Manifesting and Mischief (A Crones of a Feather Paranormal Cozy Mystery Book 3) by Beth Dolgner

Author:Beth Dolgner [Dolgner, Beth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Redglare Media
Published: 2026-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

My chest tightened in sudden panic. There was absolutely no way I was going to give a quote about Wanda for the newspaper. I had nothing good to say about her, and I wasn’t willing to go on record talking about what a brash bully she had been.

Instead, what I said to Nicole was, “I didn’t know you were a writer! I thought you were Wanda’s personal assistant.”

“I have my degree in journalism,” Nicole clarified. It was only then I realized the small object in her hand was a digital tape recorder. “I started as a staff writer for the Osbourne Observer, which Wanda bought shortly after I was hired there. She decided she wanted me to work directly for her.”

Nicole was saying it like Wanda had bestowed an honor on her, but I very much doubted that was the case. People like Jo, who absolutely adored being a writer and telling stories that mattered, wouldn’t find much fulfillment doing something like making travel arrangements—or throwing out wild offers on a house that wasn’t even for sale—for someone else.

“How long were you her PA?” Marlee asked.

“Five years.” Nicole rolled her shoulders back and stood a little taller. “My magical specialty is logistics and organization. Wanda said she couldn’t do without me. She even told me I wasn’t allowed to date, because a relationship would take too much of my time.”

Maybe my original theory had been right: after years of loyal service to a selfish, demanding woman, Nicole had snapped and killed her boss.

She could have simply quit her job instead of resorting to murder, I reminded myself.

Since I wasn’t willing to outright ask Nicole if she had killed Wanda, I said, “My magic is of a similar nature. I joke that I’m a spreadsheet witch.”

“We’re the witches who have our acts together.” Nicole smiled, then raised the tape recorder. “I’d just like to get a brief quote about your relationship with Wanda.”

Being cornered by the woman hardly counted as a relationship. “I only briefly met her,” I said. “I’m afraid I can’t give you a good quote.”

Well, at least it was an honest response.

“I understand she talked to you herself about buying this place.” The tape recorder was even closer to me now, a red light on it blinking ominously.

“Yeah,” I said slowly. Suddenly, I wasn’t thinking of quotes or newspaper articles. I was thinking about that bag of money. If it had belonged to Wanda, maybe she had been planning to make a cash offer for the funeral home. It was possible Wanda had thought I would cave to her request if I was staring into the depths of a bag full of money.

“Did she give you a figure?” Nicole prompted.

I blinked and returned my attention to the woman in front of me. “Oh, no. We didn’t get that far. Like I said, we only met briefly. I really can’t comment on her, since she and I barely spoke to each other.”

Nicole’s shoulders drooped a bit, but she kept her professionalism.

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