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

The planks creaked and slightly swayed, like a rope bridge that led us through various enclosures. Since the animals were only caged by magic, it was easy to feel totally immersed, as though we’d suddenly stepped into a dense jungle. Plaques here and there announced various animal enclosures and exotic plants. I brushed some tendrils of hair back that had matted to my forehead. The air hung heavy and humid around us, filled with strange animal hoots and howls and insect chirps.

“Is this place open to the public?”

Russo glanced back over his shoulder and pushed his square glasses up his nose. “They do tours a few times a night, from what I understand.” He stopped and turned around to face us, gesturing at the ground. “Take a gander.”

Peter, Daisy, and I gathered around the wooden pipe on the ground. Peter crouched down beside it and poked at it with the tip of his wand. I bent forward, then winced. “Ooh. Blow dart gun?”

Peter glanced up, and Russo nodded. His own scroll magically appeared in front of him and he scanned his scribbled notes.

“Quincy Rutherford says they kept it in the sanctuary’s office.”

I raised my brows. “You found Quincy?”

Russo’s eyes widened. “Was he missing?”

I glanced between him and Peter as Daisy gingerly sniffed at our possible murder weapon. Well, one of the weapons. Pretty sure the slash across the other woman’s chest and the bloody talon next to her were a dead giveaway—no pun intended.

Peter tipped his head side to side. “Quincy Rutherford was first on the scene, then Mark, the vet, rushed in through the back door. After Mark verified that Malorie, his wife, was dead, Quincy apparently took off to look for the phoenix.” He frowned down at the blow dart gun, then rose to his feet. “Where’d you find Quincy Rutherford?”

Russo quirked his lips to the side. “Uh—right about here, actually. He was standing like this, staring down at the blow dart gun.”

Peter shifted on his feet, arms crossed over his broad chest. “How did he seem?”

I grinned—I loved when Peter went into cop mode and looked all serious. Normally he was such a sweet, mild-mannered guy that seeing his tough side was both kind of sexy and also a little amusing. He caught me staring and shot me a quizzical look. I winked at him, then bit back my goofy grin.

“Uh.” Russo dipped his chin and scratched the back of his neck. “I’d say he was distraught.” He nodded at Peter. “His eyes were big, and he looked upset. He was shaking.”

I shrugged. “I mean, Mark did find the dart in the back of his wife’s neck. Quincy probably put two and two together and was horrified to find his wife’s murder weapon.” I flipped a palm. “Or, you know, he was the one who used it.”

We all looked down at the wooden blow dart gun.

Peter nodded. “Can you bag this up? Take it to the lab and have it checked for fingerprints and any saliva on the blowing end….” Peter tilted his head to the side as he looked at the weapon. “Whichever end that is.”

Russo grinned. “Sure thing, Flint.”

Peter looked up and down the curving corridor. The suspended walkway was nearly enveloped by tropical plants. “And where’s Quincy Rutherford now?”

Russo pointed left. “Jones is with him.”

“Thanks!” I gave Russo a little wave, and Peter, the dog, and I headed in the direction he’d indicated. The wooden boards thunked and swayed under our feet.

“How did Quincy seem when he discovered his wife’s body?”

I glanced up at Peter and shrugged. “Panicked. He started calling for help and— Gah!”

I grabbed Peter’s arm, and we both lurched away as two fast-moving blurs lunged at us. We slammed into the rope that served as a railing, and Peter drew his wand as Daisy, hackles raised, barked at the intruders.

Stay back! I’ll bite you! Hard!

Two pairs of eerie orange-gold eyes stared back at us from among the leaves. I clutched my chest as I realized it was just a couple of lemurs that had leapt from their hiding places to land right next to our heads. My heart pounded in my chest and Peter and I exchanged wide-eyed looks.

Daisy continued to growl, her teeth bared and ears pricked. Back, I say! I’ll chomp you!

I let out a woof. Stand down, Days, stand down.

She turned long enough to shoot me a simpering look, then returned to growling at the lemurs. What are these things? Raccoons? Monkeys?

I quietly barked. Lemurs.

The German shepherd’s brow furrowed. What does that mean?

I grinned and stepped closer with Peter at my side. “Hey, little guys.” I turned to my beau. “Guess these are our first animal witnesses. Maybe they saw what Quincy was up to.”

“Or maybe they saw the murders take place.” Peter nodded slightly, eyes fixed on our unblinking friends and their piercing black pupils.

I curled my lip. I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen a lemur up close before. They hovered, just a couple feet away, with only an invisible force field between us. The magic shimmered, iridescent, for a moment, reminding me there was some protection there.

I shuddered as the lemurs’ piercing gazes bored into me. While kinda cute, they also scored very high on the creep factor. I cleared my throat and willed myself to inch a little closer.

I opened my mouth and a grating, high-pitched screech came out. Hey, guys—

I stopped short and exchanged wide-eyed looks with Peter.

Even Daisy curled her lip and huffed. Didn’t know you could make that noise.

I swallowed and frowned. Me neither.

I tried again with the screeching. Hey, guys. I wanted to ask you a few questions, if that’s okay? I got no response—not even a blink—so I kept going. Did you see anyone pass by here earlier this evening? Maybe a man in an alligator print tuxedo or two women or someone wielding a blow dart gun? I licked my lips. Kinda looks like a wooden stick?

I raised my brows, hopeful, as the two looked