Pet Psychic Mysteries Boxset Books 5-8 (Magic Market Mysteries Book 2) by Erin Johnson (simple ebook reader .txt) 📕

sky was lightening as dawn approached, when we finally tracked Maria Wu down. The address Avery Ann had given us turned out to be an old one—she’d moved right after the settlement with Potent Potions from a run-down studio in the Darkmoon District to a clean and comfortable town home on a middle tier of Bijou Mer. It’d taken us a bit to coordinate with Edna, and in the end, a former neighbor had given us the deets on Maria’s new digs.

The woman answered the door and ushered us into the front room of her home. Peter and I sat on a new velvet sofa, a huge window behind us that looked out over the quiet, brightly lit street. After asking if she could get us tea or coffee, which Peter declined for both of us—though I’d have gladly accepted some caffeine, thank you—she settled down on a loveseat across the polished coffee table from us.

The place seemed like the picture of a normal, comfortable middle-class home—tasteful, framed paintings of the sea and a bowl of fruit hung on the walls, the place smelled of beeswax candles, and the bookshelves against the far wall were lined with leather tomes and glowing tchotchkes. Which made it seem so unusual for the woman to be gently stroking an enormous iguana on the seat beside her.

Maria cast a beaming smile on Peter and me, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. She blinked rapidly. “So, Officers…, how can I help you then?” She sat with perfect posture in her capris, her straight black hair in a neat bob just skimming her shoulders, her cardigan buttoned nearly all the way up.

I sucked on my lips to keep from smirking about the lizard.

Peter scratched his scruffy face. “We’re actually here to ask you about your husband.”

“Oh! John?” She swept her hands toward the iguana, and I choked. I had to turn fully away from her and pretend to be interested in something out the window as I fought the giggles. She was married to a lizard?

“Uh….” Peter shifted in his seat. “Could you, uh—tell us a little bit about John? We’re investigating the death of Pearl Litt and understand you had some dealings with Potent Potions?”

He turned toward me and muttered, “Get it together. Please.”

I covered my mouth and shook my head, eyes watering. “I’m trying.” My shoulders shook as I fought another round of giggles. Knowing how inappropriate it was to be laughing just made it funnier.

“You’re not the only one who finds this hilarious, you know.”

I turned toward him and found a little twinkle of mirth in his deep blue eyes. Something in my chest relaxed just the tiniest bit—it was like I’d caught a glimpse of the old Peter. The one who’d been my friend, and more, before I’d told him about being a shifter. Just as quickly as it’d showed up, the hint of humor faded, and he cleared his throat and turned back to face Maria.

I heaved a sigh, suddenly less amused. Good to know that the Peter I’d come to know and well, love, if I was honest with myself, wasn’t dead—just dead to me.

My shoulders slumped as I turned to face Maria. Not sure which was worse.

Eyes tight, she kept that bright smile plastered to her face. “Well, I can tell you that yes, I used to be an independent consultant for Potent Potions until about six months ago.” She spoke slowly, as if carefully choosing her words.

Peter frowned. “What happened six months ago?”

She took a deep breath and began cautiously. “There… was an incident that led to my leaving the company.”

“Did that incident involve your husband turning into a lizard?” I blurted it out before I could stop myself.

Peter flashed his bloodshot eyes at me.

I grimaced back. Sorry.

Maria winced. “I, uh—unfortunately, I’m legally unable to give you more details.” She grimaced. “Sorry.”

I sucked on my lips. This was unfortunate, because now I was dying to know what the story with this iguana was. I leaned forward, elbows on my thighs and cupped my face in my hands. The giant green lizard, its tail stretching long behind it, slowly turned to face us. It blinked.

Peter cleared his throat. “I apologize for being so direct, but Pearl Litt was recently murdered. Did you kill her?”

Maria gasped and played with the button at the neck of her cardigan. “Sands below. No!” She shook her head. “I wish I could give you more details, but to be honest, if anything I should be thanking Potent Potions. After the settlement, I was able to afford a beautiful new home.”

She gestured around at her place, then leaned forward and held a hand to the side of her mouth as if sharing a secret. “And to be honest, before the incident, John and I had our fair share of issues. He was demanding and rude, and frankly, it only got worse as he got sicker. To be honest, we get along better now than we ever have.” She patted the lizard gently on its head. “We read together, take trips together, and never fight anymore.”

Peter and I exchanged wide-eyed looks.

He turned back to Maria, brows pinched together. “You know, Mrs. Wu, I think I could use a pick-me-up—it’s been a long night. Could I trouble you for that cup of coffee?” He turned to me. “Jolene?” He raised his brows significantly.

“Uh—yeah.” I frowned at him, puzzled, then grinned at Maria. “Make it two.”

“Oh, of course.” She gave a prim smile, then rose. She bent low over the lizard. “John, you keep our guests company while I’m gone.” She flashed us another bright smile, then bustled off, I assumed, to the kitchen.

Once she’d disappeared, Peter jerked his head toward the lizard. “Can you talk to him?”

I smirked. “Her husband?”

The corner of his mouth twitched toward a smile. “Maybe it knows what happened to her to make her think she’s married to it? Maybe the potions messed with her cognition?”

Daisy held very still, eyes glued to