Dead Even by Patti Larsen

Author:Patti Larsen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: cozy mystery series, murder mystery book, murder mystery series, paranormal cozy mystery series, cozy murder mystery series, paranormal cozy murder mystery series, cozy murder mystery book, cozy mystery book, paranormal cozy murder mystery book, paranormal cozy mystery book

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Chapter Fourteen

I waved to Mavis who hustled toward me like her life depended on it, side-stepping a pair of young women who giggled as she grunted her way past them to drop herself into the seat across from me. I pushed the pre-ordered coffee toward her, Benjamin moving in for some pats as the retired necromancer sighed her delight at her first long drink of java despite the warmth of the day on the sunny patio outside the local coffee shop.

I saluted her with my ice cappuccino, Benjamin already finished with his donut and bowl of water the lovely baristas supplied him after giving him copious hugs and kisses. Giant black dog or not, women loved him for the most part and the local girls here in Circe were no exception.

Mavis sat back with a long exhale, her skin pink and fighting the tan I knew I was already beginning to sport, silver curls wavering in the thin breeze, scent from the lovely flowers climbing a nearby trellis making me smile despite the reason for the meeting. Two deaths aside, Whitewitch Island was no slouch when it came to a welcoming feeling I hadn’t expected but rather enjoyed even if the only other magic user in the place was a grumpy on the outside, focused and intense on the inside retired thaumaturge.

I could choose worse companions.

“Next time we meet at your house,” she grunted over the lip of her plastic coffee cover. “I want to meet those ravens of yours. Seen them flying last evening, the pair of them, having a sport of a go over the water.” Mavis grinned at me suddenly. “Nice having some of us around after all this time.”

“How long have you lived here?” I almost tagged that question with, “And why Whitewitch Island?” Instead, I let her answer.

And wasn’t disappointed. “About ten years now,” she said. “Got tired of guild politics, you know the business.” I nodded. “My husband died.” She shrugged like it was nothing to her anymore, but I felt better, the faint hurt remaining though she did a good job hiding it. Benjamin immediately nuzzled her for pats, a sign he sensed it too and she didn’t argue with him, stroking his fur in long sweeps of her free hand. “The old fool, he was an alchemist. Working on a new chemical compound for Guild Ares.” The war guild? Interesting. “Blew up in his face.” She shook her head, mouth turning down just a little. “At least he didn’t suffer.”

So matter of fact. And prompted me to speak when I hadn’t meant to. “I know your pain, sister,” I said. Stopped. I hadn’t talked to anyone about Elias, not the Guild redactors who’d tried to see into my head, not my family. Just Benjamin and the ravens, because they’d been there. And even they only knew what they knew.

Mavis nodded a ponderous motion of her head. “I figured as much,” she said. Squinted at me. “You’re that inquisitor, aren’t you. Came up against the enemy.

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