Deadly Magic (24 page)

“
What?”

“
I said, Goodnight.”

“
But I’m bored. I don’t want to go to sleep.”

“
You don’t have to sleep. You just have to rest.” Grace turned on the television and handed the remote to her bedridden roommate. “I’ll check on you a little later. Promise.”

Grace quickly opened t
he bedroom door and shut it behind her before Belle could think of another excuse to keep her in the room or send her on another errand. She had spent the last hour running back and forth from the living room to Belle’s bedroom, collecting books, fingernail polish, an assortment of snack food and anything else Belle could think of.

She
stood at the door, waiting for Belle’s call. When it didn’t come, she gratefully sank down into the armchair, nearest the door.

She just want
ed to rest, but her mind kept mulling over Daniel’s death. There was something there that she was missing. If Belle wasn’t faking her injuries then who attacked her? Why would the killer want to kill Belle? She doesn’t know anything, so why try to kill her? Grace glanced at her raincoat lying over her dining room chair.

Belle was wearing Grace’s clothes when she was attack
ed. Grace shuddered. They don’t look anything alike. Sure, they’re the same height and they have the same build, but . . . Grace looked down at her red hair. Belle had a scarf wrapped around her head when she had left. If the killer was in a hurry, he or she may have confused Belle for Grace. The killer may have seen her go into the stairway and just assumed it was Grace. Belle was alone, so they seized the opportunity and struck.

Suddenly, the phone rang. She ran over to the desk.
unlisted
. Taking a deep steadying breath, she picked up the phone and raised it to her ear. “Missed you,” was all the voice said before hanging up.

Sunday
, December 18th

“
Ah, I see
Kyle was put in charge of decorations.” Grace shielded her eyes with one hand. Over the weekend, the toy store had been transformed into a Christmas wonderland. Or what a Christmas wonderland would look like if set on the sun. There were more Christmas lights in the store than at Rockefeller Center. Grace blinked rapidly, trying to adjust to the light. Once spots were no longer obstructing her vision, she shrugged out of her coat, walked to the large Christmas tree in front of the entrance and dropped the brightly decorated present at the foot of the tree.

“I think it’s wonderful,” Belle shouted over the sound of
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
blaring over the loudspeaker. “It’s like being in Santa’s workshop.” Belle carefully lifted a bright pink bear out of the tree. “It must be nice doing this every single year.”

Eyes now adjusted to the lights, Grace scanned the store. “This is actually the first time we’ve ever had the party in the toy store. We usually just set up something on the fourth floor.”

Belle replaced the pink bear back in the tree. “Well, I’m glad Kyle was put in charge this year.”

She had to admit it was rather nice. The lights, toys, garland and fake snow dusted throughout, did create a rather festive atmosphere. She noticed that even her normally recalcitrant coworkers seemed to be getting into the spirit. Granted there were seventy percent less than in former years, but those present seemed to be enjoying themselves. No one was looking at their watch or edging toward the door. In fact, a few people actually were smiling—or grimacing, she thought, shielding her eyes. So difficult to tell.

She took a step forward, just missing the toy train running through the store. She lifted her black Italian leather high heel in time to avoid a horrific train derailment. Luckily, the little toy train, with its fashion doll passengers, safely continued on its way.

“There you are, darling.” Straker walked past Grace and kissed Belle on the cheek. “Are you ready for tonight?”

“Absolutely,” she said brightly.

“Are you sure?”

Belle’s smile faltered. “Yes, Franklin. I’m sure.” Catching Grace’s eye, Belle plastered a smile on her face. “I was just telling Grace how magnificent everything looks.”

“Why? She didn’t have anything to do with it.” He turned to Grace. “Where’s your report?”

“Merry Christmas to you, too, sir.”

Belle stood on her tiptoes, her head arched at an angle as she scanned the room. A small frown furrowed her brow. “Is everyone here?”

“You two were the last hold outs.”

Belle took a deep breath. She wiped her hands on her red knit sweater dress. Grace looked at her curiously. The blonde was obviously nervous about something. “I guess it’s time to tell everyone.”

Straker shook his head. “Not yet.” He jerked his head toward the Magic Shoppe. “Let’s talk first.”

Grace watched them walk away, wondering what they were up to. Straker unlocked the glass doors leading to the shop. Placing a hand on Belle’s back, he escorted her past the door and into the other room. They stopped in front of the door, their heads bent together, taking surreptitious glances through the glass as they spoke.

Valerie walked past the doors. Spying Grace out of the corner or her eye, she turned and strode toward Grace, easily hopping over the toy train barreling down the tracks in front of her foot. Grace felt her eyebrows rise. Valerie, decked out in a low-cut blue cocktail dress, cut four inches above the knee, came rushing forward. Quite a difference from her usual Christmas Party attire, which for the last ten years consisted of a Christmas sweater and jeans. And here Grace was afraid her emerald green, off the shoulder, satin dress would be too risqué, but next to Valerie, she was positively conservative. She schooled her features to hide her surprise.

Valerie gave Grace a quick hug. “Look at you. You look absolutely beautiful.”

Grace quickly returned the compliment. “What’s the occasion?”

“No occasion,” she said with a smile. “I just wanted to loo
k nice. I figured I needed to compete with you and Belle tonight.”

“Oh no. What gives? Where did you get that dress and whose it for?”

Valerie adopted an innocent expression. “This old thing. I wear this around the house every evening.”

Grace laughed.

“There’s someone I want to impress tonight.”

“Here?” Grace asked in surprise. “Who?”

“Oh no. I don’t want to jinx it.” Valerie looked around. “Where’s your date?”

“Ethan’s stuck in court. He’ll be here soon.” Grace shifted her clutch and coat to her other arm. “How long have you been here?”

“Just thirty minutes.” She motioned for Grace to follow her. “You haven’t missed much. Everyone’s been waiting for Belle to arrive. Straker’s been an absolute bear tonight. I’ve spent the last thirty minutes keeping him from biting everyone’s heads off.” She led Grace to a small bistro table in the corner of the store. “I’m glad she’s finally here.”

“Where did these come from?” Grace asked, indicating the six little tables arranged around the store. She waved at Bourget
and Ellen sitting at the table to their left.

Valerie shrugged. “Kyle said he got a deal. Whatever that means.”

“Speaking of Kyle, where is he?”

“Last I saw him he was chatting
with Jackie and a few of the other girls from the store.”

Grace tried her best to keep a sneer from forming. “Jackie’s here?”

“Of course. Why?”

“No reason.” Grace looked over her shoulder, a smile lighting up her face. “Why’s Santa here?”

“What’s a Christmas party without Santa,” Kyle said sliding up to the table, looking incredibly handsome in a black tux. He handed Grace and Valerie a cup of punch.

“Oh my! Look at you!” Grace said laughing. “You look absolutely—” Grace bit her tongue before she said something that could end up being the basis of a future sexual harassment suit. She doubted Ethan would appreciate the work. She dropped the smile and toned down her voice. “You look very put together tonight.”

He grinned. “I don’t think that’s what you were going to say.” Suggestively leering at her, he mimicked her tone of voice. “You look very put together, too.”

Suddenly uncomfortable, Grace cleared her throat and took a step back. Desperately seeking a way to change the subject, she p
ointed toward the Santa picking up the presents lying around the tree. “Where did you find him?”

Sensing her sudden change in attitude, Kyle added a few more inches of distance between them. “That’s Michael. He volunteered.”

“Really?” Grace asked in surprise. “I would never have guessed.” Gone was the young, sleight man with the foreboding tattoos, ink black hair and black clothes. In his place was jolly ol’ Saint Nick.

Valerie nodded. “Straker donated some toys to the children’s hospital and Michael volunteered to deliver them.”

Kyle drummed his fingers on the table. “And that’s a job usually reserved for Santa.” He motioned for Michael to join them.

Michael waddled up to their table, carrying a green velvet bag. “Ho ho ho!”

Valerie looked past Grace’s shoulder. “Here comes the boss. I hope you have your report ready. He’s complained about nothing else since he arrived.”

“Valerie, there you are.” Straker pushed his way up to the table. “Where have you been?”

“Right here, waiting for you.”

Straker smiled. “Good. Have you seen Harcourt?”

“He’s in his office.”

“Not anymore. I just checked.” Straker shook his head. “I need to talk to him.”

Belle bit her lip. “It can wait.”

“Is everything okay, Belle?” Michael asked.

Straker screwed up his face. “Of course it is. Why wouldn’t it be?”

Belle smiled brightly. “Just a little nervous. Tonight’s a big night for us,” she said, taking Straker’s hand into hers.

Michael nodded. He looked at Valerie’s cup of punch sitting on the table. “I’m thirsty. I think I’ll go get a cup of eggnog.”

Belle tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear. “Let’s go ahead and get started.”

Straker turned to Belle. “I thought you wanted everyone here?”

Belle craned her neck to the side. “There he is. He just got off the elevator.”

Grace turned in time to see Harcourt exit the elevator.

Belle
sighed heavily. “I guess we’re ready. Kyle, can you turn off the music for a second.”

Nodding, Kyle turned around and headed for Bourget’s office, earning a glare from the store manager.

Straker inclined his head. “Go ahead, Belle. I’ll watch from over here.”

“Oh no.” Belle pulled on Straker’s arm. “You have to say something. This is your party,” she whispered. “Remember, what we discussed?”

Straker looked ready to refuse. In the end, he reluctantly allowed himself to be led to the center of the room.

Turning around
, he glared at his employees, until they, one by one, clustered around. Grace felt Michael brush up against her as he leaned against the table. “All right, listen up. It’s the holiday season and I guess I’m supposed to say something inspirational to get this party started, so here goes. We’re broke. Don’t destroy what’s left of our inventory. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.”

A smattering of clapping could be heard through the store as Straker walked back to his table and sat down next to a black clad Louisa.

Still standing in the center of the room, Belle smiled brightly. “I want to personally thank everyone for coming out tonight to celebrate the season and to celebrate mine and Franklin’s engagement . . .”

Out of the corner of her eye, Grace watched as Michael crushed the paper cup in his hand.

“I can’t tell you how much it means to us that you are all here. We have an announcement to make. As you know, Franklin and I are engaged, but what you don’t know is that we are planning on marrying Christmas Day, here in the store . . .”

Michael bent his head down. Carefully, placing both hands on the table
, he pushed himself to a standing position and quietly walked towards the main entrance and out the doors. Grace swung her attention back to Belle.

“Everyone here is invited, of course. Now, I know you all are worried about the New Year, but I assure you that Franklin and I will do everything possible to keep the Straker Toy Company running for another hundred years. Let’s not worry about the future. Let’s just enjoy tonight—”

“Oh, yes!” Louisa stood up, chuckling. “By all means, let’s enjoy tonight. Daniel’s been dead for less than a week now, but we shouldn’t let that stop us from enjoying ourselves.”

“Louisa, we talked about this,” her father said softly.

“I was agreeing with her.” Lifting her cup into the air, Louisa smiled. “It’s time to celebrate. Turn on the music. Let’s dance.” She grabbed Allen by the hand and led him to the center of the room.

Smile tight, Belle shrugged and stepped out of the way, joining Straker at the table.

Louisa pointed at Kyle. “Kirk, or whatever your name is, hurry up. I want to dance.”

Shrugging, Kyle, stood up and walked toward Bourget’s office. A few seconds later, the Christmas music began blaring through the speakers once again.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

“Congratulations on your new promotion,” Jackie said sweetly. “I’m sure you worked so hard for it,” which was said not so sweetly.

Grace smirked. “Thank you. I did. Perhaps, you’ve seen some of my designs.”

“Yes, I have.
They’re very . . . cute,” said in that same condescendingly sweet tone of voice, which was setting Grace’s teeth on edge. “I understand Mr. Straker absolutely loved them.”

“Thank you,” Grace ground out through her teeth. Be nice, you need her to cooperate, she told herself for the third time since she started this conversation with Jackie. “By the way, I’ve been meaning to offer my condolences on your loss. I understand you and Daniel were rather close.”

The smirk fell from Jackie’s face. “At one time.”

“Did he happen to confide—”

“Do you mean, did he tell me who killed Lily?”

Taken aback by the other woman’s frank question, she said, “Yes,” a bit suspiciously.

“Don’t look so surprised,” Jackie said, taking a deep breath and arching her back as Kyle passed by. Licking her lips, she gave him a suggestive smile. She dropped the pose when he turned a corner and disappeared. “Everyone knows that Straker’s issued orders to be on the hunt for any clues to Lily’s death. You’re not the only one after the reward.”

“I’m just curious—Wait, what reward?”

“Well, I’ll tell you what I told Allen. Daniel didn’t tell me anything.”

Grace held up her hand. “That’s too bad, but let’s not get off-topic. What reward are you talking about?”

“He didn’t tell me who killed Lily, but he told me that if anything should happen to him, to check his computer. He had everything saved on a file.”

“Where?”

Jackie shook her head. “Don’t bother. I told the police. They didn’t find anything. Louisa probably wiped it clear before they got to it.”