A Corpse at the Witching Hour by Debra Sennefelder

Author:Debra Sennefelder
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mysteries & Thrillers
Publisher: Beyond the Page
Published: 2023-09-29T00:00:00+00:00

• • •

Seated at the table where Claire held design consultations, Hope watched her sister finish a sale at the counter. The elegantly dressed woman lifted the shopping bag and exited Stage with Style after waving goodbye to Hope. Once the door closed, Hope returned her attention to her sister.

Claire tapped her manicured fingernails on the glass countertop while eyeing her sister. She was dressed in a burgundy wrap-dress and her blonde hair fell to her shoulders. Her lips pressed together. Gone was the serene smile she’d given her customer. Fifteen minutes ago, Hope had entered the shop and dropped onto the chair, ready to fill Claire in on the events of the past twenty-four hours before the customer entered.

“You look tired. Rough night?” Claire gathered fabric swatches into a neat stack.

Hope raised her head. “I do?” She dug into her tote for her mirror compact.

“It’s nothing a little concealer can’t fix. Now continue. Be sure not to leave anything out.”

Before Hope could give Claire the rundown on who the dead witch was and her connection to the Leopold family, the shop’s door opened again. She angled in her seat to see who entered, then groaned.

“Good afternoon, Norrie,” Claire said, stepping out from behind the counter. “What brings you by?”

“I saw Hope through the window.” Norrie approached the table. Over her skinny black jeans and tall boots, she wore a leather jacket and a chunky scarf wrapped around her neck.

Hope shifted in her seat, facing away from the reporter. But that didn’t stop Norrie. She positioned herself in full view of Hope. It was clear she wasn’t going away.

“I’m only doing my job,” Norrie said. “I want justice for Carolina Barnett.”

Hope’s eyes bulged. “How do you know her name?”

“I have my sources.” Norrie pulled out a chair and sat, resting her bag on her lap. “Now I have to figure out why she was following you. Any ideas?”

“What? The dead woman was following you?” Alarm sounded in Claire’s normally level voice as she moved to the table. “You didn’t tell me.”

“I didn’t want to worry you.” Hope reached out and clamped down on Claire’s hand. “Besides, I wasn’t sure she was. I only saw her twice.” Hope turned her attention to Norrie. “I’m sorry, but I can’t help you with why Carolina may have been following me . . .” Wait. Maybe she had an idea. The first time she saw Carolina was when Drew was at Hope’s house. Maybe Carolina had followed Drew. It seemed plausible. Then how could she explain the next morning when she spotted Carolina on Main Street? Of course! The Gazette’s office was on Main Street. Maybe Carolina was working up the nerve to approach Drew. Hope’s heart shattered into a million pieces, releasing a burst of sadness inside her. Carolina had been so close to talking to her son.

“I have a theory,” Norrie’s voice cut through the air, commanding Hope’s attention. “I think she had unfinished business with Issy Leopold.”

“Unfinished business? What are you talking about?” Claire asked.

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