Chapter 8

“A pentagram,”Ian repeated, allowing me to drag him toward the gate. My stomach grumbled, reminding me of the feast Key and the strays were consuming in his kitchen, but I ignored it. CheckingIan hadn’t been targeted was more important.

“Someone drew four pentagrams in blood overnight. Most of it animal, but there was human too. They also did some kind of spell.”

“Dark magic?”

“Or someone who wants us to think that. It could be their own blood.”

Notall use of blood in spells was bad. Some potions and wards required using your own blood or someone’s willing blood.

Wearrived at the gate and began walking around the cemetery fence. The sight of the hip-high brick wall and iron spikes filled me with wistfulness. “Look, it’s how we first met.”

“We met by the graves.”

“Yes, but it all started here.” I pointed at the fence. This had been the beginning of my friendship with Dru as well, when she’d caught me trying to sneak into the cemetery. I let out a happy sigh. So many beautiful memories.

Ianharrumphed, but I knew he was pleased I linked his cemetery to my happy place.

“Where did they find the pentagrams?” he asked.

Itold him about the spots and how nobody remembered anything unusual and there was a shocking lack of security cameras among the paranormal community in Olmeda.

“By the way,” I told him in a stern tone. “You shouldn’t leave all your doors open like that. What if someone sneaks in?”

“I have motion sensors on the gate and the doors. I get a notice on my phone.”

“What if someone gets over the fence? Fluffy alerted you to my presence, not your sensors.”

“Then it won’t matter if the doors are open or not, will it?” he countered dryly.

“You…may have a point there,” I admitted.

Heflashed me a grin. “Have any suspects yet?”

Ishowed him my persons of interest to-do list.

“Bosko,” he read aloud. “Lydia, Janet… You think the shop owners painted their own walls?”

“It’s a possibility. Paint yours and three other random places to divert attention.”

Hegrunted—approvingly, in my opinion—and kept reading. “Pie guy, Sonia?”

“You never know.”

“Preston?”

“Getting ahead of Dru.” She would a hundred percent insist on putting her backstabbing ex on the list.

Hechuckled. A dark, delicious sound that curled my toes.

“You crossed off the teen shifters?”

“Hutton gave them an alibi.”

“What if he’s lying to protect them?”

“Then he’ll read them the riot act and there won’t be any more pentagrams.”

“You think there might be more?”

Theidea gave me an unpleasant thrill. “Maybe? Until we know what the perpetrator’s plan is, we don’t know if four was enough or if they plan on doing more. Four is a weird number.” I gestured toward his fence. “Five sounds better.”

“You think there’s another pentagram that hasn’t yet been discovered?”

“Or whoever does them doesn’t care and only did four because they ran out of time.”

Somany possibilities, so little free time to figure it out.

“Crane is involved?” Ian asked, going back to the list.

“Janet saw him walk by a bit before her neighbor alerted her about the pentagram. It doesn’t seem like his style, but he might’ve seen something.”

Amusementdanced in his eyes as he checked the next line. “‘Everyone else?’”

“Gotta keep my options open.” He returned my phone, and I stared at the screen for a few moments before pocketing it. “Say, could I get the bounty hunters’ secret list of local paranormals?”

“We don’t keep a list of paranormals,” he said, all seriousness.

Sure, and I wasn’t a witch. “If such a thing existed, could you look into it for me?”

“What’s the angle?”

“Witches and the Cabinet. Maybe a paranormal works there? It’s the only human business affected. There has to be a catch.”

“Or it’s a diversion.”

“I need to make sure.”

“Why?”

“SoI don’t go down the wrong track and the vandal gets away.”

Hesmiled. “Why is it your problem?”

Ipuffed out my chest. “My community, my responsibility. Pentagrams and spells indicate witches are involved. Besides, Sonia asked me officially.” The notion still went down like delicious creamy artisanal ice cream.

“Doesn’t your job end at verifying spells were done?”

Fora lesser, less dedicated witch, probably. “I will narrow the list of suspects, then Sonia and OfficerBrooks can decide what to do. What’s the point of bothering anyone if it turns out to be a prank?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Inudged his side. “Can you check with your contacts and see if anyone suspect has come into town for Halloween?”

“I’m going to have to start charging you for all these ‘check your contacts’ I keep doing for you,” he said with mock severity.

“What did you have in mind?” I wriggled my eyebrows.

“Let me sleep on it.”

Laughing, I latched onto his arm and squeezed it close. “You do that, big guy. Oh, that reminds me—Key’s uncle might pop in to help with the tour at some point.”

“I see.”

Istill wasn’t sure how much Ian knew about Brimstone and Destruction’s involvement in the dark side of Olmeda’s paranormal world, or if he’d connected him as one of my dark magic clients.

“I think he’ll do great as a guide.”

“Sure, why not? The more the merrier.”

Thatbrought me up short. “Really?”

“No.”

Ileft Ian to finish the perimeter check on his own—the cemetery occupied a big block—and skipped lunch to rush back to the TeaCauldron.

Beforegoing in, I made sure no pentagrams had been drawn on the facade of my shop, the seasonal restaurant currently closed to the side, or the still-renovating CornerRose on the other. ThenI rounded the corner and checked the alleyway, relief flooding me when I didn’t find anything.

Icame in through the back door and hurried to enter the alarm code before it started its outraged beeping. Dru liked to keep the back door alarmed when she was alone in the shop because she didn’t like surprises.

Consideringthe last time we’d gotten robbed the fiend had come through the front door, I wasn’t sure it was as useful as Dru thought, but who was I to take away her security blanket?

Ileft my jacket in the kitchen and entered the cozy atmosphere of the shop. I had gotten a nice heater on sale, but with all the crowds, we hadn’t needed to use it at full blast yet.

Bothtables were in use and three people sat at the counter, I saw with approval. A couple stood by the muffins display, waiting for a to-go order, and Hannah and a woman in full goth attire stood by the bookshelf. AsI parted the bead curtain to step in, another person entered the shop, looking around eagerly.

Iinhaled deeply, filling my lungs with the wonderful aroma of success.

“You’re back,” Dru snapped with a fake smile worthy of horror movies.

Ihurried behind the counter before she committed murder in front of so many witnesses. “SorryI was away for so long. Let me give you a hand.”

Fromthe look on her face, she might use one of the butter knifes and take both hands once the rush was over.

Fora few minutes, I concentrated on helping Dru with the orders, feeling my heart soar with contentment. What a day! First, I’m asked for official help by Sonia, and now my shop was full of satisfied customers.

Ihoped they left good reviews.

Hannahused a phone to take some pictures of the woman, then gave it back and returned to the last seat on the counter. She was one of my regulars and had dropped by every day this week. Honestly, I would also hang around every day if our roles were reversed.

“Nice hat,” she said with a smile.

Iwinked and set a tea mug in front of her. “Thanks.” I nodded toward the woman who was now putting on a coat by the door. “A client?”

Hannahhad taken photos of me and the shop for my website, so I kept some fliers for her photography business on my counter. You never knew when a tourist might decide how awesome it’d be to have a few professional photos taken while on vacation.

“Not yet,” she said. “ButI think she’ll call me. Turns out she has a great costume ready for Halloween.”

“It’d be a shame not to have it professionally immortalized,” I agreed. “Did you know the store next door is being turned into an art gallery?”

Hannahshook her head, a gleam of interest entering her eyes. “I had no idea.”

“I don’t think it’s public information yet. But maybe you could talk with the owner? They might be willing to show your photographs in there.”

Everyoneknew that the key to small businesses in cities like Olmeda was to feature local talent.

Shepondered that for a moment. “I might at that. Thank you.”

“IfI see the owner, I could suggest your name too.” If the owner ever showed up. I was starting to feel a little sad they hadn’t yet. We were to be next-door neighbors! AllI’d gotten so far was a folded note under the door with a schedule for the renovations.

Foldednotes under my door had yet to bring me good news.

Thedoor opened again, and Mark the berserker stepped in, tall and wide like most of his kind. I watched him with suspicion. Talk about bad news coming through the door.

“Delivery done,” he announced.

Drunodded curtly. “Thanks.”

“We had a delivery request?” I asked, all excitement again.

“Yes,” she answered. “Butsomeone wasn’t here to deliver.”

Iwinced. “Sorry. Couldn’t be helped.”

“Could be helped if you hired an extra person,” she muttered.

Markgrinned and leaned on the counter like this was his home. He tipped an invisible hat. “At your service, ma’am.”

Hah.IfI were to hire an extra hand, it’d be Key, not him. “Do you even know how to make tea?”

“It’s shoving a glass under the water urn, Hope, not doctorate physics,” Dru muttered as she attacked a mug in the small sink behind the counter.

Fine, she got me there. “Thank you for helping,” I said politely to Mark, adding a you can go now stare.

Withthe same grin, he slid onto a stool that had just become unoccupied. “I think I’ll have the day’s special as payment for my services. Oh, and a Halloween muffin.”

“Did you do anything interesting last night?” I asked casually, putting the muffin on a small plate in front of him. I supposed he deserved this much.

Heattacked the orange baked good with relish. “Was working at the Crawler.”

Markwas a bouncer for Ian’s favorite pub in Guiles and Romary. “All night?”

“Pretty much.”

Itwirled a short strand of my hair. “Pretty much until when?”

Heshot me an amused glance. “We closed at about three. Why?”

“Just wondering. Did you happen to walk back home?”

“Got my own ride. What’s the interest?”

“Oh, nothing, really.” Part of me wanted to do mental gymnastics to make him appear guilty, but my less-used rational side couldn’t see a reason for him to go around Olmeda painting pentagrams in blood. “Did you see anything suspicious on your way home?”

“Suspicious how?”

“Someone acting weird, like they had something to hide.”

Hehuffed a laugh. “Lady, this is Olmeda.”

“So, nothing out of the ordinary?”

“Not even a fly.”

Druplanted his tea on the counter, then dragged me aside.

“What’s all that about?” she whispered. “Does it have to do with Sonia’s visit?”

“Yup.” I glanced at the busy shop and smiled at Hannah, who was watching us with some curiosity. “I’ll explain later.”

Druwanted to argue, but she also saw the futility of trying to keep a secret in this crowd. Giving me a look that promised retribution if I dared skip on her again, she said, “You better.”