Deadly Magic (25 page)

Unbeknownst to either woman, Louisa was standing only a few feet away. She whirled around and confronted Jackie. “I didn’t destroy anything. Who is starting these rumors? Why would anyone think I would do anything to prevent my husband’s murderer from being brought to
justice?”

Jackie turned to Grace. “Yeah, Grace, why are you starting these rumors?”

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

“Louisa, are you okay?” Grace asked
, knocking on the bathroom door.

Louisa came out of the stall, sniffling and dabbing her eyes with tissue. “I’m sorry, Grace. I shouldn’t have
lost my temper like that. That woman . . .”

“Louisa, I didn’t star
t any rumors—”

“I know you didn’t. I learned a long time
ago not to believe a word that Jackie says.”

“Why is she still here? Why don’t you fire her?” Grace asked hopefully.

Louisa laughed bitterly. “She’s the daughter of a good friend of my father.”

“So?”

“A very rich friend of my father.”

“Oh.”

Leaning against the sink, her back to the mirror, Louisa pushed her sandy blonde hair out of her face. “I don’t understand how any of this happened. I just can’t believe Daniel’s dead.”

“I’m so sorry, Louisa.”

Louisa closed her eyes. “I loved him. I really did. Despite it all, I did love him. I just wish he had loved me,” she said softly.

“Louisa, why did you drag me backstage during the magic show?”

Louisa wiped her eyes, smearing her makeup. “I saw Daniel walk back there with that girl, Tabitha Eddington. I tried following them myself, but I got scared. I don’t know why. I just didn’t want to go back there by myself, so I dragged you along with me. I’m sorry, Grace. I shouldn’t have done that, but I wasn’t thinking clearly that night.”

“Where did you go after you left me?”

“I ran into that magician, only a few seconds after I left you. You know that tall good-looking one with the black eyes. He threw me out. I’m sorry, I was just so angry, I forgot all about you.”

“Only a few seconds?”

Louisa turned back to the mirror. She made a face at her reflection. Rubbing at the mascara running down her cheeks, she said, “You can ask him if you don’t believe me.”

“Do you know anything about the message Daniel supposedly left
on his computer?”

Louisa shook her head. “The police took his computer, but they didn’t find anything.”

“Did he have a personal laptop—”

“They took that, too. They even took Valerie’s computer for a couple of days.”

“Valerie’s? Why?”

“Valerie and dad caught Daniel using her computer a few days before he died. He told them that his wasn’t working and he just wanted to type
up a report. They took hers just in case, but they didn’t find anything.”

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

“Poor Jackie,” Kyle said, shaking his head. “I finally got her to stop crying. Why did Louisa go off like that?”

“It’s a mystery.”

Smiling, Kyle leaned against the half shelf of action figures. “You look very pretty tonight.”

Blushing, she shoo
k her head. “Kyle . . . I’m your supervisor—”

“Not right now,” he said leaning closer. “We’re not working right now.”

She placed a hand on his chest. “There are rules.”

He grinned. “You are absolutely correct. People should abide by the rules.”

“Yes,” she said, suspicious at his sudden change in attitude.

“If more people followed the rules then there would be
fewer problems in the world.”

“That’s right.”

Placing his hands at her elbows, he leaned in closer. “So, we’re agreed. You should always follow the rules, no matter what.”

His handsome face was only inches away. Grace felt her heart begin to thud in her chest. She recognized a trap when she saw one, but wasn’t quite sure how he was going to spring it. “Kyle—”

“Right. So, you agree that we should follow the rules?”

“Yes,” she said slowly. A silly grin spreading across her face.

He leaned in closer. She leaned back and smiled. “Where are you going with this?”

He looked up at the sprig of mistletoe above their heads.

“Kyle—”

“It’s a rule,” he protested. “I didn’t create this rule. It’s such a hassle, but a rule is a rule and we must obey the rules.”

“Funny, you didn’t think so when you filled out your time sheet last week.”

“I’m reformed.”

She placed her other hand on his chest. Patting his chest, she gently pushed him away. “Nice try, but Straker has a rule about fraternization.”

Sighing, he stepped back
and shoved his hands in his pockets. “For or against?”

“Against.”

“Fine. Let the bad luck be on your head.” He leaned back against the shelf. “Where’s Ethan? I’m surprised he’s not here.”

“He’s at court.”

“All work and no play—”

“He’ll be here soon. Probably any minute,” she said walking toward the entrance. “Where’s Valerie? Do you see her?”

Kyle pointed toward the Christmas tree. Valerie was standing with Harcourt, who was performing a magic trick. She laughed as he pulled a rose from her ear. Taking the rose out of his hand, she playfully hit him across the chest. She was just about to say something when she saw Grace. Smiling, she waved at Harcourt and dashed over to stand next to Grace and Kyle.

“What was that all about?” Grace asked with a smile.

“What?”

“You and Harcourt?”

Valerie looked back at Harcourt and waved. “Nothing. He was just showing me a magic trick. What did you find out from Louisa?”

“Daniel left a note in case he died.”

Valerie gasped. “He did? Where is it?”

“Gone. The cops thought it was on his computer, but they didn’t find anything.”

“That’s why they took my computer,” Valerie said in a rush. “I’m so stupid. Of course. Grace, I forgot to tell you about Daniel using my computer one day. I didn’t think anything about it, but—”

“What are you two talking about?” Kyle asked.

Grace shook her head. “It’s not important. Just another dead end. Do you two know anything about a reward?”

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

“I’m so sorry, I’m late,” Ethan said, kissing Grace softly. He smiled at Valerie before sitting down next to Grace. He laid his arm across the back of her chair and loosened his tie. “I didn’t expect the trial to last this long.”

Smiling, Grace asked, “
How did it go?”

“Good.
The jury found my client innocent.” He looked around the store. “So, what did I miss?”

Grace shrugged. “Not much. Belle and Franklin are getting married on Christmas Day here in the store—”

Ethan’s hazel eyes widened. “You’re kidding? Already?”

“Straker’s never been one for waiting,” Valerie said.

“I guess not,” Ethan said, chuckling. “Anything else?”

“Daniel left a note,” Valerie said, “but no one can find it.”

Grace looked over her shoulder. Lowering her voice to a whisper, she asked, “Are we still on for tomorrow night?”

“Yeah, I’ll meet you two over here after work.”

Valerie snorted. “You still want to search the building? I doubt there’s anything here.”

“Kyle’s convinced someone’s hiding upstairs,” Grace said softly.

Valerie laughed. “I thought he was convinced it was a ghost.”

“He’s keeping an open mind. I think we should check out the attic and then go through Daniel’s office. Maybe he wrote out a message and hid it somewhere
. After that, I want to look at the books. Maybe we can figure out when Daniel took that money.”

“The police have
already done that,” Valerie countered. “In fact, they’ve been all through the building. I don’t know what you hope to find.”

Grace shushed Valerie, when she noticed Allen nonchalantly walking past their table. He stopped in front of the fire exit map hanging on the wall behind them. Strangely fascinated by the informational drawing, he devoted all of his
energy into studying it, while simultaneously leaning back toward their little group. The picture of innocence. She waited until he stole a glance over his shoulder, before smiling and waving at him until he walked away in a huff.

“Do you think he heard us?” Ethan asked.

Grace shook her head. “I don’t think so, but let’s talk about something else. We don’t want to take a chance on someone overhearing us.” Changing the subject, she said, “Let’s see, what else did we do tonight? Oh, we just did Secret Santa.” Grace pulled out a set of toy pistols, from a Straker Toy Company paper bag. “Allen was my Secret Santa.”

Ethan picked up the toy guns. “Why would he . . .” His eyes darkened. “Do you think this could be a threat?”

Grace and Valerie laughed at his serious expression and shook their heads.

“No, but think about it.” He picked up the pistols and looked at it in disgust. “Why would he give a set of toy pistols to a grown woman?”

“Trust me, Ethan.” Grace said. “It’s not a threat.”

Valerie smiled. “It’s just a joke.”

“Don’t be silly, Val. Allen doesn’t have a sense of humor.” Grace turned back to Ethan. “Allen was a bit appalled at my Halloween costume and its lack of Straker Toy accessories.”

Ethan shook his head. “If you say so.” Smiling, he looked over at Valerie. “What about you?”

“Oh, I got lucky, my Secret Santa was Kyle.”

Grace tried
not to laugh, but failed.

Valerie pulled out
the hula dancing Santa that had been sitting on Kyle’s desk since he redecorated.

Grace smiled. “I actually like that thi
ng. I play with it every day.”

“Well, you can come visit it in my office whenever you want,” Valerie said
, placing it back in its box.

“So, how did Dragovich take the announcement?”

“Ilya Dragovich?” Grace asked. “I don’t know. He wasn’t here tonight.”

“Isn’t Dragovich still in jail?” Valerie asked.

Kyle came up behind her. Pulling a stool from a nearby table, he squeezed in between Grace and Valerie. “Jail? The magician? Why would he be in jail?”

Scooting over to make room, Valerie answered him. “For assaulting Michael at the hospital.”

Ethan ran his hand through his black hair, causing one long piece to fall across his forehead. “You should have seen them at the jail. I’ve never seen a more nervous group of people in my life.”

“You were at the jail?” Grace asked, resisting the urge to
push his hair back off his forehead and run her fingers through his hair.

“I was visiting my client before the trial today.” Ethan shuddered. “It was spooky. They let me go back into the holding cell. Dragovich was on one side, staring down a group of five or six men who were all huddled together on the other side, just frozen. Even the cops were nervous. That man is truly scary.”

Kyle rolled his eyes. “You’re not buying all this hocus pocus stuff Dragovich puts out are you? He’s just a man.”

“I know that,” Ethan snapped. “Aren’t you the one running around talking about ghosts in the attic?”

Shaking his head decisively, Kyle said, “That’s completely different.”

“You weren’t there.
Those guys were still as statutes. I think he had them hypnotized. Even the cops were a little spooked.” Ethan gave a little involuntary shudder.

Valerie began tapping on the table. “Speaking of the Dragovich’s, look over there,” she said pointing to the elevator.

They all turned their heads to see Belle and Michael in what appeared to be an argument. Belle looked like she was begging. She wiped a hand across her face.

“Who’s in the Santa costume?” Ethan asked.

“Michael Talon.”

Michael lifted his hands. Shaking his head, he spun away from Belle and stormed out of the store.

Monday, December 1
9th

12:00 a.m.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

“Hey, wait up!”

Grace and Valerie turned in time to see Belle run down the hall towards them.

When Belle reached their side, she paused a second to catch her breath. “Are you leaving already?” she asked breathlessly.

“I’m exhausted,” Grace said, buttoning her coat.

Valerie nodded her head. “We still have to get up early to go to work in the morning.”

“Ethan offered to drive us home,” Grace said. “Do you want to come with us?”

“Well . . .” Belle looked over her shoulder.

“The doctor told you to take it easy for the next few days,” Grace said, suspiciously sounding like her mother.

Belle looked at her watch and sighed in disappointment. “I guess the party’s over anyway. Hang on a second, while I grab my coat and purse.”

Valerie reached into her purse and pulled out her cell phone. Checking the time, she groaned. “I can’t believe I’m here at this time of night.”

“It wasn’t as bad as last year. At least no one’
s threatening to burn the toys this time.”

Valerie looked past Grace’s shoulder. Dropping her voice to a whisper, she said, “Don’t you think it’s kind of strange that she’s not going home with Straker
tonight? This is their engagement party.”

“Maybe she’s old-fashioned.”

Valerie made a face. “I don’t think so. She spent more time worrying over Michael tonight than spending it with Straker.”

Grace had to agree with Valerie. Belle didn’t exactly act like a woman celebrating her engagement with the man she loved. She seemed more like a woman enduring a root canal.

“Have you seen them together?”

“Who? Belle and Michael?”

Valerie shook her head. “No. Her and Straker?”

“No. Not really.”

“Does she talk about him at all?” Valerie’s expression darkened. “I mean, what does she say about him? Grace, I don’t think she loves him at all. Why is she marrying him?”

“I don’t know, Val. I don’t know why anyone would marry Straker. Maybe she—”

“Shh.” Valerie grabbed Grace’s arm. “Here she comes.”

Belle closed the door to her office and walked over to where they were standing. “Okay. I’m ready. Do you think Ethan could stop—” Belle stopped speaking. Her face lit up, as she waved her hand. “Michael.”

Michael, still dressed as Kris Kringle, was at the opposite end of the hall, leaning up against the wall.

Belle’s face fell, when he didn’t return her wave. “He must still be upset,” she said in a whisper. “I’ll be right back.”

Michael pushed himself off the wall and started walking toward them.

Something was wrong. Grace wasn’t quite sure what, but she suddenly felt sick, as a chill ran down her spine.

Belle must have sensed the danger as well. She abruptly stopped walking and took a couple of steps back.

Grace reached out a hand towards Belle. “I don’t think that’s Santa.”

No sooner had the words left her mouth than Santa rushed toward them. Belle screamed. Grace grabbed her arm with one hand and pushed Valerie toward Val’s office with the other. Once inside, she turned around and locked the door behind her. Santa began pounding on the door only seconds later.

Running around the desk in the center of the room, Grace reached for the phone and dialed nine-one-one. She slammed the phone down. “The line’s dead.”

Belle ran to the double doors leading to Louisa’s office and quickly pulled them closed. She pointed to the opposite wall and the double doors to Straker’s office. “What about Franklin’s private entrance? We could sneak down the back stairs.”

Grace ran her hand through her hair in frustration. Whoever was on the other side of the door had stepped up their assault. She watched as the doors began to shake.

“What is going on?” Valerie said in confusion. “Why is Michael acting like this?”

Belle shook her head. “That’s not Michael.”

“He’s wearing the Santa suit.”

“I don’t care,” Belle snapped. “That’s not Michael.”

Grace ran forward and braced herself against the shaking door. “Whatever. Would you two help me, please?” She hooked the nearest chair with her foot and brought it closer. With Valerie’s help, she slid the chair under the doorknob.

The door jam splintered.

“This isn’t going to hold him.” Grace ran to the other side of Valerie’s desk and began pushing it toward the door, when the assault on the door suddenly stopped.

“Do you think he left?” Belle asked trembling.

Grace leaned her ear against the door. “Valerie, is the door to Straker’s private entrance locked?”

She got her answer when Belle let out a blood-curdling scream. Grace ran toward Straker’s office door. Santa was standing in the doorway across the room. Grace watched
with dread as he closed and locked the door behind him. He calmly walked toward them, as the three women backed away. Reaching the double doors, he extended a white gloved hand towards the light switch and flipped the switch, plunging them into darkness.

Grace suddenly felt Belle grab her wrist and pull her toward Louisa’s office, at the same time she heard Belle say, “Hurry, Val.”

They stumbled toward the door, quickly shutting it and locking it behind them. Grace and Belle wasted no time in moving Louisa’s sofa in front of the door. “Val, do you still have your cell phone out? See if you can get a signal.”

“We can’t get a signal anywhere in this building,” Belle complained. “He’s not banging on the doors. Maybe he gave up.”

“Val?” Grace felt her heart skip a beat. “Valerie?” She reached for the light switch on the wall. Valerie wasn’t in the room.

Grace and Belle looked toward the doors. They both reached for the sofa at the same time and began dragging it away from the door. Grace fumbled with the lock, before finally opening the door. Valerie was lying on the floor. Santa was kneeling over her, his hands wrapped around her throat. Without thinking, Grace jumped on his back. He easily knocked her off and reached for Valerie’s throat again. Belle came at him from the other side. She picked up the computer off the desk and dropped it on his head. He shook his head, dazed for a moment before grabbing Belle’s ankle and sending her to the
floor.

Grace, meanwhile, reached under Valerie’s arms and began pulling her toward Louisa’s office. Santa reached up and touched the back of his head before grabbing Valerie’s ankles and pulling her back towards himself. Slightly dazed, Belle jumped to her feet. She looked frantically around for a weapon. Seizing the phone off the desk, she lifted it up and hit their attacker on the head, sending him to the floor.

With Belle’s help, Grace was able to pull Valerie into Louisa’s office. They quickly barricaded the door again. To Grace’s relief, Valerie was trying to get to her feet.

Grace pushed her back down. “Don’t try to move.” She looked over at Belle, who was leaning over the sofa, her ear pressed to the door. Grace could hear the sound of glass breaking. “What’s he doing?”

Belle shook her head. “I don’t know. It sounds like he’s destroying the room.”

By the time Grace reached the door, there was silence.
Grace and Belle traded worried glances, wondering what he was planning next.

To their surprise, there was a tentative knock on the door, followed by the sound of Kyle’s voice calling their names.

Belle blew out her breath and smiled. She hopped off the couch. “Hurry. Help me move the sofa.”

Valerie sat up, gingerly touching her throat. She shook her head, wincing with the effort. Voice hoarse, she said, “No, don’t.”

“It’s okay.” Belle pulled at the edge of the sofa. “It’s just Kyle.”

Valerie started to argue again, but stopped suddenly and grimaced in pain.

Grace, still leaning against the door, sighed softly, “Val, it’s okay, I can hear Ethan on the other side of the door.”

Within
seconds, the door was open. Ethan rushed forward and took Grace into his arms, while Kyle and Belle helped Valerie to the couch.

“What happened?” Ethan whispered into her ear.

Grace quickly filled him in on what happened.

He leaned back. Concerned, he ran his hand over her hair.

She quickly assured him that she was okay.

“We need to call an ambulance,” Belle said, pushing Valerie back into a reclining position.

Valerie pushed back. Sitting up, she insisted that she was fine.

“No, you’re not.” Belle leaned forward and pushed Valerie’s hair out of the way. “It’s already starting to bruise.”

Valerie lifted a hand to her neck. “I’ll survive.”

Ethan shook his head. “Did you say a Santa suit? Michael?”

“No!” Belle said quickly. “It wasn’t Michael.”

Ethan came to stand in front of Valerie. He leaned forward and inspected her throat. “Why did he attack you?”

“I don’t know. I think we have a lunatic running around. First Lily, then Daniel, then Belle.” She turned to look at Belle. “He must have been after you and I just got in the way.”

Grace followed Kyle out into Valerie’s office. She watched as he looked around. Standing in the doorway, she said, “I don’t think so.”

Belle agreed. “I think he was after Grace. She’s the one that keeps getting those weird phone calls.”

“You live with me now,” Grace said, “h
ow do you know that they’re not for you?”

“Yeah, but I was wearing your clothes the other day. I think whoever it was that attacked me was after you.”

“She may be right, Grace,” Ethan said, frowning.

“No. He wasn’t after me.” Grace watched as Kyle disappeared into Straker’s office. “He was after you Valerie. Every time Belle or I pulled him off of you, he went straight back for you.”

“But that’s ridiculous. Why would he be after me?”

“You must have done something to attract his attention,” Ethan pointed out. “I saw you talking to Michael tonight. What were you two talking about?”

Valerie closed her eyes and shook her head. “Nothing that he would kill me for. We were just chatting.”

“About what?” Grace asked.

“I was trying to cheer him up. He seemed rather depressed.” Valerie opened her eyes and bit her lip. She looked over at Belle uncertainly. “We did talk about Daniel’s death again.”

All eyes turned to Valerie.

“That can’t be it though. I mean, I didn’t say anything that I hadn’t already said before.”

Ethan sat down next to her. “You must have said something. Why else would he suddenly want to kill you?”

Unable to keep quiet any longer Belle snapped. “Michael didn’t try to kill her. It wasn’t Michael.”

“What if it was Belle?” Kyle asked behind Grace, causing her to jump. She turned to look at him. He was standing on the other side of the room next to Straker’s door.

“It wasn’t,” she repeated angrily. “He’s gentle. He’s sensitive. He would never do something like this. Besides, I saw the guy in the Santa suit and it wasn’t Michael.”

“How do you know?” Ethan asked. “Did you see his face?”

“I could tell immediately that it wasn’t him.”

“No,” Valerie said. “You called his name and waived at him.”

“Yeah, because of the costume, but once I got a good look at him, I realized it wasn’t Michael.” Belle pointed at Grace. “Ask Grace. She knew it wasn’t him.”

“I don’t know,” Grace said. “I couldn’t tell who it was.
I just could tell something was wrong.”

“He was the only one wearing a Santa costume tonight,” Ethan pointed out.

Kyle brushed past Grace, carrying a red bundle. “Which he ditched in the stairwell.”

Ethan shook his head angrily. “What are you doing? That’s evidence, you know. You should have left it where you found it.”

“You think the cops can get fingerprints off of crushed velvet?” Kyle asked sarcastically. “Relax. I just moved it so the psycho couldn’t come back and take it away.” He knelt down and laid the costume on the floor. Grace noticed a spot of red running down the back of his neck. She reached forward and delicately touched the back of his head, eliciting a small groan. “You’re hurt.”

“He hit me in the back of the head when I came through the door. We ended up struggling for a bit before he bolted for the door.” Reaching back, he grabbed her hand. Running a thumb across the back of her hand, he tilted his head up and smiled. “It’s okay. Just a scratch.”

She felt Ethan move closer. Pulling her hand away, she said, “We need to find a phone and call for an ambulance.”

“I don’t need an ambulance,” Kyle and Valerie said in unison.

Ethan reached around and placed a hand at her waist. “Well, we still need to call the police. They’ll want to question Michael—”

“About what? What’s going on in here?”

They turned to find Michael standing in the doorway, still in costume, with a bemused expression on his face.