Chili Cauldron Curse Read online

  As he left, Mia walked around and turned off the lights and checked the doors. Dorian was a good-looking man. And she was going to find out what her grandmother had going on with him.

  When she got home, the smell of potato soup, baked bread, and the tangy cinnamon smell of apple pie made her smile as soon as she walked in the door. “Grans, I’m back. It’s just you and me tonight.”

  She walked into the kitchen where her grandmother sat at the table on the phone. She held up a finger and Mia pointed upstairs, letting her know she’d be in her room, changing.

  She didn’t just change; she took advantage of the time her grandmother would be on the phone and showered some of the kinks away. She dressed and hurried downstairs, her hair still damp from the shower, but feeling more alert.

  Her grandmother turned from the stove with two large bowls of soup and sat them on the table. “I was afraid you fell asleep in the shower.”

  Mia grabbed the cutting board and the freshly sliced bread, along with the butter dish and sat them in the middle of the table. “I could have. I love your hot water heater. It’s the next thing I’m fixing in that house, no matter what Isaac says. I miss long, hot showers.”

  “Where did Christina take off to?” Grans ignored her comment about Isaac and Mia let it slide. Again.

  Mia took a sip of the soup before she answered. “She went to dinner with Kev and some of the coven.”

  Mary Alice’s eyebrows rose a bit. “Are you sure that’s wise? Especially if you want to continue hiding this part of yourself.”

  “Kev said they would all be on their best behavior.” Mia took a slice of bread and smoothed a thick spread of butter on it, which quickly melted into the still-warm slice. “I’m not hiding my craft from Isaac. He just doesn’t believe in it. Besides, Christina loves being with people. Here, Vegas, Boise, she always wants to be with a group. I don’t understand it, but I guess that’s her gig.”

  “You like your world a bit smaller. Filled with people you love and trust. Having too many people overwhelms your systems and tires you out. I bet working at the warehouse was especially tiring today due to the number of people there.”

  “It was exhausting. And another box of produce went bad overnight.” Mia agreed. “Oh, and someone stopped by to see you.”

  She saw the pink fill her grandmother’s cheeks before she answered. She’d already known Dorian was back in town. “Oh?”

  “When were you going to tell me that you had a boyfriend?” Mia let the question hang.

  Grans sat down her spoon. “He’s not exactly a boyfriend. We just started seeing each other. He was in a difficult relationship before and, well, it’s touchy. That’s what you get when you live in a small town. People are around that used to be intimate friends and are now just acquaintances.”

  “You’re saying he was with someone else and you broke them up?”

  “No. I wouldn’t do that.” She shook her head. “But I don’t think the woman he left was very happy about her change of status.”

  Chapter 3

  The smell hit her as soon as she opened the door the next morning. Mia covered her nose and rolled her eyes upward to the Goddess. “Are you kidding? Give me a break. I’m sorry. I won’t use magic to solve one of my problems again.”

  “Yuck. It really smells horrible in here. What happened?” Christina came up behind Mia, holding her nose.

  Thankful the young woman hadn’t been close enough to hear her outburst, Mia crossed the room and propped opened the back door. She pointed to the office. “Go get a fan and I’ll go through these last boxes to try to find the cause.”

  “Maybe we should call someone to come fix this.” Christina stood frozen to a spot right inside the door.

  “We are someone.” She pointed to the office again. “Go get the fan and let’s get this place aired out. We’ve got volunteers coming this afternoon and we don’t want them to have to deal with this.”

  “What about us? Why do we…” Christina must have seen something in Mia’s face because her complaining stopped. “Fine, I’ll plug in the fans.”

  Mia knew that Christina was used to being the family princess. At least until she’d grown a backbone and defied her mother over the college thing. But it was time for the girl to grow up. Even though the Vegas adventure hadn’t turned out the way Christina had planned, Mia was proud of her for trying something completely on her own. Now, she just needed to learn to deal with everyday problems. Like rotting food smell.

  Mia crossed over to the pile of boxes. The first one she opened was just cans. And the second, and the next. Finally, she grabbed a box off the top of the next pile, and immediately dropped a heavy box of cans on her foot. She peeked over the stack of boxes that separated her from what had surprised her. There, in the middle of the floor lay the man she’d just met yesterday afternoon. Dorian Alexander. His eyes were flat and staring. And he had a fabric satchel in his hand.

  “Okay, I have the fans going.” Christina arrived next to her. “Holy heck, what is that?”

  “I think the question is who was that.” She turned Christina toward the office. “Go call 911 and get the police here.”

  “Okay, but then I’m going outside until they come. No way am I staying in here with a dead body. Gross.” Christina made a beeline to the front door.

  “Where are you going? You need to call the authorities.” Mia reminded her.

  Christina held up her cell phone. “I can call from outside.”

  Mia glanced around the not so empty warehouse. The door had been locked when she came this morning. And she’d made sure she’d locked up before she’d left last night. The last time she’d seen Dorian, he’d been getting into his Mercedes and backing out of the parking lot. So why had he come back here? Grans had been with her last night, so at least she wasn’t going to be hassled by the police. Not that she’d do anything like this to anyone, but you never knew where an investigation would lead. At least from what she’d watched on the true crime shows Isaac was addicted to. Especially since everyone knew that Grans had been seeing the guy.

  On the floor next to him was green and white melted wax. Mia held her hand above the satchel to see if the magic was still active. Nothing. But the signs of a spell were all around the body.

  She took out her cell phone and took several pictures of the area where the body lay. Something felt off. She tucked her phone back in her pocket as she heard the sirens from the emergency vehicles. She had only a few minutes before she’d be escorted from the warehouse. She reached down and picked up the satchel and smelled it. Apples and mint, and the faint scent of lemon. She glanced back at the door. She didn’t know if they’d recognize it, but it was better for the police not to find evidence of witchcraft. She tucked the satchel in her pocket. The officials didn’t like civilians messing with their scenes, she’d learned that from the pile of mysteries she loved to read.

  She closed her eyes and focused her senses to try to feel any residual magic at all. There was some on the body, but it felt masculine and was seeping out of the body. Dorian had had power when he’d been alive. She extended her senses and felt something else, a trace of something feminine. Something dark. She reached for more.

  “Miss? You’re Miss Malone, correct? Can you show me what you found?” A man in a dark blue police uniform stood in front of her. The name tag on his chest named him as Officer Mark Baldwin. However, she’d met him before. When they’d been teenagers. He’d always been a little on the straight and narrow for her. Definitely not someone she’d even consider dating during her high school bad-boy phase.

  She shook off the spell she’d been reaching for and turned to face him. She pointed behind the boxes and decided to lie. “He’s back here. I haven’t touched anything, well, except the boxes. I was trying to find some bad produce, but…”

  She’d been about to say, the smell was actually Dor
ian, but that seemed tacky.

  “You can go outside and wait with the other woman.” He frowned as he looked back at the door. “She’s not local either. Who is she?”

  “Christina Adams. She’s my boyfriend’s sister. She came up yesterday to help me with the warehouse. Tasha needs it opened by this weekend. My grandmother, Mary Alice Carpenter, asked me to come up and get it ready.” Mia bit her lip. “I guess that’s not going to happen now.”

  “At least not today. I’ll take your statements, then we’ll get the body moved to the morgue. Please wait for me outside.” Officer Baldwin stared at her, waiting for her to leave.

  “Gladly.” Mia moved toward the door. She’d never seen a dead body before. And she hoped she never would again. She felt the satchel in her pocket. What had she been thinking? Tampering with evidence had to be a crime. She should have just stayed out of it. Maybe she should turn around and confess to picking it up. Maybe… “Breathe,” she whispered to herself as she slowed her pace. “Just breathe and let the thoughts slow down.”

  She needed to call Grans and let her know about Dorian. She shouldn’t have to find out from the grapevine. She didn’t need to. When she got outside, Grans and Tasha stood around a shaking Christina.

  Grans waved her over. “Come here child. Are you all right?”

  “Me? Yes. But Dorian…”

  “I know. I felt his essence leaving the plane when I drove up. What happened?” Without visible emotion, her grandmother moved Mia toward a table that sat at the edge of the parking lot, with a trash can and a large stone ashtray for smokers.

  Mia told her what she knew. What she found. And when she got to the satchel, her grandmother’s eyes narrowed.

  “That was extremely foolish.” She held out her hand. “Give it to me. I don’t want you messing with this kind of magic. You’re not strong enough.”

  Mia reluctantly pulled the satchel out of her pocket and handed it to her grandmother. There was no way Grans could have murdered Dorian, so it didn’t feel completely wrong. “Do you know what kind of spell it is?”

  “I need to open it and see what the ingredients are. Green and white wax?” Grans stared at the warehouse. Her eyes were hard. She didn’t wait for Mia’s answer; instead, she stood and strode toward the car. “I’ll see you at home. Don’t let Baldwin keep you here all day.”

  Mia watched as Grans said goodbye to an obviously upset Tasha. Christina walked over to the table and stood nearby.

  “I thought we were supposed to stay here?” The underlying whine in the girl’s voice annoyed Mia.

  “We,” she pointed to Christina and herself, “were told to stay here. Grans and Tasha didn’t go into the warehouse. Tasha’s staying because it’s her job. Grans didn’t have to.”

  Christina sat down on the stone bench with a huff. “I still don’t see why we have to stay. The guy was dead when we showed up, right?”

  Overhearing the conversation, Tasha broke into tears and ran toward her car.

  Mia stared at Christina.

  “What? What did I say?” Christina looked confused, staring off at the woman who was now puffing on a cigarette.

  “This isn’t some random dead guy. People here are close. Tasha probably knew Dorian. Maybe they were friends.” Mia said softly, trying to get the point across without calling Christina heartless.

  Christina nodded. “Oh, I get it. It’s like high school here. Even if you’re not besties with someone doesn’t mean you don’t talk to them in the halls.”

  “Yeah, like that.” Mia glanced at her watch. Hopefully Baldwin would come out, do the interview, then they’d be free for the rest of the afternoon. She had taken the organizational notebook home last night and hadn’t had time to write up the rotation plans. She could take this time to write up the plan and the training program for future volunteers on how to rotate food stock. If Kev’s volunteer crew would come back tomorrow, they could still meet Saturday’s opening day plan. They might not have everything done, but she’d be close.

  “Miss Malone?” Baldwin stood in front of her. “Do you mind coming with me? We’ll do the interview in the warehouse office.”

  “Sounds great.” She glanced at Christina. “Would you go get Tasha and keep her company for a while? She’s a little worked up.”

  Baldwin glanced over at the small van where Tasha sat, smoking what Mia was sure had to be her fourth cigarette since she went over to the van. “Interesting.”

  “She’s just nervous. She has a food pantry open house on Saturday and this has just put her behind in the prep work.” Mia tried to explain.

  “I hate to inconvenience her with such a little thing as a murder.” He drawled out the word.

  “I didn’t mean the murder was an inconvenience.” Mia closed her eyes, wanting to take back her words. He was twisting her meaning. And if this was the way he treated her before they started the interview, she wasn’t looking forward to the real deal. “Let’s just get this over with. I’ve got work to do.”

  “Funny, so do I.” He motioned for her to go ahead of him so she stomped into the office.

  She knew it was childish, but right now, he was treating her more like a child than a witness. Besides, all she did was find the body. She didn’t kill him. No one would point a finger at her. Keep telling yourself that, Mia.

  She sat in the visitor chair. “What can I tell you?”

  “The truth. Let’s start with what happened from the time you arrived this morning until now.” He pulled out a notebook and clicked his pen, looking like one of those leaning vultures watching for the prey to die.

  She went through her morning, including times and events all the way up to the point where he’d excused her from the warehouse. “And that’s what happened.”

  He narrowed his eyes at his papers. “So you got here about nine? Nine ten?”

  “Yep. I got coffee at Grans’s, woke Christina, and had to wait for her to get out of the shower. Then we drove here.” Mia started to stand up, but Baldwin waved her down into her chair.

  “Do you always travel with your boyfriend’s sister?” Baldwin didn’t look at her as he scribbled on his notebook.

  “Does that have anything to do with the investigation?”

  Baldwin shrugged. “You brought it up.”

  “You asked me what I did this morning. Look, I’ve told you what happened, can I go?” Mia leaned forward, ready to stand as soon as he responded.

  “Actually, no. I have a few more questions.” He leaned back in the chair. “Did you know the victim?”

  “No. I mean, I met him last night. He came by the warehouse looking for Grans.” She narrowed her eyes. “My grandmother couldn’t kill anyone.”

  “Did I say anything about Mary Alice?” He shook his head. “No, I don’t believe I did. But since you brought it up, did you know she was dating the deceased?”

  “I found out last night. She said they’d just started dating. That he was in a messy relationship before her.” Mia leaned back sighing. “Look, I don’t think anyone would kill over losing a boyfriend.”

  “Woman scorned and all. You’re in a relationship. What would you do if you found him cheating? Just break it off and go your own way? That’s very civilized.” He tapped his pen on the notebook. “Or just cold.”

  “We’re not talking about my relationship.” She stood up. “In fact, we’re not talking anymore at all. If you have additional questions, I’m staying with Grans. When will the warehouse be available again? We need to get the food pantry set up before school starts next week. There are families who count on it.”

  “I’m well aware of the community’s needs.” He closed his notebook. “I’ll call you when I clear the warehouse. Just do me a favor and don’t head home to the valley before we talk again.”

  “Whatever.” She left the office and stalked to the door, then paused a
nd turned when he called her name.

  “Send in your boyfriend’s sister. Maybe she’ll be chattier than you are.” He leaned against the doorway.

  He kept Christina in the office for close to an hour and by the time she came rushing out, Mia was just about to call Isaac and tell him to send his sister a lawyer. Mia walked toward her, but Christina brushed her off and headed to the car.

  “Is everything alright?” Mia called after her.

  She paused at the car door. “Let’s just go. I’d like to take a shower. My clothes smell like that dead guy.”

  The drive to Grans’s house was quiet. Mia turned on the stereo but Christina didn’t seem to notice. When they got to the house, she took off upstairs without saying anything. Grans jumped as the bedroom door slammed.

  “What happened to her?” Grans turned down the volume on the television.

  “Baldwin had her in the office for a long time. I’m not sure what he was thinking. She didn’t see anything. She was behind me.” Mia sank into the overstuffed couch and let Mr. Darcy curl on her lap. “I’m sorry about Dorian.”

  “He was a sweet man. No one deserves to have their life taken like that. He had a lot still on his bucket list.” Grans picked up a tissue and dabbed at her eyes. “Don’t mind me. I’ll be fine, then I go into a crying fit. Then I’m fine again. I feel like I’m losing my mind.”

  “Maybe you should take it easy for a while. I can handle things at the food bank.” Mia hadn’t known her grandfather, since he’d died when she was just a baby. And this was the first time she’d known of Grans even dating.

  Mia watched as Christina slipped back into the kitchen and sat at the table. She’d changed clothes but forgone the shower.

  “Don’t be silly. We weren’t engaged or anything. We were barely friends. I enjoyed spending time with him. And who knows where that might have led. That’s probably what I’m grieving, the possibilities that have been cut short. For us and for him.” She stood and pointed to the kitchen. “Since the two of you are home, you can help me bake cornbread for the chili cook-off. Right now we have twenty teams signed up, so we need at least two pans of cornbread for each team.”