A Deceptive Potion (The Happy Blendings Witch Cozy Mystery Series Book 5) by Constance Barker

Author:Constance Barker [Barker, Constance]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Constance Barker
Published: 2020-02-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

I looked over and there stood an imperious woman, dressed in an antebellum gown, something straight out of another era. I half expected to hear the sound of cannon fire. She glared at us as if we were part of Sherman’s army. I certainly felt more than a bit intimidated.

“And why did you call me,” she added.

“Excuse us,” I said. “I’m Sam, and these two are Mara and Tessa. We called you because we’re looking for a particular ghost.”

“I’m Lady Cromartie, and I built the original hotel on this spot. I will tell you right now that I do not suffer witches who jerk me out of my restful sleep.”

“We’re sorry,” Mara said. “But we do need some information.”

“And while we’re witches, we’re not bad people,” Tessa added.

“Here’s why we called you,” I said. “I’m accused of committing a murder in this hotel. I didn’t do it, but that doesn’t seem to faze anyone. So, we’re looking to see if a ghost might have done the deed.”

“A ghost? Highly unlikely,” Lady Cromartie said. “But you can never tell with ghosts. Some of them can be rather difficult at times. Which ghost are you talking about?”

“The Gambling Man,” Mara said. “It seems many people have encountered him, and they believe he’s capable of such a deed.”

“The Gambling Man?” Lady Cromartie asked. “You must be kidding. He’s...well, let me show you.”

Lady Cromartie disappeared, and I wondered if she had ever been there at all.

“She was here, wasn’t she?” Tessa asked.

“She was,” Mara said. “But she wasn’t terribly helpful. And I don’t think she liked what we did.”

Before I could voice my opinion, Lady Cromartie reappeared, and this time she had a man in tow, a smallish, well-dressed man with a hang-dog look. He reminded me of a henpecked husband.

“Here he is,” Lady Cromartie said. “The, quote, Gambling Man.”

“You’re the Gambling Man?” Tessa asked.

The ghost nodded. “My real name is Clyde Jones, but everyone called me the Gambling Man, on account I liked to play poker.”

“Then, you weren’t some big-time criminal, who bootlegged whiskey off fast boats that landed on the beaches,” I said.

“Oh, no, no, that wasn’t me. Those were the gentlemen who lost their money to me. They might have been great smugglers, but they had no idea how to play poker.” The ghost laughed.

“Now,” Lady Cromartie said to the Gambling Man. “Have you ever harmed anyone in this inn?”

“No, no, I haven’t. Although, there was a couple who tried to steal some of the antique doorknobs. I did throw a scare into them, but then, they were thieves. I’m a gentleman, and gentlemen don’t abide thieves.”

“Satisfied?” Lady Cromartie asked.

I looked at Tessa and Mara, and we all knew the Gambling Man could not have killed Jessica Jensen. It was simply beyond him.

“Yes,” I said. “Clyde here is innocent.”

“Thank you,” the Gambling Man said. “But you’re not going to tell everyone about me, are you? I rather enjoy my reputation as some sort of rough rogue.”

“Your secret is safe with us,” Tessa said.

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