“What are you talking about?” I asked.
“There’s a nightclub opening 20 miles further inland,” she said. “I read it online.”
The door opened again. The singer’s hips swung wider and her pout deeper.
I scanned the newcomer. He had the ruggedly handsome appeal of the firefighters on the calendars. I estimated him to be in his mid- or late thirties, with tousled dark hair, a tan, and a dimpled chin. His rolled-up sleeves showed a pair of well-muscled, tanned arms.
He stood respectfully still, to listen to the singer. By now, the room was so crowded, Mimi and Roger had to inch their way to the exit.
“Either that, or they’re here for the local talent,” Ange said, motioning towards the guy. “Brad’s reiki sessions aren’t just popular for his magical hands.” She waggled her eyebrows at me. “Just kidding.”
“That’s the energy healer?”
“The very same. My mom went to see him before she and dad took off in their RV, and she says his touch got rid of all the negative energy Nick’s acupuncture couldn’t shake.”
Brad turned around. Had he heard us?
Ange gave him a casual wave. He grinned at her, and then at me, with the sort of smile I hadn’t seen from an attractive man in a long while. It felt nice, in a detached way.
“From what I’ve heard, he’s had a lot of offers, but didn’t take up any of them,” Reina said as she returned to the table. “I rather hope those girls are here to test their routines for a real audition, or they might be disappointed.”
“Shall we head back to our place for a chat?” Harper suggested.
“Won’t your bartender be struggling to keep up?” I asked.
“We’ll wait until reinforcement arrives. I’m hoping he and his sister will soon be able to keep the place running for a few days, so Reina and I can go on an extended leaf-peeping tour.”
A young woman whirled through the door. I saw only a mop of hair and a freckled nose. The rest of her face was covered by an oversized knitted scarf, and a trench-coat with an upturned collar. “I’m so sorry I’m late. The puppy needed urgently to go out.” She unwound the scarf.
“That’s fine. Do you think you and your brother can take care of everything for an hour?”
“Piece of cake.” She beamed at us.
“Thanks, Pilar.”
We waited until the sassy singer had finished, before we rose.
“What are you doing?” Louisa asked.
“We’ll soon be back.”
“Without Reina singing?” Marion shot her a pleading look. “Wayne promised to dance with me.”
“One song, okay?” Reina said.
The crowd parted to let her through. I saw Leila and her friend’s jaws drop as soon as Reina sang the first notes of “Blue Moon”. The whole audience went quiet. Reina’s voice had that effect. It was velvety smooth, with a timbre that tugged at your heartstrings. When Alex was teething, listening to Reina singing was the only thing soothing her. Now, almost twenty years later, I wanted nothing more than to lose myself in that sound that promised everything would be fine.
I stood transfixed when she ended much too soon.
“One more,” someone called. “Something from this millenium.”
She stepped back. “You guys take over.”
She slung her arm around Harper’s shoulder as we weaved through the crowd. Marion and her partner were still dancing, despite the lack of music. It was if they were spellbound.
Hold on, I told myself. What if they were? Cosmo would be impressed if I’d correctly identified a fellow witch. And if I could do that, maybe I could also suss out the murderer!
Chapter fifteen
