Page 16 of Air Of Mystery (Witches On The Hill #4)

“By the old gods.” I shook my head. “It says in the listing: A DIYers dream. Priced to sell.”

Brynn put her phone away. “You did your best. I’d try and put this case behind you, if you can. I know it won’t be easy.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered. “In the meantime, I’m going to throw myself into preparing for the Iowa trip, and the investigation at the Marquette Mansion in a few months.”

“I’m so happy the Marquettes invited you up there to tape a show during their October ghost tours.” Brynn smiled. “That is exciting news.”

I nodded. “There’s plenty of history I needed to re-familiarize myself with about the original Marquette family and the big tragedy and mystery of 1847.”

“That’s definitely a solid plan,” Brynn agreed.

“The show might be a few months away, but I want to be as prepared as possible.” I hesitated and wiggled my eyebrows. “I also have to throw someone special a bridal shower pretty soon.”

“Someone special? Who would that be?” Brynn batted her eyes innocently, making me laugh.

“It’s going to be the best damn bridal shower,” I said, slinging an arm around her shoulder.

“You ever going to tell me where it will be?”

“I booked the smaller event space—the room with the stone fireplace—at the Marquette Mansion for your bridal shower.”

Brynn’s eyes went round. “You did?”

“Yup,” I told her. “The deposit is paid, and Kenna, Cordelia and I are working on the food. Mom’s going to pitch in after they arrive too. We’ll have bar service—”

She laughed in surprise. “There’ll be an open bar at my bridal shower?”

“You bet,” I said. “I’m throwing you one hell of a party. All you have to do is go get a new dress, show up, and enjoy it.”

“Wow!” Brynn laughed. “That sounds incredible. But what about some floral centerpieces?”

I rolled my eyes. “If you want to, you can do up a few, Miss Floral Designer, but only if you’d enjoy it. No stressing about it; otherwise I’ll call a florist in town and have them—”

“Don’t you dare!” Brynn laughed.

“Wanna see the shower invitation designs I’ve been playing around with?” I asked.

“I do.”

“You’re supposed to say that line to Austin,” I pointed out.

Brynn stood up from the bench. “Can we see the invites right now?”

“Absolutely.” I stood and linked arms with her. “Let’s go up to my apartment and I’ll show you what I’ve been conjuring up.”

***

I spent the next few weeks prepping and researching our next out of town investigation.

It was an abandoned school in a small town in central Iowa.

Several other paranormal teams had been there, and their claims ran the gamut from residual style haunting to random EVPs, and a few had dramatically claimed demonic energy.

While I sincerely doubted that last claim, I was excited to investigate with Larry and George and get to the bottom of it all.

Comfortable in jeans, a dark T-shirt and my mirrored shades, the morning of the trip I swung by Kenna’s micro-bakery for some scones and coffees for the guys.

“Morning!” I called out to Kenna as she stood behind the counter.

“Hey!” She waved.

I waited my turn and was happy to see that Kenna was busy with plenty of customers that day.

“So,” she said as I stepped up to the counter, “you headed over to Larry’s to load up the van for your trip?”

“I am,” I said. “Promised the guys I’d bring breakfast.”

She smiled. “I can help you with that.”

I perused the case and spotted blueberry muffins and cinnamon raisin scones. “Give me three muffins and three of the cinnamon raisin scones.”

“You got it.” Kenna picked up a box and began to fill it up.

I stepped to one side to allow the person behind me to see in the case and pulled out my wallet to pay.

Kenna rang me up, wishing me a safe trip, and I headed straight to the coffee station to snag three drinks to go.

After getting the drinks all set in a carrier, I waved at Kenna and picked up my purchase. Keeping my eyes on the hot drinks, I’d managed about two steps across the bakery when Kenna said, “Good morning, Charlie!”

My head snapped up, and I spotted none other than Charlie Smythe. Peering over the tops of my sunglasses, I noted how casually he leaned against the counter. His back was to me, but he was chatting up my sister, and they seemed very friendly with each other.

Instantly suspicious, I stayed where I was and watched them. Fortunately for me, it was busy enough in the bakery that Charlie never even noticed me.

“I’ve got your order already boxed. It’s in the back,” Kenna said. “Gimme a sec.” With a flip of her long auburn ponytail, she went into her kitchen.

She came back a moment later with two huge boxes and passed them over to him.

“Thank you, Kenna,” Charlie said. “The guys really appreciate this.”

“I’m always happy to help out,” she said.

Charlie nodded. “See you next week.” Then he smiled and left.

See you next week? I thought. Where is he going with those giant boxes of pastries? I doubt it’s for the Marquette Mansion...because he said, ‘the guys appreciate this.’

So, who, I wondered, were ‘the guys’?