Mercury Rising: A Magical Midlife Cozy Mystery and Paranormal Women's Fiction Adventure (Magical Midlife in Retrograde Book 1) by J.B. Aspen

Author:J.B. Aspen [Aspen, J.B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: paranormal women's fiction, magical mystery, cozy mystery, cozy witch mystery, paranormal mystery, psychic mystery, Urban Fantasy, wizard & witch mystery, female detective
Publisher: Abracadabra Publishing
Published: 2023-04-26T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY

We headed into the inn. I couldn’t believe how much time had passed while I’d been sitting in front of that cabin. I’d missed lunch and it was time to dress for dinner. Not that I was hungry, not after all my revelations today, but I needed to observe all of the suspects and this might be my only opportunity. And I still needed to clear the air about my name. Even if I trusted that magicked up memory of childhood and believed I might be a Quicksilver, I wasn’t part of that world. I’d been raised by Dan and Martha Rodgers. I wasn’t letting that go.

I settled into a chair next to Beth.

Our group was much quieter than the night before. The normally pushy Tanaka pulled up his menu and hid behind it at a table all by himself. Very different from the night before when he’d spent the entire time chasing down Oldfield. Something was definitely up there. You’d think with his competition decreased by one he’d be campaigning even harder, not hiding in the corner.

“Well, there you are.” Mr. Oldfield came up next to me, his mustache bristling. “I hope you’re satisfied with yourself, miss high-and-mighty. It’s no joke to miss an interview like this. You know, if you weren’t interested in competing for the post of Innkeeper, you might have let someone know. Or maybe you thought you had it in the bag. Just because you’re a Quicksilver it doesn’t mean you don’t have to interview.”

This was my chance. “I’m not—”

Mrs. Thyme cut off my attempt at explanation. “Now Albert. Give the girl some space. Maybe she was nervous about showing you what she’s got, hmm?”

“But I’m not—”

She kicked me in my ankles, cutting me off. “She’s sorry, I’m sure. Aren’t you, Mercury?”

“Ouch!” I leaned over and rubbed my bruised feet as she led him away.

Mr. Oldfield huffed as they settled down at a quiet table with their fellow judge. “I don’t care if she is sorry.” He gave me a glare from across the room. “Time is running out and we need to make a decision and appoint the new Innkeeper. Skipping interviews isn’t giving you any points, no matter who you think you are.”

“Now Albert, let’s talk about the contestants we did interview today.”

I let the buzz of the other diners ordering and discussing the day flow around me. Why wouldn’t Mrs. Thyme let me tell him I wasn’t a Quicksilver? As I half-listened to Beth chat with our fellow table-mates about dinner choices, it felt like everyone was staring at me. I glanced up quickly at Lavinda across the table and she dropped her gaze to her menu. I fiddled nervously with my fork. Maybe Mrs. Thyme had the right idea. Maybe I shouldn’t talk about the Quicksilver thing. Maybe it was better to just let sleeping dogs lie.

After dinner Beth and I tried to play cards with the Bell twins, Trudy, and Mrs. Thyme. It was terrible, with Trudy making silly mistakes and Mrs.

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