’d built my reputation on that fact. Why was this one time the solution being withheld? Especially since it couldn’t be more important. Mulling it over, I almost missed seeing Mimi sashay toward me.

“Morning,” she said, helping herself to a basketful of carrot and raisin muffins, popping a half dozen into the woven bag she carried.

“Morning, Mimi,” I said. I gave her a bright smile and looked behind her to see if her daughter had accompanied her. Shoot, nowhere in sight. “How are you?” She was much more friendly now that I had helped heal her.

“Good.” She shrugged. “Though I hardly slept a wink with all this business going on.” She leaned in to conspire. Yes, she thought of me as a friend now. Perfect.

“Yeah, thinking a murderer is on the loose. Scary stuff, eh?” I watched for her reaction. How worried was she? If she knew or suspected who it was, she’d be less inclined to be frightened.

Her mouth thinned. Inconclusive. “Well, not that big a surprise with a mobster on set.”

“You think Guido had something to do with it?” I widened my eyes.

“Well, the RCMP do. He’s at the station now, you know.”

“What about Bryce Stanford? He’s being questioned also.”

She gave me a speculative look.

“Someone mentioned it.”

“No way he had anything to do with it.” She shook her head. “He wants this movie to come together swimmingly. He’s got a stake in it. I overheard Tom say that the studio’s watching. If things go well, he’ll get a shot at directing.”

“Really? That’s huge. What a coup that would be, eh? Getting his own movie to direct.”

“Exactly. There’s no reason for him to create waves. And he doesn’t have it in him, believe me. Bryce is really sweet once you get to know him.”

“Well, maybe he wanted things to go smoothly and resented Howard trifling with funds? Bit of a motive there,” I said brightly. There was always another side to the coin, and I did enjoy turning it over.

I earned a cold glare for my not-so-innocent suggestion and missed Felicity coming up behind her mother. She didn’t appreciate my take on things any more than her mother, judging by the sour expression. Sorry, but Bryce stays firmly on my suspect list. Of course, what I knew and what could be proved were miles apart. For now.

“Thanks for returning the earring, Felicity,” I said in my nicey-nicey tone.

“Wh-what are you t-t-talking about?”

“You’re saying you know nothing about it?”

Felicity managed a convincing surprised stare, making me frown now. If it hadn’t been her in the café after hours, then who had it been?

A horde of noisy set persons descended on our spread in a hungry wave, taking my attention away. When I had a sec to look up again, Mimi and Felicity had vanished. Granny and Auntie T.J. also took their leave a few minutes later to look after things back at the Tea & Tarot. I suspected my auntie was just looking for an opportunity to fire up her bagpipes and drive away any bad karma that had collected. Well, that and the pesky bears. The wailing anguish of the supposed musical instrument began wafting in on the breeze, confirming my suspicions.

“Charm, oh, Charm,” Old Charlie shouted out, waving his arms over the crowd. He elbowed and pushed his way through the assembled people, Tom in tow.

“Morning, Charlie,” I said.

“How’s it going, Charm?” Tom chimed in.

“Good, thanks. Happy to see you both getting along better. Maybe my spell took, eh?” I teased. “What’s next? A spell to make you both forget what caused all the trouble in the first place?”

“And did you also know that Miss McCall’s power only stays intact if she remains a virgin?” a voice called out from the back of the crowd. “You might want to make sure she stays away from temptation. Just sayin’.”

Oh. My. Goddess.

The bottom fell out of my world. I swallowed, my pulse racing. Sweat trickled down my neck and underarms.

Charlie and Tom looked confused, then turned their heads toward the source of the voice. The crowd parted to reveal the culprit. My nemesis, Jennifer Morgan.

She strolled right up to the table, her expression smug and ever so sweet. “It’s true, isn’t it, Charm, you have to stay a virgin to keep your gifts? I’d bet the town would hate to lose the one where you can find just about anything gone missing.”

I searched for my voice in the maelstrom of emotions invading my body. “That’s not exactly correct,” I hedged, clearing my throat. “Who told you such a thing?”

“Why, Constable Collins of course.”

I pressed my lips together. Betrayed. Suckered. Devasted. Those words were not even close to how upset the admission made me.

“Can I get you anything? Some food, or maybe some manners?” Rosalie asked her. She stepped in front of me, nudging me away from the table. She spoke over her shoulder at me. “We need more water. Could you go and get a case?”

I stumbled between the piled cases and boxes of foodstuffs, beyond grateful for any excuse to just walk away from prying eyes, my soul laid bare.

A sudden squawking of electronics sent a high-pitched sound zinging through the air waves. People covered their ears. I recognized the voice amplified by a bullhorn calling for people to assemble at Johansson’s meadow. My stomach pitched. Why had he told her, of all people, my most private affairs?

Tears prickled behind my eyelids and it took all my willpower and strength to make my legs carry me out to the parking lot where sanctuary waited. I climbed into Thor’s cocoon, slumping back in the seat. I didn’t hear the passenger door open until Tulip was sitting next to me. She didn’t say anything, just took me in her arms and held me tight.

The tears that had been threatening fell, and sobs shook my body. I let out the pain while my sister held me. A few minutes later and the avalanche of emotions eased, letting some sense of normality return.

“Why would he do that? Tell that woman such personal stuff?” I turned my watery gaze on Tulip who looked nearly as upset as me.

She handed me a bundle of tissues and I mopped up.

“I don’t know. Maybe to make her feel better after being dumped by her boyfriend?”

“Well, that just sucks. How can I trust him now?”

She shrugged. “Maybe ask him about it? She doesn’t seem to be one with your best interests at heart, you know. She wants Constable Collins all to herself.”

“When will men learn that certain women will say anything to get rid of a rival? He probably swore her to secrecy. And she couldn’t wait to tell me. But, Tulip, why did she have to tell the whole town?” My voice broke from the strain. “That’s the worst part. I could live with just a few close people knowing. But now—well, guess what happens next. This will spread like wildfire.”

“I know, I know. Don’t worry, we’ll deal with what comes. Like we always do.”

I wiped a few bittersweet tears from my eyes.

“Do you want to go back to the café? I can look after things here. Maybe you should have a talk with Granny? She’ll understand and probably have a lot better advice to give than me.”

Do I want to do that? That was not the image I had of myself. Not the Charm McCall who was a wiz at martial arts and could throw anyone to the mat. I prided myself on teaching a woman’s defense course once a week. Oh shoot, Constable Collins was scheduled to visit the group to offer some new moves next Monday.

I shook my head. “No. Absolutely not. Why should I let that woman upset me? I’m going back in fighting. Those two missing men need all the help they can get.”

“Great,” Tulip said, giving me a thumbs-up. “Too bad the poppets haven’t worked, eh?”

“Well, give them time. It’s early days yet.” Hmm. Maybe if I added a new one? I shook the thought away. Not going to stoop to her level. “I need to get Bryce Stanford alone to get a reading. You see him, give a shout out, okay?”

“Sure. I’ll leave you to powder your nose.” She opened the passenger door and climbed out. “Don’t rush. We got lots of help.”

“Thanks, Tulip. I feel better.”

She blushed and ducked her head down. “You’re always trying to help us. We don’t thank you enough for that.”

My heart gave a monumental rush of sensation. The good kind this time.

We grinned at each other and she departed, taking off in a jog across the lot.

I checked in the overhead mirror and groaned. Crying doesn’t improve what nature gives you. I dug in my purse for my makeup bag. Pulling out some concealer, mascara and peach lip gloss, I set to work.