Sinister Serum: Pet Potions Mysteries Book 5 by Ami Diane

Author:Ami Diane [Diane, Ami]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-09-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

“Liam had a partner that night?” Marge asked.

They sat in Marge’s office with the door open so they could hear customers come in. With Julie out, they didn’t have to worry about being discreet.

“What? Why?” With each word, the apothecary’s voice rose in anger. “That man, I swear…” She huffed out a few breaths like a dragon breathing fire. “And Marty didn’t say how they got inside?”

“Nope. He insisted, though, they would never use a potion.”

Libby sipped the latte Camille had brought over under the pretense of browsing the essential oils. Her eyes had barely skimmed the selection before she began asking how the investigation was going, dancing around the topic, and then finally asking about Deputy Jackson. Was he married? Was he dating anyone? Marge had made sure to slip in his nickname Booger Butt multiple times.

Marge stared absently out the window, her jaw still clenched over this new revelation of the AWC’s involvement. Libby needed to distract her.

“Let’s review what we know.” She had to repeat this twice, then snap her fingers to get Marge’s attention.

“Sorry, I was just thinking up ways to get back at him.”

“Sure, because jail was so fun the first time. Keep in mind that your bail money funds are finite, and I don’t get paid enough to help cover you. Unless you want to give me a raise…?”

Marge’s chair squeaked as she turned to face Libby, her arms resting on the chewed-up armrests. “Let’s review what we know.”

“Thought so.”

“So the dead guy Liam Murphy was AWC,” Marge said, resuming their conversation.

“And Sheriff Hardass assigned Liam and this Wade Turner guy to break into the shop—for what reason, we still don’t know. I’m assuming to steal potions or money or to break into your computer.”

“Liam gets stabbed in the neck with my letter opener by an assailant, possibly by a hitman Chad Thompson hired or by the dark potionist.”

Libby took over. “Chad’s motive would be he blamed the victim Liam for swindling him out of his inheritance. And the dark potionist’s motive would be to frame you or scare us off looking for him.”

“Did you email that private investigator yet?”

“This morning.” Libby straightened in her seat suddenly, remembering something else. “Also that package I’ve been waiting for arrived.”

The contents of that package might help them track down the location of the potionist threatening them.

There seemed to be a lot of coals in the fire at the moment, and she wasn’t sure which to focus on first. By the hungry glint in her eyes, Marge was just as keen to identify their dark potionist as she was.

“The moment you hear back from the PI, that takes priority. But in the meantime, maybe we can focus on finding the potionist.”

Libby nodded, and they made plans to go to the post office in the evening.

“Speaking of potionists,” Libby said, broaching a different subject, “we never heard back from the group. I’m sure by now everyone’s had time to check their potion inventory and workspaces. Can I assume that no news is good news?”

“I’d forgotten.

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