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Chapter 22

After the tour rehearsal ended—to roaring success, if you ask me—I returned home and researched the old dark magic coven on my laptop. Other than a few short paragraph mentions on a couple of websites and a tiny segment on a Ten creepy things to do in Olmeda video, I didn’t find anything I didn’t already know from Vicky’s tale. Evil witches, house full of blood and horrors, all disappeared never to be seen again after the coven leader died.

Standarddark magic stuff.

Icalled Dru to update her on the investigation, and since she didn’t pick up, I sent her a text gushing over the tour and letting her know Ian and I had some leads to follow tomorrow.

Threedots appeared on the screen, then they disappeared, then appeared again, then disappeared. ThenI wrote, “Three times pay, I promise.”

Ihate you.

Towhich I replied: Hate is the foundation of many beautiful friendships, for where there is a depth of feeling, there is the chance for blossoming love.

Towhich she answered with a puke emoji.

Beautifulfriendship right here.

AfterI’d exhausted every internet search about the dark magic coven, I returned to watching some of the webcams’ footage. Sonia hadn’t called about any pentagram appearing during last night or today, so whoever had done them was done for now or, more likely in my opinion, had meant the pentagrams for that first night and Crane and my shop had been planned for the second.

Andnow either Crane’s death had been unintentional, and they had run for the hills, or his demise had a purpose and I was about to wake up to an even worse incident.

Hastily, I jumped off the bed and ran down to double check the locks and the alarm (with its shiny new code).

Onmy way back upstairs, I poured extra magic on the ward on the stairs. It might not amount to much, but at this point anything helped.

Ishould’ve asked Ian to bring Fluffy overnight.

Backon my bed with the laptop, I settled in to observe people having a smashing pre-Halloween night in Olmeda’s busy streets until Ian called and broke the spell of crowd-watching.

“Ian?” I asked, so glad to hear from him instead of reading his texts.

“Unless you changed my number from Ass 1,” he said dryly.

“I sure did.” I had added a heart. “Did you talk to Wyatt? How did it go?” From the distorted music and crowd noises filling the background, he must still be around Guiles and Romary.

“I did, and it went about as well as we’d expected.”

Iliked that he used “we” as if we’d both agreed it wouldn’t amount to much from the start rather than rubbing it in my nose that I’d thought he had a chance to get anything out of the seedy bar owner. “So, not so useful?”

“Not at all.”

“That’s disappointing.” I flopped back onto the pillow. “Did he look nervous or sketchy when you talked to him?”

“I’m a bounty hunter, Hope.”

“I’ll take that as a yes. Did he have an explanation about his fight with Crane?”

“Let me see… ‘None of your business,’ and ‘order something or get out.’”

“How rude. Doesn’t he know who you are?”

“Afraid he does.”

“Did you order something?”

“Yes.”

“Bet he overcharged you by a lot.”

“Thankfully, my current employer pays for expenses.”

Igroaned. “DoI want to know?”

“I’ll send an itemized bill at the end of my employment.” He was definitely gloating now.

“What a waste. Bet you didn’t even drink it.”

“Would you have drunk it?”

“Of course not.”

“Good girl,” he said with approval, and why did that feel so good instead of horribly patronizing?

“What did he do after you left?”

“He didn’t run out the back to have a secret conversation on the phone during which he admitted his guilt and laid out his evil plans, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“That’s too bad,” I said, disappointed. It was the least the man could’ve done, really. “What’s your read on him? Do you think he did it?”

“No.”

“You sound awfully sure for having gotten no answers.”

“DoI think he could’ve done it? Yes. ButI’m guessing he knows a dozen ways of getting rid of a body. He has no connection to your shop, and he’s not the kind of man to use partners. Why leave the body at the shop? Your shop doesn’t encroach into his territory.”

“I suppose you’re right. Where are you now?”

“One street over, waiting to see if he makes a move.”

“But you said you don’t think he did it.”

“I’ve been proven wrong before.”

“Like when you thought I was a dark witch?” I joked.

“I’m still not convinced I wasn’t right,” he grumbled, “seeing as how I always end up doing what you ask of me.”

“Hey, now! You do that because you see the wisdom of my ways.”

Along silence filled with distorted background music was my answer. Hah. He could doubt all he wanted, but in his heart of hearts, he knew I was usually right.

“Say, Ian…” I trailed off, a lump of nerves forming in my throat.

“Yes, Hope?” he replied, a smooth velvety caress that left goosebumps in its wake.

Ifought to gather my wits. “Do you believe in true mates?”

Iwasn’t sure when I’d decided to end my internal misery and ask him outright, but now was as good a time as any since I’d never in a million years gather the courage to ask him in person.

“No.”

Hisanswer had been too fast. Way too fast. I scowled at the wall. “Are you lying?”

“Yes.”

“Ian!”

“Hmm?”

Hewas going to make me work for it, wasn’t he? Fine. “AmI your mate?”

“No.”

“Are you lying again?”

“I want to claim one of the many favors you owe me.”

“I don’t owe you that many favors.”

“You owe enough. I’m cashing in one.”

“Okay,” I said warily. “What do you want me to do for you?”

“I want you to promise you won’t run away.”

Thatwas easy. “Sure. I won’t run away.” Where was I going to run to?

“All right. See you tomorrow?”

“Sure, but, wait, you didn’t answer.”

“Good night, Hope.” With that he hung up.

Istared at the phone, then at Grandma’s spellbook on my dresser.

“Grandma, why are men like this?”

Unfortunately, Grandma didn’t appear to have any wise words for me, so I had to go to bed with my unanswered questions and the knowledge that I could never face Ian again because either he thought I was full of myself, or he’d laugh at me for the rest of our lives for asking something so silly.

Iwoke up bright and early, surprised at how easily I’d fallen asleep considering my conversation with Ian.

Itwas of no matter. I would find the truth about this mate thing, and if Ian found it hilarious, I’d find a way to get back at him.

“Leave the mistakes of the past behind you and strive to make each new day one you can be proud of.”

Andwhat better day to do that than Halloween?

Excitedly, I took out my witchy Halloween costume of black blouse, fluffy black skirt, black leggings with a pattern of silver stars, and black sneakers—which wasn’t very witchy, but this witch had to stay on her feet all day long.

Hummingto myself, I took a fast shower and did my best to blow-dry my hair into a semblance of order.

Butas I studied my reflection in the mirror and applied my green makeup and dusting of glitter, a multitude of questions returned, this time having to do with the murder of Crane. I was fast running out of time before he was reported missing to the police, and with every day that passed, his murderer could be getting farther away.

“Why my shop?” I asked myself, securing my witch hat headband. And since I had no answer, I added, “And how did they get in?”

Dressingwith more care than usual, I reran my list of subjects through my head. I had been so busy focusing on who would want to kill Crane that I’d forgotten the mechanics of the murder itself. My shop. My security system. My locks.

Whohad access to a copy of the keys and the alarm code?

“NotDru,” I told Grandma’s spellbook as I placed my hands on top of the soft embroidered fabric of the cover. With a deep inhale, I allowed all the goodness that was my memories of Grandma to fill me with renewed determination.

Iwasn’t powerful, but I had friends and cunning on my side.

Ifnot Dru, who else? Mark? Hutton? Who else had been around the shop long enough to?—

No.

“Oh, no. No, no, no.”

Grabbingmy sneakers, I ran down into the shop, almost slipping and braining myself on the stairs.

Burstingthrough the bead curtain, I switched on the light and glared at the shop.

“Ms. Bagley?”

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