“I get it.” He sighs. “But I’m afraid it goes against a magician’s code to reveal his trade secrets.”
“Now that I understand. How are you coping with Julian’s death? That’s very nice of you to fill in for his shows. I’m sure he would have appreciated it.”
“I know he would have, too. And I’m doing the best I can, all things considering. Julian was a good friend and a mentor. I learned everything I know from him—and I taught him a few tricks myself. Magic was his passion, his life.”
“How about for you? It seems a world away from landscaping.”
“Oh, it is. And that’s why I need the two in my life. Gardening grounds me, no pun intended. Magic frees my spirit—makes me feel as if nothing is impossible. But I guess there is one thing that’s impossible. Poor Julian. There’s not a trick in the world that can bring him back.”
“I know,” I whisper. “I’m sorry about it, too. What do you think went wrong the day of the accident?”
He cocks his head. “Well, according to the sheriff’s department, they haven’t ruled out a homicide, so maybe this wasn’t an accident after all.”
“That’s a frightening possibility. Who do you think could have done this?” A crisp breeze picks up and I pull Fish in close. Her purring vibrates right down to my bones.
Archie takes a breath and his chest expands as he glances out to the water.
“I don’t know. I’m not one to point fingers, but there were only Zeke and I adjusting the platform after Julian went in. And I know I didn’t fiddle with those hinges.”
“Did you see Zeke do it?”
“It was too dark for me to see anything.” He scratches his chin. “Look, it’s no secret Zeke hated the guy for what he did to that girl.” Bernie Keaton has been trouble before. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone.
“Bernie?” I lean in. “Yes, I heard all about the fact Julian was stringing her along.” I know it takes two to tango, but I can’t help but feel bad for Bernie. “I think McKenna mentioned something about Zeke being interested in Bernie.”
A bark of a laugh escapes him. “Interested is a mild term in this case. Zeke is in love with the girl. Always has been. He hasn’t exactly made it a secret. He wanted Julian dead long before he bit the big one. I’m not saying Zeke killed the guy. I’m just saying if the hinges were loose, and he noticed, I don’t think he’d go out of his way to stop the inevitable from happening. He hated Julian for what he put Bernie through.”
I nod because I believe him. “But maybe the death was accidental after all.”
He purses his lips. “Maybe, but I don’t believe it was.”
Neither do I, but I don’t bother expounding on it.
“Archie, can I ask if you know Michaela, McKenna’s little sister?”
“Oh yeah.” He gives a vigorous nod. In fact, she’s my next stop this afternoon. Here’s hoping she’s up for lunch and dinner—and gifting herself to me as dessert.
My mouth falls open. So much for anything taking off between him and my sister. Not that my sister doesn’t operate in the very same manner.
“What about her?” He tips his chin my way.
“I just wondered how well she knew Julian. She looked so shaken after the accident.”
“Didn’t everyone?” he muses. “But I’m not sure how well Michaela knew him.” She knew him, all right, but that’s not a direction I’d like to send anyone down. Not that I shouldn’t. He’s the one that walked her into that den of perversion. He laid her out on a silver platter and watched as the wolves attacked. Can’t say I’d blame the poor girl for wanting to see him dead.
I give Fish a firm squeeze.
Julian set Michaela out on a platter for wolves?
The Collective comes to mind and I quickly dismiss it. I still refuse to believe Michaela would ever do something like that. I’ll have to talk to her myself and see if I can get to the bottom of it.
No wonder she was furious with him the evening he died. I saw her push him away with my own eyes. He did something to infuriate her. But was she angry enough to kill? And if she did it, am I really going to turn her in?
My heart wrenches at the thought of how much more tragic this could all end up being.
Sherlock and Peanut come our way, barking up a happy storm as Archie takes his hat off and waves at them.
“You’ve got a good crew, Bizzy.” He laughs, giving both dogs a quick pat. “I’d better get back to work. I’ll see you Saturday at the wedding. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for good weather.”
The ever-darkening sky catches my eye.
“I think we’d better cross our toes, too. See you then. And thanks again for the pots. They’re amazing! My ground crew will take good care of them. We’ll make sure they stay plenty watered.”
“You’re welcome!” He turns my way. “And don’t worry about the maintenance on the flowers. I can come by now and again and swap them out for seasonal bouquets.” He clamps his hand over the rim of one of the pots. “It’s a pet project I can’t let go of. These have been with me for so long, I’ve come to call them my garden girls.” He takes off and the dogs run wild as if they’ve never been outdoors before.
Fish nuzzles her face to my neck. What do you think, Bizzy? Did Zeke do it? That would be tragic to have the groom’s brother arrested before the wedding.
“Or the bride’s sister,” I whisper. “But don’t worry. No matter what I find out, I’m sure catching the killer can wait until after McKenna’s big day.”
A hard crackle goes off in the sky just as heavy raindrops begin to splat down over Cider Cove.
Sherlock, Peanut, Fish, and I run, laughing all the
