Every Witch Way But Wicked (A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Mystery) (7 page)

When we got to the bonfire, I was surprised at how busy the downtown area was. Tourists usually got into the cheesy fun, but this was ridiculous. I ultimately had to park behind the paper and Clove and I walked to the town square.

“You should have just dropped me off,” Clove grumbled.

“Why is that?”

“I didn’t wear boots with walking in mind.”

I glanced down at her spiked heels and couldn’t help but agree. “And why did you wear those?”

“They give me three full inches,” Clove said proudly.

“That makes you a little more than five feet tall,” I pointed out.

“It’s better than being four foot eleven and a half,” she said dismissively.

She had a point.

When we got to the square, Clove headed straight for the hot cider booth. I followed her, even though I didn’t like cider. The crowd was thick, and I was worried I would lose her if we separated.

“I can’t believe how many people are here,” Clove said, sipping on her hot cider.

“I know, it’s crazy,” I agreed.

“It looks like every inn in the area is booked solid,” Clove added, scanning the crowd.

“Yeah. That’s good for the town.”

“That’s good for all of us,” Clove agreed.

We lapsed into an amiable silence, happy to just watch the crowd enjoying themselves and listen to the band strumming in the gazebo. I felt Clove stiffen next to me after a few minutes.

“What is it?”

“Brian is here,” she exclaimed breathily.

“Great.”

Clove ignored my sarcasm. “You should be nice to him. He’s going to be your boss for a long time.”

“That’s not why you want me to be like him,” I said snarkily.

“He’s really handsome, isn’t he?”

I followed her gaze and grimaced when I found Brian in the center of the crowd. I couldn’t hear what he was saying, but he was clearly trying to schmooze Mrs. Little. I couldn’t help but notice that the elderly businesswoman didn’t look all that impressed with his charm.

“I guess,” I shrugged. “If you like that kind of guy.”

“Who wouldn’t?”

I looked Brian up and down, taking in his khaki pants and boat shoes, and couldn’t hide my shudder. “He’s just not my cup of tea.”

“So you don’t like him at all?” Clove asked. I couldn’t help but notice the hopeful tone in her voice. The three of us had made a pact a long time ago that we would never pursue the same guy. We didn’t want to end up like our mothers – in more ways than one.

“Not even a little,” I promised. “He’s all yours.”

“I’m not interested in him,” Clove said a little too hastily.

“Don’t lie,” I admonished her. “Oh, look, here he comes.”

Brian had caught sight of Clove and me in the crowd and was heading for us with a clear purpose. ‘You’re here,” he said. “I was worried.”

“Why were you worried?”

“I didn’t want you to miss the story.”

“I wouldn’t miss the story,” I said shortly.

“Hi,” Clove greeted him nervously.

“Hi,” Brian said, his warm eyes meeting Clove’s. I wasn’t sure if he actually liked her or if he felt the need to charm everyone he crossed paths with. In truth, I wasn’t sure which outcome I was rooting for. I wanted Clove to be happy, but Brian just rubbed me the wrong way.

Brian turned and watched the crowd. I couldn’t help but wish he’d go some place else. I didn’t think that was a good sign for our working relationship.

“This is great,” Brian said enthusiastically. “I can’t believe how many people are here.”

“Yeah, it’s a great turnout,” I echoed hollowly.

“Yeah, a town full of crazies celebrating a murder mystery. Not odd at all.”

I froze when I heard the voice. I recognized it instantly. I had spent the better part of the past month trying to forget it. I turned around slowly, trying to refrain from gasping out loud at the sight of the man that was standing behind me.

I would have recognized him anywhere. His shoulder length black hair was perfect and shiny under the pale lights. His blue eyes were twinkling. His mouth was spread into a wide grin.

“Landon,” I greeted him in what I hoped sounded like a normal voice. The last time I had seen him he’d been in a hospital bed after rescuing me and the rest of my family from two crazed murderers and a gang of angry drug dealers.

“Bay,” Landon smiled at me uncertainly. He looked like he had been expecting a warmer greeting – like me stripping naked and jumping him in the town square or something.

“Hi, Landon,” Clove chirped from my side.

“Hey, Clove,” Landon slid a smile in her direction and then turned back to me. “How are things?”

“Things are great,” I said with faux brightness. “Things couldn’t be better.”

“You seem a little tense,” Landon pointed out.

“I’m not tense,” I lied. The truth was, the emotions that were warring inside of me were more akin to rage and lust. I mentally smacked myself for both of them. This man had no control over my emotions, I reminded myself. None at all.

Landon regarded me seriously. “Fine, you’re not tense.” He turned to Clove. “What’s wrong with her?”

Clove bit her lower lip. “I think she’s mad that you didn’t call.”

I glared at Clove. “I am not,” I snapped. “And this is why Thistle thinks you’re a blabbermouth.”

Clove held up her hands submissively. “I could be making that up,” she said lamely.

Landon’s eyes twinkled. “Are you making it up? And remember, I’m a duly sworn officer of the federal government and it’s a crime to lie to me.”

Clove swallowed hard and shifted her eyes between Landon and me. She clearly felt trapped.

“Don’t lie to her,” I snapped at Landon.

“I’m not lying. It is a federal crime.”

“Only when you’re investigating a crime,” I replied snottily.

“I am investigating a crime. You stole my heart.”

Clove giggled appreciatively. “That was smooth.”

“You like that?” Landon asked mischievously.

“I’m sorry, who are you?” Brian had been watching the interaction between the three of us with obvious distaste. I had a feeling that the testosterone was getting ready to fly.

“I’m Landon Michaels,” Landon held his hand out to Brian. “And you are?”

Brian took it cautiously. “Brian Kelly. The new owner of The Whistler.”

Landon looked Brian up and down. “You’re Bay’s new boss?”

“Among other things.”

Landon narrowed his bright eyes. “What other things?”

Yeah, what things?

“Just things,” Brian said evasively.

Landon turned back to me suspiciously. “What things?”

“I have no idea what he’s talking about,” I said honestly. For the life of me, I couldn’t understand why I was explaining myself to the guy who had disappeared from a hospital bed and engaged in silent warfare for the past month.

“Bay’s just being coy,” Brian said, slinging an arm around my shoulders.

I frowned at him openly, stepping away from him. “No, I’m not.”

Landon smiled smugly at Brian. “I think Bay and I need to catch up. You don’t mind if I borrow her for a few minutes, do you?”

Landon had phrased it as a question, but the aggressive stance he had taken practically dared Brian to defy him. Brian looked like he was going to argue for a minute and then backed away quickly. “No. Of course not.”

Landon grabbed my elbow and guided me a few feet away, not stopping until we were alone in front of Hypnotic. “He seems obnoxious.”

“Are you talking about yourself in the third person now?”

Landon grimaced – although it crossed on a smile. His dimples looked like they were coming out to play for a minute, but they quickly disappeared. “Why are you mad at me?”

“I’m not mad,” I lied.

“You don’t look happy to see me?”

“Why should I?” I challenged him.

“Oh, I don’t know, maybe because I saved your life?”

“Oh, please,” I sighed. “How long are you going to play that card?”

“It happened a month ago.”

“And I haven’t seen you in that month,” I said bitterly. “I’ve moved on.”

Landon smiled openly now. “Did you miss me?”

Yes. “Not at all.”

“I think you’re lying,” Landon said, reaching out and tweaking a lock of my blonde hair and leaning in uncomfortably close.

I wanted to put some room between us, but I didn’t want to seem weak. Instead, I met his gaze solidly. “Why would I lie? I barely know you?”

“That doesn’t mean you don’t want to see what I look like naked?”

I ran my eyes up and down his impressive body for a second. I actually wouldn’t mind seeing that. “I can’t think of anything more repulsive.”

Landon looked at me knowingly. “Give it time. You’ll warm up to me again.”

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. “Why?”

“I’m back on the job now. I’ll be around a lot more.”

“In Hemlock Cove? I doubt it.”

“Never say never,” he teased me. “Any minute now there could be a brutal murder and my
special talents
could be of some use.” His mouth was inches from my ear and I felt myself involuntarily shiver.

I opened my mouth to tell him it would be a cold day in hell before I would see his special talents up close and personal – or at least a few hours – when a shrill scream punctuated the air.

Landon and I both looked up in surprise when we saw a dark figure stumble into the square. I couldn’t be sure in the dark, but I was almost positive it was Ken Trask, the local banker.

Landon moved toward the sound of the disturbance purposely. I was right on his heels.

“What’s going on?” He asked when he got to Ken’s side.

Up close, I realized that Ken’s face was flushed with sweat and he was almost as white as a ghost. “There’s a body,” he choked out.

“Where?” Landon looked around dubiously. I think he thought Ken had been partaking in Mrs. Gunderson’s “special” cider. “Isn’t the whole point of this week to play murder mystery?”

“That’s not supposed to happen until this weekend,” I said.

Landon glanced at me, but didn’t say anything. He didn’t look convinced.

“Where is the body?” I asked Ken.

“Behind the stage,” Ken said. “Over by the library.”

Landon moved in the direction Ken had pointed. He didn’t look back to see if I was following him. I could hear him grumbling as he moved, but I couldn’t quite make out what he was saying. I slammed into his back when he pulled up short. “Ow,” I muttered, rubbing my nose.

Landon turned back to me gravely. “Find Chief Terry.”

“Why?”

“That guy was right. There is a body.”

I peered around Landon’s shoulder. “Are you sure someone didn’t just pass out?”

“Not unless they shoved a knife in their own stomach beforehand.” Landon’s voice was grim.

“What?” I looked towards the direction Landon had been staring and swallowed hard. I didn’t know a human body could hold that much blood, let alone spill it on the ground.

Well, shit.

“Find Chief Terry,” Landon repeated. He met my gaze and, for a second, we could both read each other’s minds. “And I didn’t cause this to happen because of what I said earlier about a murder keeping me in town. I like you, but I don’t like you that much.”

I moved from Landon’s side with the clear purpose of finding Chief Terry but I stopped suddenly. “You like me?”

Landon looked surprised by the question. “Do you really think now is the time to pat yourself on the back?”

“That’s not what I was doing,” I lied. What? It wasn’t.

I swung back around with as much righteous indignation as I could muster and slammed into Chief Terry. “What the hell?” I sputtered. I wasn’t exactly exuding gracefulness this evening.

“What’s going on?” Chief Terry’s voice had taken on a hard edge. He had grabbed my shoulders to steady me, but was peering around me in Landon’s direction.

“There’s a body,” I pointed towards Landon, rubbing my nose ruefully.

I noticed that the entire town had stopped celebrating and were now moving in our direction. Chief Terry followed my gaze. “Shit,” he grumbled. “This is the last thing we need.”

“They probably think it is part of the murder mystery,” I pointed out.

“Of course they do.” Chief Terry looked nonplussed. He saw one of his deputies join the fray at the edge of the crowd.

“Duncan, get the names of everyone here,” he ordered. “Then get them out of here. We don’t need them contaminating the crime scene.”

Deputy Duncan nodded and quickly turned back to the crowd. “Everyone, please line up and identify yourself to me or one of the other officers and then return to your home or wherever you’re staying tonight.”