“She seems innocent to me,” Jasmine said with a shrug. “Besides, we’ll see her again soon.”
I eyed the dark wood of her front door. Her willingness to help was a good sign, but I couldn’t be sure of her innocence yet. I wasn’t even sure about Willorunia yet.
Jasmine and I made our way to the legalers’ office. It was near the Force headquarters, since a lot of the bigger buildings were near the center of the city. I had been there a few times while working other cases, and I knew the legalers inside would recognize me.
“Good morning—oh. Officer Thorndrop,” the secretary, Penny, said as we walked in. She tapped a stack of papers against the desk. “What is it this time?”
“He’s with me, actually,” Jasmine said, stepping forward. “My grandfather, Boris Fibbersnap, handled his estate through you. I’m his granddaughter, Jasmine Bloomday. I need to look at his will.”
Penny tried to question Jasmine’s identity, but Jasmine had brought her travel book with her, anticipating the requirement for proof of relation. Penny set us up in a quiet room, empty except for a table and some chairs. Jasmine sat beside me while we looked through the will.
I read through the short document. Boris gave some money and a boat to Cassian’s father, but almost everywhere his deceased daughter’s name had been written, it was crossed out and replaced with Jasmine’s. The only exception was the inn, where Cassian’s name was written above his aunt’s. Jasmine herself had received a large sum of money as well, along with a small property in the north. At the bottom, Olive’s sum of 5,000 gold had been added in Boris’s handwriting.
I sat back in my seat and thought about this. The document was disturbing because it was clear how much of everything Boris owned went to Cassian, but Cassian didn’t want it. I rubbed my chin and eyed Jasmine, who watched me closely.
“Jasmine… I know this is a sensitive subject for you, but were you upset that the inn went to Cassian, since it was originally meant to go to your mother?” I asked.
“Well… yeah. A little,” she admitted. “But Cassian knew that. That’s why he invited me to be a co-owner. I know it wasn’t up to him. He wouldn’t be there if it were.”
I leaned forward, watching her carefully. Cassian trusted her more than anyone, so I hadn’t much considered her a suspect. This might be the only chance I’d get to ask her questions without Cassian around. I didn’t understand why she would have done something like this if shewereguilty, considering Cassian shared ownership with her right away, and they were like siblings.
“You don’t… You’re not—” Jasmine reeled back. “You think it wasme?” she asked.
“I didn’t say that. I’m just thinking,” I said.
“Why would you ask me if I was upset that Cassian inherited the inn?” she demanded. “That is so insulting, Sterling. Do you really think I would do that to my own family? Cassian is my best friend.Itold him to contact the Force.”
“I’m sorry, Jasmine. You’re right, I shouldn’t have asked.” It looked like I wouldn’t be getting any answers out of her, which meant I’d have to ask Cassian what I could. That certainly wouldn’t go well.
I copied the contents of the will into my journal and thanked Penny for her time, but before we left, Penny said to Jasmine, “You’re Boris Fibbersnap’s granddaughter?”
“That’s right,” Jasmine said.
“Are you in touch with his grandson, Cassian?” Penny asked.
“We live together.”
Penny made us wait while she ran to the archives to retrieve something, returning shortly with an envelope. She offered it to Jasmine and said, “Will you please deliver this to Cassian? It was part of Boris’s estate, but it slipped through the cracks somehow. I’m so sorry.” Her tone made me think she wasn’t very sorry at all.
“Sure, thank you,” Jasmine said, taking the envelope from her. I could see how it slipped through the cracks. The envelope was completely blank and unmarked.
It was still early, so Jasmine and I started the journey back to Fibbersnap Inn earlier than anticipated.
We walked in silence as I pondered the new information, feeling uneasy in Jasmine’s presence after her outburst.
After about an hour of walking, she spoke, “I’m sorry about earlier, Sterling. I know you’re just doing your job, but it’s not easy to be accused of betraying my family.”
“I understand. Cassian doesn’t like me asking him questions either. It’s a painful topic, and this investigation has not been easy,” I said, throwing her a smile. “I just can’t crack it. Nothing is adding up.”
“Do you want to talk it over?” Jasmine asked.
I rubbed my chin. “Yeah, that might help,” I said, trying to organize my thoughts. “I suspect Ezzila was hired to place the curse, but that doesn’t tell me whose idea it was, and without the diagnostic analysis, I have no way to question her. It still might have been Willorunia who placed the curse, but why would Willorunia be so willing to help us if she did it? That means it must have been someone who’s not a mage, or unpracticed in magic. Plus Olive’s line in the will leads me to believe it’s Olive, but she can’t afford to pay a witch to curse anyone, and she told Cassian herself she doesn’t want the money. That leaves Griffin, whose wife is a witch, but of course he wouldn’t let his own crimetrace back to her. Maybe he hired Ezzila, but he probably would have told Willorunia. Griffin has been a lot better to Cassian since they made up, and he got Willorunia involved in all of this, meaning he’s just as willing to help. Ricky is just a scared boy who wants extra pocket money, and he had to have his mother tell him who Ezzila was. And you clearly didn’t do it, since you were the one to tell Cassian to contact the Force to begin with, so that just leaves us with… Cassian.”
My heart sank as his name left my mouth. I had been avoiding thinking about this because I didn’t want to learn that I should have taken myself off the case while I still had the chance.
Jasmine’s eyes widened. “You think it could have been him?”
I rubbed my face. “I don’t know, but it’s the only thing that adds up. Cassian only sent the letter to the Force because you pushed him to, and how could he say no without raising suspicion? He doesn’t want the inn, and he would prefer to get rid of it without blame. He tossed the rune stone back into the river right away without much consideration, despite learning about Faian magic from Gertrude. She says Faian magic is too complicated for a beginner, which is why Cassian would hire a professional, and he could have received instruction from Ezzila on how to strengthen the curse while we were in Dreckle. He knows enough to be one step ahead of me, and he…” I didn’t want to say the last part, because I didn’t want to think it could be true.
