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

back to being sassy. “This is an animal sanctuary—who knows how many animal witnesses we have, and I’m the only pet psychic in town.”

Well, I could speak with animals, but pet psychic was my cover so people wouldn’t know I was a shifter and shun me. Thankfully, I’d already confessed all this to Peter, and we’d gotten over his initial trust issues.

His misgivings had more to do with me having lied to him for months, than with me being a shifter. But Peter was one of the good ones. Plenty of magical folk on Bijou Mer discriminated, hard, against you if they caught even a whiff of being able to shift.

Peter’s deep blue eyes twinkled. “Only pet psychic in town, you say?” He let out a low whistle. “Guess I’d better hire you on as a consultant right away then.”

I raised my brows and nodded. “I warn you though, I charge a steep rate.”

He blinked, surprised. “Oh?”

I stepped closer and grabbed the lapels of his uniform jacket. “Mm-hmm. We might be able to work out a special discount.” I gave him an exaggerated wink.

A deep pink flush spread up his neck and into his cheeks.

I rose on my toes, and he leaned down to meet me. I put my lips close to his ear, and his breath quickened.

I whispered, “I accept bonus payment in the form of ramen, stir-fry, and cups of coffee.”

I sank back down onto my heels, and he grinned, then shot me a flat look. “Fine, but this is going to be coming out of your petty cash allowance, and let me tell you, the precinct is not generous.”

I chuckled and slugged his arm. “Alright, enough flirting.” I jerked my head toward the enclosure behind me. “Dead bodies to deal with and all that.”

He shook his head, still grinning, but gave my hand a squeeze and walked with me over to the entrance to the phoenix’s enclosure. Daisy, his magically lie-detecting canine partner, fell into step beside us.

“So, you were able to keep the guests from fleeing?”

Peter looked down at me and flashed his eyes. “Yeah—not that it was easy. I can’t tell you how many times I heard ‘Do you know who I am?’”

“Typical.” I shook my head. “Now if they’d all just wear name tags, we’d know.”

Peter grinned. “We did catch someone trying to climb over the fence on the eastern side of the property with a stolen wombat.”

I choked and snapped my gaze to his face. “A wombat?”

He nodded gravely. “We’ve had a rash of wombat robberies lately.”

I frowned as he got me for a second, then rolled my eyes and nudged him with my shoulder. “Har har.” I frowned deeper. “So you found a wombat, but we’re still missing the phoenix?”

“Seems that way.” Peter let out a sigh, and I had a feeling he was sharing my earlier sentiment—this was going to be a long night.

A few more officers walked over and ushered all the guests who stood gawking at the dead women away, toward the center of the ballroom. With the space near us clear, I let out a quiet “woof.”

Hey, Days.

She shot me a heavy look, her pointy ears slightly flattened, and groaned. You two done with all the heavy petting? She huffed. And they say it’s dogs who like the petting.

I let out a slow whine. Oh, Daisy. The first line was good. The second was overkill. I shook my head. And Germans are so known for their humor and lightheartedness. Not sure what went wrong with you.

She glared at me as we followed Peter through the magical force field, which Quincy had apparently disabled earlier. I frowned as I remembered the way he’d taken off after Mark asked about the phoenix. The thin, older man had apparently dashed off to search for the missing bird, but where was he now?

Peter’s canine partner squeezed her eyes shut and yawned wide, baring all her pointy teeth. She licked her chops a few times and blinked bleary eyes at me while groaning. It’d be easier to make light if I was actually able to sleep at night.

My stomach clenched and I looked quickly at Peter. Help! But with his back to me and Mark the veterinarian already speaking with him, I’d have to field this awkward situation. Peter cast a magical barrier around his bedroom each night (and morning) so that Daisy, who slept in her bed out in the living room, wouldn’t see, hear, or smell anything traumatizing for all of us.

I cleared my throat, then laced my fingers together and let out a quiet woof. Now, Daisy, when a man and woman love each other and want to express that love in a physical—

“Bark!” Stop!

I glanced down and found Daisy staring up at me, the whites showing all around her dark eyes. She barked again, drawing glances from Peter and the vet, as well as a few officers outside.

What are you thinking? I was talking about the neighbors next door having parties until the wee hours.

I winced and waved at Peter, then crouched down next to the German shepherd, feeling absurdly relieved. I mean—if that spell didn’t work, who knew what those giant pointy ears would pick up.

I let out a low whine. You know, forget what I said.

She huffed. Gladly.

I scratched the back of my neck and quietly woofed. I’ll ask Peter to put a muffling spell around the living room so it’s quieter for you, okay? And let’s never speak of this again.

She sniffed and gave me a look, her ears slightly flattened, then stalked forward across the black volcanic rock to join Peter and the vet near Malorie Rutherford’s body beside the pool. I stuffed my hands into the pockets of my black slacks and followed, fighting a grin. I’d successfully made a dog feel awkward, so if nothing else, it was a good night for me.

5

The Murder Weapon

A few more cops entered behind me and gathered around Malorie’s body. Daisy circled around her, her black