Potions of Peril (Charm Kitty Mysteries Book 2) by J. L. Collins

Author:J. L. Collins [Collins, J. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: J. L. Collins Books
Published: 2021-06-29T22:00:00+00:00

12

TIED UP WITH A BOW

Despite the detective’s promise to be discreet, everyone at the market noticed them right away. It was hard to fly under the radar when everyone knew everyone, and even most of the customers were regulars who came more weeks than not. Newcomers tended to stick out, even more so when they weren’t shopping or selling anything, instead circling the market like a trio of hammerhead sharks.

“I’ll bet you’re wishing you had taken my advice now,” Winston purred as he worked to clean his whiskers, having just mowed down his usual order of chicken kebob.

“And what advice was that? You dish out a lot of unsolicited insight over the course of any given day,” I replied, still a little perturbed over the situation the day before when Paige had called me.

“That we should have canceled the market this week and given things time to die down,” Winston said. “A funeral parlor is more lively than this place.”

As much as I hated to admit it, he had a point. Prior to the detective showing up, there was a little glimmer of hope that it might be a successful night, but once Detective Hillard and his two deputies arrived, everyone clammed up and kept to themselves.

“Maybe the shoppers will snap everyone out of it,” I said.

“I’ll keep my I told you so on standby,” Winston replied.

“Wonderful.” I popped my last bite of chicken into my mouth, wiped my fingers on a napkin, and disentangled myself from the picnic table. “I’m going to go see if the band has something with a little more pep. Maybe that will get people’s minds off of this whole thing.”

Winston wasn’t looking at me; instead his gaze was fixed past me. “Yeah… I don’t think that’s going to do the trick now that he’s here.”

“He? He who?” I twisted around and my mouth dropped open. Noel, Armando’s cousin and business partner, was at the pair’s normal space, pulling a wagon of supplies behind him. “Stars above, what is he doing here?”

“Looks to me like he’s planning on selling some crappy face potions and hair balms,” Winston quipped.

At first, no one approached Noel, but then one by one the vendors went over to pay their respects, and within minutes he was surrounded by a dozen people, all of whom were speaking in soft tones as they exchanged pained expressions over Noel’s bowed head.

“Should I go over there? What should I say?” My hands twisted together in front of me as I peered over my shoulder at Winston.

“Meh, do whatever you want.” He hopped down from the table onto the bench, leaving me to clean up after him. “If you ask me, the only thing you should ask is what he’s thinking, returning to the scene of the crime.”

My brows peaked. “You think Noel killed Armando?”

Luckily, there was no one else around to overhear me. I lowered my voice and perched at the corner of the bench. “Was there some kind of conflict going on between the two of them?”

“It’s always someone close to the victim.

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