“Sterling, it wasn’t Olive,” I said. “I know you have to follow every lead, but it wasn’t her.”
Sterling sighed and leaned back in his seat, searching me with his invasive gaze. “Cassian… It’s hard to accept that someone close to you may have turned on you, but it’s a real possibility. I have to look into it. This is a serious motive.Five-thousandgold?”
“She doesn’t know about it,” I said.
Sterling shook his head. “Someone must have told her. It’s her right to know.”
I sighed, running my fingers through my hair. “It was supposed to be me, but I couldn’t. Her family is struggling, and I don’t want to make bad news worse.” I rubbed my forehead. “Maybe I should sell the inn…”
“No, Cassian. That’s what they want you to do,” Sterling said.
“Iwouldlike to go back to Ladiall and continue my training as a witch,” I said with a shrug.
Sterling pursed his lips. “At least let me figure this out first. I don’t want to see someone run you out of the area before you can decide for yourself.”
I smiled at his kind words. “Thanks, Sterling.”
Sterling smiled back. “You’re good at what you do, Cassian. You don’t know why your grandfather left the inn to you, but the rest of us see it clearly. Maybe except for Griffin. I’m sorry you don’t like it.”
Hope walked up before I could say anything, carrying a tray with our drinks and warmed pastries. “Here you go, boys,” she said, unloading the iced cinnamon bun and coffee in front of Sterling, and then the tart and tea in front of me. “Enjoy!”
“Thank you very much, Hope,” I said, reaching in my pocket for five gold coins. “Please, let me pay you.”
She lifted a hand, waving the money away as I offered it. “Don’t be silly. Your grandfather was always there for the rest of us in our times of need, and I know you will be too. It’s the least I can do to welcome you.”
“Thank you,” I repeated, dumping the coins into my pocket and trying not to suffocate on my guilt. How could I think about leaving the inn with so many people counting on my presence? “I hope I can live up to his name.”
“You certainly will,” she said. “You two are very cute together, by the way.”
Sterling’s eyebrows shot up, and my mouth fell open. “Oh, we’re not, uh…” My face warmed.
“Oh, I’m so sorry!” Hope said with a laugh. “You got along so well, I just thought… My mistake!”
“This is Sterling. He’s here from the Ladiall Force helping me figure out who cursed the inn,” I explained.
Sterling reached his hand out. “Nice to meet you.”
Hope shook his hand, eyes widening. “The inn is cursed?”
“Hopefully not for long,” Sterling said. “Have you seen anyone from the inn come through town recently? Particularly to visit Ezzila?”
“Everyone comes through town now and then,” Hope said. “I just saw Miss Olive here with her boys a few weeks back. I gave them each a slice of pie. I know how hard it’s been for her since her husband died. Poor thing.”
Sterling glanced at me, and I shook my head. He would chase this lead, and it would get him nowhere. Olive was not guilty. Even if she did somehow know about the will, she was smart enough to know better than to sacrifice her income for a onetime sum of money.
“You don’t think it was her, do you?” Hope asked.
“No,” I said.
“We don’t know who it was yet,” Sterling said.
“Well, I hope you catch them soon. Fibbersnap Inn is a local landmark. We’d all hate to see it go,” Hope said. “See you soon, Cassian!”
Sterling watched me for a long time after she left, and I sipped the sweet chamomile tea while I waited for him to say something. “Cassian…” he finally spoke. “Do you realize you tell me that every single suspect is not guilty?”
“Not Ezzila,” I said indignantly.
“In that case, it probably wasn’t her.”
