Hex Type Thing Read online

“What?” He stirred and glanced at me as he maneuvered his truck onto the main road. We had only four blocks to go. We could’ve walked, but if we needed to make it someplace fast it was best to keep the truck with us.

  “You have something,” I repeated. “You think you know who did this.”

  “I don’t.” He vehemently shook his head. “I just ... the money is something to consider. Maybe he was killed because he didn’t have as much money as he pretended and that offended someone. I don’t know why, but that’s sticking in my head right now.”

  I wasn’t sure what to make of the statement. “But ... why Salma?”

  “That’s the other thing.” He licked his lips and focused on the practically non-existent traffic. “What if he killed Salma and somebody else killed him?”

  I’d considered that possibility but ultimately discarded it. “I think the odds of having two killers are slim.”

  “You’re the one who said we’re dealing with a team,” he reminded me. “You can’t back off that now.”

  He had a point. “Let me rephrase that,” I started. “I don’t think it’s possible to have two killers with separate motives. That’s what we would have in your scenario. Alastair would’ve killed Salma to cover up his financial misdeeds and someone would’ve killed Alastair because ... why?”

  “Maybe it’s all about the money. Or maybe it’s about the festival. Maybe our killer stumbled across Alastair and Salma on the beach, witnessed what he did, and realized it was all a sham.”

  “And then followed him to Cooper’s Hollow, where he was hiding out, and managed to take his own knife to kill him with?” I challenged.

  “Ugh. That is a tough detail to navigate around.” He grinned as he pulled into the bank parking lot. “You really are turning into quite the little investigative thinker, baby. I’m impressed.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Don’t be impressed until we figure this out. I think we’re close. We’re just missing one piece that will make the whole picture make sense.”

  “Well, we’d better find it soon because we’re running out of time. The first ship to take these people away docks tomorrow. So far we’ve managed to stave off any bloodshed ... but I don’t know if our luck will hold.”

  I considered that statement as I hopped out of the truck and crossed to the front to join him. “Whoever did this had access to the athame and a gun. You can’t take a gun on a cruise ship, right?”

  He shook his head. “Not usually. You can on a plane as long as it’s packed in stowed luggage. Maybe we should be giving a hard look at the people who flew in.”

  “It has to be someone who arrived the day before the festival started. That’s when Salma was killed. That’s when Alastair went missing off the beach and fled to Cooper’s Hollow. The sirens said he showed up alone. That means he either killed Salma and fled or someone else waited until right after he took off to take out Salma and then chased him.”

  “According to you, we have a team,” he reminded me for the second time. “They could’ve split up. One could’ve stayed with Salma on the beach and the other could’ve followed Alastair.”

  “Except the same knife was used.”

  “Good point ... but that particular athame is available at multiple stores on the island. Maybe our killers bought them together because they knew they might need more than one weapon.”

  “That would stick out, right? I mean ... if two people went into one of the stores and bought athames together — before the start of the festival — that would have to stand out to the clerks.”

  “You know, that’s a very good point.” He ran his hand over my hair to smooth it. “I’m going to send out a deputy to question the sellers. We might get lucky.”

  “See. I’m more than a pretty face.”

  He smirked and gave me a quick kiss. “So much more. Come on. We need to talk to Bradley. I — or rather, you — have some serious questions about the money.”

  “You’ve got that right.”

  INSTEAD OF WELCOMING US WARMLY, Bradley looked agitated when Galen pushed his way into his office.

  “I don’t believe we had an appointment,” Bradley groused, shaking his head. “I’m busy here, Galen.”

  “We’re all busy,” Galen countered, waiting until I was seated before joining me. “I’m investigating two murders, which I think takes precedence over whatever it is that you’re doing.”

  “Last time I checked I was helping you investigate those murders,” Bradley countered. “Isn’t that why I’ve been working overtime to track Alastair’s funds?”

  “Yes, but now I have more questions about Alastair’s money. For example, how much went missing?”

  “Excuse me?” Bradley’s eyebrows migrated up his forehead. “I don’t understand what you’re asking.”

  I cleared my throat to get Galen’s attention. When he turned, I pinned him with an expectant look. “You said I could ask the questions.”

  He sighed and nodded. “So I did.” His gaze shifted back to Bradley. “Hadley will be taking over from here.”

  “And I’m looking forward to it,” I said, leaning forward. “We’re not asking about the amount of money just to be nosy. It’s important, because it’s come to our attention that Alastair wasn’t nearly as rich as he pretended to be.”

  “And how rich did he pretend to be?” Bradley asked. “Do you know how much money he supposedly had?”

  “I know that he put on a show that wasn’t exactly true,” I replied, unruffled by his tone. He clearly didn’t like being questioned by someone who didn’t have a badge to back up her position. He would just have to get over it. “I know that he inherited a huge amount of money from his father and blew through almost all of it.”

  “That’s a slight exaggeration,” Bradley hedged. “He certainly wasn’t as well off at the end as he was at the beginning, but he was still one of our premier customers.”

  “How much money?” Galen prodded. “It’s important, Bradley. We’re not going to leave without the information.”

  “Yes, well ... he had multiple accounts. The money was spread through various money market, checking and savings accounts. I would have to add it up.”

  “Do that,” Galen instructed. “We’ll wait.”

  Bradley looked between us for a moment before rolling his eyes and going to work on his computer. “This is highly irregular,” he complained.

  I ignored him and tapped Galen’s hand. “You were supposed to let me ask the questions,” I whined.

  “You did ask the questions.”

  “You let me ask one question and then took over the conversation.”

  “Yes, well, I’m a control freak. I can’t help myself. You weren’t asking the questions fast enough.”

  “That’s not fair.”

  “Life isn’t fair.”

  “I expect a gift of some sort — perhaps a massage — once this is all over with to make up for it.”

  “I’m positive I can make that happen, but maybe not tonight. If we can sew this up before darkness falls ... .”

  He left it hanging and I knew what was bothering him. “You need to run under the full moon.”

  He hesitated before answering. “I need to shift,” he confirmed finally. “If I can run for a bit in my wolf form I’ll be completely back to normal after ... well ... after that whole cupid thing.”

  “You’re still upset about that.” It didn’t take a genius to figure that out. “I’m sorry. You got hurt because of me.”

  “That’s not true.” He wagged a finger. “I was hurt because they were jerks and idiots and they wanted to get their hands on that seal. We didn’t realize May had it until it was already too late. That’s not on you.”

  “You wouldn’t have been hurt if you weren’t dating me.”

  “Well, sometimes the pain is worth it.” He snagged my hand and squeezed it. “Don’t blame yourself. You did things exactly right that night. You’re coming into your own, my little witch. I like seeing it ... even
if the growing pains aren’t always comfortable.”

  “Yeah, but ... .” I decided to drop it. We weren’t going to come to a meeting of the minds on the subject so it was a wasted effort. “You need to run to recharge and completely heal. So, we’ll make it happen. Whether we find our killers or not, you’re heading out.”

  “We’ll see.” He turned back to Bradley, who was watching us expectantly. “Do you have our number?”

  “I do.” Bradley wrinkled his nose. “I was waiting for you two to stop talking to one another long enough for me to get a word in edgewise.”

  “We’re done now,” Galen reassured him.

  “For now,” I added. “We’re going to fight about him shifting later, whether he likes it or not.”

  Galen growled, but otherwise didn’t acknowledge that I’d spoken. “What do you have for us?”

  “He transferred a total of fifty-million dollars from six accounts,” Bradley replied without hesitation. “Er, well, since you say he was dead at the time of the transfers, I guess it’s fair to say that someone else transferred the money.”

  I was taken aback. “But how is that possible? Dirk said he only had about a million total, and five-hundred thousand of that was tied up until a certain time.”

  “That’s what Alastair had until the last month,” Bradley said. “In the past few weeks, his net worth had grown tremendously.”

  “To the tune of fifty-million in two weeks?” Galen’s eyes flashed. “Did no one think to question where that money was coming from?”

  “I ... no.” Bradley held out his hands and shrugged. “It’s not bank policy to demand a history of the source of money. We simply accepted the deposits, which is all we’re required to do.”

  “Can you trace where the money came from?”

  “We can, but that will take a lot of time and resources. There were at least five-thousand transactions coming in within a four-week period. Some of those are still pending.”

  “I don’t understand.” Galen looked to me. “Do you understand what he’s saying?”

  Actually, I did. “The money that was moved was the festival money.” I rubbed my forehead as I tried to do the math. “You said that some people paid ten grand and others twenty grand. He claimed he put millions in beforehand, but that’s not true. I think Calliope handled most of the outgoing money. She thought she was going to get a split of the profits, but he never intended for that to be the case. We’re dealing with five-thousand people at ten to twenty grand a pop. That could easily amount to fifty-million dollars.”

  “Un-freaking-believable.” Galen looked to the ceiling. “Fifty million is definitely worth killing for.”

  “But who killed for it? And, more importantly, how did they get out to Cooper’s Hollow to kill him without the sirens noticing?”

  “That right there is a good question.” Galen pressed his lips together and shook his head. “I don’t even know where to start looking.”

  That made two of us.

  WE RETURNED TO GALEN’S OFFICE. He wanted to brainstorm and I wasn’t keen to be left behind. After several hours of watching him pace, which was starting to get on my nerves, I excused myself.

  “Where are you going?” he asked, suddenly suspicious.

  “I need some air.”

  “You’re not going to find trouble, are you?”

  “No.” I tried to push down my annoyance at the fact that he would even suggest that, but it was difficult. “I’m going to get some air ... because you’re sucking up all that we have available in this room. Then I’m going to buy some water, and maybe swing by Lilac’s bar to get us lunch before returning. Unless you have a problem with me trying to take care of you, that is.”

  His expression softened. “I’m sorry. I’m just ... worried. Whoever it is we’re dealing with — two people apparently — knows who you are. They weren’t following me last night. They were following you. I just want you to be safe.”

  And because I knew that was true, the leading edge of my irritation with him dulled. “I know. But it’s broad daylight and I’ll be sticking to the main drag. We’re not making any progress right now, and all we’re doing is annoying one another. I think a thirty-minute break will do us both good.”

  He caught the front of my shirt before I could make it to the door and pulled me close to give me a kiss. “I’m sorry. I’m just frustrated. I feel so close ... and yet so far away. This isn’t your fault.”

  “I know.” I patted his arm. “It’s not your fault either. I don’t think either of us is used to this much together time.”

  “Are you second-guessing your invitation for me to move in with you?”

  “No.” I adamantly shook my head. “We’ll be fine on that front. It’s no different than how we already live, except you won’t have to make runs to grab clothes and other stuff from your place. I think the difference is how much time we’ve been working together.”

  “We’ve worked together before.”

  “We have, but not quite this much. I think, going forward, we need to balance better. We’re both going to have needs that have to be fulfilled. To make sure that happens, we need to be honest with one another ... and with ourselves. This will only work if we’re both willing to compromise, which I think we are.”

  “We are.” He gently pushed my hair from my face. “I’m sorry I’ve been irritating you with the pacing. I can’t help myself. That’s how I think.”

  “I know. I’m sorry I’ve been irritating you with the sighing. That’s how I think.”

  “I only like it when you sigh with happiness.”

  “Good to know.” I gave him a quick kiss. “I’ll pick up lunch for both of us after I get my air and then we can get back to it.”

  “That sounds like a plan.” He offered me a half-wave as he went back to his desk. “If you’re going to be more than an hour text me so I don’t worry.”

  “No problem. That I can do.”

  THE FEW MINUTES OF SOLITUDE DID ME A world of good. I was starting to feel a bit sheepish about the way I left. The true problem was that Galen and I both liked being in charge. We weren’t good at ceding the top spot in the investigative pecking order. We were going to have to come to a meeting of the minds about that at some point. For now, we were fine feeling our way around. We’d done remarkably well so far. I didn’t expect that to change.

  I walked around the block four times, until I felt calm, and then I headed for Lilac’s bar. On a whim, I decided to take the long way, which just so happened to circle past the cemetery. I honestly had no idea why I wanted to go during the day — it’s not as if the zombies were out and about when the sun was out — but something called me in that direction.

  I returned to the spot where Galen and I had our picnic, taking a moment to look in every direction before focusing on a set of thick bushes. It was here that I was convinced the voices from the previous evening had been hiding.

  I picked my way around the bushes, not stopping until I was on the other side. Sure enough, I found that whoever had been out here had a clear view of the spot Galen and I had been sitting in. Had I decided to make a move at the time, I probably could’ve discovered who we were dealing with relatively quickly. Galen might’ve talked big about me doing the right thing, but I was starting to doubt myself. This would already be over if I’d ignited my courage and chased the voices.

  I couldn’t go back and change things, but I was kicking myself.

  I circled the area several times, no idea what I was looking for. Shoe prints? Maybe, but I was fairly certain that only worked in movies. A psychic image? That would be better, but would it be accurate? Galen had brought up the very real possibility that I might see what I want to see when trying to read the minds of those I know. The same could be true when looking for a killer. I might see someone who I already disliked, which could possibly taint the process.

  I heaved out a sigh after my fifth circle. There was nothing here. I was reasonably assured of that. I was a
bout to leave when the glint of something tangled in one of the bush branches caught my attention and I leaned forward.

  There, nestled in the green boughs, was a silver chain. I grabbed it without thinking, only kicking myself after. The odds of Galen being able to get prints on something as delicate as the chain I was dragging out were slim, though, so I tamped down my guilt.

  By the time I removed the item, I realized it was a silver necklace ... and there was a charm dangling from it. It was a moon, and I knew exactly where I’d seen it before.

  I straightened quickly, my breath clogging in my throat. When I turned, I found Thalia watching me with flat eyes. There was something different about her, something deadly. And when she spoke, I realized that at least part of the puzzle was coming together.

  “You shouldn’t have come back here,” she growled. “Now you’ve made things all the more difficult.”

  I thought it would be difficult to find my voice. I was wrong. “I could say the same for you.”

  “Except you’re the one who is going to die.”

  “Oh, yeah? I guess you’re going to have to prove that.”

  “Gladly.”

  28

  Twenty-Eight

  “Aren’t you at least going to try to run?” Thalia looked puzzled by my reaction.

  “No.” This was the best possible place for this showdown ... though I would’ve appreciated a little backup. I had no doubt I could take Thalia. It might be a brutal fight, but I was determined to win.

  “You’re not very smart.” She clucked her tongue and shook her head. “I believe that’s mine.” She indicated the necklace I held. “I didn’t even realize it was gone until this morning. I figured I should find it before someone discovered it. A small detail, but a detail nonetheless.”

  “I think I’ll hang on to it,” I countered, shoving the necklace in my pocket and looking her up and down. She was dressed completely in black again and her countenance was even paler than usual. “I’m confused about why you’ve done this. All of this. It makes no sense. Did you even know Alastair, other than the money he paid you to be here, that is?”