Dead and Dusted by Lily Webb (reader novel .TXT) 📕

inside to check on him and got no response. That’s when I entered and found him, well, compromised…”

“Where was he?” I blurted, unable to help myself. “When you found him, I mean?”

Brady eyed me like he didn’t think he had to answer to me, but when Blair raised her eyebrows at him, he relented. “Face down in front of the sinks. The letter Evie had brought him was lying on the ground beside him like he’d been reading it when he fell.”

“That’s it! The letter!” I shouted, and Blair and Brady both stared at me.

“What about it?” Brady asked.

“That’s probably where the dust or whatever it is came from. If Mr. Marth was really all alone in the bathroom and he didn’t hurt himself, what else would explain it?”

Brady mentally chewed on my suggestion for a moment. “I suppose it’s possible.”

“What did the letter say? Did you read it?”

“No, I didn’t want to touch it, both because of the dust and because I didn’t want to tamper with evidence,” Brady said. I didn’t blame him for being cautious, but I couldn’t help feeling disappointed that we didn’t know what the letter said. If I could somehow get my hands on it, I could use it to prompt a vision that might clue me in to just what in Lilith’s name happened in that bathroom, but I knew better than to believe that Blair and Brady would ever let me get near it now.

“Speaking of the dust, I suppose we’d better get the police on the phone to get this under control. I don’t want anyone else getting hurt,” Blair said.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Thorn cut in, taking the rest of us by surprise. I’d gotten so wrapped up in the conversation that I’d forgotten he and Jadis were even standing there.

“What? Why not? If that dust really killed Mr. Marth, then we need to find out—”

“I understand and share your concern, but Thorn is right,” Brady interrupted her. “I don’t think you want word getting out that Mr. Marth died on these premises any more than we do.”

Thorn locked eyes with Blair, silently pleading with her to hear him out. “Exactly. This could be a PR disaster for us, Blair. As soon as you call the cops, they’re going to be swarming all over this place, and there’s already a lot of outside attention right now thanks to all the security, so you can be sure something will leak.”

“I understand that, Thorn, but if we don’t call the authorities, they could accuse us of trying to cover it up!” Blair countered. “The police are going to hear about this, eventually. We can’t keep it to ourselves forever.”

“I’m not suggesting that you do,” Brady said. “All I’m asking for is a bit more time to do our own brief investigation before you call the police. I’m sure the Marth family would appreciate you helping them guard their privacy.”

I hated to admit it, but Thorn and Brady had a point. The news of anyone dying at Kindred Spirits would be terrible for our reputation and business, but Leland Marth? We’d never hear the end of it — which reminded me, we already had a reporter on the scene.

My eyes shot to Kade where he sat at the table with his camera. Whatever he’d come here to cover about Leland, it probably wasn’t his death. We couldn’t reasonably expect him to stay quiet about all this. It could be an incredible story for him, but it could also ruin us. “Then we’d better do something about the guy from the Gazette and fast,” I said, nodding in Kade’s direction.

“I was already thinking that myself,” Thorn said with a worried look. “I knew I shouldn’t have agreed to a member of the press tagging along for this, but Mr. Marth’s team insisted. They didn’t want to miss a potentially legendary photo op.”

“Well, they might still get one, but not the one they expected.”

All the color drained from Thorn’s face. “We’re doomed. This is all my fault.”

“No, it’s not! Don’t say that,” I said and reached for Thorn’s hand.

“Selena’s right, Thorn. You couldn’t possibly have known any of this would happen,” Blair echoed, but it didn’t seem to work.

Thorn stared at his shoes. “No, but anyone could’ve predicted that having a journalist around would be a bad idea. I should’ve said no.”

“Don’t worry about the reporter. I’ll take care of him,” Brady said and stomped off toward Kade. Noticing that we’d locked all our eyes on him, Kade cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably in his seat as Brady approached. The two of them spoke in low tones for a moment before Brady jerked his thumb over his shoulder toward the door, and Kade scrambled from his seat to leave with the hulking bodyguard, no doubt so Brady could scare him into keeping his mouth shut.

“I’m not a fan of Kade’s, but I kinda feel sorry for him,” I whispered. “I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of Brady.”

Blair chuckled. “Neither would I, love,” she said, sighing as she leaned back against the table of tea and supplies. “I can’t believe this. Of all people to get hurt on our watch, why did it have to be Leland Marth? Not that I want anything to happen to anyone here.”

“Of course not. None of us do.”

“Do you think whoever sent that letter is behind this, Selena?” Jadis asked, speaking up for the first time since Brady had come back into the room.

“It can’t be a coincidence. Leland left the room just to read it, remember? I understand wanting privacy with things like that, but to just walk out at the start of a really important negotiation seems weird to me.”

“I agree. Was Leland expecting an important message from someone then?” Jadis asked, and I stared at Evie, who was sobbing into Mayor Nash’s shoulder.

“If there’s anyone who might know, it’s her. She’s the one who brought it to him, and even