Shear Magic, page 11
part #5 of Silver Hollow Series
“I know what you’re thinking,” Starla said at last. “I know, because I’ve been thinking the same thing: that Bobby killed Charlie to keep Beth.” Her voice sounded strained. “Anyway, I went snooping around in his things to find something, anything, that might be a clue as to what really happened. Surprisingly, it wasn’t hard to locate.” She snorted. “Then again, maybe he wanted me to find it after all these years. It was in an old box, mixed in with old photos of Beth and the barbershop.”
She reached into the pocket of her lavender dress and withdrew a large skeleton key. The iron glowed purple in the moonlight, a telltale sign of enchantment.
“What’s it for?” Gray asked, staring at the thing.
“No idea.”
“Huh. Well, whatever it’s for, it could be used against your uncle.”
Starla winced. “True. But it might also prove your innocence. And as much as I love Bobby, if he did kill Eric, and possibly Charlie, then he should pay for his crimes, not you.”
“You know, the killer used my magical golden shears to kill Eric.” He wasn’t sure why he was telling her, except that he needed to get it out, to share his fears with someone. “They’re ruined now. So am I if I can’t get another pair.”
“What do you mean?” Starla frowned. “Gray, seriously. We might have grown up on different sides of town, but I remember how talented you were in high school. You made all the girls swoon with your hair styling. You didn’t have those special scissors back then, and you did just fine. I’m guessing you’ll do just fine now without them.”
“But they were my secret weapon. I could use them to make any woman into exactly what she wanted.”
“And you still can, using your abilities and the magic inside you.” Starla smiled. “Don’t doubt yourself, Gray. You’re the most talented guy I’ve ever met.”
She held the key out to him, and he reached for it, their fingers brushing. Gray leaned closer, unable to stop himself, as if drawn in by an invisible cord.
She believed in him even when he didn’t believe in himself.
Starla inched nearer to him, her gorgeous midnight-blue eyes going all soft and dreamy. Only millimeters separated them now, her warm, minty breath fanning his face. His lips tingled with the urge to kiss her, to hold her, to find out if she tasted as sweet as she looked. A small niggle of warning echoed in his head — they shouldn’t do this, they were too different, they were on opposing sides. Before he could capture her mouth with his, she turned and fled through the trees, leaving only a mumbled goodbye in her wake.
Gray stood for a long moment afterward, staring after her. Cosmo flew down to perch on his shoulder once more. He turned to head back toward the north side of town when a familiar voice echoed in the darkness.
“That was a close call,” Brimstone said, trotting up beside him.
“What do you mean?” Gray said, weaving through the shadowed woods.
“You almost kissed her.” Brimstone’s feline tone dripped with disdain. “Seriously. What were you thinking? You need to learn to control yourself, man.”
They emerged from the trees a few minutes later and headed toward Gray’s car parked along the curb. Much as Gray hated to admit it, the nosy cat was right. He did need to control himself, at least around Starla, at least until this case was solved and his life returned to normal — no matter how tempting the thought of kissing her might be.
“So, what did she give you?” Brimstone asked, breaking him out of his thoughts.
“This.” Gray showed him the key.
“And what does it open?”
“No clue. That’s the problem. Starla seemed to think it might reveal the truth about what happened way back then and could help me figure out who killed Eric.”
“Is that what you think?” Brimstone purred before stopping to groom some strands of orange cat fur from his tail.
“Not sure, but it’s the only lead I’ve got.” Gray unlocked his car and then opened the driver’s-side door. “Too bad there’s no way to know what it unlocks.”
Chapter 19
Gray spent a sleepless night wondering about the key that Starla had given him. There was no guarantee that key was even related to Eric’s murder or to any of the events surrounding the barbershop long ago. Then again, there was no guarantee that the events surrounding the barbershop had anything to do with Eric’s murder.
Deep down, Gray knew they were all related and that the key was significant. Starla must’ve also felt that way; otherwise she wouldn’t have given him the key — unless she wanted to throw him off track. If she was working with her uncle Bobby, it could all be a clever smokescreen to get him to focus his attentions on someone else.
Even if she wasn’t working with Bobby, Bobby could have known that they were meeting and planted the key for Starla to discover. She’d said it wasn’t difficult to find a box of old photos or the key that was in it.
Could it be a trap? But how? Gray couldn’t worry about that now. He had to try to find out what the key opened.
When he’d emerged from the neutral woods the night before, his phone had lit up with concerned texts from his cousins. He’d replied to each, assuring them that he had a good reason for his abrupt departure and informing them there was a new clue to discuss. They’d agreed to meet first thing in the morning at the juice bar, and that was where Gray headed after dropping Cosmo off at his shop.
The days were getting warmer now, and the early-morning sunshine was evaporating the last of the dew on the grass in the commons when Gray arrived at the bar to the sounds of chirping birds.
His cousins were already sitting at a table with glasses of colorful juice in front of them and inquisitive frowns on their faces.
“Where did you go last night?” Issy asked as she shoved an electric-blue drink in front of him. A Tropical Treatise? Or was it a Tremulous Typhoon? Gray couldn’t remember the names of all the drinks.
“Yeah, what was the big emergency?” Raine asked.
“I had a meeting that turned out to be very fruitful.” Gray slurped the drink. Coconut mixed with a breezy hint of seashore. Delicious.
“With who?” Ember’s eyes narrowed. “Wait a minute, I can guess who …”
Gray didn’t want his cousins to speculate about what went on in the meeting, so he pulled the key out of his pocket and placed it in the middle of the table. It sparked purple and then sat there glinting in the sun. To any regular human passing by, it would look like a plain old skeleton key. The enchantment was only visible to paranormals.
Gray glanced toward the pizza window to make sure Luigi couldn’t see the key. If Luigi was working with Martin Ellsworth, Gray didn’t want to tip his hand about what clues he was pursuing. The window was dark. It was too early for pizza, and Luigi wasn’t here yet.
“Where did you get that?” Ember asked.
“Starla Knight.” Gray ignored the knowing glances his cousins gave each other. “She got it from Bobby. I think it has something to do with everything that happened concerning the toad warts and Charlie Stevens.”
“Really?” Issy picked the key up and hefted it in her palm. “What does it open?”
Gray sighed and slumped back in his chair. “I wish I knew.”
“That kind of key could open anything. An old box. A hidden compartment. It could be in someone’s house, in their car, or buried in their backyard. How will we ever figure out what it opens?” Raine asked.
“I guess we need to use good old-fashioned detective work. If there was some evidence on the black-market toad warts, it makes sense that someone would hide it and enchant the hiding place.” Issy put the key back in the center of the table. “Trouble is that since it’s enchanted, the hiding spot might not be easy to find.”
Ember frowned. “Yeah, but if it was Bobby Knight, wouldn’t he have the box or whatever this key opens in his possession? How will we find it if it’s in his house or his car?”
“He might have it, but it would be smarter to give it to someone who was close so he wouldn’t be caught with it. Someone like Beth Wilkins,” Issy said. “We know someone cast a spell on her to forget things. Maybe it was Bobby. He wanted her to forget where he’d hidden the evidence because it points to him.”
“Sounds like a good plan. We need to talk to Beth again to see if we can look around her house.” Raine whipped out her cell phone and started thumbing something in. “We exchanged numbers last night because she wants another one of those plants we brought over to her place.”
“That’s a great place to start.” Issy also started thumbing a text. “Another place we need to look is the Stevenses’ house. I just got in some really cool aquarium decorations. We can use them as an excuse to go to Tim’s.”
“So what do you think this hidden evidence is?” Ember asked.
Gray shrugged. “I don’t know. Old dried up toad warts? Paperwork, like bills of sale for toad warts. Who knows?”
“It might have something to do with Charlie Stevens’s death,” Issy said. “Maybe some evidence that he didn’t kill himself.”
“Or it could be nothing at all,” Gray added. He didn’t want to get his cousins’ hopes up. He had to admit he was relying on this one a little bit more than he liked, but with no other clues to follow, what else could he do?
Raine’s phone dinged. “Beth’s at the applesauce factory taking some test to see if she can go back to work, but she said to stop by her place around one. Does that work for you guys?”
“I could make that work. I have to go open up the shop this morning, but I can have Hannah watch it this afternoon,” Issy said.
“Works for me,” Ember said. “I’ll make Beth some relaxing chocolates so that she doesn’t notice us poking around her place too much.”
“I’m pretty much free all day. I don’t have clients coming in for a few days,” Gray said.
“Great. I’ll let her know.” As Raine thumbed in her response, Issy’s phone dinged.
“Tim says he’s taking his mom for some tests in Epping, and he won’t be home till around five tonight. Actually, that works for me. I have some things to do after we get back from Beth’s, but I can close up the shop a little early so we can head over.”
“Yeah, that could work for me too.” Ember pushed up from the table. “Speaking of which, I’d better get to my shop if I’m gonna get those chocolates made. I’ll make extra for Tim and his mom.”
Raine tossed her cup into the trash and stood. “Yep, me too. I’ll pick everyone up at quarter to one, and we’ll head to Beth’s.”
“Hold up, Raine. I’ll walk with you. I’m getting a delivery in fifteen minutes.” She threw her cup in the trash, then looked back at the table. “See you at one, Gray.”
“See you then.” Gray scooped the key off the table and put it in his pocket as he watched his cousins walk off. He didn’t have customers coming in today and was in no hurry, but he could still make sure the shop was in order. He was nervous about reopening and wanted to make sure everything was exactly where he wanted it to be.
He took the last sip of his drink, stood up, and turned, practically running smack into Owen, Dex, and Stan.
Owen held his hands up in front of him. “Whoa, where you running off to?”
“I was done with my drink, so I was going to my shop.” Gray didn’t like the way the three of them eyed him, as if they had come here just for him. Was he being arrested? His eyes flicked to Dex, but Dex had his poker face on, and his expression held no hint as to why the three of them stood there as though they wouldn’t allow Gray to pass.
“What’s up? You guys here for juice? The Tropical Tornado is really good today.” He held up his empty cup, the blue foam still bright at the bottom, and gave Owen a fake smile that he hoped would convey he wasn’t nervous at all about running into them.
“Oh, that’s good, real good.” Owen’s eyes flicked toward the juice bar. “I was looking for you, though. Maybe I’ll have one after.”
Shoot! Gray had to do something to stall. He couldn’t get arrested now. Not before he had a chance to figure out what the key opened. “Oh? I’m kind of in a hurry to set up shop. You know, you guys did kinda leave it in a bit of a mess.”
Owen frowned. “We did? I instructed the guys to make sure it was left exactly as they found it.”
Maybe Gray shouldn’t have said that. It wouldn’t be smart to anger Owen right now. “Well, it wasn’t that bad. But you know me, I’m particular.”
“Yeah, that’s kinda what I wanted to talk to you about. See, I was wondering about those shears of yours. I still don’t understand how they could’ve gotten outside of your shop, you know, with you being so particular and all.”
“I’ve been thinking about that, too. It was really busy that day in the shop. I mean, it’s possible someone lifted those scissors when I was cleaning up after the haircuts.” Not exactly a lie. Gray was sure someone had lifted the scissors after he was done, but not exactly in the way he implied. But Owen didn’t understand about magic, so this was the nonmagical equivalent of what had really happened.
Gray glanced at Stan. He was just standing there, pale as ever, his lips looking bloodless. He kept glancing uncomfortably over his shoulder at the sun. He wasn’t really paying that much attention to Gray, which was good. Normally Stan would focus his beady gaze on Gray as if he was a bug under a microscope, but now he was more interested in the blazing ball in the sky. Gray made a mental note to buy Ursula a juice the next time he saw her. He owed her one.
“You don’t say?” Owen rocked back and forth on his sneakered heels. “I thought you said before that you’d notice right off if someone took them while the shop was open.”
“I thought I would, but maybe I got busy ...” Gray glanced at Dex for help.
“Yeah, if someone wanted to frame you, that would be the time to do it: the end of the day when there’s been a run and you don’t have any more haircuts scheduled,” Dex said.
Owen stroked his chin. “I could see that. So who was in your shop that afternoon?”
“Well, I wasn’t exactly keeping track. I mean, there were the ladies I had just given haircuts, of course. Sometimes they sit around gabbing for a bit, but I don’t think any of them would’ve killed Eric.”
“Can you get me a list of who had haircuts that afternoon?” Owen asked.
Crap! Gray didn’t want to give Owen a list of his customers so they could be harassed by the police. But he had to stall, because he needed time to investigate the key.
“Sure. I’d have to get back to my shop and look through the appointment book.”
Stan darted over to a nearby table, pulled a chair out, and sat under the shade of the umbrella. “I don’t see what all this is going to get us. I don’t think the little old lady who was having a haircut would’ve murdered a young man like Eric Naill. Maybe I should go to the morgue and double check that an old lady would’ve had the strength to stab him like that.”
“Huh, that’s a good idea, Stan,” Owen said.
“Yeah. You seem to have developed a rapport with our medical examiner, so you should go.” Dex’s lips twitched, trying to suppress a smile.
“Okay, I’ll meet you guys back at the station.” Stan shot up from the chair and bee-lined for the shade of a tall oak tree, then made his way toward the public offices while keeping to the shaded side of the street.
“What do you think is wrong with him?” Owen asked Dex. “I mean, if he needs some sunscreen, I have some at the office. I think a little bit of sun would do him good. He’s pale as a ghost.”
“Right. Well, if that’s all, I’ll be getting to my shop now so I can get you that list.” Gray edged away from Owen.
“What? Oh, okay. Sure. I got to get me one of those Tropical Tornados. Talk to you later.” Owen headed toward the juice bar.
Dex hung back, waiting for Owen to get far enough away before leaning over toward Gray. “Issy said you guys are working on a lead. I’ll try to stall Owen long enough for you to work it through, but I have to warn you, he really wants to make an arrest soon.” Dex slapped him on the shoulder and started off to join Owen. “Better work fast, buddy,” he called over his shoulder.
Gray tossed his cup in the trash and trudged toward the salon, his spirit sinking. He shoved his hands in his pockets, his fist curled so tightly around the key that it dug painfully into his palm. He needed to make sure nothing happened to it. That key might be a longshot, but right now, it was his only shot.
Chapter 20
Gray spent the next several hours puttering around in his salon and trying to keep his anxiety at bay. He trusted Dex to distract Owen, but how long would that work? Eventually Owen would want to make an arrest, and if the evidence pointed to Gray, he didn’t think there was much Dex could do about it.
Which was why he desperately needed to figure out what the enchanted key unlocked. It had to be something important, because no one enchanted a key to hide unimportant things.
His hand stole into his pocket again to reassure himself the key was still there. Hopefully this would be the thing that got him off the hook, because if not, he didn’t really have any other better ideas.
I can spy on that Bobby Knight dude, boss man, Cosmo telepathed from his perch where he’d been watching Gray obsessively clean the same spot repeatedly.
“Nope. Too dangerous, buddy.” Maybe if they lived in the tropics where cockatoos flew around in the wild, it would be okay, but Cosmo flying around the South Side looking for Bobby Knight would be dangerous. It wasn’t as though the South Side witches didn’t know that Gray had a cockatoo for a familiar. That was too dangerous, and he didn’t want Cosmo to get hurt because of him. But maybe there was something Cosmo could do for him.
“You can come to Beth’s and help search.” With his keen eyesight and ability to fly, Cosmo could search the place much faster than any human. Gray pulled the key from his pocket, holding it flat in his palm. “Look for any kind of box that this might open.”
