“Okay,” I texted. “When?”
“How about today? Now?”
I chuckled. “How much money you got?”
No silly emoji, only, “Have you called Rose?”
Nosy man. Of course I hadn’t called Rose.
“Call her. See you soon.”
I puffed out my cheeks. I hated to be hurried along by anybody, especially when they were right. If my training was time sensitive, of course it would be better to speak with the witches, find out what it was I was supposed to do, and do it. As long as it didn’t involve travel or elaborate rituals and dress codes, I was open to whatever was required.
After texting with Tanner, I closed the door to my office and called Rose.
And Rose gave me an earful.
“Well, Calliope,” she began, “since we have no idea when your next period is coming, I’m going to put you on daily doses of tinctures of blue and black cohosh and see if that will jump start your cycle. In the meantime, pack a bag—I’ll put together a list of what you need—and be prepared to meet me on the west side of Vancouver Island. I have to speak with the rest of the coastal covens, but I think we’ll reserve the sacred grove for the coming full moon and get this ball rolling.”
“Bossy,” I muttered, hanging up.
Kerry knocked before poking her head into my office. “There are three men out here,” she whispered, making a funny face. “And they’re asking for you.”
“Does one of them look kind of grouchy?”
She nodded.
“And does one of them have bright red hair?”
She nodded again and giggled. “Friends of yours?”
I beckoned her in and shut the door. “The tall one is Tanner Marechal. He’s with the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources. He’s going to help with the Pearmain investigation, and since his agency doesn’t have an office on the island, I said they could work here.”
“So…I’m working for them too?”
I stared at the closed door, one hand fisted at my hip.
My phone buzzed with another text. “What’s going on in there?”
I showed Tanner’s message to Kerry. “Let me know if they become high maintenance. You don’t fetch coffee, you don’t pick up lunch orders, and if I’m not here to answer questions, your word is law.”
She looked relieved.
“But,” I continued, “you know how to find everything in the office and who to call and cajole when we need stuff, so if you do any of that for them, I’ll see their agency pitches in.”
“Deal. Any idea whether any member of the Terrific Trio is single?”
“Tanner is, that much I know.” And I have first dibs, but honestly, don’t go there. He’s too complicated. “No idea about the other two. I’ll let you sharpen your investigative abilities on answering that question.”
Kerry winked, tightened the belt of her empire-waist summer dress, and opened the door. “Ms. Jones will see you now.”
Adding three men to my already snug office space would not work well long term, but for the day’s debrief, we’d make do. If they needed more space, they could…I glanced around the room. There was no more space.
“Kaz, can you ask Kerry where the extra folding chairs are stored and bring in two?” I asked.
He nodded and left the door open behind him.
Tanner closed it and turned to me. “Is Kerry trustworthy?”
“Mostly. But I’d much rather details like frozen heads and missing bodies stay between just us for now.”
He nodded in agreement.
“Kerry’s an asset,” I added. “She knows practically everyone on the island, and if she doesn’t, someone in her family does. There are a lot of ways she can help, so don’t hesitate to ask. Conversely, given that she and the rest of the Pippins are related to half the island, keeping things tight should be SOP.”
Kaz walked in with the chairs and unfolded them across from the wall with the maps. He and Wes were settling in when Kerry knocked while opening the door.
“Calli?” she said. “There’s someone here with a delivery for you, says she has to give it to you in person?”
“Tell her I’ll—”
“Calliope Jo-ones?” A very round, sunny woman with a sing-song voice sidled Kerry out of the way. “I am Belle. Belle de Boskoop. Rose sent me.”
Belle floated through the doorway, dressed like a bouquet of wild yellow cowslips. She lifted a crisp paper bag by its handles and made a show of offering it to me just as her attention snapped to Kaz—and his, to her.
He plucked the bag from the tips of her fingers, handed it to me, and offered Belle his hand. “Kazimir Wickson. At your service.”
Matching splotches of blush graced their cheeks when he straightened from his slight bow, and I remembered where I’d seen and heard her name before. Belle was one of the three witches recommended by Rowan. “I’m Calliope. And these other two are Wessel Foxwhelp and Tanner Marechal.” I commandeered the paper bag, looped an arm through Belle’s, and turned to the men. “I’ll be right back.”
I steered us past Kerry’s desk, out the door, down the stairs, and into the alleyway beside the small office building. A trio of males stared out my office window.
I turned our backs to the snoops. “Dr. Renard recommended I speak to you about becoming more of a witch.”
“Rowan? I love that girl and bless her, always looking out for us, but anyhoo, I’m here because Rose sent me. I am a plant witch, and I specialize in tinctures and extracts and such and she said you needed help moving things along. You’ll find exactly what you need in the bag, along with instructions and my contact information if you have any questions or concerns or if you just need to talk.”
“Belle, thank you. So much.
