This Magick Marmot

Book 5: Abracadabra Mystery

by Sharon Pape

Genres: Amateur Sleuth; Animal Cozy Mysteries; Female Sleuths

Synopsis

Praise for Magick & Mayhem, the first Abracadabra mystery “Spellbinding, with magical prose, a wizardly plot, and a charming sleuth.” — Janet Bolin , national bestselling author “A charming, must-read mystery with enchanting characters.”—Rose Pressey, USA Today bestselling author “Magic, Merlin, and murder are a great mix for this fun debut cozy.” — Lynn Cahoon , New York Times and USA Today bestselling author A fatal case of school spirit . . . Kailyn Wilde, owner of the Abracadabra potion shop, feels some dread anticipating her ten-year high school reunion at the new hotel in New Camel—but it turns out even worse than she feared. Running into her very first boyfriend is pleasant enough. Chatting with Ashley—who still can’t let go of a tragedy that happened on prom night—is a bit more uncomfortable. But the worst part comes when one of Kailyn’s oldest friends is found dead in the ladies’ room. Soon this upstate New York town is in an uproar. And with some help from time-traveling wizard Merlin—who has adopted an unusual and alluring creature as his familiar—it’s up to Kailyn to identify the alumnus most likely to commit murder . . . “Pape has a sure‑handed balance of humor and action.” —Julie Hyzy, New York Times bestselling author [For POD: Don’t Miss these Abracadabra Mysteries! Show cover: MAGICK AND MAYHEM/MAGICKAL MYSTERY LORE] Visit us at www.kensingtonbooks.com

Release date: April 7, 2020

Publisher: Lyrical Press

Print pages: 202

Sample

Chapter 1

Tilly stood in the doorway, surveying my bedroom. Dresses covered the bed, shoes littered the floor. I was standing in the middle of the mess in my bra and panties, no closer to a decision than I had been thirty minutes earlier. Sashkatu, who had no interest in fashion or human dilemmas, had fallen asleep on the high ground of my pillow, safely beyond the tide of clothing. The five younger cats had run for their hidey-holes when the second dress hit the bed.

“I expected to see you all decked out by this time.” My aunt sounded disappointed. “If you don’t get moving, you’ll miss the whole cocktail hour.”

“You just want to hear the reunion gossip,” I teased her.

She lifted her chin in mock indignation. “I’ll have you know that I merely wish to learn how everyone is doing in their chosen field of endeavor, who married whom and how many little ones they have.” In her defense, I couldn’t think of a single time she’d relished hearing ugly gossip, with the exception of gossip about our nemesis, Beverly. But I couldn’t fault her there.

She moved a few of the dresses aside and sat on the edge of my bed. “It’s not like you to be this indecisive. Any one of these would look smashing on you. But that isn’t the real problem, is it?” She arched one eyebrow at me.

She was right of course. From the day back in January when I received the first email about my ten year high school reunion, I’d been dealing with a mixture of nostalgia, curiosity and dread. Now that the Welcome Back Dinner was upon me, dread had claimed top billing. It thrummed in my veins like the background music in a thriller. I’d considered skipping the entire weekend, but that wasn’t a practical solution in a town the size of New Camel. If I didn’t show up for the reunion, the reunion would come and find me.

I plucked a red and white flowered sundress off the bed and shimmied into it. I would look festive even if I didn’t feel that way. “This reunion is going to be like reliving the night of the prom.”

“Come here so I can zip you,” Tilly said. I went over to her and scrunched down so she could pull the zipper to the top. “Ten years is a long time. I guarantee you that most of the kids won’t bring it up or even think about it.”

I sat down beside her. “Scott and I were friends for as long as I can remember, Aunt Tilly. He was never a risk taker. His voice was always the voice of caution. And poor Genna was traumatized because she was in the water too and doesn’t remember anything.”

Tilly took my hands in hers. “Scott is at peace. You must find a way to let it go dear girl. Now,” she continued in a more Tilly-like tone, “that dress is simply begging for your fabulous red patent leather peep toe sling backs. If I didn’t have arthritis and bunions, I’d be strutting around in them every day.” An image of her strutting around in one of her muumuus with my shiny red heels on her feet made me smile. I kissed her cheek.

“That’s more like it. My work here is done.” She consulted her watch and sprang to her feet so quickly that I heard her knees pop and creak. She winced, but didn’t complain. “I’d best get home before Merlin runs out of patience waiting for dinner and orders a dozen pizzas.” She wasn’t using hyperbole. We’d been down that particular road before.

Half an hour later, I slapped on what felt like a serviceable smile and walked into the lobby of the Waverly Hotel, which had opened less than two months earlier. All the finishes were high-end, so dazzling and bright they made me a little dizzy, even though I’d already been there with Travis for dinner. Maybe the malaise had more to do with the reunion itself than the lights ricocheting off the shiny surfaces. I sank into one of the elegant armchairs, until I felt properly anchored to the ground again. Once I felt better, I had no problem finding the room where the cocktail hour was being held. I just followed the noise.

The reunion invitation had specified that the Friday night dinner was strictly for alums. It was described as a time to catch up with old friends without boring our spouses and significant others. Saturday night would include everyone. Travis had beamed with relief when I told him he wasn’t expected to attend the Friday night shindig—his word.

The cocktail hour was in full swing. A highly polished bar ran the length of the room, shelving on the wall behind it filled with gleaming glassware and liquor bottles of every shape and color. Small tables were scattered around the rest of the space, but no one was seated. There was too much catching up to do.

Before I could take another step into the room, two of my closest friends from kindergarten through high school, spotted me and shrieked like adolescents at a boy band concert. They rushed over to me, trying not to spill their cocktails on the way. Seeing them brought back a rush of good memories that made me glad I’d come.

We were as different as three girls could be. Charlotte was always ready for a party, always over the top in everything she did. She took words like no or can’t as suggestions and went full tilt for whatever her heart demanded. Genna liked a good time too, but she also had a serious side. Her ability to argue any point made her queen of the debate club and put off many a young man. I was the most conservative and circumspect of the group, because I had to be.

They’d both gone off to college in California, and the west coast weather and vibe had wooed them into staying out there. At first we tried to keep our relationships going by email, phone and an occasional visit, but it became clear to me early on that life was pulling us in different directions. The threads that had drawn us together as kids, unraveled as we spread our wings.

Genna caught me around the shoulders. “The third musketeer!” Her mother had dubbed us the three musketeers back in elementary school and taught us the famous phrase that came from the story about them. We used it whenever possible, to the chagrin of many a teacher.

“One for all and all for one!” Charlotte sang out, stumbling in her stilettos and plowing into me. Instead of pressing her cheek to mine, she came in hard and we smacked cheekbones. She grabbed onto Genna for balance, their drinks splashing everywhere. We all would have gone down in a heap, if not for the silent spell I remembered from childhood:

We stand up tall; we do not fall,

I know we have the wherewithal.

The spell stopped us on our downward spiral, suspending us in midair for a split second before reversing our course. As soon as we approached vertical, our equilibrium kicked back in. It all happened so fast, I was probably the only one who noticed the blip. If someone had seen it, they were apt to blame their alcohol intake.

When we didn’t hit the floor, my pals dissolved into giddy laughter and I joined in. Genna was breathless. “I was sure we were going down.”

“It’s the alcohol,” I said, “it messes with your inner ear and how you perceive things.” They were both inebriated enough to take my word for it.

“Are you okay?” Charlotte gingerly touched the spot on my cheek. I pulled back, surprised by the pain. “We have to get this girl some anesthetic,” she said threading her arm through mine and steering me toward the bar.

Genna ordered me a club soda and lime. “That’s not going to make her feel better,” Charlotte protested. Genna reminded her discretely that I couldn’t drink. As far as anyone knew, I abstained due to stomach issues. I hated to lie, especially to close friends, but I was forbidden from telling anyone about the ins and outs of our magick. “It’s for our safety,” my grandmother Bronwen had explained, when I’d railed against the restriction. Since it only took a little alcohol to loosen Charlotte’s lips, I realized my family had been right to enforce the rule.

Genna asked for another Dirty Martini.

“Sorry, I forgot,” Charlotte murmured. “Sorry about your cheek too.” Her tone was so pitiful and out of character, it bought us another round of laughter.

“Hey, I’d know that laugh anywhere.”

The voice came from behind us. I turned around to find Adam Hart grinning at me. His face was fuller, his forehead higher as his hairline started to recede. He was my first boyfriend in high school. I recalled a movie date, a dinner date, a few study dates, and a couple of kisses I had to initiate. He was that shy. No hearts were broken when it was over—perfect first boyfriend material.

Genna and Charlotte excused themselves and left us to chat. When I asked Adam how he was doing, he held up his left hand with its band of gold and pulled up a picture on his phone of his two young daughters wearing tutus and ballet slippers.

“They’re adorable. Looks like you got started right out of the gate.”

He returned the phone to his shirt pocket. “Stacy and I met at freshman orientation and we married the summer after graduation. Those were the longest four years of my life. How about you?” he asked, glancing down at my hands. “Hasn’t anyone swept you off your feet yet?”

“There’s someone hard at work on it. You’ll meet him tomorrow night. Will I get to meet the woman who’s made you so happy?”

“She’ll be there. You’re going to love her.”

A guy whose name eluded me clapped Adam on the back. “Look at you,” he said with a short bark of a laugh, “gaining weight and losing hair ahead of schedule.”

Adam turned to him with a wide grin. “Says the guy who had to attend summer school so he wouldn’t get left back.”

“Hey man, I was all about priorities—studying women instead of chemistry and math.”

I left them to their put-downs. I’ve never understood the way men insult and ridicule each other. If we women did that with our friends, we’d be friendless in no time. I went looking for a place to discard my glass. Between the air conditioning that was cranked up to frigid and the cold drink, my fingers were getting numb. A moment later, a busboy came by carrying a tray of discarded drinks as if I’d cast a spell to make him appear. Could I have subconsciously summoned him? I’d have to look into it. According to Morgana, any skills I left untried, by the time I reached thirty, would lie dormant for the rest of my life. I chafed at having a deadline, but it had made me more alert to possible new talents I should take out for a spin.

I spotted a knot of women across the room—the three other founding members of the Green Love Circle we started as juniors. The club arranged for people in the environmental field to address the student body several times a year. It also raised money and awareness to shut down puppy mills and promote no-kill animal shelters. I was headed in their direction when Ashley Rennet stepped into my path.

My heart clenched. She and Scott had been voted most likely to wed. I hadn’t seen her since his funeral. According to the grapevine, she’d gone off to college in Maine as planned, but dropped out after the first semester. I felt bad about not reaching out to her back then to see how she was doing, but I’d lost Scott too and I didn’t know how to comfort either one of us.

In my mind, I had imagined Ashley losing weight, her face wan, dark circles beneath her eyes. I was relieved to see I was wrong. She looked exactly as I remembered her. However heartbroken she may have been, she’d made it back to herself. That was before I noticed Scott’s class ring on its silver chain around her neck, the way it had been all senior year – engaged to be engaged. It was possible she’d just put it on for the reunion, but it was more likely she’d never taken it off.

She had to know it would deter men from asking her out. And if a man did approach her, when he asked about the ring, her explanation would surely have sent him running. The ring was like a silver cross worn to keep vampires away. In Ashley’s case, she wore it to keep her life from moving on.

Anticipating this encounter, I’d come up with a few neutral things to say that wouldn’t be likely to upset her. But when I opened my mouth, they all gushed out at once. “It’s so good to see you. You look wonderful. How are you? Where do you call home these days?”

Sidestepping my embarrassing attempt at conversation, she answered the last question. “I’m still in Maine. It’s quiet – folks there mind their own business.” She spoke softly, slowly, as if the whole cadence of her being had been transformed by the pace of her life there. “Turned out college wasn’t for me. I went to baking school instead and found my niche. Now I have my own little bakeshop.” There was satisfaction in her tone. Who’s to say that didn’t qualify as happiness? “Are you still here in New Camel?” she asked.

I nodded. “Still working in Abracadabra.” I decided not to mention that Morgana and Bronwen had died. I didn’t want our conversation to be about death.

“I used to love browsing in your shop,” she said wistfully. “All the great natural cures and the best makeup. I’ve never found products anywhere else that measured up. Plus yours didn’t cost a fortune. I have to make time to stop into Abracadabra before I head home.”

“Great. I’ll show you all our new merchandise.” We smiled at each other. I tried to think of something else to say, but came up empty. Our smiles were wilting and the silence was growing awkward. Ashley finally rescued us both.

“So tell me, what do you do when you’re not running the shop?”

I could tell her about Travis, but that might be like rubbing salt into a wound, albeit a ten year old wound. Besides, she’d meet him on Saturday night. “Well, I’ve been hunting down killers in my spare time.” And just like that I shoved my foot in my mouth and halfway down my throat—what my grandmother used to call hoof in mouth disease. When I made a social blunder, I didn’t do it by half measure.

I heard Ashley’s breath catch in her throat. “Seriously? Are you good at it?”

“I’ve done okay, but I’ve only tackled a few cases.” I knew what was coming next. I’d set myself up for it. Was my brain back home snoozing with Sashkatu?

“Have you looked any further into Scott’s death?” Like me, she believed there was more to his passing than the official version.

“I haven’t,” I admitted. “I doubt I could find anything after all this time. And Duggan, he’s the head detective now, he would never give me access to the old files. We’re not exactly on good terms. In fact he’d like nothing better than an opportunity to lock me up and throw away the key.”

“Would you try—as a favor to me?” Ashley’s voice wobbled. “No, forget me. Do it for Scott and what his friendship meant to you.”

I don’t like being manipulated. Attempts to handle me that way are usually doomed to failure. But I told her I’d do what I could, because there was a chance that with more information she might finally be able to put Scott’s death behind her. And maybe I could too.

The lights flickered a few times and as the room quieted, the maitre d’ invited us into the adjacent room for dinner. There were no cards telling us where to sit. The reunion committee had wanted it to be more organic, letting the alums decide on the spot with whom they wished to eat and reminisce. As a result, there were several chaotic minutes that resembled the Oklahoma Land Rush. Since the tables only held six, many of the alums had to settle for seats wherever they could find them. There was almost a skirmish between a group of cheerleaders and a group of computer nerds for possession of one table. The maitre d’ came to the rescue by setting up an additional table before things got out of hand. The reunion committee would have been wise to take note, if they had any intention of presiding over another milestone event in the coming years.

I headed straight for the table Green Love had staked out. They were holding the last seat for me. I made my way around the table saying a proper hello to all the members, since I didn’t have the opportunity earlier. I’d worked so closely with them on issues that were often emotional in nature that the bonds we formed were easily reclaimed.

The evening flew by too fast. We were all groaning about overeating and simultaneously wondering what was for dessert. Charlotte stopped at my table to hug my neck on her way to the bathroom. “I love you. You’re like the sister I never had.”

“You have two sisters,” I reminded her.

“Wow, you’re right—I do! How about that?!”

I grabbed her hand before she could walk away. “Charlotte, promise me you won’t drink any more tonight.”

“I promise. Just coffee. Strong coffee.” She kissed my cheek and teetered off to find the restroom. Less than a minute later, a horrific scream ripped through the air. I knew that scream—it was Charlotte. I jumped out of my seat and ran through the lobby toward the sound of her cries. When I reached the restroom, I had to elbow my way through the growing crowd outside.

I’m sure I got a lot of nasty looks, but I wasn’t paying attention. I burst through the door into the ladies room.

“Get out! Get away,” Charlotte yelled before she realized it was me. She was sitting on the porcelain tile, shaking. Beside her Genna lay face up, her head in a dark pool of blood. I sank to the floor.

“I think she’s dead,” Charlotte sobbed. A siren screamed in the distance. Whoever was manning the New Camel police substation was already on his way. The paramedics and detective Duggan wouldn’t be far behind. I steeled myself to take a better look at Genna. Foam oozed from her mouth and down her chin. Her dark eyes stared back at me as if she too were wondering what on earth had happened.

Chapter 2

After leaving the hotel, I called Travis so he could scoop the other networks with news of another possible murder in New Camel. It was a vague report at best. Although I gave him the victim’s name, he couldn’t divulge it until we were sure her family had been notified. And he couldn’t say it was definitely murder, until the Medical Examiner came to that conclusion. He kept asking me if I was all right. By the fifth time, I threatened to hang up on him. He said he was anchoring the morning news, but he’d come by in the afternoon for background on Genna and my take from inside the reunion on the way things went down.

When the phone rang at five thirty in the morning, I wasn’t surprised to hear my aunt’s pained question. “Did you lose my number?”

“I didn’t forget to call you, Aunt Tilly. I was so shell-shocked last night, I thought you’d understand if I waited till morning.” Playing on her sympathies had worked back in my childhood, but she didn’t seem to be in a forgiving mood.

“I should have heard what happened from you, not from Beverly, who called and woke me at five fifteen. She was absolutely gloating, because you hadn’t told me.”

“I am so sorry you had to deal with her. I can’t believe she called you that early. It’s my fault—I should have told you last night. I really am sorry.”

“You’re forgiven,” she relented. “At least Beverly didn’t know the victim’s name or the cause of death. She wanted me to let her know if I learned anything more – do you believe the audacity? She’d better not hold her breath.”

I told Tilly everything I knew—the deceased was Genna Harlowe. Tilly had known her for as long as I had.

“We’re going to catch whoever did this!” she vowed with tears in her voice.

My aunt had helped out with my earlier investigations, sometimes inadvertently, sometimes on purpose. I did my best to keep her out of danger, but I wasn’t always successful. At that moment, she needed to be part of the case, so I didn’t try to dissuade her. She was. . .