spies and spells 01 - spies and spells (18 page)

“Will you take over, Tessa?” another reporter shouted out.

The lawyer lifted his hands in the air, palms out as if to stop more questions with his hands and followed Tessa and Bo back up the stairs, disappearing into the house.

Tessa’s face was pale and her eyes were sunken. For someone who didn’t live with her mom, she sure was playing the part of the grieving daughter.

“There you have it, folks. Rob, back to you in the station.” The reporter shrugged.

Lilith turned the volume down.

“I think it’s awful coincidental you had a package of Mystic Couture products and now they are gone. Now she’s dead.” She pulled a piece of paper from her back pocket. “Here is the address that was in the package. Is that cop involved in something he shouldn’t be and dragging you down with him?”

I took it from her.
Pig Creek Road
, I read to myself. I didn’t know the address but Vinnie could find it.

“Enough chit chat.” Auntie Meme popped her head through the pass through. Today her hair was tamed in a way only Auntie Meme could do. Magic. Her hair was pulled into a ponytail, only it looked like a pom-pom sitting on her head. “Maggie,” she flailed her arm in the air. “Get back here and grab the jar with the leaf.”

“Great!” I put the sugar bag on the counter and slid it toward Lilith. Lilith’s eyes narrowed, her mouth dropped. I smiled. We both knew I was going in to make the gravy. Plus it got me out of talking about Mick and answering her questions.

I didn’t bother saying a word to Auntie Meme. With pride on my face, I took the jar off the shelf and unscrewed the lid. I shook a dash of it into each of the boiling pots as Auntie Meme stirred, a ladle in each hand. Exactly like we had done before.

Instead of the boiling water turning to gravy, the mixture clouded up and sent smoke boiling out into the kitchen. The fire alarms sounded and Auntie Meme swatted at it with her towel.

“Stand back!” she roared, flinging her pom-pom hair-do from the clips. Her hair popped out into the black mess we were used to seeing. The smoke was so thick, I covered my mouth but couldn’t stop watching Auntie Meme circle her arms around and around like one of those whirly wind helicopter seeds that fall from the trees.

The sirens of a fire engine truck were echoing outside in the distance. Lilith ran in the kitchen.

“What in the hell is going on?” she questioned me. We both stood there as Auntie Meme did her magic, chanting a few words and restoring order to the kitchen.

Two firefighters burst through the kitchen door, one had a fire extinguisher and the other had an axe.

“Excuse me.” Auntie Meme happily stirred the boiling pots of water. Her hair was back in pom-pom form again and there was no smoke to be found. The kitchen smelled of the fabulous gravy and biscuits.

“We had a call that there was smoke billowing out of your restaurant.” One of the firefighters looked around, wearing a dumbfounded expression.

“Smoke?” Auntie Meme cackled. “I have been known to burn a few things, but biscuits and gravy aren’t one of them.”

Lilith snuck through the swinging door between the kitchen and diner. I tried to go with her.

“Maggie, where are your manners?” Auntie Meme’s eyes bore into me. To the firefighters, “You gentlemen are here, you might as well take a seat and be the first customers served this morning. Everything is hot and ready.”

I showed them to a table and went back into the kitchen to retrieve their free plates of food Auntie Meme had offered.

“Just as I knew,” Auntie Meme griped. “I knew you had lost your touch of cooking when the two worlds collided. I knew it. I knew it. I knew it.” Auntie Meme beat it into the ground. She was full of piss and vinegar.

“Just like that?” I asked, worry set deep in my soul. “I couldn’t have lost it in one day. I just couldn’t have. Maybe something was wrong.” I knew it was far-fetched but I had to rationalize it somehow.

“Nope. You are not destined to take over The Brew,” Auntie Meme growled and grumbled leaving me feeling even worse than I had the day before. “By the way, you got a lot of boxes on the front porch from that makeup place you and Lilith were arguing about. A lot of boxes.”

It had to be the shipment of Mystic Couture makeup I had to use as my product sample line. I couldn’t wait to dig into them. Lilith had better not touch them.

I swung through the kitchen door with my hip leading the way and a tray full of biscuits and gravy for the firefighters who had moved to the stools at the counter. I went down the line, setting a plate full of the special in front of them.

“Maggie Park.” The high pitch voice caught me off guard this early in the morning. “Is that you?”

The woman at the counter peeled off the long black gloves one finger at a time before she removed her large black sunglasses from her face.

“I thought that was you.” She laughed and smacked the gentleman who was sitting next to her with the end of the gloves. “Dan said that it couldn’t possibly be you since you are a Platinum girl now, but I insisted it was you. Didn’t I?” She turned to Dan for confirmation. Dan rolled his eyes. “I’m generally never wrong.” Drea, the Mystic Couture Platinum member from last night, wrinkled her nose in a bunny rabbit sort of way while trying to smile. Not a good look for a Mystic Couture rep.

“It sure is me.” I smiled and put a plastic menu in front of them when they took a seat at the counter.

Drea’s neat little black bob swung side-to-side as she took a good look around The Brew. Her eyes opened real wide and she sucked in a deep breath.

“You don’t work here, do you?” Her fine, silky lined Mystic Couture eyebrows raised a trifle.

“I own it.” I flipped the cups over. “I like to be among the good people of Louisville.”

Why? Why couldn’t I use magic in an instance like this? This would be the perfect time. I could easily have zapped her and Dan away. Neither of them remembering it. But no, I had to have this whole world colliding thing and if I did something to screw that up. . .I didn’t want to think about it, so I lied. Again.

“Being a Mystic Girl sure does have its perks.” I rubbed my finger and thumb together like money. It seemed all the consultants cared about was the financial part. “And I picked the diner.” I pulled the pencil out from behind my ear and tapped the order pad. “What can I get you?”

“Why do you look so drab?” Drea shot Dan a look when he elbowed her. “What? I’m not being rude. She is a Platinum member now and should dress like one. I mean she has access to the finest makeup in the world.”

“I’m excited about the big show I have tonight. My first show as a Platinum member.” Another little fib wasn’t going to hurt. I ignored her drab comment. “I was going to cancel the show due to what happened to Tawny but I figured she’d want us to carry on.”

“Yes.” Drea did the sign of the cross and Dan lowered his chin, eyes down. “Can you believe that?” Drea asked in a hushed voice.

“Very sad,” Dan followed up. “I wonder who will take her place?”

I held the pot of coffee up, both gestured for me to fill up their cups. I poured.

“I guess her daughter. That is what they said at the news conference.” I pushed the sugar container and creamer pitcher in between them, letting them fight over who got what condiment first. “That would make the most sense.”

“News conference.” Drea was taken aback.

“I bet you missed it on your way here.” I pointed to the TV. “There was a news conference with Mystic Couture’s lawyer. Tessa and Bo were standing next to him. He said they were going to take over and run things the way Tawny had done.”

“There is no one that can run Mystic Couture like Tawny Fawn.” Drea’s perfectly lined brows rose. “Besides, her daughter hated the company. She doesn’t even wear the makeup.” Drea gave me a little bit of information that seemed to be important. “She said it took her mom away from her all these years.” Drea shrugged, slowly stirring the spoon to mix the creamer she had poured in her cup.

“That’s a shame.” I pouted. “They seemed to be getting along last night before she was…” I made a line across my neck.

“She was murdered?” Drea gasped, grabbing Dan’s forearm. Both of them looked like they were about to fall over from the shock.

“Murdered?” I laughed realizing the news hadn’t reported it. “I don’t know, but I just figured.”

“Bathroom?” Dan asked. I pointed.

“Without her, I’m afraid of what is going to happen to our international sales. You never know if our product is going to go out or not with all the fighting going on in the warehouse.” Drea sucked her mouth into a rosette. The Perfectly Pink Petal was her lip color of choice. I should know. I really wanted that color a year ago.

“What fighting?” I asked pouring a little more coffee. Got to love chitchat over coffee.

“The warehouse manager is this big burly bald guy who thinks he’s large and in charge. When something doesn’t go his way or the orders are out of sequence, he fires people on the spot.” She sucked in a deep, heavy sigh. “You’ll get to understand that stuff soon enough. I’m sure we will get an email or phone call about what is going to happen.” She poured more cream in her cup. “I was serious when I said I’d like to show you the ropes. Where is your Mystic Couture party tonight? I’d love to attend.”

“Oh,” I shooed away the idea. “I’ve got it under control.”

“No seriously. I’m fascinated by how you became a Platinum member and I’d never heard of you.” She arched her brows into a triangle. “I went home and dug out all of my Mystic Couture newsletters and magazines over the past ten years and there isn’t even a consultant with your name or your initials. Nothing.”

“I’d love for you to come.” Instantly I regretted what I had just agreed to, but I had to get Drea Philpot off my back. She could ruin everything, the entire investigation. I scribbled my name and address on one of the pages of my ordering pad and ripped it off, sticking it on the counter next to her coffee. “Can I get you the special?”

“We’d love it.” She neatly folded the paper and slipped it into her purse.

I put a rush order on their food and got it to them as quickly as possible. Thank God for the breakfast rush and the firefighters ordering more food because I didn’t have time to make more idle gossip with Drea. Poor Dan. He looked miserable as she sat there and yammered on, her mouth never once stopping. Who knew how she ate her biscuits and gravy so fast.

 “I’ll see you tonight.” Drea patted the money on top of the bill I had snuck in front of them, giving me the spirit wave as she and Dan left The Brew.

“Those are the type of people you have been keeping company with?” Lilith’s head tilted to the side taking in all of Drea Philpot.

I gave her a keep-your-mouth-shut look. She drew her lips into a tight smile.

“No tip, either?” Lilith asked, looking over my shoulder.

“I’ve decided to take my journey into my own hands and become a Mystic Couture sales representative.” I wiped down the spot where Drea and Dan had sat.

“You?” Lilith threw her head back in a fit of laughter. “You barely like wearing makeup much less selling it.”

I gestured toward the kitchen. “I obviously wasn’t meant to take over the diner since I almost burnt it down.” My hands flung in the air.

My mind was getting all confused. I had originally decided to help Mick because he threatened my family and the legality of The Brew. Then I had my worlds collide, which meant he was in my life for a reason and at the start of my life’s journey. My magic didn’t work on him or in the kitchen anymore. I was about at my wits end and I couldn’t get this Mystic Couture thing behind me fast enough and get on with my life.

“I had my Witchy Hour, which hasn’t given me any insight on what I’m supposed to do with my life. So I might as well sell the makeup until I figure this out.” I knew Lilith was too street smart to fall for my reasoning. Granted her street might be a dirt road, but she knew what she was doing.

Chapter Nineteen

After work, I jumped into Vinnie, all ready to go see Mick. Everything Drea told me about Tessa hadn’t set well with me all day.

“SKUL headquarters,” I ordered Vinnie.

“Why?” Vinnie asked.

“Because I said.” Was I really going to have to start answering to him? “I need to see Mick.”

“You can call him.” Vinnie didn’t move. “I think you need to round up some women for this makeup party you are having tonight.”

“Oh crap.” I had forgotten all about that little portion of my conversation with Drea. “Okay. I can take care of that after you take me to SKUL headquarters.”

“I really don’t think that is a good idea, Maggie.” Vinnie still didn’t move.

“I think it’s a great idea.” I flipped Vinnie on manual and put the keys in the ignition. “Did you forget I have all the power here? If you keep ignoring me, I might have to keep you on manual all the time.”

It took me longer than usual to get to the SKUL office. Even though I had the control to drive Vinnie, Vinnie had the control to keep my speed at a steady fifteen miles per hour. But I didn’t let him get on my nerves. I bit my lip and went over the information Drea had told me.

Once in the parking lot, I got out and told Vinnie to behave himself. I knew he was mad when he didn’t talk back to me.

“I need to see Mick Jasper please,” I told the lady at the reception desk.

“Is this a filling or a cleaning?” she asked.

“Don’t worry.” I smiled and pointed to myself. I leaned over and whispered, “I have SKUL clearance.”

“Filling or cleaning?” The receptionist was persistent.

“I could just go right on in because I know where the secret elevator is.” I was losing my patience. After all, I had a Mystic Couture party to throw and no one to make over, yet.

“I’m sorry.” The receptionist drew her finger down the ledger on her desk. “Mr. Jasper doesn’t have any appointments scheduled this afternoon.”

I sucked in a deep breath. It was time. Although I said I wouldn’t. I did.

I lifted my hands in the air, smiled sweetly at the receptionist, and said, “Rowlow, loodon, claster.”

“What?” The woman’s face contorted in all sort of shapes like I was a loony tune.