Page 29 of Seven Secret Spellcasters (Kitchen Witch Mysteries #7)

“You don’t need a driver’s license to schedule a river tour.

” Carter shrugged. “The phone number he left had been disconnected. I was a little worried about the payment method, so I checked the records and saw he’d paid cash.

So I figured he got a better offer for the weekend.

It happens a lot nowadays. People throw away money like it was easy to make. Maybe for them, it is.”

Mark asked a few more questions, then they left. He got in the truck and scribbled a note in his book. “At least we have a name. Would have been nice if it was Monty and had an address.”

“You don’t have a name. He left a fictional name.” Mia was looking for something on her phone.

“How do you know that? It’s odd, but people have odd names. It might just mean he’s not local.” Mark finished his notes, then started the engine. “Are you hungry? I could use a burger.”

“Sure, but this is how I know it’s fictional. Unless his mom was a big C HRONICLES OF N ARNIA fan—Edmund Pevensie was the boy who chose the wrong side.”

Mark turned off the car. “You’re kidding me.”

Mia showed him her phone. “The phone number was fake. The name was fake. And he paid in cash. I think we might be on to something. And yes, I’d love a burger.”

“So you’re telling me we’re looking for a fictional character from a children’s novel who killed a half leprechaun. It’s never easy with you people.” Mark started the car and headed into town. “Do you have a favorite fast-food place here?”

* * *

Mark dropped her off back at the school, but before he drove off, he asked her to check for both names— Mortimer and Edmund Pevensie.

She assured him that she would ask both Grans and Abigail, but she was certain the name left at the tour place had been intentionally fake.

She wondered if it was a clue. Was there something in the C HRONICLES that would lead them to the killer? A hiding-in-plain-sight joke?

The academy was a madhouse. People were bringing in props, chairs, and tables. She ran into Jeani Langston in the foyer.

“Hey, there you are. I was worried that you were stuck at the Lodge working and would miss all the fun. How was your ceremony last night? Did you love the woodland scene I made?”

“It was so magical. Thank you!” Mia hugged the designer. “I don’t know how you got the sky to twinkle like that. And what happened with the smoke from the fire?”

“Trade secret, sorry.” Jeani laughed, then grabbed a deliveryman who was carrying a table toward the kitchen. “Wrong way. I’d love to chat, but I need to pay attention to these guys or we’ll have things set up wrong all over.”

“Okay, maybe we can sit down over coffee on Saturday when you come take this all down,” Mia dodged another worker heading toward the stairs. They were fast.

“Coffee on Saturday sounds great. I’ll need it after the party.” Jeani threw air kisses and ran after the wayward delivery guy.

Mia decided to check in with Abigail and see where she was needed.

The kitchen was busy, but calmer than the rest of the first floor.

Abigail, Christina, and Finn were all at tables working, and the smell from the ovens promised something sweet.

She made a beeline for Abigail, who was cutting out mini pumpkin cookies to go on top of cheesecake squares. “Hey, those look cute.”

“I think so. The coven always goes so fancy with their desserts. I wanted to add a little fun to the occasion. How did it go with Mark?” Abigail lifted a cookie and moved it to the baking sheet.

“More questions than answers. Do you know a witch who uses the name either Mortimer or Edmund Pevensie? Maybe as a pen name or a joke?” She watched as Christina poured chocolate-cake batter into pans. Tonight’s treats were going to be tasty.

“Not a witch, but there was an incubus that used to hang around here that loved using names of fictional villains. He was chased out about ten years ago. He liked to show up at the Harvest Queen Pageant and pretend to be from a talent agency. One year, it was modeling. One year, it was acting. Then musical. You get my drift. Anyway, the coven board figured him out and sent him packing. You don’t think he attended this year’s pageant, do you? ”

“No, but it’s a good lead. Blake, she asked if I’d heard of an incubus around the area too. It can’t be a coincidence, can it?”

Abigail stopped cutting out cookies and looked back at Finn. “Attention, has anyone been approached by a man who offered you something you desperately wanted? Christina? Finn?”

“Besides Levi finally popping the question?” Christina shook her head. “No, but I’ve been out of the area for a few weeks.”

“I don’t know anyone except my cousin. And the only thing he’s given me is gas money and dinner now and then.

” Finn grinned at Abigail. “Are you saying there’s a genie running around town giving out three wishes?

I’d love one of those expensive houses on the road to the ski lodge.

And maybe a new car. I’m not sure what I’d ask for the third. ”

“You’re going to need to ask for money to pay for the upkeep of the house, including taxes. And gas for the car. Don’t get a sports car, though. Get something like mine. An SUV. Maybe a four-door Jeep?” Christina added to the fantasy. “Red, I’d get red.”

“Fine, so no one’s been approached. I get it.” Abigail turned back to Mia, laughing. “I’ll put some feelers out with the coven. I take it Blake’s in hiding?”

“Hiding? No. Well, maybe.” Mia wanted to kick herself. She’d outed her boss without meaning to. She dropped her voice. “She doesn’t want anyone to know she’s a witch. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“You’d be surprised at how many of our Magic Springs residents are magical, come here to hide in plain sight. Don’t worry, I recognized her the minute I saw her in the Lodge’s dining room. I’m surprised you didn’t.”

Mia left the kitchen and went in search of Grans. Abigail’s words haunted her. Who else in Magic Springs had power or wasn’t quite human that Mia hadn’t even noticed? Someone had said that people were drawn to the area before they even knew their own secret.

She felt like Dorothy on the start of her journey through Oz.

She wasn’t sure what she’d find next, and she was getting dizzy from all the turns.

But right now, her focus was on solving Howard’s murder.

Just because Mark didn’t think Trent or Cerby or Buddy had killed the man didn’t mean the coven believed the same thing.