Witch Hunt by Cate Conte

Author:Cate Conte
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2020-03-30T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 30

I unlocked the door to my shop, my gaze falling on the North Harbor Day wrapped in plastic on the ground. I hesitated, then stooped to pick it up and headed inside, flicking lights on as I moved through, pausing to sniff every few steps. I didn’t smell anything at all. False alarm? Or had whatever it was been resolved because of Josie’s quick action? I checked my phone again. She hadn’t replied.

She’d be along soon enough. Guess I just had to wait.

I went to the counter to drop my purse and the paper. I wasn’t going to read it. That lasted half a second before I picked it up and yanked the wrapper off, my eyes drawn immediately to the photo of Carla Fernandez above the fold, smiling out from behind her nameplate at one of the town council meetings.

Local councilwoman dead, the headline read. The subhead said, Brazen killing in public courtyard leaves residents on edge.

A sidebar article showed a somber photo of the remaining council members gathered last night behind the mayor as he made a statement about the “swift and fitting justice” the killer could expect.

I flipped the paper over abruptly. I didn’t think my stomach could take reading the rest of the article, terrified to see my name in print as a “person of interest.” Brazen killing. I realized my hands were shaking and closed my eyes, took a few deep breaths to steady myself. I had to go along today like nothing had happened, at least in my world. I couldn’t let anyone think I was disturbed by the visit to the police station. I hadn’t done anything wrong. Now I needed to make sure I acted like it.

I took a deep breath and went out back to check my messages to see if any of my appointments had canceled. But when I got to my desk, I nearly jumped a foot when I saw a pair of yellow eyes blinking at me from on top of my desk.

“How did you get in here?” I asked the black cat, trying to calm my hammering heart. What was with this cat? How was he getting into all these places—all my places, specifically? If he belonged to someone, they really needed to start taking better care of him.

He regarded me with a slow blink, blink of those eyes. I guess if I expected him to answer me I was in for a big letdown.

“Okay, well. I guess you can stay. It’s warmer in here than outside,” I said. I wondered if I should think about bringing him home with me permanently. Monty might hate it. But how awesome would it be to have a black and orange cat pair? Maybe this was the Universe telling me it was time to get myself a black cat since I’d always wanted one.

Although now was probably not the time to think of that. “Right,” I said. “I have an appointment.” I left him sitting on the desk. On my way into the main room of the shop, I paused and looked back.

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