As she hung up, her bedroom door opened andMr. Darcy pushed his way through. He sat looking at her and then meowed.
“Everyone is here and no one has taken the time to feed you? What are they thinking?” Mia jumped out of bed and went into the adjoining bathroom to get ready. Mr. Darcy followed her, making sure she wasn’t planning on going back to sleep. And when she was ready, he held his tail high and ran out of the room.
“Tell Abigail there better be coffee,” Mia called after her cat.
When she got to the kitchen, she’d been right. Everyone was there, including Thomas, Abigail’s husband. He was on his tablet, doing things for the store. He glanced at his watch when she came in.
“Don’t complain. No one knocked on my door to wake me.” Mia took the coffee Abigail handed her and sat on the only empty chair. “So, you all saw the news? Thoughts?”
“Maybe it was an accident like the news said. She could have gone out on a late-night stroll or ski and couldn’t make it back.” Christina was eating a doughnut.
Mia saw the faces on the others in the room. “You don’t think it’s a skiing accident.”
Thomas spoke first. “After we had the incident where Albert died while visiting Magic Springs before his last assignment, the National Office made a rule that if you were out on assignment, you could do no vacationing or recreational activities, even if you took a leave day. Once you got on the plane to your officialdestination, you were on the clock. No exceptions. Suzanne Parker wouldn’t have broken protocol like that. She was a stickler for the rules.” Thomas stood, putting his tablet in his briefcase. “I have to go to the store and sign for a delivery. It’s early and the driver is almost in town. Abigail, please let me know if you need my assistance with anything dealing with this matter.”
“Oh, do you have to go?” Abigail stood to kiss her husband.
He rubbed a spot of flour off her face. “If your son had just sent the little hellhound back to the McMann camp for his training, I wouldn’t be needed at the store. I can’t just close it down, now, can I?”
“Cerby didn’t do well at the sleep away camp,” Mia said, standing up for Trent’s choice. She didn’t like him being stuck there, but she wasn’t going to let anyone criticize his decision. Not even his father.
“No hellhound does well at sleepaway camp. They are called Velcro dogs for a reason. He should just have told the little guy he had to go. Everything would have worked out.” He kissed Abigail. “Just like it will in this situation. See you all soon.”
After he left, Levi sighed. “Dad means well, but he’s old school in this way. I don’t think he realizes that as a hellhound, Cerby’s more than just a familiar. He’s a part of the family. Anyway, what are we going to do about Suzanne Parker’s death? I guess our first question is, where was Mia last night, or rather this morning, around two?”
“Levi!” Abigail turned on her son. “First you talk bad about your dad, then you accuse Mia of killing that woman?”
“One, I didn’t talk bad about him; I was trying to explain his utter lack of giving a darn about the problem. And two, we need to rule out Mia because she’s the most likely suspect. Although she passed to level five, so maybe killing her tester isn’t motivation. Never mind.” Levi reached over and grabbed a doughnut.
“Okay, thanks for the trip down nowhere lane. But to answer your question, I was asleep in bed alone. If Mark wants, he can see the security tapes that show my car in the lot all night. What else do we know about Suzanne Parker?” Mia pulled out a notebook. “She was sent because someone here complained. That person couldn’t have been happy when I not only passed again but went up two levels. Who would be that upset?”
“Whoever is next in line to go into coven leadership.” Abigail stared at the monitor. “And we might be able to find out who that is right now. Brandon Maxwell and Sabrina Clayborn have come to call.”
The group all stared at the security monitor that showed the two people with the highest-ranking coven leadership positions in Magic Springs get out of a black SUV.
“Let’s take this meeting downstairs. Dorian, you stay here.” Grans stood and finished her coffee. “They must have heard of your arrival. Let’s just not give them a good look at you, especially because we’re trying to pass you off as Damien. Do you even have a brother?”
“He lives in Latin America, helping the locals, but yes, I do have a brother.” He refilled his cup. “Mia, does this monitor show the downstairs room as well?I’d like to keep an eye on all of you. Christina and Levi, stay up here with me. We don’t want people looking at the two of you, either.”
“So many secrets.” Abigail shook her head. “This would have been easier if your brother had kept the heritage. He would have been at a high-enough ranking to keep these two out of Mia’s house.”
“Mom always liked Trent best,” Levi called after them as they left the apartment.
CHAPTER5
Mia could hear Brandon and Sabrina arguing through the front door, but they hadn’t knocked yet. She swung the door open, surprising them. “Good morning, how can I help you today?”
Brandon shot Sabrina a look that stopped whatever she’d been going to say next. Then he turned and smiled at Mia. “We came by to congratulate you on leveling up so quickly. It’s such a testament to your grandmother’s teaching. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a kitchen witch going above level four.”
“Because typically kitchen witches aren’t part of the coven leadership.” Sabrina glared at him. Then she turned to smile at Mia. “Of course, we’d never make that mistake with you if you just accept our offer and join the coven. We need exciting new blood like you in our group. And let me add my congratulations. I worked on leveling up for years before I just gave up. Maybe I should try again? You could help me study.”
“Maybe.” Mia left it at that. She wanted to leave the discussion open so one of these two would tell her what she needed to know. Like how Parker was killed. “Do you want to come in? Or was that all you needed?”
“Oh, we’d love to come in and have some coffee.” Sabrina pushed her way through the front door, then froze as she saw Abigail and Grans sitting at the table, notebooks in front of them.
“We’re just talking about the business. Grans has some amazing ideas on expanding our line to include bath salts and light charms. Nothing too crazy; just some hot cocoa that also lulls you to sleep. You know, light kitchen witch magic.” Mia wanted to slap both of them and show them what a kitchen witch could do, but she felt Grans’s calming influence behind her, as well as the laughter Abigail was holding back.
“Oh, that would be lovely.” Sabrina took Brandon’s arm and together, they stepped into the academy. “I can’t believe all the remodeling you’ve done in here. It looks more like a grand home than an old school.”