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

counter, his dad holding the ladle, ready to dish up food, his mom behind the till. They sighed as they recognized us, then turned in unison toward the swinging doors that no doubt led to the kitchen and cried, “Joe!”

Peter and I exchanged looks, and a moment later Joe strutted out, wiping his hands on his apron. “What?”

His mom pointed at us, and he rolled his eyes when he took us in. “Whatever it is, can we go do this outside?” He raised his dark brows. “Cops are bad for business.”

A few moments later, we all crowded together in the tiny alleyway out back. A twisted metal fire escape dangled overhead, rattling slightly in the strong winds, and rats scurried in the debris. I crinkled my nose—unlike the delectable smells inside the restaurant, out back it reeked of trash and old fish.

Joe folded his arms. “What’s this about?”

Peter held up Letty’s diary. “You tell us. Seems you tried to win Letty back, she rejected you, and then you threatened her.”

I scooted closer to Peter as rain fell around us—he sheltered us both, plus Daisy, with a bubble spell.

Joe shook his head and sighed. “This is total detritus, man. I didn’t threaten Letty, I was warning her.” He jabbed a finger at us. “I should’ve been more specific, that I was worried that bottom feeder Chaz or his family would hurt her, but at the time, I was just angry that she couldn’t see that for herself.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Why would you think that the Harringtons would harm her?”

He took a sharp breath, then blew it out in a huff. His brows pinched together and he looked genuinely pained. “The night before the wedding, I found this outside the restaurant door.” He drew his wand, and in a flash, a small basket of fresh strawberries and a note hovered in front of Peter and me.

Joe paced as Peter and I exchanged wide-eyed looks. The strawberries smelled fragrant, though they were small and still on the vine, as though they’d been picked wild. Peter snatched the note out of the air and unfolded the parchment. I leaned close to read over his shoulder.

Take her out. You know what to do.

Joe kicked a crate out of the way, and it banged loudly into a metal trash can. He paced back toward us. “And there was a sack of merkles beside it.”

Peter’s eyes blazed. “Is this your confession?”

Joe scoffed. “What? No, man, I didn’t go through with it.”

Rain pattered against our magically protective bubble, coming in sideways. I frowned. “Well, Joe, she died of a strawberry allergy, and you were jealous and rejected, so…” I flashed my eyes at him. “Letty even thought you were threatening her.”

He stalked closer, the rain flattening his dark hair to his head, eyes wild. “I still loved Letty. I wouldn’t have done that to her.” His nostrils flared. “And I didn’t put anything in the food.” He jabbed a finger at Peter. “Your tests will prove that.”

Peter grew grim. “We’ll see about that.”

I let out a heavy sigh. As much as everything pointed to Joe, I had a hard time seeing him killing Letty. He could’ve just done it that night he snuck into her room if he was going to—why wait till she was actually married to Chaz and then kill her? I bit my lip. “Any idea who gave you the note?”

He slumped down to sit on a crate by the restaurant’s door and scoffed. “I have some guesses. Top of the list is that witch, Rachel Whitmore.”

I frowned. “Why her?” I’d assumed he was going to name Chaz.

He flashed his eyes at us. “Well, for one, after Letty ran from the altar, Chaz glared at Rachel and yelled ‘Look what you did!’”

Peter glared at Joe. “Why is this the first we’re hearing of all this?”

Joe shrugged. “Well, I couldn’t exactly tell you about the note without looking pretty guilty, right?” He shook his head. “And as for the Rachel thing, most of the guests are probably too scared of what little miss socialite will do to their standing if they speak out against her.”

Peter set his jaw. “We’ll see what the tests say about the food you prepared. In the meantime, don’t go anywhere.” He turned to go but stopped and pivoted on his heel. “Oh—and I’ll need that sack of merkles, too.”

Joe sighed, then waved his wand, and the sack appeared in Peter’s hand. He scooped up the note and the strawberries and stalked off into the night. I cast one last look at the dejected Joe, then jogged to catch up with Peter and Daisy.

“Guess I know who we’re going to be talking to next.” I waggled my brows at Peter.

He huffed and stomped down the wet cobblestones. “It’s shocking how many people will lie just because they can get away with it.” He glanced down at Daisy. “Everything's so much harder without her.”

I grinned. I couldn’t say I was shocked that people would lie, cheat, and steal and get away with as much as they could—but I liked that Peter had enough optimism to still be surprised by it.

I gulped as I trailed slightly behind. I still needed to talk to him about Ludolf and the bind I was in with him cursing me and now testing cures on me. If Peter thought Letty’s situation was shocking, how would he react to my news?

16

Animal Rights

Peter, Daisy, and I strode into the posh country club on one of the upper tiers of the island. We’d stopped by Rachel’s flat first and been informed by her butler (what twentysomething-year-old had a butler?) that we could find her at the club. The two-story entryway reminded me of the lobby of a fancy hotel, all gleaming marble floors, soft lighting, and lush potted plants.

“Ahem.”

We three stopped and glanced to the left. A tall, thin man in a trim blue suit raised a sharp brow. He shot us a simpering smile. “Are you members?”