Cloaks and Daggers Read online

  “I need everyone to stay in the house, but give us room to work,” the sheriff announced. “And keep out of the dining room. No one goes in there except Deputy Britta and me.”

  Her sister waved to the group. “That’s me.”

  Adam stepped forward, his minotaur form towering over the others. “How long do we need to stay here, Sheriff? I have a schedule to stick to. The next homeowner is waiting for the crew to set up.”

  Sheriff Astrid gave him a cool, lingering look. “I guess I’ll start by asking you a few questions then.”

  Adam seemed to realize his mistake. “I didn’t mean to sound so callous. We’re all devastated by the loss and horrified by the incident, naturally.”

  “You mean murder,” Britta said. The Valkyrie accentuated the word ‘murder.’ “This was no mere incident.”

  Adam’s head bobbed up and down vigorously. For a huge guy with horns, he seemed intimidated by the Valkyrie sisters, not that I blamed him.

  “Is there any sign of a break-in?” Paige asked.

  “I think someone would’ve noticed a break-in,” Natalya said. “Some of us were up most of the night.”

  “Which is why it’s possible no one noticed,” Paige said. “Too distracted.”

  “Did anyone hear or see anything unusual?” Sheriff Astrid asked.

  Everyone looked around helplessly.

  “How is it possible for this house to be overflowing with occupants but no one saw or heard anything?” Sheriff Astrid turned to me. “You even live with a nosy ghost.”

  “He wasn’t home,” I said. “Neither was Sedgwick.”

  “I’m trying to carve out an eternal life for myself outside of these four walls,” Gareth said. “I can’nae spend all my free time with the bairn.”

  I squinted at him. “I thought you liked Diana.”

  The front door swung open and Bethany appeared, her arms laden with bags of food. “There were so many good choices,” she said, panting. “I ended up buying them all. How do you live here and not gain three hundred pounds?”

  “Did you manage to find vegan?” Jackie asked.

  “I went to the Wish Market,” Bethany said. “I found everything I never knew I wanted.”

  The sheriff narrowed her eyes. “I thought everyone was here.”

  “Adam said we needed to eat,” Bethany said. Her innocent gaze flicked to the minotaur for confirmation.

  “Bethany does whatever he says,” Ashini said. “That’s her job.”

  “I’ll just put this stuff in the dining room…” Bethany began.

  Deputy Britta practically tackled her. “No! The dining room is a secure area.”

  Bethany started to lose her grip on the bags and I rushed forward to catch one before it fell.

  “Let’s take these to the kitchen,” I said.

  Sheriff Astrid snapped her fingers. “Yes. Let’s start in the kitchen. Tell me if any knives are missing.”

  I carried one of the bags to the kitchen. “I’m not sure I’d know.”

  “Did you get donuts?” Adam asked.

  Beside me, Bethany pulled a face. “Yes, master.”

  “Did you get the right kind of donuts?” Adam pressed, trailing behind us.

  We set the bags on the kitchen counter and Adam rifled through them.

  “They didn’t have snickerdoodle donuts, so I had to get different kinds.” Bethany leaned over to me and whispered, “They totally had snickerdoodle donuts.”

  As the group gathered in the kitchen, I realized that Daniel was still upstairs with Diana. Probably for the best.

  “Is there anything I can do?” I asked. Paranormals pushed their way around me, getting drinks and plates to organize their breakfast. For once, I felt unnecessary in my own home.

  “I’m going to do a search, then ask questions,” Sheriff Astrid said in a low voice. “If you and Daniel want to take off for a bit with Diana, it might be easier.”

  “You don’t want Daniel and I to stay here?” I asked. “We were in the house too.”

  Sheriff Astrid heaved a sigh. “Emma, if you want to stay, that’s fine, but you know it isn’t necessary.”

  Right. Because I wasn’t necessary. Got it. “I guess I’ll pop in at the office and see how Althea and Josie are getting on.”

  “Good idea.” Sheriff Astrid turned to address the group. “Listen up, buttercups. Nobody leaves the house until I say so, and even after I say so, nobody leaves town without permission. You don’t have to stay in this house…”

  “You can’nae stay in this house!” Gareth yelled into the abyss.

  “…but you cannot leave the borders of Spellbound,” the sheriff finished. “Understood?”

  “It would be just like old times if we were original residents,” Ryan said. “Trapped in Spellbound.” He snickered.

  Ashini shot him a death glare. “For once in our married lives, could you not try to be funny?”

  Ryan pressed his palm flat against his chest. “But it comes so naturally to me.”

  “Not as naturally as you think,” she muttered.

  I left the tension behind me and hurried upstairs to get dressed and escape the inquisition.

  Daniel decided to take Diana for a flight over town, much to my dismay.

  “She’s part angel,” he said. “What are you worried about?”

  “That you’ll drop our baby a hundred feet in the air,” I said. We stood outside my office, debating the issue on the sidewalk in front of passersby.

  Daniel clutched the baby to his chest. “I’ve been flying my whole life.”

  “But not with a baby strapped to you,” I said.

  Daniel glanced at the baby carrier wrapped around him. “The key word there is strapped. I’ll still hold her. She’ll be fine.”

  I inhaled deeply and tried to clear the fear from my brain. “You’re right. I should trust you.” And not let my own fear seep into the baby.

  “We’re both unsettled because of the murder.” He leaned down and kissed me, careful not to squish the baby between us. “Let’s try to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.”

  I inclined my head toward the office door. “Not me. I’m all about artificial light and recycled air.”

  Daniel grinned. “Meet you for lunch at noon?”

  “Sounds good.” I turned and entered the office. I couldn’t watch my husband launch into the air with our child. It was too anxiety-inducing, no matter how much I trusted him. I barely made it through the door when Althea pounced on me.

  “Thank the gods you’re here.” Althea grabbed me by the shoulders and squeezed.

  “What’s wrong?” I tried to shake loose, but she kept a firm grip on me.

  “She’s driving me to distraction.” The snakes curled beneath the headscarf on the Gorgon’s head and hissed in agreement.

  “Josie?” Josie McGill was a wererat who’d moved to Spellbound after the curse was broken. She’d worked as a lawyer in her hometown and hoped to find similar work here. She’d jumped at the chance to fill in for me while I was on maternity leave.

  “Yes, Josie.” Althea smoothed the front of her kaftan and headed back to the windowsill to water the plant. “Do you know she bought food for this plant the other day? It took all my self-control not to murder her right then.”

  I frowned. “But you love plants. You can’t stand that I don’t take care of them properly.”

  “But I also love to be in charge of nurturing them,” Althea admitted. “I don’t give them plant food. What is that? Ground-up soil and leaves? It’s like some kind of botany cannibalism.” She shuddered.

  “I’m sure she means well. After all, this is her space while I’m on leave.” I glanced at my desk and froze. “She moved my lucky quill.”

  “She did more than that,” Althea said. “Look. She has one of those obnoxious troll dolls from the human world.” The Gorgon grimaced as she pointed to the unattractive plastic doll with the strange eyes and crazy hair. “Trolls look nothing like that.”

/>   “Why is hers wearing tiny handcuffs?” I asked, squinting.

  “Because she thinks it’s funny,” Althea said. “The girl is weird and not in a good way. I can barely get through a conversation with her without her laughing at something that isn’t funny. It’s like her brain wires get crossed when humor comes into play. She needs reprogramming.”

  “She’s not a computer,” I said.

  “Who’s not a computer?” The door creaked open and Josie swept into the room. She held a coffee cup in her hand.

  “I don’t recognize that logo,” I said. “Did Brew-Ha-Ha change theirs?”

  Her lip curled. “I much prefer the coffee at Perky’s.” She set the cup on the desk. “Is there something I can help you with, Emma?”

  “I want to make sure you’re getting on okay,” I said. “Find out if you have questions or need help.”

  She offered a breezy smile. “Not at all. Everything is under control.”

  “Are you working on a case?” I asked.

  “I have a misdemeanor,” Josie said. “No big deal. Really seems like a case of miscommunication.” She took her seat—my seat—and moved closer to the desk. “It’s been nice and quiet around here, to be honest.”

  “You can tell her about the thing,” Althea urged.

  “What thing?” I asked.

  Josie gave her a sharp look. “I already told you. There’s no thing, Althea.”

  I glanced from the Gorgon to the wererat. “Sounds like something important.”

  “It’s nothing. It’s about Lady Weatherby,” Josie said.

  I leaned my hand on the desk to keep from keeling over. “I’m sorry. Did you say Lady Weatherby?”

  Josie chewed her lip and glared at Althea. “There’s nothing to report right now. We don’t know the outcome…”

  “The outcome of what?” I felt pressure building in my chest and tried in vain to relax.

  Josie picked up the troll doll and began to twirl her fingers through the crazy hair. “She’s been working with a specialist lawyer to secure her release. Someone outside of Spellbound.”

  My head started spinning. “Jacinda Weatherby?”

  “That’s the one.”

  Althea gave me a knowing look. “I told you it was a thing.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” I asked.

  “You’re on maternity leave,” Althea said. “You should be focused on your baby and not getting stressed out.” She lowered her gaze. “But I did want to tell you.”

  “Has anyone told Agnes?” I asked.

  “Not that I know of,” Althea said. “You’re the only one who talks to her.”

  That much was true. Agnes wasn’t everybody’s cup of tea. Well, let’s be honest. Agnes wasn’t anybody’s cup of tea. Still, the elderly witch had a soft spot for her only daughter, no matter how badly Lady Weatherby had behaved.

  “The hearing is later this week,” Josie said. “The lawyer filed the paperwork a couple months ago and the judge will be rendering his decision.”

  “I can’t believe no one told me,” I said.

  “The papers were sealed, apparently,” Althea said. “The lawyer is good.”

  “Obviously or I’d know,” I said.

  “There were all sorts of claims about improper jurisprudence,” Althea said. “A lot of allegations that cases stemming from Spellbound were mishandled because of the curse on the town.”

  “Not blaming you, of course,” Josie said quickly. “They’re citing cases that go all the way back to the beginning of the curse.”

  “What does that mean?” I asked. “That every criminal locked up before the curse was broken will seek to be released?”

  “Probably not all of them,” Josie said. “Depends on the circumstances.”

  “And whether they can afford a fancy lawyer,” Althea said.

  I scrunched my nose. “Who’s paying for Lady Weatherby’s?” The former head of the coven wasn’t wealthy, not like Daniel or Mayor Knightsbridge.

  “I heard she had coins stashed away,” Josie said.

  “Look on the bright side,” Althea said. “Lady Weatherby doesn’t hate you as much as some other folks. She probably won’t even come back to Spellbound.”

  “You’re probably right,” I said. Sadly, Agnes wouldn’t be enough of a draw for her. They weren’t particularly close.

  “Next time you drop by, would you mind bringing that bundle of joy?” the Gorgon asked. “Auntie Althea would love to smother her with kisses.” The snakes writhed beneath her headscarf. “The girls too.”

  “Um, I think Diana will be happier without forked tongues licking her, but thanks.”

  “They’re very noisy,” Josie said. “Sometimes they hiss so loudly that I can’t hear myself think.”

  “That’s because they don’t like you,” Althea said. I placed a calming hand on her arm and the Gorgon forced a smile. “It’s nothing personal. It’s the whole snake and rat dynamic.”

  “I totally understand,” Josie said, in a way that suggested she’d like to chop the snakes off Althea’s head and grind them into a soup.

  “Maybe I should come back to work sooner rather than later,” I said.

  “And jeopardize your baby’s future?” Josie said, aghast. “Don’t even consider it. You need this bonding time so your daughter doesn’t grow up to become a serial killer.”

  I made a face. “That’s what makes a serial killer?”

  Althea shook her head, seemingly annoyed. “Mothers get the blame for everything.”

  “From what I hear, Agnes is the reason that Lady Weatherby chose a dark path,” Josie said.

  “Agnes is the reason for underpants on the ceiling and hedgehogs in the bathtub,” I said. “Agnes is not to blame for her daughter’s actions. Lady Weatherby bears full responsibility for her behavior.”

  Josie gave me a curious look. “You seem fond of this Agnes.”

  “She has a good heart, no matter how much trouble she stirs up,” I said.

  “Sounds like someone else I know,” Althea said wryly.

  I looked at her askance. “I don’t stir up trouble.”

  “Maybe not, but you certainly attract it,” Althea said.

  Given the dead body in my dining room right now, I couldn’t exactly deny it. “You just reminded me. I need to pick up ingredients for a cleansing spell.”

  Althea cocked an eyebrow. “Anything you care to tell me?”

  Between my father’s sudden appearance and the murder, I had loads to tell her, but it didn’t seem appropriate in front of Josie. “We’ll catch up another time,” I said. “Come by for a drink one night.” I thought of the current state of my house. “But not tonight! Maybe next week.”

  Althea chuckled. “Relax. I won’t show up out of the blue, but I’m determined to get my cuddles in.”

  Josie glanced up from her folder. “You mean from the baby, right?”

  Althea glowered at her. “Don’t feed my plant or you’ll end up with plant food in your coffee. Understood?”

  Josie shifted uncomfortably in the chair. “No need to threaten me when asking politely will do.”

  Althea clenched her jaw. “That was me asking politely.”

  Josie’s eyes flashed with fear. “Duly noted.”

  Chapter Five

  By the time Daniel and I returned to the house with Diana, the energy in the house had calmed considerably. According to Gareth, most of the group was in the basement engaged in a music trivia competition to pass the time until the sheriff released them.

  I found Sheriff Astrid in the dining room with Ashini and Ryan. Britta stood behind the couple and I realized that she was subtly making shadow puppets on the wall.

  “Hey, Emma,” the sheriff said. “I was about to ask the Hills a few questions about last night. Care to sit in?”

  “Not the Hills,” Ashini said. “I’m Ashini Lizzo. He’s Ryan Hill.”

  “No, you’re right,” Sheriff Astrid said. “I apologize.”

&n
bsp; “We thought about hyphenating,” Ryan said, “but we couldn’t agree whether to be the Hill-Lizzos or the Lizzo-Hills.”

  “Lizzo-Hill rolls off the tongue better,” Britta said.

  Ryan pouted. “I think it sounds too much like a location.”

  “Can I offer anyone a drink?” I asked. It was hard not to play hostess when paranormals were in my house, no matter what the reason.

  Deputy Britta raised a finger. “I’ll have a burstberry fizz.”

  “Nothing for us, thanks,” Ashini said.

  Sheriff Astrid glanced at her sister. “We’re in the middle of an interview. I don’t think you need a drink.”

  Britta stuffed her hands into her pockets. “It’s not like it’s alcoholic.” She looked at me with a glimmer of hope. “Right, Emma?”

  “Not alcoholic,” I confirmed.

  “She doesn’t need a drink,” Sheriff Astrid said firmly.

  “Then I’ll just join you.” I gave Britta a sympathetic smile and sat at the head of the table.

  The sheriff shifted her focus back to the couple. “I understand you’re the competing couple for this episode. Can you tell me more about that? Reality television is a foreign concept to me.”

  “I don’t think of it so much as a competition as a collaborative effort,” Ryan said.

  Ashini stifled a groan. “Why did I marry an artist instead of that cute centaur from the bank?”

  “It doesn’t really seem collaborative when one couple ends up on the cutting room floor,” I said.

  Ashini tossed her dark hair over her shoulder. “Well, it wasn’t going to be us. We’re far too photogenic to be relegated to the B-roll. How often does the viewing public get to feast their eyes on a gryphon-siren hybrid?”

  “Oh, that’s what you are,” Britta said, coming to the other side of the table to examine her. “I’d been trying to figure it out. I thought maybe a harpy-banshee.”

  Ashini’s nostrils flared. “Are you trying to insult me? Does that make your job easier somehow?”

  Sheriff Astrid shook her head. “Trust me, Ms. Lizzo. Nothing about this job is easy.”

  “Your talons alone are a good reason to question you,” Britta said.

  Ashini frowned at her hands. The talons were cut to a reasonable length and polished in a shiny black color. “What’s wrong with my talons?”