“Oh, Mom.” Maddie’s lips twisted. “You have to let it go. I’m not pregnant.”
“I think you are.” Olivia saw no point in lying. “I think Nick is right. You have that ... glow.”
“That’s from puking all morning.”
“And thank you for that visual,” Astra deadpanned, her eyes on Heather. “To your knowledge, how many other stories did Velma steal over the years?”
Heather held out her hands and shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. My sister distanced herself from this crowd after her first meeting with Velma. She only recently dipped her toe back in. I’m the one who convinced her. Of course, that was before we realized Velma was part of this event.”
Maddie shifted her head, considering. “Wait ... by the time I got the invitation, Velma was listed as a headliner. Was that not always the case?”
“No.” Heather shook her head. “When Laurie got her invitation, it was Melanie Sanders who was being touted as the headliner.”
“Oh, I remember that.” Hannah nodded accordingly. “I didn’t know who any of the people were at the time the event was booked. When the name of the headliner was changed — although the last name stayed the same — I just assumed it was a typo or something. I didn’t really think about it.”
“That’s because you’re stupid,” Astra offered. “That right there is your motive.”
Hannah slanted her eyes toward the other witch. “You think Melanie killed her own mother?”
“I think that Melanie killed the woman who displaced her and stole what was probably her first chance to shine. Think about it, Hannah. Melanie lived in her mother’s shadow for the bulk of her life. Velma probably groomed her, taught her a trade. At some point, Melanie thought she was going to be the one in the spotlight. Maybe Velma didn’t want that.”
“You know, I hate to admit it, but that’s an interesting idea,” Maddie noted. “It makes sense.”
“Killing your mother makes sense?” Olivia challenged. “I think you and I should have a talk.”
Maddie shot her mother a quelling look. “Not that. The other stuff. If Astra is right, then Velma has been running a long con for a number of years. She probably set it up so her daughter could eventually take over and they could keep raking it in. Maybe something happened to cause Velma to want to keep the money for herself, though.”
Hannah thought back to what Cooper told her regarding his interview with Melanie and the assistant. “Cooper said that Melanie seemed legitimately upset.”
Astra snorted. “Please. He’s always snowed by a pretty face. How else do you think he ended up with you?”
Hannah ignored her. “He said she was in shock, that she couldn’t believe what happened. He also said she was the one who volunteered how disliked her mother was by other members of the psychic contingent in attendance.”
“Maybe that was a smokescreen,” Maddie suggested. “Maybe she wanted to cast a light on how unlikable her mother was and she used the list of enemies to do it, all the while insulating herself in the process.”
“Yeah.” Hannah chewed on her bottom lip. “I don’t want to believe it because it seems so bloodthirsty but, the truth is, whoever killed Velma used a really big knife. Now, it’s possible that was the only weapon present, but it’s also possible there was passion associated with the kill. There’s more than one sort of passion, and the angst between a mother and daughter can be the most passionate of all.”
“Now you’re thinking.” Astra shot Hannah a thumbs-up, smirking at the way Abigail glowered at her. “I can see how someone might lose their sanity constantly being in the shadow of someone else.”
“Oh, stuff it,” Abigail muttered, shaking her head. “It seems like a leap to me, Hannah. Maybe it’s something else.”
“Maybe,” Hannah confirmed, her eyes tracking a nervous-looking ghost hovering just behind Heather. “Do you have something you want to add?”
The ghost’s eyes darted from side to side and then she nodded. “I’m Bridget,” she said in a soft voice. “I’m with Chelsea Martin. She’s my daughter.”
Maddie’s eyes widened. “Chelsea Martin? She’s in her fifties.”
Bridget nodded. “I died giving birth to her. I’ve been with her since then, although she can’t see me. Sometimes I think she senses me but ... she’s not as strong as some of the others here.”
“That’s not important,” Hannah reassured her. “Do you have information about Velma?”
“I might know something,” Bridget hedged, glancing around. She was unnaturally nervous, but she pushed forward. “The day we arrived, I saw Velma talking to another woman behind the saloon. There’s an alley back there.”
Hannah nodded. “There is, and it’s off limits to guests. I didn’t realize they were back there. Do you know what they were saying?”
“Velma was making a promise to a young woman. She said that she was going to install her as the next psychic leader, or words to that effect. She said that Melanie expected to be tapped for the spot but she’d changed her mind at the last second and was going to promote this other woman.”
That was interesting, Maddie noted. “So, the daughter was officially being cut out.”
The ghost nodded.
“Do you happen to know the name of the individual who had been tapped to steal the daughter’s place?” Hannah queried.
“No, but I’m pretty sure I know who she is,” Bridget offered. “The woman running the event, that Alicia woman, referred to her as Velma’s assistant. I figure there can’t be more than one of them, right?”
“The assistant, huh?” Hannah was officially intrigued. When she slid her eyes to Maddie, she found the psychic looked equally perplexed. “I think that’s a lead right there.”
“We should get back to town and tell the guys,” Maddie said. “It at least bears investigating.”
“It does.”
Astra watched the two women scramble and prepare to leave. “You’re welcome,” she called to their backs, grimacing when she realized Abigail had remained behind. “Oh, I’m
