Charming People (Driftwood Mystery Book 3) by A.L. Tyler

Author:A.L. Tyler [Tyler, A.L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: magic, werewolves, paranormal, urban fantasy, Murder, UF, supernatural, vampire, werewolf, the craft, mystery, witch
Publisher: A.L. Tyler
Published: 2018-10-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Rogers stood in the open doorway to his room, glancing back and forth down the hall. He didn’t put so much as one blue velvet-loafered toe over the threshold to avoid setting off Nick’s wards.

I ditched my empty can behind a large quartz geode with an enchantment that sounded like a pop singer doing warm-ups before Rogers could see it. It wasn’t worth the fight to tell people what they probably could and couldn’t eat, and the storm would clear before actual starvation set in. The rule was that no one was eating anything.

Rogers pulled his robe tighter around his pajamas when he caught sight of us. “I suppose you’ve come to question me next?”

Next. I swallowed my apprehension. I worked as an evidence tech during the day, and delivering the news that a loved one had died—especially in such a grim fashion—wasn’t something I was familiar with.

It wasn’t something I ever wanted to become familiar, either.

“You’ll need to sit down.” Nick nodded toward Rogers’ room. Rogers’ jaw went slack, and he gave one more cursory glance down the halls before turning to lead us in.

“I don’t know why you’re being so secretive about this, Warren. Shaina was gone when I woke up, and we both know the only place she could be is with you for questioning.” He scratched the back of his head before taking a seat at a small table in a corner.

Nick continued to stand. I did the same.

“Did you wake up when she left?” Nick asked. He kept his voice subdued and his tone cautiously gently.

“No.” Rogers looked from Nick to me and back again. “No, I use a spell to calm my thoughts, or else I never sleep. Too many logistics to worry about here. Why? What’s happened to Shaina?” His calculated gaze fell on me, and I wilted beneath the laser-focus of his stare. “No. No. Warren?”

Nick exhaled a long, slow breath. “I came when the wards were violated. I came as quickly as I could—”

“No.” Rogers swallowed. His hands gripped his robe with white knuckles, and that was where I let my gaze rest to avoid the shock and sorrow on his face.

“—I tried to stop her,” Nick said matter-of-factly. He let out the gruesome details. “She managed to tear free from my grasp. She threw herself out a door. She’s dead.”

A choking noise escaped Rogers’ throat as he turned his face toward the windows. Light rain still fell against the glass.

“I’m very sorry for your loss,” Nick finished.

The rain fell harder, and I wondered if we should leave. Rogers’ tears were quiet in the soft, dimly-lit room. He was a heap, hunched over with his face in his hands, and we were intruding.

Nick looked genuinely sorry. “We believe there’s a hex at work. Something that functions on a time-delay. I’m sorry to have to press you for information now, but—”

“Of course,” Rogers drew in a sharp breath. “Any of us could be next. I understand. But, Shaina... May I see—?”

“No.” Nick shook his head.

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