Frank went to the freezer, no doubt looking for his favorite cookies.
“Top shelf.I baked a new batch.”
Grinning, he pulled out a full container of peanut butter chocolate chip cookies.“I’ve been practicing that defrosting spell you taught me,” he said.“I think I have it now.”
“Good,” Faith said, grabbing a grape soda from the fridge.“Warm me up one too.”
“Oh.”Halfway up the stairs, I stopped.“I forgot.There was someone creeping around last night, trying to get past the wards.”At their worried expressions, I continued.“She couldn’t get past, so we’re good.I want you to be on guard, though.It felt like black magic.”
Faith and Frank shared a look.
“Let Carter know, if you see him first.I’ll try to get cleaned up quickly, but we all know it’s a losing battle.Be careful, okay?If you feel another wicche in the gallery today, let Carter and Hester know, assuming I’m not there.”
I got ready as quickly as I could, but I was still coming down the loft stairs about twenty minutes after opening.My curls were mostly dried.I had them pushed back with a black silk headband.Deciding I’d lean into the morose artist aesthetic, I wore all black, including my gloves and boots.Mascara and a berry tinted lip gloss meant I was ready for the public.
When I entered the gallery through the studio door, I found Bracken standing at the café counter, talking with my Aunt Hester.Hester’s daughter Pearl had been murdered a couple of months ago.It’d been rough, but she’d found that forcing herself out of the house was helping.She’d been working the café counter since I opened a few weeks ago.I’m only open two days a week, which seemed to work for all of us.
“How are you both today?”I asked.
Hester gave me a sweet smile and started brewing me a cup of tea.“It’s a bright, sunny day and I’ve already sold at least a half dozen of your muffins.”
Bracken held up a muffin in a napkin.“Including to me.”
“Wait,” I said, holding up a hand.“You’re not paying for anything, are you?None of my people should be paying for my food and drinks.”
“Oh.”Hester looked flustered.“Actually, I paid for him.”She sighed and lowered her voice.“I asked him to check all the food for poisons.”She clasped her hands in front of her.“I know it was a one-time attack and I wasn’t even here, but I’ve been so worried about handing out tainted food.Especially to children.”Her hand went to her mouth.“That was what you saw.I was going to kill a child.”She shivered.
I went behind the counter and wrapped an arm around her.“That wasn’t you.That was Milo Swan.He sprinkled poison on the food, but we figured it out before anyone touched anything.”
“I know,” she said, shaking her head.“It may sound silly, but I worry every time I pass food across the counter to one of your customers.”She gestured to my great-uncle.“Bracken has been kind enough to check everything for me so I can relax and not worry I’m handing someone their death.”
I rubbed her back.“I’m so sorry.I had no idea you were dealing with this.”I looked between the two of them.“I love having you here, but if this is causing too much stress?—”
“No.I’m fine.I want to be here with you all in your beautiful gallery.It gets my mind off other things, and I so enjoy spending time with Faith and Frank.They’re such lovely children.”
“Arwyn?”
I turned to see Carter at the front door giving me a subtle gesture, beckoning me over.I circled back around the counter, patting Bracken on the shoulder.“Thank you.”
Carter was Detective Osso’s younger brother and my security guard.Being a black bear shifter made him uniquely qualified for security.He was a tall, broad-shouldered Black man who wore a perpetual scowl.Bracken and I had spelled my work against theft, so really Carter was here as my protection.His presence encouraged ne’er-do-wells to move along, which was a bonus.He was working on a PhD in Marine Biology, so working two days a week was a good fit for his schedule.
When I stepped up beside him, he popped out his earbud, through which he was no doubt listening to an audiobook.“Frank and Faith told you about the black magic wicche problem, right?”
He nodded, his hand on the front door.
“I can make you a sketch,” I told him, “so you know who you’re looking for.”
He opened the door a foot, giving me a view of the front of the gallery.“Is that her?”
And there she stood, in another very prim navy dress with a sensible handbag.
“Yep.That’s her.”
SIXTEEN
Standoff
He let the door close on a nod.“She wants to talk to you, but your wards seem to be keeping her out.I don’t think you should.If you insist on being stubborn, though, I’ll go with you.”
