Chapter 17

Spellbound Pages Bookshop, Downtown Los Angeles, California, United States

"I see why Walter wanted to die," King Rudolf said, leaning against a bookshelf and taking a drink from his nearly finished wine bottle.

Gen pulled her attention away from her search for her required moral philosophy books. Summer had told her to take any and all of the books that she required as a thank you for her and the detective's help with Shannon, the postman, who had been carted away by Sherlock Holmes. "What are you talking about? Walter was murdered. I don't think he wanted to die."

"Of course he did," the fae argued, sliding the bottle onto a partially open shelf. "He ate minestrone soup. The guy was trying to kill himself." He motioned to the shelves. "And isn't it obvious why? He was bored to death, being around all these books."

Gen chuckled, studying the shelves for the books she was looking for. "Well, I think Walter must have liked books. I just wish he stocked more moral philosophy ones because I have quite a few that I'm missing from my list."

"I can help you find the rest, but I'll have to take you to a place even more boring than this one," King Rudolf said, snapping his fingers, making another bottle appear, this one full.

"Thanks," Gen said, looking out toward the front of the shop, checking on the others. She was still waiting on the coroner to pick up Walter's body, which was now covered with a sheet.

Boon was comforting JoAnne and helping her to gather her cookbooks. Meanwhile, Bernard was giving Summer a rundown of how to manage the shop. And Fran was taking a much needed and deserved nap in the afternoon sunlight streaming through the window.

Gen smiled, grateful that things would work out even though a man had died. The usually bickering bookshop bunch had quickly come up with a plan in the aftermath of Walter's death. It had been decided that Summer would buy and take over the shop, buying it from the bank. Bernard would continue to shelve books, helping her out. In exchange, she'd close the store one day a week, giving him the place all to himself.

Boon had also convinced Summer to allow him to create a small coffee corner where they'd sell organic products and locally sourced goods. They'd also add a vinyl records section. And also, the new bookshop owner had promised to be open to the hipster's business ideas.

It was unclear if the school teacher would get a happier ending. However, JoAnne seemed to have a new fire in her, having seen how fleeting life can be. Apparently, she'd spent too many years in a safe job. Hopefully this was the kick she needed to take a risk and open up the restaurant that she wanted, selling soups and salads. And as it happened, there was apparently an open space next door to Spellbound Pages Bookshop, so that could become a safe option for the new business owner if she took the risk.

Emperor, as he often would be, was right. Something bad had happened, but the result wasn't horrible. Actually, it sounded like even Walter got what he wanted, being reunited in the afterlife with his wife.

Gen watched as two men in uniforms strode into the bookshop. Summer greeted them at once, pointing them in the direction of the dead man's body. Removing Walter from Spellbound Pages was the first step in a long healing process for those at the bookshop. However, in time, they would move on and hopefully all affected would be better for having gotten through the experience—all but Shannon, who had brought his own sentence upon himself.

Those who did good, got what they deserved, as did those who were evil.