A Witching Well of Magic by Constance Barker

Author:Constance Barker [Barker, Constance]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Constance Barker
Published: 2016-06-07T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

“Wait, slow down,” Avery said when Bailey relayed the story in a single, long breath. “Someone broke into the tour office and stole, what, a rock?”

“Not just a rock,” Bailey groaned, “it’s... look, the stones from the cave are carvings; they’re almost as old as the caves themselves. They’re priceless artifacts. If someone stole them, maybe it has to do with Martha Tells’ supposed plan to reveal the ‘secret’ of the cave writings.”

Avery leaned back in his chair across the library table from Bailey. “Okay, I’ll bite. So... but you think it was Aiden?”

“Maybe he didn’t think anyone would notice,” Bailey said, “but when I pointed out to him that the stone was missing he didn’t want to report it to the Sheriff. He said he was going to hire a PI.” She rolled her eyes.

“Maybe he is,” Avery said. “Why would he need to fake stealing it? He owns it, doesn’t he?”

“For the insurance?” Bailey proposed. It did sound thin. If he wanted to get money off the stone, he could have arranged an auction or just put it up on Ebay. “I don’t know... maybe to draw more media attention to the Tour Business.”

“Hmm.” Avery was not convinced.

“Maybe he’s in league with someone else,” Bailey suggested. “Like Gloria and Trevor.”

“I’ll be honest,” Avery said. “I don’t think we’re looking in the right place. Aiden... I just don’t get that sense from him. You know I read people pretty well.”

Bailey bit her lip. If only he knew the irony in that. This would be so much easier if she could just tell him precisely why it was all so strange. “Just look at the time line. Martha Tells is murdered in the caves. Poppy goes to prison. Aiden buys the business from her, has all sorts of weird questions about the caves, and who made them—”

“Questions you’ve had for years. Go on.”

“—yes, alright, I have; however, just a few days after Aiden shows up someone breaks in and steals one of the stones?” She scoffed. “Gloria and Trevor have been in town for months now. If they were in on it, they’d have done it when no one was watching the place. So would anyone else. Why wait until now?”

Avery only shrugged, and shook his head. He drummed his fingers on the table. Bailey wanted to shake him. Why wasn’t it as obvious to him as it was to her? She supposed there were parts he didn’t know; if he knew them, though, would that make a difference? She stood from the table and went to the water cooler in the corner to get something to drink.

“Plus he’s just a little too smooth, don’t you think?” She said as she did. “I mean, with that face and the way he dresses, and the way he talks... it all just sort of screams con-man if you ask me. You know I saw Rita the other day—”

“Rita’s normally out of town this time of year,” Avery said quietly. “I wonder if Thomas is coming to visit.

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