Halo Effect Read online

  “I don’t think I’m in the mood for a brownie anymore,” Daniel said warily.

  “There’s a second dessert,” I said. “Let me get it.”

  Ember pushed back her chair. “I’ll come with you. There’s something I’d like to discuss with you in private.”

  I glanced around the busy dining room. “Sure. Don’t mind the messy kitchen. I didn’t have time for the clean-up spell.”

  We migrated to the quiet kitchen and I went straight to the cabinet for a stack of dessert plates.

  “Ooh, cupcakes,” Ember said, brightening at the sight of a dozen colorful cupcakes on an oval platter. “I’ve gained five pounds just since we’ve been here.”

  “It’s payback for all the weight I gained in Starry Hollow.”

  “No fair. You were pregnant!” Ember leaned against the island. “Your house is great. I love my cottage, but a front porch is definitely missing from my life.” She paused. “Speaking of things missing from my life, I was hoping to talk to your father. Is he around?”

  “My father?”

  Ember scraped icing from a cupcake with her finger and popped it into her mouth. “You said he’s a demigod, right? Super old and powerful? Son of the goddess Nyx?”

  “Yes,” I said slowly. “That’s the guy. I’m sorry, but he isn’t here.”

  Ember’s expression crumpled. “Will he be back soon? Maybe in the next few days?”

  “Afraid not. I sort of sent him away.” I sucked in a breath. “It’s complicated.”

  Ember nodded. “If there’s one thing I understand, it’s complicated family dynamics.”

  “Is there something I can help you with?” I asked.

  Ember hesitated. “I’m looking for information about my ancestor, the One True Witch. Not book summaries or speculation. The kind of information that maybe only those around for centuries would know. An oral history.”

  “I see.”

  “It’s no big deal,” Ember said. “I came for the festival. This would’ve been a bonus.”

  I had a feeling it was the other way around, but I didn’t say anything. “My father might not be here, but he’s not the only ancient one in town.”

  She perked up. “Really?”

  “The three Grey sisters,” I said. “Well, we’re down to two now. One is living abroad. Met a man. You know how it is.”

  “You think they might be able to help me?”

  “I can’t promise anything, but it’s worth a try since you’re already here.”

  “Thanks, I would appreciate it.”

  “We’ve got a big day tomorrow with Flower Power, but I’ll see if I can arrange it,” I said.

  “At least Florian won’t be able to stay out late at the bar tonight,” Ember said. “Not with our early wake-up call tomorrow.”

  A thought occurred to me. “You know what? I need to drop by The Spotted Owl tonight if the two of you would like to join me. Marley can hang out here so she doesn’t have to go back to the Harpy’s Nest on her own.”

  Ember’s eyes widened. “Are you serious? That would be awesome. Should we go now?”

  I cut a glance at the delicious dessert. “Right after we’ve inhaled these cupcakes.”

  Daniel parked in front of The Spotted Owl. “Send Sedgwick to me when you’re ready to come home.”

  “Thanks for the ride, Dan,” Florian said.

  I suppressed a smile. No one ever called the angel ‘Dan.’

  We exited the car and walked straight into the pub. It was comfortably busy, no line to get in but not dead inside either.

  “Maybe we should’ve brought Raoul,” Ember said.

  “He’ll be fine,” I assured her. “Magpie will keep him in line.”

  “You look like you’re on a mission,” Florian said to me.

  “I’m looking for character witnesses for a case I’m working on.” I surveyed the interior for Ansell’s co-workers.

  Florian pointed to me. “Hard at work.” And then to Ember. “Hardly working.”

  Ember jabbed him with her elbow. “Hey! I resemble that remark.”

  “You’re in Spellbound working,” I said. “That counts for a lot.” I leaned across the counter to address the bartender. “Can you tell me if Reggie, Miriam, Violet, or Carter is here?”

  The satyr stopped wiping down the counter to scan the room. He pointed to a booth at the far side of the establishment. “Over there. Reggie’s the loud one. Looks like the only one missing tonight is the ogre.”

  I looked at him quizzically. “Ansell?”

  “I guess so. He didn’t tend to order from the bar, so I don’t really know him.”

  “How did he get drinks?” I asked.

  He motioned to the booth with his wet rag. “Reggie likes to order for everyone. He’s one of those gregarious types. Makes him feel good to buy the rounds. Tips well, too, so I’m not complaining.”

  “Thanks.” I turned to Ember and Florian. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  “Take your time,” Florian said. “We’ll be here.”

  Ember cocked an eyebrow. “I thought you wanted to check out a couple places.”

  “I do, but a beautiful fairy just fluttered in and I’d like to talk to her as part of my research, see if she plans to attend the festival tomorrow.”

  Ember rolled her eyes. “Right. Research.”

  I smiled as I walked toward the booth, straining to listen to their conversation. My ears perked up when I heard Ansell’s name mentioned.

  “The whole thing is a mess,” Reggie said.

  “Poor Ansell,” Carter said. “He seemed like such a good guy.”

  “He is a good guy,” one of the women said. She was petite, with dark purple hair pulled into a loose ponytail that revealed the pointed tips of her ears.

  “We should’ve known he’d blow his top eventually,” the other woman said. “He has a record, you know. A wereleopard doesn’t change his spots.”

  “Good thing he’s an ogre,” Carter said.

  The elf groaned in frustration. “Yes, we know he has a record, Miriam. You bring it up often enough.”

  I approached the table with a friendly smile. “Are you the crew from Mini Meow?”

  Unsurprisingly, Reggie spoke first. “For a pretty lady like you, I’m whoever you want me to be.”

  “Yes,” the elf said, shooting dagger eyes at her co-worker. “I’m Violet. These are my colleagues, Reggie, Miriam, and Carter.”

  “I’m Emma Hart.” I noticed Violet and Carter wince at the sound of my name.

  “You’re Ansell’s lawyer,” Carter said.

  “That’s right. I was hoping you could answer a few questions for me.”

  Reggie jumped up from the booth and ran to grab a chair for the end of the table. He placed it behind me with a flourish and returned to his seat.

  “Thanks.” I sat and scooted the chair closer to the table. “Ansell seems like a great guy.”

  “He is,” Violet said. “He gets a bad rap because he’s an ogre…”

  “And because he literally has a rap sheet,” Miriam interjected.

  Violet pursed her lips.

  “His record doesn’t reflect the guy we know,” Carter said. “He’s been great to work with. Violet can vouch for him. She works the closest with him.”

  The end of the elf’s ears turned pink and I wondered just how closely they worked together.

  “We’re both designers,” Violet said. “We collaborate a lot on projects.”

  “Are you all on the development team?” I asked.

  “Yes, but in different capacities,” Reggie said. “I’m the head of production, which means making sure their designs are feasible.”

  “Yes, he’s a big deal.” Carter’s voice was laced with sarcasm.

  “Not as big a deal as Don,” Miriam said.

  “Only a few more promotions and I’ll get there,” Reggie said, puffing out his chest.

  “The lady is here to talk about Ansell, not you,” Violet s
colded him. She turned back to me. “What would you like to know?”

  “For starters, did any of you witness the punch?” I asked.

  “No, but I wish I had,” Reggie said, grinning. “I heard he gave Don a bloody nose.”

  “I think Violet was the only one there.” Miriam exchanged looks with the other two. “You guys went home before me that day and I left before Violet and Ansell. Everyone seemed to be running late.”

  “Was that unusual?” I asked.

  “I try to leave on time most days because I’m a single mom,” Violet said. “I need to get home so the babysitter can leave.”

  “Don can be a task master, though,” Reggie interrupted. “He believes in face time. He thinks the longer you’re chained to your desk, the more productive you are.”

  “I can tell you from personal experience that’s not the case,” I said.

  Violet swilled her wine. “Don didn’t like the designs Ansell and I presented in our meeting earlier that day and asked us to stay until we came up with something he approved of.”

  Reggie slapped the table. “That mouse stuck in the Swiss cheese hole was the best. I loved that one.”

  “I thought they were all great,” Carter said. “I don’t know what his problem was.”

  “His problem is that he’s a perfectionist,” Miriam said. “I don’t see anything wrong with trying to get the most out of your employees.”

  “I miss Victor,” Violet said.

  “That’s the owner who retired?” I asked.

  Everyone nodded.

  “Ever since Don took over the company, the atmosphere has changed,” Carter said. “I’ve thought about lodging an anonymous complaint with the board of directors, but I know it would come back to bite me and I need this job.”

  Miriam gave him a look of disgust. “You’re a bunch of babies. Our jobs are a luxury and we should be grateful to have them. Don could’ve fired all of us when he took over, but he didn’t. He could’ve fired Ansell, too, which he probably regrets in hindsight.”

  “He only kept us on because it was easier for him,” Carter said.

  Miriam shook her head in annoyance. “You’re always too hard on Don. He’s the president. He has a lot more responsibility than we do.”

  “Right,” Violet muttered. “We’re too hard on him.”

  “Is there no human resources department?” I asked.

  “No,” Miriam said.

  Violet eyed me with interest. “Should there be?”

  “It’s a pretty standard department in the human world, especially for a company the size of Mini Meow.”

  “Maybe we can bring it up to the board,” Carter said. “Then it won’t seem like a direct complaint about Don.”

  “Can you tell me about the punch?” I asked Violet.

  She lowered her gaze to the table. “I didn’t see anything.”

  “You were there. Did you at least hear them arguing?” I pressed.

  “I think it was about the designs he didn’t like,” Violet said.

  “Why would Ansell punch him over that?” I asked.

  “Very unprofessional,” Miriam said pointedly.

  “I guess he got pushed to the brink,” Reggie chimed in. “Putting in a lot of hours and then getting criticized for his efforts. The guy finally cracked.”

  “Is there that much pressure to produce?” I asked. It seemed like a highly stressful environment for a company that made cats toys.

  “Don has a way of needling some folks,” Reggie said. “Isn’t that right, Violet?”

  The elf wrapped her hands around her glass. “He’s a challenging boss.”

  “Do you think there’s a chance that Don goaded Ansell into punching him, knowing he could get rid of him without actually firing him?” I asked.

  “Why not just fire him?” Miriam asked. “Why let himself get beat up in the process?”

  “Because it sounds like that wouldn’t have been enough for Don,” I said. “If he likes to needle, he would’ve made a few comments that got under Ansell’s skin.”

  Miriam folded her arms. “Nothing he could’ve said justifies violence. It’s the breakdown of society if you ask me.”

  “Good thing nobody did,” Violet said.

  Miriam scowled. “Good paranormals don’t go around punching others.”

  “I’m glad Ansell isn’t here,” Carter said. “I wouldn’t want him to hear what you really think of him.”

  “I wouldn’t say this if he were here,” Miriam said. “I wouldn’t want to get punched.”

  Violet groaned and downed the rest of her drink. “I need to get home. Mrs. Kilgore can’t stay late. She’s going to Flower Power tomorrow.”

  “Me, too, actually. I’ll let you get back to your evening,” I said. “Thanks for the information.”

  I returned to the bar to find Florian with an arm draped along the shoulders of a smitten fairy. She was batting her eyelashes so hard, I worried they’d break into pieces.

  Ember smiled when she saw me. “Sweet baby Elvis, I’m so glad you’re back. If I have to listen to them for one more minute, I’m going to need a bucket.”

  “He certainly has the magic touch,” I said.

  “He must have a magic something or else women wouldn’t throw themselves at him in such high numbers.” Ember shook her head. “Sometimes they make me weep for my gender.”

  “Well, I’m all finished here if you want to head back,” I offered.

  “Good idea. I need to get Marley to bed and make sure Raoul didn’t eat you out of house and home since he’s not allowed in the kitchen at the B&B.” Ember shot an annoyed look at her cousin. “We’ll leave Wonder Wizard to his own devices.”

  We waved to Florian and headed out the door. The sooner I got to sleep, the better. Tomorrow was Flower Power and I would need every ounce of my own to make it through the day.

  Chapter Five

  The morning of Flower Power was clear and bright, not that Spellbound was ever anything else. It was easier to plan an outdoor festival when you could rely on magical Mother Nature’s cooperation.

  I lugged everything I needed to the front porch. An outing with one child was like preparing to camp in isolation for a week. I had all the necessary gear—the stroller, the number of bottles she’d need with one extra just in case, toys, sunscreen, spare clothes, spare diapers, diaper mat, age-appropriate snacks, and my purse, which included its own necessities.

  I chose the forward-facing stroller today so Diana would be able to enjoy more than my face. As much as I loved watching her sweet and inquisitive expressions as we walked, I didn’t want to deprive her of the riot of colors on display.

  “I’ve taken the liberty of popping ahead,” Gareth said, appearing beside me.

  “There’s no need for reconnaissance,” I said. “Daniel planned the entire festival, don’t forget.”

  “Why do you think I went to inspect it?” Gareth began counting on his fingers. “There are multiple entry and exit points, ideal for a kidnapper looking to make a getaway. A few displays of poison plants with inadequate sign posting, and plenty of places where heavy containers can topple over and crush her.”

  I heaved a sigh. “I appreciate you looking out for Diana, but she’s strapped in the stroller that I’m pushing. Her father will be with us. The odds of her being kidnapped, poisoned, or toppled are basically nonexistent.”

  The vampire ghost clucked his tongue. “Still so naive.”

  “Anything else I should be wary of, Captain Safety Inspector?” I asked.

  “I spotted a few plants and flowers that might cause allergies,” he said. “You might want to avoid those areas.”

  “What’s the worst that can happen? She might sneeze?” I patted my purse now hooked on the stroller. “I’m a mom now, Gareth. Have tissues, will travel.”

  “There’s already a queue for tickets, so you’re lucky you don’t need them,” he continued. “It’ll be very crowded.”

  “I hope it is. Dan
iel’s worked really hard to make the festival a success.”

  “Aye, but you don’t want to expose the bairn to unnecessary germs. I can accompany you and shove anyone that gets too close. They’ll think it was a gust of wind.”

  I offered an indulgent smile. “We’ll be fine, Gareth, but I appreciate the offer to play bodyguard.”

  The front door opened and Daniel emerged from the house with an anxious smile. “Ready?” he asked.

  “Diana and I are,” I said, “but Gareth’s wound a little tight this morning. I think he might need a moment to find inner peace.”

  Gareth’s eyes bulged. “I can’t breathe,” he moaned as he clutched his neck.

  “Because you don’t need to, remember?” I said. “One of the perks of being dead undead.”

  His expression relaxed and his arms dropped to his sides. “Parenthood is emotionally draining.”

  “Stay here and enjoy time to yourself while we’re out,” I said. “Play disco music. Dance around the house naked.”

  Daniel closed his eyes. “I don’t need these visuals in my head.”

  Gareth waved to Diana. “I’ll miss you, poppet. If they neglect you, do something horrid to get their attention.”

  I rolled my eyes and turned the stroller toward town. “See you later.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want to drive?” Daniel asked.

  I glanced at Sigmund, my 1980s green Volvo and the last vestige of my former life in Lemon Grove, Pennsylvania.

  “It’ll be too hard to park today. Besides, the fresh air will be good for us.” Between work, school, and home with Diana, I wasn’t getting outdoors as much as I’d like.

  “We’ll get plenty of fresh air today,” Daniel said. “Every part of the festival is outside.”

  After five minutes of walking, Diana’s head lolled to the side and she fell asleep in the stroller.

  “Daniel, slow down. It isn’t fair to fly.” The angel seemed to flutter his wings every few steps, propelling him further forward. His long strides were enough to put me at a disadvantage.

  He stopped walking and turned to smile at me. “I’m sorry. I just can’t wait for you to see it. Everything looks amazing.”

  We arrived in the heart of town at the main entrance to the festival. The displays covered most of the academy grounds and a few streets had been blocked off for exhibitors all the way to the library.