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I hurry down the steps and then make my way down the walkway that goes to Azure’s apartment. Before I turn the corner that will put me into a clear line of sight with her place, I take a deep breath. I’ve got to be careful now. Stealthy. I want to have a view of Azure’s apartment, but I don’t want her to be able to see me.
When I turn the corner, I’ll be on the last stretch of walkway that leads out to the parking lot in front of Blackbear Apartments. Azure’s apartment, Unit B, is not far from where I’m standing. How am I going to see her place, without being seen?
I’m going to have to stick to the shadows, and be very, very quiet.
I mean, chances are, she’s not standing in her doorway, watching the walkway in front of her house. I’ll just creep around the corner, sidle up to one of her windows, and take a peek in.
Nothing to it!
I take another deep breath, and then round the corner.
Shoot! Azure is standing in her doorway! Red alert, red alert! I try not to panic. She’s facing the other way, looking in the direction of the parking lot. I dart into a small alcove cut into the side of the building, and plaster myself against the wall. My heart is racing.
I didn’t expect her to actually be standing there. What is she doing, staring out towards the parking lot like that? It was as if she was waiting for someone.
Could she be waiting for Silas?
Maybe tonight really is the night that Silas’s notebook was referring to. But why would he be coming over to Azure’s house at 8:30 at night?
I mean I can think of a few reasons—well, one in particular—and I don’t like it. I don’t like it one bit. If I find out that Silas is cheating on Cora, I’m going to be one pissy witch.
He’s going to hear a piece of my mind.
In fact, I’m getting kind of angry just thinking about it. My heart is beating faster. I make my hands into fists, and clench and release them.
For a minute, I just fume about the situation. Then, realizing how worked up I’m getting, I release my fists and shake out my hands, trying to shed some of the pent up energy.
Calm down, I tell myself. Azure might not be waiting for Silas. You don’t know that Silas is going to be here. That note of his could have meant anything. Maybe there’s a different Unit B apartment somewhere, and that’s what he was referring to. Blackbear Apartments can’t be the only ones that use the letter system.
Of course! That’s it. I’m being too suspicious—imagining that there’s a connection between Silas and Azure when there’s not. It’s my overactive imagination, coming into play again.
I almost laugh at myself, as I stand there in the shadows.
What am I even doing here? I should just go upstairs, to my cozy apartment, my cat, and a sweet, chocolaty bowl of—
Suddenly Azure’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “Silas!” she calls out, happily. “You made it!”
Crap.
Crapity crap-crap.
She was waiting for Silas.
I wasn’t imagining a connection. Silas and Azure know each other.
I can tell from Azure’s tone that she’s happy to see the handsome werewolf. I also sense that she knows him... well. Very well.
His name rolls of her tongue as though she’s said it a thousand times before.
“Hi Baby,” I hear Silas say. My stomach lurches. Baby? Did he just call her baby?
Oh, no. Oh, no, no, no. My hands form into fists again. There is only one woman that this man should be calling Baby, and that’s my friend, Cora.
Flushed with anger, I chance a peek around the little corner of the alcove.
I can see the two of them, in Azure’s doorway.
Their arms are wrapped around one another. They’re hugging.
I feel sick.
I pull my head back, and try to breathe. Oh, Cora is not going to like this. Not at all.
Maybe there won’t be a wedding, after all. Maybe I’m not going to be a maid of honor. I mean, I hope I’m not. This wedding has to be called off. And what will happen with the baby? Is Cora going to be a single mom?
I can hear Azure and Silas talking.
Azure still sounds so thrilled. “I am so happy you could come over,” she says. “I really need you.”
“I know, Baby,” Silas responds. His voice is deep, low, and sexy. I feel so mad, I could spit. My thoughts turn back to my friend. My soon to be single, pregnant friend.
I’ll help her through the pregnancy. That’s what friends are for! And after she gives birth, I’ll bring over bulk packages of diapers, and little jars of baby food. I’ll take the baby out in a stroller, for long walks in the park. Cora will need some alone time, after all, if she’s going to keep her sanity. I’m going to be the most supportive friend and witch-sister I can be. Cora deserves it.
Want to know what she doesn’t deserve?
A cheating fiancé, that’s what.
“Come on in,” I hear Azure say.
“It’s cold out here,” Silas says. “It’s going to be good to warm up.”
“Pff!” I say, under my breath, as I roll my eyes. What kind of cheesy line is that?
I hear Azure’s door slam closed.
I peek around the corner, and see that the walkway is now deserted. They’ve disappeared inside. What are they doing in there?
Goodness only knows how Silas plans to ‘warm up.’ Probably the two of them are making out like two love-struck teenagers—right there in Azure’s entryway. Probably pressed against the doorway. The thought makes me feel even sicker.
How am I going to give this news to Cora?
How am I going to tell her that her fiancé is a cheater?
What if – oh, no! What if he’s more than a cheater? What if he’s an accomplice in murder? What if he’s a thief? What if he and Azure are plotting against the Terra Coven together?
Azure is on the top of my very short list of suspects. Now that I know that she and Silas are in cahoots, that implicates Silas as well, doesn’t it?
I need to see what they’re doing in there. I need to hear what they’re saying. Plus, if I’m going to break this news to Cora, I’d better have some hard evidence.
I mean, I definitely heard Silas call Azure ‘Baby.’ I saw them embracing. But I know Cora. She’s going to want to look on the bright side of things. ‘Oh, you’re mistaken, Penny,’ I can almost hear her say. ‘Silas would never do something like that. He’s a good guy.’
‘Oh—are you so sure about that?’ I respond in my head.
“Ha!” I mutter aloud. Then, I step out of the alcove and begin shimmying, my back pressed against the wall, towards Azure’s apartment.
The only way to stay out of the line of sight of the windows is to stay flushed to the wall. The corrugated tin is cold against my back. My sweater makes a soft shushing sound as I side-step closer and closer to the first of Azure’s windows.
I’ve passed by her apartment many times. I know that one of her windows looks into her living room, and the other one, the one I’m closest to now, looks into her kitchen.
Usually, she has curtains drawn. But the curtains are white and gauzy, almost see through. Hopefully, since it’s dark out but light inside her place, I’ll be able to see right through the filmy curtains.
I’m sandwiched against the wall, right next to her kitchen window.
Are they in there?
Maybe they’re standing in there, kissing passionately, right at this very moment!
They won’t see me if I just take a little peek in. I’ll be very careful.
I poke my head around the window frame, and press my nose to the glass. Through the filmy curtain, I can see an empty kitchen.
I pull my head back, like a turtle retreating into her shell.
Nope. They’re not in the kitchen. I hurry past the first window, and then halt as I reach the edge of the second window—the one that looks into the living room.
This time, I crouch down and shimmy over until I’m right below the sill.
Then, slowly and carefully, I raise my head until I can look over the sill.
There they are! Standing in the living room! They’re talking. What are they talking about?
I see Silas laugh. He says something, while making a gesture like he’s hitting something, with his hands. Then Azure laughs.
In my head, I’m making up their dialogue.
‘Oh, yeah—then I smacked her over the head with a paperweight,’ is what Silas said.
‘Oh, Silas. You’re so sexy when you talk about murder!’ Azure must have responded.
‘I’d do anything to turn you on, Baby,’ Silas responds.
Giggle giggle, goes Azure.
Seriously. This is making me nauseous.
I watch the two converse. Now Azure is making hand gestures. She’s making a pulling motion with her hands.
‘Then I snatched the book right out of Annie’s house,’ I imagine her saying.
‘Good work, Baby,’ Silas likely responds.
‘Those stupid, clueless witches,’ Azure is probably saying. ‘It was almost too easy. Now that we have their books, they’re weak. Without the Terra Coven in the picture, I’ll control two portals—Earth and Air—and I’ll be the most powerful witch in the magical universe! ’
She waves her hand, motioning for Silas to follow her down a hallway that leads away from the living room.
Uh-oh. Unit B is a one-bedroom apartment. There are only four rooms in the place. The two are not heading for the kitchen. That leaves only the bathroom, and the bedroom.
I’m pretty sure they’re not going to go use the lavatory together.
That only leaves one option: The bedroom.
They’re heading for the bedroom!
I reach my hands up to the window sill, and try to push it up. Luckily, it is not locked. It’s a bit stiff, but after some pushing and prodding, I manage to open up a two-foot gap. Then I stand on my tiptoes, hoist myself up, and stick my head and shoulders through the opening.
It’s hard to lift my own weight up off of the ground, but thanks to my zumba strengthened arms, I manage the acrobatic move.
My palms are planted on the sill, holding me half in, half out of the window. My feet are totally off of the ground. I kick my legs back and forth a little bit, trying to get some momentum so that I can hoist myself further through the window. Suddenly, I’m pivoting. My head is moving towards the floor. Oh, man.
I release my hold on the sill, and instead move my hands to the floor. Luckily, my hands reach the wood floor first, instead of my head. I walk my hands forward, dragging myself farther in. My purse slides from my shoulder to my wrist, and hits the floor with a thud. Being inverted like this makes my cocktail dress slide up around my belly. Yikes! But I can’t fix it now. Somehow, my feet make it to the ground. It’s not the softest landing, but it’s also not the loudest, which is really saying something since I’m wearing cowboy boots.
I freeze for a minute, totally sprawled across the living room floor with my dress up around my waist in a very unladylike fashion. I hold my breath, waiting to see if Azure and Silas are going to come running back to the living room to see what the noise was all about.
Thankfully, they do not. I think I’m in the clear. I work my way up to standing slowly and carefully, and smooth the skirt of my dress. I reposition my purse so it’s high on my shoulder and tucked neatly under my arm. Then, moving on my tiptoes, I make my way towards the hallway that Azure and Silas disappeared down, only minutes before.
As I move down the hallway, I start to hear a thumping sound.
Goodness gracious, these two move fast. Are they rocking the bed already? I feel a blush creep to my cheeks at the thought of it. I mean, I had a case once where I had to investigate a cheating spouse, but I’ve never actually caught two people in the act of cheating.
I mean, right in the middle of a very active cheating session. Very active.
Thump, thump, thump.
I can hear the bedframe slamming against the wall.
Well, I didn’t go to school to be a librarian. I became a private investigator, knowing full well that my career would involve pulling back the curtain and peeking into people’s private lives.
Well, here I am, getting a glimpse behind the scenes.
I asked for this. I wanted to know what Azure and Silas were up to. Cora has to know about this. I’m here, so I’d better get some proof.
I approach the doorway.
My phone is in my purse. I pull it out and hold it ready in my hand. I’m going to take a picture. Cora can’t deny a picture.
The thumping sound stops.
“Did you get it?” I hear Azure say. She sounds kind of matter-of-fact about it. That’s weird. Well, everyone has their own style of love-making. Maybe these two take a practical approach.
“Not quite,” I hear Silas respond.
“Try again,” Azure says.
Yes, they sure are business-like!
The thumping sound starts up again. Thump, thump, thump.
Okay, now’s the time. The door is not quite all the way closed. There’s an inch-wide crack in it. I’ll just push it open a little bit further and then stick my phone inside and snap a quick picture. That’s it. I’ll have my proof. I can get out of here before they even have a clue what hit them.
‘You’ve been hit by—you’ve been struck by—a smooth investigator,’ I sing in my mind as I ready my phone.
There. I’ve got my phone’s camera pulled up.
The sound of the bed hitting the wall continues. They’re really going for it this time.
I poke the end of my phone through the crack in the door. Farther... farther...
That’s it! The phone is now all the way inside the bedroom.
But will I get the whole scene? I better get it in a little bit farther, just for good measure. There we go. Now my right hand is all the way in the bedroom, up to my wrist.
I press my index finger down in the spot where I know the camera button is. Then, for good measure, I quickly press it down two more times. Three pictures—that should do it.
The thumping stops. I freeze.
I don’t want to draw attention to the doorway by pulling my phone away. The movement might catch their attention.
“That’s really close,” Azure says, matter-of-factly. “A few more solid hits and we’ll have it.”
Hunh. That’s definitely not the kind of bedroom talk I’m used to, but like I said, to each’s own!
Silas speaks. “Just hold this up for a minute. There. You have it? I need you to hold still so that I can aim correctly.”
They must be doing some very advanced stuff in there. Is it safe to move my hand yet?
“Okay,” Azure says. “Oh my goodness... this is heavy. How can I—Oh, no! Oh—Silas, I’m losing it!”
“Hold on!” Silas yells
I have to admit, I’m kind of curious about what’s happening.
“I’m losing my grip!” Azure shouts. “No!”
Suddenly, I feel the bedroom door slam against my wrist. Blinding pain shoots up my arm. “Son of a—” I shout out, just as—
BAM! The sound of wood hitting wood covers over the sound of my voice.
But it’s too late. I know that they heard me yell. Not only that, but I dropped my phone inside the bedroom. Not only that, but my wrist is still pinned in the doorway, held painfully in place by the door and the frame.
Now the door is moving. There’s a sliding sound, like wood scraping against wood. Then, some of the pressure from the door against my wrist is relieved, like a weight on the other side of the door was removed.
The door begins to open.