Mystical Mayhem: A Paranormal Cozy Mystery (Teas and Temptations Book 12) by Cindy Stark

Author:Cindy Stark [Stark, Cindy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Blackberry Moon Publishing
Published: 2022-04-06T16:00:00+00:00

Thirteen

Hazel stared at Cora, knowing that she couldn’t lie to her best friend. “Yeah, Bernard and I were talking about Jed’s death. I’ve been worried about you all afternoon and stopped by to check on things. Are you doing okay?”

Cora looked away from Hazel and moved to the counter to unload the groceries. “I’m as well as anyone can be who’s been accused of murder.”

Hazel placed a hand over her heart, aching for her friend. She walked closer, caught Cora’s gaze, and hugged her tight. “I’m so sorry for everything you’re going through.”

Cora remained stiff for a moment before she softened and hugged her in return. “Thanks, Hazel. Thanks for being here for me.”

Hazel pulled away and met her gaze. Many strands of Cora’s blond hair had fallen free from her updo, as though she’d tugged at them in worry. Uneasiness dulled her normally bright eyes and left dark circles beneath them. “I will always be here for you. Always. What can I do to help?”

Cora gave her a sad smile. “Find the killer?”

Hazel nodded furiously. “I am. I will. I know Peter is doing everything he can, too.”

She shook her head. “But you’ll protect me, where Peter won’t. Can’t.”

Was she suggesting she needed protection? “He will do his best for you, Cora. You know he will.”

Fear darkened her aura. “What if there’s no one else to blame it on?” she whispered.

Bernard turned to them. “I’m as much of a suspect as you are, Cora. We were both here that night, and I’m the one who found him.”

Cora snorted in despair. “But you’re not the one who—” She inhaled a shaky breath. “You’re not the one who yelled at him that night.”

Hazel ached to tell Cora that she knew about the spell she’d cast, but she couldn’t break her promise to Bernard. “Listen, Cora. I know this is hard, but I won’t let you down, okay? We’ll solve this.”

She blinked back tears and nodded. Then she forced a smile. “I’m okay. This will be okay. Let’s talk about something else. What are you up to? Did you come in for dinner?”

Hazel felt guilty for bringing her problems to Cora when she had so many of her own. But maybe focusing on something else would distract her. “That’s the other reason I stopped by. I need help.”

Cora raised her brows in question.

Having to confess her weakness, even if it was to her best friend, was hard. She leaned close to Cora, hoping Bernard wasn’t paying attention. “I was at the library earlier, and Timothy asked me to help him with a spell. We tried one that we thought would straighten the bookshelves every night.”

“And?” Cora prompted.

Hazel swallowed her pride. “And it made every single book in the aisle closest to the counter fly off the shelves.”

Bernard chuckled.

Heat blossomed on Hazel’s cheeks. “Worse. When we tried to put them back, they flew off again.”

Bernard outright laughed that time, and Cora turned to him with an admonishing look.

The burly cook lifted his hands and shrugged.

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