A Pink Potion Gone Wrong Read online

  Guilt assaulted me. “Me too, and yes we will talk.”

  She hugged me and then left. I finished topping off the condiments and headed upstairs. I was just a little stressed. I planned to hit up Maude at the Moon Bay Tea Shop first. She’d mentioned Floyd right after he was killed.

  After I changed and told Iggy he couldn’t come since I had many stops, I walked one block to the tea shop, happy I would be enjoying one of Maude’s amazing ice tea blends. Wanting to support our local merchants, it was my obligation to buy a pastry, right?

  I ordered my food and picked my usual table in the corner. A minute later, Maude came over with my food. “Glinda, it’s always nice to see you. I hear you are investigating the break-in over at Floyd’s place.”

  Actually, it was Morgan’s murder. “Have you been chatting with Dolly?”

  “Dolly? No, Miriam.”

  How did her sister know? Of course. My aunt. “I am. Actually, I wanted to ask you about Floyd. Other than maybe taking out some aggression on his wife, Emma, was Floyd ever violent with anyone?”

  “Violent? No. He was a bit withdrawn and not the friendliest man, but I personally never saw him be mean or anything. In fact, it was around last Christmas, when a family from out of town came in. The mom, who had a toddler and newborn, looked really stressed. She ordered some hot chocolate for her son and some milk for the baby that I offered to heat up. I think she only had water. Her situation must have been quite dire, because when she went to pay, she had to dig in her purse for loose change.”

  “Did Floyd help in some way?” If not, why tell the story?

  “As a matter of fact, I saw him ease on up to the counter and drop a ten-dollar bill on the ground. He then tapped her on the shoulder and asked if she’d dropped it.” Maude smiled. “You should have seen the look on that mother’s face. It was the best. She picked it up, paid for her meal, and handed him the change.”

  My heart melted. “Aw. I bet Floyd didn’t take it, did he?”

  “He told her to keep it. He then paid for what he’d ordered and left.”

  “That doesn’t seem like the kind of man who goes around beating up people.”

  “No. Why do you ask? It wasn’t like he got in a fight and was killed. An animal attacked him.”

  “I know, but something seems off to me.” Otherwise, why would her sister think he’d killed his wife?

  “About what? The medical examiner said there were claw marks on his body. He was definitely killed by a wolf. No doubt about it. The animal didn’t get away unscathed though, because Floyd had blood under his nails.”

  “Interesting. I didn’t know a man’s nails were long enough to dig into the hard hide of a wolf.”

  “Me neither,” she said.

  “I heard the sheriff is still trying to find out who robbed poor Floyd. He’ll figure it out eventually,” I said.

  Apparently, Maude didn’t know anything more. She pushed back her chair and said her goodbye. Her little story about how kind Floyd had been only added to the mystery. He must have been desperate for that protection spell for some other reason. What could it be though? Since Emma was alive, he didn’t kill his wife. I could only hope my conversation with her would provide me with some answers.

  After I finished my delicious tea and chocolate scone, I headed over to the Psychics Corner. I probably should have called ahead and made an appointment with Gertrude, but sometimes an impromptu visit was best.

  I only had to wait ten minutes before Gertrude finished with her client. When our resident psychic stepped out of her office and saw me, her brow rose in surprise. “Glinda! Did you bring your adorable familiar with you?”

  “No, Iggy is minding the store.” That was an expression I figured she’d understand, considering her age. “Do you have a few minutes?”

  “Is it about Floyd?”

  I nodded. “Iggy wasn’t the best at relaying what you said.”

  Her whole demeanor softened. “I understand. Come in.”

  Her space was small but cozy. Not only were there pots brimming with blooming flowers under the window, pink and white gingham checkered drapes hung on either side to make it picture perfect. Her two overstuffed leather chairs, together with a hard-backed chair, were separated by a coffee table laden with cookies. No wonder she had a good business. The cookies alone might be worth the fee. “You’ve spruced up the place since the last time I was in here.”

  “Oh, that was months ago. You need to stop by more.”

  I smiled. “I will. Maude told me an interesting story about Floyd a few minutes ago.” I detailed his generosity with the woman and her two children.

  “That doesn’t surprise me,” Gertrude said.

  “No? Why is that? I thought Floyd wanted a spell that would stop him from hurting others.”

  “He did,” she said.

  I waited for her to add something, but when she didn’t, it appeared as if Gertrude didn’t want to be more forthcoming. “Can you tell me why he wanted the spell put on two necklaces instead of one? Was one for Emma? I never heard she had any violent tendencies.” Personally, I didn’t see a rugged farmer like Floyd wearing any kind of jewelry, let alone a garnet necklace.

  “Floyd was fighting demons—inner ones. It was why he went on a kind of self-retreat every month. I promised Floyd that I wouldn’t reveal his secret.”

  His secret? My palms started to sweat. I wish I knew what to make of this. “Floyd is dead. He can’t hurt you now.”

  Gertrude intertwined her wrinkled hands and smiled. “Secrets often involve more than one person. You might want to ask Emma or his brother. They might be able to shed some light on his issues. But if you do, be forewarned that it could be dangerous for you. Very dangerous.”

  What did that mean? Up until this point, I wasn’t scared, but I was now. “Witch to witch, can you tell me what was special about the garnet necklace? Why not a ring—something that Floyd wouldn’t mind wearing? Or didn’t he have to actually wear it?” I had no idea why this whole necklace thing bothered me so much.

  “As you know, spells by themselves need something to attach themselves to for long lasting effects.”

  “Yes, I did know that. Garnet jewels are quite hefty, which means—”

  She smiled. “I see you understand.”

  I assumed that meant a strong spell needed to be attached to a really big object. I asked her a few more questions, but that was all I was able to worm out of Gertrude today.

  I stood and then held out a hand. “Thank you for your help. Don’t get up. I’ll pay on my way out.”

  “Nonsense. Ever since I performed the spell, it has been weighing on me. At the time, I felt I did what was best. This bit of advice is on the house.”

  More with the cryptic stuff. “I appreciate it.”

  “Now, if you want a little psychic reading, I’d be happy to charge you—at a witch-to-witch discount, of course.” She grinned.

  I chuckled. “I may take you up on it one day.”

  Or not. I didn’t need a psychic. I didn’t want to know if I would end up a spinster or have a wonderful life with a man. I liked Steve Rocker, but I also liked Jaxson Harrison. Not only that, I was completely devoted to Drake, even though he had no interest in me.

  As for learning about other aspects of my future, I didn’t want to know if something might happen to Aunt Fern or my parents or Iggy. Nope. I’d rather not know anything until I lived it.

  After I left, I almost wished I hadn’t come. Gertrude’s words were unsettling. I thought she’d tell me about Floyd’s inability to handle his liquor or something, not talk about inner demons. Emma had left a few months before he’d asked for the spell. Maybe his regrets were what was driving him to anger.

  Darn. I should have left well enough alone. As soon as I had that thought, I could almost hear Drake laugh. He was right. I probably needed help in the meddling department—but not before I spoke with Emma.

  With her address in my hand, I set off for the outs
kirts of Liberty. Before I was even out of Witch’s Cove, I remembered that I’d promised Aunt Fern I wouldn’t visit Emma by myself, so I pulled over and called Drake.

  “Glinda, what’s up?” he asked. Voices sounded in the background, which meant he had customers. It made sense since Saturday was his busiest day.

  “You’re busy. I don’t want to bother you. I’m on my way to speak with Emma. I’ll just text you her address, so someone knows where I am.”

  “Oh, no you don’t,” Drake said. “We don’t know anything about her,” he whispered. “Where are you?”

  “I’m in my car.” I gave him the cross streets.

  “Stay right there. Jaxson will be there in five.”

  I sighed. “I don’t need a babysitter.”

  “I know, but if you do, I won’t have to worry,” Drake said.

  Drake was the best. “Fine, but I’ll turn around and pick up Jaxson in front of your store. It will only take a minute.”

  “Perfect.” He then disconnected.

  I shook my head and smiled. I really loved small towns and how much everyone cared for one another. On the other hand, it kind of drove me crazy that nothing escaped anyone’s notice. If anyone saw Jaxson get in my car, tongues would wag. Ah, yes. Life in Witch’s Cove was grand.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Jaxson slid into the passenger seat. “I’m glad you called. I was quite bored.”

  “You can’t fool me. You like working with your brother,” I said.

  “Correction. I like being with my brother—not working for him. Are you aware he is a slave driver?”

  I laughed. “Sure, he is.”

  “Tell me what you’ve learned this afternoon. You got off work two hours ago. Surely, you’ve almost solved the crime of who killed Morgan Oliver.”

  “Funny man.” If anyone had told me in May that I would enjoy spending time with Jaxson a month later, I would have said he was crazy. Ever since his criminal record had been expunged, he’d become a new man.

  “You must have been productive,” he said.

  “You’re right. I was.” I discussed what Delilah told me about Mary and James Delaney, and then how I asked Dolly to find out if these two bank robbers were related to Joe.

  “Since they were from Witch’s Cove, I’d say it was highly likely they are relatives,” he said.

  “That was my thought, but I wanted Dolly to make sure first. Besides, it will keep her out of trouble.”

  He smiled. “Ah yes. To keep the gossip queens from spreading rumors, you think that if they are busy, they won’t have time for much communication.”

  Jaxson saw right through me. “Guilty, though they all had good information.” Next, I told him about Floyd’s good deed last Christmas and then what Gertrude said. “She was not telling me everything, which is why I want to speak with Emma.”

  “Makes sense. Do you think Emma will know about the necklace?”

  “I don’t know. She arrived back in town a couple of days before Floyd was killed, but that doesn’t mean she was at his house on the day of his demise. I think she’s been staying at this address since then.”

  He looked at the paper and entered it into his mobile app to make it easy to find. “What if she won’t talk to you?”

  “I’ll thank her and then contact Trevor to see if he can help us with Morgan staying in his human form.”

  Jaxson leaned back in the seat. “Trevor, yes. Good idea.”

  “If Emma doesn’t know much, we’ll find Morgan. If anyone knows about the necklace and its spell, it would be him.”

  “Let’s see what Floyd’s wife has to say.”

  The trip took about thirty minutes. Her apartment was part of a quadplex. Each building was small and looked more functional than attractive. If I didn’t have free rent, no telling what my living conditions might have been.

  There was one car in the dirt lot in front of the buildings, but I had no way of knowing who it belonged to. “What apartment number is it?” I asked.

  Jaxson checked the paper. “Unit 3.”

  We both got out. Now I was glad that I’d asked him to come with me. This neighborhood wasn’t the best. I knocked on the door, and while I heard someone inside, no one answered.

  I rapped on the door again. “Emma Paxton? It’s Glinda from Witch’s Cove. Can we talk?”

  Most likely, she didn’t answer because she thought it might have been the police. The door eased open a few seconds later. I had met her one time, but to be honest, I didn’t recognize her. Her hair wasn’t combed, she wore no makeup, and it appeared as if she’d been crying.

  “Yes?” she asked, followed by a sniffle.

  I might as well blurt out my connection to the case. “I doubt you’ll believe me, but since I’m a witch, I can see ghosts. Your nephew, Morgan, appeared to me and asked if I would help find his killer.” I crossed my fingers that she hadn’t been the one to pull the trigger. “I could really use your help.”

  It was as if I’d just handed her a check for a million dollars. “Yes, yes, come in.”

  While she welcomed us inside, I doubted she fully understood what I’d said. Who lets in someone claiming to have seen a ghost?

  The inside was dark and brown. It was an efficiency, with an unmade bed on one wall and a rather messy kitchen on another. Not that the farm she shared with Floyd was a mansion, but it was a sight better than this place.

  “This is Jaxson Harrison.” Her eyes widened at the name.

  She took a step backward. “Weren’t you the one who was involved in the liquor store robbery?”

  I held out my hand, hoping Jaxson wouldn’t say something we’d both regret. “He was, but he’s been cleared of all charges,” I said. “Sheriff Duncan announced it last month.”

  Thankfully, what appeared to be fear in her eyes subsided.

  “Oh. I’m happy for you.” She motioned to the small table with the four chairs cramped around it. “How do you think I can help?”

  Emma barely knew me, but I didn’t want her to think we were there to dig up any dirt on her—unless she really had killed Morgan. “Shortly before your husband was taken from us, he visited a psychic.”

  “Gertrude Poole. He told me when I returned from Arizona.”

  I thought it best to lay all of my cards on the table. “I know that Floyd asked Gertrude to put a spell on two garnet necklaces to keep him from hurting people.”

  “He told me that too.”

  I waited for her to continue, but she did not. “Was Floyd violent?” I asked.

  She looked down at her hands that she’d laced together. “Not really. I mean if he drank, he had a temper, but it wasn’t like he went out looking for trouble. Floyd was a homebody.”

  “Then why did he need the spell?”

  Emma blew out a breath. “I honestly don’t know. He wouldn’t tell me anything, regardless of how much I pressed him on it. All I know is that Floyd had issues.”

  That matched what Gertrude had said.

  “What kind of issues?” Jaxson asked. “I mean we are all fighting demons in one way or another.”

  That was a cool way to slip that into the conversation. It was possible he was referring to himself.

  “I wish I knew. He kept secrets from me for sure. Every month he’d leave for a day or two. When he returned, he was like his old self.”

  “Did he say where he went?” I asked.

  “He wouldn’t tell me other than to say he needed to clear his head.”

  If I had that much trouble, I wouldn’t think once a month would be enough. “What about his brother, Charles?”

  “They didn’t get along,” she said. “During our marriage, I don’t think I saw Charles more than three times.”

  That was a shame. “Do you know what caused the rift?”

  “No, but what does my husband’s relationship with his brother have to do with Morgan’s death?”

  I guess I needed to take a different tactic. “It might not. I’ve been trying t
o figure out why someone would shoot Morgan in the back like that. I figured this person either wanted to be the next in line to inherit the farm or thought Morgan knew where those magic necklaces were hidden. It was equally possible he believed Morgan knew the secret about Floyd—a secret that shouldn’t get out.” I was pretty proud of myself for figuring out that much.

  Emma’s mouth opened a bit. “I have no idea where the necklaces are, nor did I ever see them. As for your theory about someone not wanting Morgan to reveal my husband’s secret, I don’t know who that would be. While I am next in line to inherit the farm, I don’t want the place even though it was my home for a while. Why would I? I can’t keep it up by myself.”

  “You could sell it,” Jaxson said. “I imagine some big developer would love to scoop up one hundred acres around here.”

  She sucked in a breath. “That might be, but I would never do that. The land has been in Floyd’s family for a long time. I would only sell to another farmer.”

  “Like Joe Delaney?” I asked.

  She shrugged. “I’m not sure. Floyd told me that Joe approached him, but that he didn’t want to sell to him. He never told me why.”

  Excitement at a possible break-through built inside of me. “Did Joe state why he was so anxious to buy it? I know he also asked Morgan after your husband passed. The next day Morgan was dead.”

  Her gaze darted right and then left. “No.”

  “Why did you really leave Witch’s Cove, Mrs. Paxton?” Jaxson asked. That question came out of left field.

  I held my breath. I had the feeling that question would not be well received.

  “Does it matter?” she asked.

  I wanted to reach out and clasp her hand to reassure her, but I sensed she wouldn’t have liked it. “It could. I think your husband was hiding something. That something might have been what killed him.”

  “An animal killed him,” she said.

  “That’s true.” However, I had a feeling that a person guided the wolf to Floyd. And no, I had no proof.

  She sniffled. “Floyd and I had our differences, mostly because he kept everything to himself. I left because I wanted a man who loved me enough to trust me with all of his concerns.”