Witching Your Life Away: A Cozy Mystery (The Witchy Women of Coven Grove Book 5) by Constance Barker

Author:Constance Barker [Barker, Constance]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barking Mad Books
Published: 2016-10-11T03:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Chloe, Ryan, and Bailey left the Sheriff’s department and met with the other witches and, to Bailey’s surprise, Aiden and Avery at the Bakery. Both wizards looked every bit as exhausted as the rest of them.

Aiden gave her a long, meaningful look when they saw one another, but made no move to touch her even though the near magnetic need for comfort was tangible to Bailey. Chloe didn’t seem to notice; or if she did, she didn’t say anything. They could normally read one another’s surface emotions without trouble, unless they were intentionally closed off; which took consistent effort when it came to their particular connection.

Coffee was already made, as well as fresh bread and pastries. The Bakery wouldn’t officially open for another couple of hours, thankfully, so they had time to convene without interruption. Knowing that made Bailey somehow more tired; the town wasn’t even awake yet.

But trying to rest now would possibly cost them time they didn’t have.

“Updates from everyone,” Bailey said. “If you have them.”

Ryan took out his pad, and licked the tip of his pen, intent on continuing to keep notes.

“What did you learn from Candi?” Aria asked.

“That she’s unstable,” Bailey said.

“Like the other two?” Aiden asked.

Bailey shook her head. “No. They seemed to be past it, to be… regretful about what had happened. Candi was still angry. Just like Delbert and Michael, her whole problem was something that happened years ago. Old issues that must have burrowed deep and stayed there until these shadow beings drew them out. Candi’s beef was nearly thirty years old.”

“Did she show any desire to go to the caves?” Avery asked. “She attacked Nancy there, in the house, right? So, that doesn’t fit the pattern.”

Aiden rubbed his chin thoughtfully, listening.

“It doesn’t,” Bailey said. “She did talk about something else, though, about some ballerina. Tanickle, or—”

“Tanaquil le Clerqu,” Ryan provided, tapping a page of his notes. “A famous ballerina. Specifically her slippers.”

“Right,” Bailey said, snapping her fingers. How could she have forgotten that? “The slippers. She went almost full Gollum about them. She wanted me to bring them to her. Never even asked how Nancy was doing. But she was concerned about them.”

“They were a gift from Mister Dove,” Ryan added.

“Right,” Bailey said. “So there’s a good chance they’re genuine.”

“Possibly cursed?” Aria offered.

Bailey nodded. “Extremely, it looks like. Maybe they drew the shadows?”

Ryan interjected softly. “Delbert Finn also was in proximity to an antique. A civil war era firearm. Which he also came into possession of by way of Mister Dove’s shop.”

“That’s right,” Bailey said slowly. “I… it’s funny, I… somehow forgot about that as well.”

“You’re exhausted,” Aiden said softly. “It’s alright. It’s good Ryan was there to take notes. We might benefit from taking up that habit ourselves.”

It was more than that, Bailey knew, but the words she needed to express it were slippery and wouldn’t form. She gave up as another thought occurred to her. “Michael didn’t have an antique of some kind on him, did he?”

Avery shrugged, and shared a look with Aiden before he produced what looked like small leather bag.

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