“This is the address Willo gave me,” he said, lifting the scrap so I could see. In curly handwriting, the numbers451 Main Streetwere written, matching the iron numbers affixed to the door. “Willo says she won’t talk to you because you’re a Force officer. Should I try to talk to her first?”
“I’m not sure that’s safe. I don’t want to put you in a dangerous situation,” I said.
He smirked at me. “I’ll be all right,” he said, and then he marched up to the door without me.
“Wait!” I ran after him, but he was already knocking. We hadn’t discussed what we would and wouldn’t say.
“Go away! I’m unavailable!” a muffled voice yelled from inside the house.
“Ezzila?” Cassian yelled. “My name is Cassian! I’m the new owner of Fibbersnap Inn, and I wanted to introduce myself. Can we chat?” He gave me a thumbs-up and a smile when he finished speaking, and it was hard to be frustrated with his lack of planning. Why would he need a plan with a personality like that?
“Go away, Fibbersnap! I didn’t like your grandfather, and I don’t like you!” Ezzila yelled through the door.
Cassian’s face fell, and he watched the space in front of him as if trying to understand. “Why did you dislike him?” Cassian asked.
“He asked too many questions, just like you! Go away!”
Cassian smiled with furrowed eyebrows, shrugging at me. “I haven’t asked you any questions,” he said to the door.
“‘Can we chat? Why did you dislike my grandfather?’” Ezzila recited in a high-pitched mocking tone.
Cassian covered his mouth like he didn’t want her to hear him laughing. “Can I ask two more questions?” he asked.
“Fine, but you only have one left!” she yelled.
Cassian winked at me, and I suspected he knew she would be pedantic about his word choice. “Do you know anything about the Faian curse placed on Fibbersnap Inn?” he asked.
“I knew you weren’t just here to talk!”
“Did you curse my inn, Ezzila?” Cassian asked.
The door swung open, revealing an old, tattered woman with long, frizzy gray hair. She scowled at Cassian with wide eyes, and then she looked at me. “Who is that?” she demanded.
“That’s Sterling,” Cassian said with a smile.
“Is he from the Force?” Ezzila asked.
Cassian looked at me as if he wasn’t sure if he was allowed to lie about that. I stepped forward and extended my hand to Ezzila. She placed her cold, thin hand in mine and shook it hesitantly. She released me after a half-second. “Sterling Thorndrop. I am investigating the curse on Fibbersnap Inn. I understand you’re a witch for hire, so I just have a few questions for you. No one’s in trouble.”
“I have nothing to say to you, Officer,” Ezzila said, narrowing her dark eyes. She pointed a bony finger at Cassian. “Andyoushould be ashamed of yourself, Fibbersnap. Only foolish witches deal with the Force.”
“I need to know who cursed my inn. Did someone hire you?” Cassian asked.
“I don’t have to tell you anything,” Ezzila said, crossing her arms. Her long, torn sleeves swayed with the movement.
“I understand your hesitation, Ezzila, but I’m afraid I’ve already sent the diagnosis to the Force, and if they trace it backto you, I will just have to come back with a writ, and then I’ll have to search your home,” I said.
Ezzila watched me, completely unbothered by the threat. “Who diagnosed the curse for you?Willorunia?What makes you so sure she wouldn’t rig the diagnosis to show my signature and not hers? Hm? Her husband has been wanting to run his own tavern for a while now. What better way out than to curse the one he’s in?”
“She wouldn’t do that,” Cassian said.
“Is that possible?” I asked him.
Cassian rubbed the back of his neck and squinted into the sky. “Theoretically, yeah. But I watched her…” He trailed off, apparently realizing at the same moment as I did that neither of us saw her finish sealing the diagnostic enchantment, because Cassian was busy rescuing me from the river. “No, it wasn’t her,” he said again, shaking his head.
“Are you saying you had nothing to do with this curse?” I asked Ezzila.
“I’m not saying anything, Officer,” Ezzila replied. “Come back with a writ.”
