“Following you?”
“Yes. It’s hard to explain.”
Lea’s face took on a strange look and she slowly smiled, nodding to something over my shoulder. “You mean like that?”
I jerked my head around and sucked air in surprise. Reaching up, I quickly snatched the slim volume of magical spells from the air where it hovered. I looked around to make sure there were no customers in the area. “That’s been happening more since I came to Croakies.”
“The magic is drawn to your energy, Naida,” Lea told me gently. “The only thing you need in order to succeed is for you to embrace your own power.”
“What are you telling me?” I asked, my mind reluctant to grasp her meaning.
“I’m telling you that you are magical, Naida. You’re actually a strong sorceress. And that, however you came to be at Croakies, you’re in the right place.”
She leaned closer and smiled. “You were born to be a Keeper of the Artifacts. This is your legacy magic. And I predict that you’re going to be very good at it once you accept the magic your heredity has given you.”
I stared at the book of spells, wondering why anyone would want to perform spells to make bunions appear on someone’s feet. “I hope you’re right.”
Lea stood up. “I’m not only right…” She plucked her bag off the spare chair. “I think you know that what I’m saying is true.” She headed for the door. “Why don’t you stop by the shop tomorrow afternoon? We’ll have tea.”
“I’d love that.”
“Good.” She pulled the door open, setting the bell to jangling. “I’m looking forward to chatting some more.”
A man in a green uniform held the door for Lea and then came into the bookstore as she left. He was holding a metal clipboard with a thick sheaf of papers clipped to its surface. He looked at the top sheet and then at me. “Naida Griffith?”
I read the emblem embroidered on the pocket of his shirt. GMM, which I knew stood for Glasswart’s Magical Movers. I knew that because I’d called them. “I’m Naida Griffith,” I told him, eagerly.
He handed me the clipboard. “I just need you to sign on the bottom to accept delivery.”
Using the pen he’d clipped to the board, I signed my name across the top sheet.
“Where would you like your stuff?” he asked.
“Actually, if you could pull around to the back, there’s a bigger door. I’d like you to bring it through there.”
“We can certainly do that.”
I grinned widely. “Awesome sauce! I’ll meet you back there.”
9
I’ll Be Darned Like The Goddess’s Favorite Socks
I settled the last pillow into place and grinned. The spot I’d chosen was deep inside the artifact library, in a shadowed corner beneath a high window that allowed a narrow beam of sunlight to paint the colorful rag rug at the center of the space.
Along with the rug, I’d brought my twin-sized bed, one dresser, and my grandma’s favorite recliner for reading, as well as splurging on the television from Grandma’s sitting room. I’d placed the TV on an old trunk that had once belonged to my mother, according to Grandma Neely. I’d sifted through the stuff inside the trunk after Grandma had died, finding nothing more interesting than a couple of hand-knitted throws, a mirror and brush set, and a yellowed white porcelain teapot, which was chipped in a couple of spots.
I left everything except the throws in the trunk and asked the GMM guys to place the television on it. Eying the antenna Grandma had used to avoid paying for cable or satellite services, I decided I might be able to set it on top of one of the shelves with a direct line of sight to a window.
That should work well enough to get me the shows I liked.
It wasn’t a lovely spot. But it was cozy. And, filled with my own stuff, it felt like home.
The bookstore bell jangled, the sound a soft chime that somehow filled the entire library space. Rubbing my hands over my dusty jeans, I hurried back to the front. It had to be Alice returning from her artifact wrangling. I’d locked the door to customers an hour earlier.
My stomach rumbled as I thought of the promised tacos, and the thought made me walk faster.
Throwing the dividing door open, I found Alice standing in the opening of the front door, listening to a certain grim-faced detective on the sidewalk. Pun intended.
“…body was dumped in Enchanted Park.”
My ears perked at that little bit of partial information. “What body?” I asked.
Alice turned with a scowl, though her eyes looked more worried than mad. “Don’t worry, Naida. It has nothing to do with us,” she told me in a firm voice.
I couldn’t help wondering if Alice was trying to convince me, or the eagle-eyed detective on the sidewalk.
“Can I come inside?” Grym asked, his gaze sliding to mine.
I nodded, even as Alice shook her head. “Sorry, we’re closed for the night. I’ve told you all I know.”
Grym’s jaw tightened. “Would you rather I return with a search warrant?”
“For what?” Alice asked, shoving her ugly square glasses up her short nose.
“For being generally uncooperative,” Grym responded, his jaw tightening with irritation. His expression was murderous, and he was leaning aggressively forward as if he was considering giving her a pop on the pug nose.
I could appreciate his apparent desire to pummel Alice about the head and shoulders. Goddess knew I’d been there a few times already in my extremely short tenure at Croakies. But I didn’t think a rage-induced pummeling would be in anybody’s best interests. “Would you like some tea, Detective?” I asked, determinedly avoiding Alice’s gaze.
“That would be nice,” he said through gritted teeth.
Alice finally turned and stomped away from the door. “I’ll make it.”
I indicated the nearby table. “Please, have a seat. What’s going on, Detective Grym?”
He sat, crossing one leg over the other at the ankle, and expelled a weary breath. “I’m afraid we’ve found the body of a man
