Magic & Murder; Magic & Mystery; Magic & Mischief, page 32
part #1 of Starry Hollow Witches Series
“She’s cautious, huh?” Ben said.
“She’s very safety conscious,” I said. “She’ll gain confidence the more times she does it.”
I watched as the board did a U-turn and carried Marley straight back out to catch the next wave. She didn’t need to do anything but stay on. Her smile was so big, I could count all her teeth from my beach chair.
“I think she’s enjoying it,” Ben said.
“That’s all I need to be happy,” I said, and heaved a sigh of contentment. I’d take all the craziness Starry Hollow had to throw at me if it meant a safe and happy child.
“There’s a lot more she can do with that,” Ben said. “Would you like me to show her?”
“That’s nice of you, but I’d rather let her move at her own pace,” I said. “She’ll resist if she senses someone is pushing her to move forward before she’s ready.”
“Stubborn, huh?”
I smiled at him. “Runs in the family.” I opened a bottle of water and took a long sip. “What brings you here at this hour? Shouldn’t you be at your shop?”
“This tends to be the quiet time of day. Robina keeps an eye on things when I want to escape for a bit.”
“Did you hear about Alec?” I asked.
Ben cocked his head, which somehow accentuated the pointy tip of his elven ear. “What about him?”
“He’s joined the bachelor frog brigade.”
His kind eyes rounded. “You’re kidding. Alec Hale? Someone’s either very brave or very stupid.”
“I’m keeping him safe at my cottage,” I said.
“That’s sweet of you,” Ben said.
“Wow. I don’t think anyone’s ever called me ‘sweet’ before.” Unless you counted the construction workers that called me ‘sweet cheeks’ and ‘sweet meat.’
Ben chuckled. “You don’t fool me. That tough chick thing is your persona. The real you is quite sweet.”
I cast a sidelong glance at him. “I think you’ve been drinking magical Kool-Aid. I don’t even hold doors for people. Not on purpose, though. I just don’t even think about it until the door is partially closing and then they have to catch it before it bashes them in the teeth.”
“That’s not tough,” he said. “That’s just inconsiderate.”
We laughed. “I’m trying to be better, for Marley’s sake. She deserves a kinder, gentler parent. She doesn’t have a father to balance me out.”
Ben looked thoughtful for a moment. “Did you manage to speak with Artemis Haverford? Maybe that’s why Alec was targeted? If she thinks he sent you to do a story.”
I dusted sand from my shins. “It’s not Artemis. I can see why we needed to question her, but she’s completely innocent.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I do. I’ve even been back to see her since then.”
He choked back a laugh. “Seriously? She didn’t put the fear of the gods into you?”
“The whole place was super creepy,” I admitted. “But it’s looking better now. And she’s out of that hideous white doily she pretended was a dress.”
Ben gaped at me. “You…fixed her up?”
“Not completely,” I said. “Her teeth need more help than I can give. I’m not a professional, for Pete’s sake. And there’s still plenty of work to do on the house, too, but it’s a good start. At least the heavy drapes and dust are gone. It was high time that pale skin got licked by the sun again.”
“I don’t even know what to say.” He shook his head. “Why did you feel compelled to go back?”
I’d asked myself the same question. “Because one day I might be a scary old witch living alone and I might secretly want someone to come by and tell me that I matter by changing me out of my butt-ugly clothes and having my ghost manservant run me a bubble bath.” I took another sip of water. “See? Not sweet at all. I did it for purely selfish reasons.”
“Yeah, totally selfish.”
“You should talk, anyway,” I said. “You’re the one who decided to appoint a former criminal as your mother figure and business partner. Talk about sweet.”
He inhaled the salty sea air. “I honestly don’t know where I’d be now if it weren’t for Robina. Her magic changed my life.”
“You mean her friend’s magic,” I said.
Ben blinked. “Yes, of course. It was Robina’s ideas that we implemented, though. She was the mastermind.”
Mastermind. Interesting choice of words to describe a criminal.
We turned our attention back to the ocean, where Marley was gliding across the water at a slightly increased speed. Her hair was blown back by the breeze and her smile was as wide as the stretch of beach. Observing her now, I felt the stirrings of maternal pride.
Ben gave me a shy look. “Ember, would you like to go out again soon?”
Did I want to? Not for romantic reasons, but I didn’t object to the idea of a new friend.
“I wouldn’t mind seeing more of the town that’s off the beaten track,” I said. “I’m helping Aster on the tourism board and I’d like to highlight some of the more interesting aspects of the town. She seems determined to emphasize every grain of sand on the beach instead of elements that might actually interest tourists.”
“I can definitely help with that,” he said. “How about later tonight? Eight o’clock? My apartment building is smack dab in the middle of town, so it’s the perfect starting point. If you take the elevator to the penthouse, I have the whole top floor of the building. It’s not the view from the Lighthouse, of course, but it’s nice.”
He gave me the address.
“Great,” I said. “Sounds like a plan.”
Chapter Sixteen
I sat on the edge of my bed, completely absorbed in The Final Prophecy. I peered over the top of the book at Alec the Frog, resting comfortably in the dog crate on my dresser.
“You really know how to write a page turner, Alec,” I said. “Most fantasies take forever before anything cool happens. And there’s usually way too much description of every flower petal and article of clothing.” I pretended to yawn. “Your story moves much faster. Your heroine is awesome.”
I continued to read and discuss the passages in the book with the frog as though, at any moment, he might miraculously answer.
“Did you always want to be a writer?” I asked. The frog blinked. “I don’t know why you waste your time working for my aunt if you’re such a big deal author.”
Marley poked her head in the doorway. “Mom, are you talking to the frog again?”
I tried to disguise my guilty expression. “Maybe.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be getting ready for your evening out?”
I frowned. “What time is it?”
“Quarter to eight,” she replied. “Mrs. Babcock is downstairs with Starry Hollow Monopoly and a teabag.”
“She knows I have tea here,” I grumbled. “I don’t know why she insists on bringing her own.” I set the book on the bed. “I still need to get dressed. I got distracted by the book.”
Marley laughed. “Now you sound like me. What are you reading?”
“Alec’s book,” I said. “I had it at the beach, remember?”
“I was riding my boogie board,” Marley said. “For once, I wasn’t paying attention to a book.” She opened the inside front cover. “Who’s Tatiana?”
“I don’t know. Why?”
“He dedicated the book to her.” Marley held up the dedication page that I’d skipped over.
For Tatiana.
“Maybe an old girlfriend?” I suggested. I hadn’t heard her name mentioned in the office. I wondered whether it was the woman Linnea had mentioned. The one Alec and the sheriff had fought over years before. I’d have to dig around and find out.
“Is Ben picking you up?” Marley asked.
“No, I’m meeting him at his place so we can explore the parts of town I haven’t seen yet. I need inspiration for the tourism board.”
“You really need a car,” Marley said.
“I’m aware of that. Aunt Hyacinth says she’ll take care of it. In the meantime, walking is good exercise.”
“Not when you’re already running late,” Marley replied.
I pinched her chubby cheek. “Stop making sense.”
I quickly changed my clothes and ran a brush through my hair. I opted for comfortable shoes under the circumstances. It wasn’t like I was interested in impressing Ben.
I blew a kiss at Alec the Frog and gave Marley a goodnight hug before hustling out the door.
“Don’t forget to walk PP3 before bed,” I called over my shoulder.
Although it was dark, there were so many fireflies blinking around me that I had no trouble finding my way to the main road. I knew it would be more convenient once I had a car, but I honestly didn’t mind the walk into town. With the roar of the ocean in the distance and the nighttime serenade of the cicadas, it was downright heavenly to walk around in Starry Hollow in the evening. Even the stars seemed brighter here, probably because there was less air pollution. This place would still seem magical to me even without magic.
Without magic.
An image of Robina popped into my mind and I felt a pang of sympathy for the ex-criminal fairy. At least she managed to turn her life around by helping Ben establish his magical barbershop, although technically her fairy friend was responsible because Robina was banned from practicing magic. Ben’s words flashed in my mind—her magic changed my life…Mastermind.
My breathing hitched as I passed by the library.
I checked the clock on my phone. Okay, I was late, but I could squeeze in a hot minute to stop by Robina’s. She lived in Ben’s building, after all.
I arrived at the apartment building and wiped the sweat from my forehead. I was pretty sure I had on enough deodorant to protect the entire Eagles football team, so the only smell emanating from me should be a soothing lavender.
Luckily for me, the occupants’ names were listed on the mailboxes. Starry Hollow apparently had zero trust issues. It was both nice and unsettling. Robina’s apartment was listed as 3E. I had to ask her. I knew I wouldn’t be able to focus on anything else tonight if my mind was preoccupied with Robina.
I took the elevator to the third floor and easily located her apartment. I knocked on the door, my stomach knotting. For a brief moment, I debated calling the sheriff first. What if she turned out to be a raging maniac and I’d voluntarily put myself in her apartment?
I inhaled deeply and quickly calmed my nerves. No, I only had a simple question. What kind of journalist would I be if I was too scared to knock on the older fairy’s door?
Robina answered the door with a ready smile. “Miss Rose, what a lovely surprise. Are you lost? Ben lives upstairs. He has the whole penthouse suite to himself, you know.”
“You don’t need to sell me on Ben,” I said. “I’m here because I have a quick question for my investigation.”
“Of course,” Robina said, gesturing me inside. “What is it?”
I stepped into the modest apartment and noticed the sparse furnishings and impersonal artwork on the walls. It seemed like Robina had never really embraced the place as her own. Maybe it was her years in prison that made it difficult to personalize the space.
“I’ve been thinking about the magic in Snips-n-Clips,” I said. “What was the name of your fairy friend who infused it with magic?”
Robina clasped her hands together—a nervous gesture. “Josie.”
“Josie what?”
“She’s not local anymore,” Robina said quickly. “She moved a few years ago.”
“To where?”
“Cincinnati. She wanted to try the human world for a change.”
“No one chooses Cincinnati as the place they want to live in the human world,” I said, folding my arms. “Robina, be straight with me. Are you the one responsible for the shop’s magic?”
Guilt seemed to envelop her. "I was originally, but I haven’t done magic in years. I swear. I only helped Ben set up the shop because I wanted to repay him for his kindness. If it weren’t for him, I’d be unemployed and homeless.”
“But how does the magic keep going if you don’t do it?” I asked. “Don’t the spells wear off?”
“Some do. Some don’t.”
I arched an eyebrow. “So how do you manage the ones that do if you’re not practicing magic?”
She gave an exasperated huff. “I taught Ben how to do certain spells.”
"But how?" I asked. "He's an elf. I didn't think they could do magic."
"In my experience, anyone can do magic with the right teacher," Robina said. "And Ben was a keen student."
“Robina, that could be considered a violation of your parole. You could go back to prison."
“I’m aware of that,” she said. “There didn’t seem to be a reason for anyone to know. He treats me like his own mother. I only wanted to help him.”
“And did you also want to help him find a wife?” I asked. “Maybe you decided to take matters into your own hands and eliminate the competition?”
“No, no.” She waved her hands excitedly. “I would never do that. Those frogs have nothing to do with me.”
As much as I wanted to believe her, the evidence seemed stacked against her.
“I’m sorry, Robina, but I think I should call the sheriff," I said, and moved to retrieve my phone.
A voice behind me stopped me in my tracks. "You'll do no such thing."
I jerked my head toward the sound of Ben's voice. “Ben! How did you know I was here?” I asked.
“You’re late, so I went to see if you’d gotten lost,” he said. “You should know that your voice carries. You may want to work on your volume now that you’ve left New Jersey.”
I cleared my throat. I did have a tendency to speak loudly.
“Why did you lie about Robina practicing magic?” I asked. “You’re the one who told me a friend of hers helped you with the shop.”
“Why do you think?” he asked. “To protect her.”
I looked from Ben to Robina, the realization dawning on me. “And to protect yourself,” I said quietly.
“Protect myself from what?” Ben queried.
“You didn’t want the sheriff or me to know that you could do magic,” I said. “Under normal circumstances, you’d have been proud of mastering a skill like that. I bet it’s not easy for an elf.”
His jaw tightened. “Put away your phone, Ember. I’m warning you.”
"Turn them back," I demanded. "Turn the frogs back into men and I won't say a word."
"You won't say a word because you won't be able to speak," he said, advancing toward me.
"I don't understand," I said, stepping backward. "I usually read people pretty well. You seemed like a nice guy."
His eyes narrowed dangerously. "I am a nice guy. That's the whole problem. Don't you see? Day in and day out, I would wait on clients who were spoiled for choice when it came to the opposite sex. Meanwhile, I couldn't get any girl's attention. Do you know how many times I tried to gather the courage to ask out Dakota?"
I nodded in sympathy. "I hear you on that one. She's a real catch."
"And yet she was willing to try her luck with three of the most notorious bachelors in town," he seethed. "Why do women fall all over themselves to be with guys like that? They come into my shop and boast of their conquests like these women are nothing more than slabs of meat. I would treat them like the goddesses they are. They deserve better.”
I heard the pain of rejection in his voice and my stomach clenched. “But Dakota didn’t reject you, if you didn’t even have the courage to ask her out.”
“She would’ve said no,” he blurted. “How could I compete with those other guys? Florian lives in Thornhold and I live on the top floor of an apartment building.”
“But it’s the penthouse,” I reminded him. “The whole top floor. And you own the building.”
“It isn’t enough,” he said angrily. “I’m never enough.”
"What about Alec? He didn't do any of the things you’re accusing the others of. He didn’t even go out with Dakota."
Ben fixed me with his hard stare. "No, but he certainly held your attention at Elixir. You were supposed to be on a date with me."
Someone had a serious case of the green-eyed monster. “To be fair, I didn’t consider it a date,” I said. “And I thought we had a nice time that evening.”
"You had a nice time because you nearly had your tongue down Alec Hale's throat. I don't blame you, really. He's everything I'm not."
I didn’t argue with that statement. "What was your plan, then? Turn every bachelor in town into a frog? Clear the decks so that you were one of the few options for all the single ladies in Starry Hollow?"
"Something like that," he mumbled.
"I can see how you managed to curse your clients,” I said. "You had access to pieces of their hair from the barbershop. But how did you manage to curse Alec?"
"I went to his office to get my books signed. You weren’t there at the time.”
I nearly slapped my forehead. Of course. The books on Alec’s desk belonged to Ben. The Final Prophecy I took from the office was part of Ben’s collection.
“It was simple enough to pluck a stray hair from his expensive suit jacket." Ben smiled. “He even thanked me."
"And you rewarded his good manners by turning him into a frog," I said hotly. "What about Robina? The woman you consider to be a mother figure." I glanced at the wingless fairy, who stood silently in the corner, keeping a safe distance from us. "Don't you realize that you've endangered her?"
"The only way I’ve put her in an awkward situation is if someone discovers the truth," Ben said. "But that’s not going to happen."
Fear gripped me as he reached for a strand of my hair. I smacked his hand away.
"Ouch," he cried.
"Did you think I was just going to let you take it?" I asked, my eyes blazing. "Do I look like a pushover to you?"
He inhaled sharply. "Fine then. We’ll do it the hard way. I don't need your hair to curse you." He retrieved a wand from his back pocket. It was Barbie pink with glitter on the star at the end of the wand.
