Of Murders and Mages: Casino Witch Mysteries 1 by Nikki Haverstock

Author:Nikki Haverstock [Haverstock, Nikki]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Ranch Dog Entertainment, LLC
Published: 2017-08-16T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

I walked around the store and resisted the urge to smooth down my skirt. It was expensive and fit as well as it did when I bought it a half dozen years ago for a fancy New Year’s Eve party. The black dress was nipped in at the waist, and the length revealed my shapely calves. I felt beautiful, and the casual glances as I had walked through the casino reinforced my opinion. Overall, I was feeling pretty good about myself.

Vin had requested that I put on something that screamed rich and cultured. I was sure he would be blown away by my appearance, but instead he had shrugged and said it was good enough.

I had been walking up and down the aisles of kitschy souvenirs as I relaxed and tried to be aware. The scant instruction Auntie Ann had given me when I arrived was that it was like what I did for reading an emotional hologram in that I needed to clear my mind and relax. Not a difficult task. She apologized for not being able to go with me, but she was helping Vanessa to sort through all the information they had on the victims.

The instructions didn’t seem all that helpful until I tried it. Quickly, I could feel the emotions blooming around me like a subtle scent. Unlike the emotional holograms that were static and frozen, the current emotions around me ebbed and flowed as people’s moods changed.

A group of girls in their twenties entered, and I drifted down the aisle toward them. They excitedly chatted, their makeup slightly smeared and their voices slurred from a night of drinking. They got armfuls of bottled water and snacks as they walked around in their bare feet and carried their heels. I got as close as I could, stared at the rows of diarrhea medicine, and tried to give the appearance of deep consideration as I listened to the gals chatter.

Their emotions spiked as they laughed about the evening. The lead girl, with her wife-to-be sash and her crown covered in tiny pink plastic penises, was overflowing with love. Tender affection for her friends surrounding her as well as her absent fiancé.

“Excuse me,” a girl said while shoving me out of the way to reach for a gigantic bottle of pink medicine. Prickly irritation radiated off her as she unscrewed the bottle and took a generous gulp then pressed a hand to her stomach.

I drifted down the aisle toward an older couple picking through stuffed animals. Their deep love for each other filled my senses like a cool forest breeze.

I walked around the store, a bit confused about what I was doing here. I rounded a corner and ran into Vin, who was examining a display of snow globes. We had barely spoken today. Once we arrived, he had taken me to this store and immediately ditched me.

Unlike everyone else, I didn’t immediately pick up anything from him. It wasn’t just that he was relaxed with no strong emotions.

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