Candy Canes & Corpses Page 18

  Dear Readers,

  Can you believe it? I’ve finally written a crossover that combines two of your favorite series, The Magical Cures Mystery Series and The Killer Coffee Mystery Series.

  June Heal is the fun-loving spiritualist who lives in the magical town of Whispering Falls. Roxy Bloom is the hyped-up-on-caffeine coffeehouse owner who lives in the tourist town of Honey Springs.

  It seemed natural for Roxy and Patrick to take a quick honeymoon in Whispering Falls where there just happens to be a murder that brings these two nosy, amateur sleuths together.

  I alternate telling the story from Roxy’s point of view and from June’s point of view and start a new chapter each time the point of view changes.

  I hope you keep in mind that this is a short story. The mystery isn’t as in depth as a full-length novel from either of the series. But I’m sure you’re going to love two of our favorite heroines joining forces.

  Enjoy!

  Tonya

  Chapter One

  Roxy Bloom

  “We are getting closer.” Patrick’s big brown eyes looked at me; a tender smile crossed his lips, softening his chiseled jaw. He returned his eyes to the road just as we entered a new small town on our now five hour car ride. “We are in Locust Grove, the town next to Whispering Falls.”

  “I was hoping to see some snow.” I wasn’t complaining, but I’d had my heart set on having our honeymoon in what I had heard was a magical place.

  What could be more magical than a nice snowfall during the Christmas season, especially when we were going to be there for the Whispering Falls tree lighting? The thought of it made my heart flip flop with delight.

  “If we can’t have snow, then maybe we can have some Christmas music.” I reached across the dashboard and flipped on the radio. I wasn’t going to let anything ruin our honeymoon.

  “Is Mike there?” the DJ asked a caller.

  “This might be interesting.” I shrugged, taking my finger off the scan button and sitting back into the passenger seat. I couldn’t wait to see what Whispering Falls looked like, and the anticipation was getting to me.

  I had looked it up online and googled it, but there were literally no pictures to be found of the town. I had found a list of shops, but that was it. It was like it wasn’t even real. I’d even questioned the person who gave us his honeymoon package as a wedding present and she assured me it was a real place. She described it as something she couldn’t put her finger on. She said it was … magical.

  “Mike, this is Bob and Brenda from the Bob and Brenda Morning Show on WLOC. We have a mutual friend that we’d like to ask you about.” Bob sounded like he was on a mission to get an answer to this burning question.

  “Is this one of those second date updates?” Mike questioned, his voice cracked through the speakers of the car. His nervousness was apparent.

  “So you’ve heard of us?” Bob asked Mike. “We are calling about Debbie.”

  “Listen, man,” Mike continued to talk to Bob while I gazed out the window. “It’s the holidays. Some of my buddies came home to celebrate and we were out having a good time. I had a little too much to drink. I hate to say it, but I don’t remember that night at all. I remember waking up next to a girl, but I bolted. I’m engaged, and I can’t talk about this anymore.”

  “You piece of crap!” The voice of woman, who must’ve been Debbie, screeched through the radio speakers. “You seemed to remember a whole lot for the more than eight hours we spent together. Are you saying you were drunk the entire time?”

  “Mike, I guess we should’ve told you Debbie was on the line.” The radio host sounded like he was really enjoying this. “And I’m thinking you aren’t going to go on a second date? I mean, we’d pay for it.”

  “Mike, you didn’t act like you were engaged! You are a snake!” Debbie screamed.

  “This is awful. Trapping a man like that,” Patrick said and reached out to turn the channel. “Besides, he’s engaged. He cheated on his fiancée.”

  “Wait.” I put my hand on top of his and pulled it away. “I’m interested to see what happens.”

  “There’s something wrong if a woman doesn’t get asked to go on a second date and she calls a radio station to call him and get answers when he won’t call her back.” Patrick was right on all accounts and I understood his point. “On top of that, he’s engaged.”

  “What else do we have to listen to?” I asked.

  He gave me a side eye and shook his head. I leaned across the seats to kiss him on the cheek, barely getting my lips on his skin because Sassy, his black Standard Poodle, shoved her nose in between us.

  “Sassy.” I gave her a sweet pat on the head. Pepper, my salt and pepper Schnauzer, darted up to get his rub. “Okay, you two. Go back and lay down. We can’t be that far away.”

  “Not far at all.” Patrick pointed out the window at the road sign.

  “Whispering Falls, a Magical Village.” I shivered and rubbed my hands up and down my arms. “Snow,” I gasped and looked at the clear line between Locust Grove and Whispering Falls. “How on earth is there no snow right there and a ton of snow here?” I asked and twirled around in my seat to look out the back window.

  Patrick shrugged off the strange phenomenon.

  “Look at the trees. They are different too. I bet there’s a big temperature change now that we are at the foot of those mountains.”

  “We are in Whispering Falls, our destination.” Patrick reached over and shut off the radio.

  “Patrick, doesn’t that sound just perfect for our honeymoon? Whispering Falls,” I sighed, my shoulders tugged up around my ears.

  “Anywhere with you is perfect.” Patrick has always had a way with words, even when we met at the ripe old age of sixteen when I spent summers in Honey Springs, Kentucky, with my Great Aunt, Maxine Bloom.

  “Seriously, look at this place.” The small town of Whispering Falls appeared out of nowhere, as if carved out of the wooded mountainous area. “It’s just like we heard … magical,” I whispered as if there was some sort of real magic and something would happen if I said the word too loud.

  “You and I both know magic.” Patrick’s words were as soft as his kisses. “What is magical is that somehow I convinced you to marry me.”

  “I’m the one who rushed you to the altar.” My heart warmed with how the surprise Halloween wedding went off without a hitch during our Neewollah Festival back home.

  It had been a spur of the moment decision on my part. After I had endured hours of my mother and Great Aunt Maxi, who didn’t get really get along, going head to head during a meeting with our wedding planner, I had had enough of the two of them fighting over what I wanted. When I had to pick out costumes for the annual party, I figured why not wear a wedding dress, get Patrick a tux, grab the preacher, and get hitched right there at the festival.

  I glanced at our fur babies in the back seat before I slid my eyes past Patrick to check out all the adorable shops along the main street of Whispering Falls.

  “Look how cute these shops are.” I pointed out how each shop was a little cottage surrounded by a fence with an ornamental gate. “Look!” I couldn’t help myself. “Wicked Good Bakery and The Gathering Grove Tea Shoppe,” I squealed with delight.

  “I think I’m in trouble.” Patrick had pulled the car over and was looking at the directions on his phone. “I can’t find the hotel.”

  I picked up the honeymoon gift certificate we’d received for the adventure and scanned down the page for an address. I handed it back to him and pointed to the phone number.

  “While you call for directions, I’ll run into the bakery.” I grabbed my purse off the floor.

  “Get me something.” He winked at me and it made my heart flutter just like the first time he’d winked at me from the top rung of the ladder that summer so long ago when he was working with his dad repairing something at my Aunt Maxi’s house.

  I jumped out of the car and opened the back door, grabbing Sassy and P
epper’s leashes after seeing the sign on the glass door that said Pets Welcome.

  The crisp breeze made its way down the mountains and into the little village, snapping the edges of the pink and green awning attached to the front of the bakery.

  “Cute little ones,” said a little gray-headed woman who came out of nowhere. “Are they twins?” she asked.

  “Twins?” asked another gray-headed woman, similar to the other, as she saddled up next to the dogs.

  “We are twins.” The first one wiggled her pointer finger between Sassy and Pepper.

  “Mmmhmm, twins,” the other mimicked as if I hadn’t heard it the first time.

  They were exactly the same, down to their housedresses and glasses.

  “Let me guess.” I hesitated and tapped my chin. I pointed to the first one who had approached me. “You’re the older one.”

  “You’re good.” She grinned. “Just by a few seconds, though.”

  I swear there was a real twinkling star in her eye, but more than likely it was a reflection of the Christmas lights dangling across the front of the Wicked Good Bakery in her glasses.

  “I’m Constance Karima and this is Patience Karima.” Her face beamed with pride as her cheeks balled when she smiled. “Are you from one of the west villages?” She asked as the other one got a little too close and inhaled loudly as she dragged her nose up along my arm before stopping just shy of my face.

  “Are you smelling me?” I jerked back, tugging the dogs away too.

  “Mmmhmm.” She hummed and dramatically nodded slowly to her sister before jerking her head to the side as if she were telling her to move along.

  “Good day! Stay warm.” They rushed off down the street with their heads together, turning one last time to glance back at me.

  “Come on,” I said to the dogs as I opened the bakery door.

  The smells of cinnamon, sugar, pumpkin spice, and chocolate swirled around my nose as soon as I stepped in. It was the cutest little bakery I’d ever seen and I made a mental note to take a few pictures to show Emily Rich. Emily owned the Bees’ Knees Bakery a couple of shops down from The Bean Hive, my coffee shop. Emily would love the old timey feel of the bakery and its black and white checkered floor. The color theme was pink and lime green, which actually went really well together. There was a side room filled with café tables. Customers were sitting at a couple of the tables and a white cat was sitting on top of one of another one.

  “Good morning. That’s Mr. Prince Charming. He’s a very friendly cat,” the black-haired woman behind the counter greeted me. “Welcome to Whispering Falls. I have just the pastry for you.”

  She wiped her hands down her pink apron and swept a long strand of her black hair behind her shoulder. She picked up something and held it out for me.

  “To start your honeymoon off right.” Her black eyes did that twinkle thing like the old lady I had just encountered outside.

  “How did you know I was on my honeymoon?” I asked and kept the dogs’ leashes tugged tight. They were both trying to get closer to that cat in the other room. But I had my eye on the heart-shaped pastry in her hand.

  “Oh, that look in your eye.” She winked. “You can let them go. They won’t bother Mr. Prince Charming. He’s used to other animals.” She glanced over at the cat.

  “Mr. Prince Charming?” I asked. “Sounds as enchanting as your town.”

  “Yes.” She held the item out in front of me again. “A heart for the love you will always have with Patrick.”

  I laughed nervously because I knew I hadn’t said Patrick’s name . . . or had I? I suddenly found myself all confused and unsure of what I was saying or had said. When Sassy and Pepper tugged on their leashes, my hand felt like it had no grip and gave way, allowing them to run over to Mr. Prince Charming. They stopped shy of his table and sat down. The three animals stared at each other. Odd.

  “That’s so strange.” I just couldn’t stop my thoughts. I shook my head and took the heart- shaped pastry. “I’ve never seen them do that. I mean,” I found myself stumbling for words. “I do help our local SPCA find homes for animals and they are around other animals. Including cats.” I took a bite to try to shut myself up, but I kept rambling. “They love cats, but I’ve never seen them just sit down like that before trying to sniff them out first.”

  “Everyone loves Mr. Prince Charming.” She cackled and abruptly stopped. It was as if time had stopped.

  I glanced over my shoulder and looked at the window to see Patrick and noticed people on the street were frozen in place.

  “I’ll take a couple of these to go.” I turned back around. I needed to get out of there. “Ma’am?”

  “Raven.” She snapped out of wherever she’d gone. “Raven Mortimer is my name. Nice to meet you, Roxy. Unfortunately, you had the one and only one of those I made, but I’d love to give you something extra sweet for you and your sweetheart to enjoy during your stay at the Full Moon Treesort.”

  “You know I’m staying there?” This was getting just plain creepy.

  “It’s the only place in town,” her black eyes stared at me, causing me to look away. “If you go straight down Main Street and hook a left next to the Glorybee Pet Shop, you’ll find a teeny-tiny road that will lead you right to the resort.” She held a box with the Wicked Bakery logo on it across the counter. “I really hope you enjoy your stay. I’m sure I’ll see you tonight at the tree lighting.”

  “Yes.” I patted my leg with one hand to call the dogs and took her to-go box with the other. “Thank you.”

  I let out a long sigh and shifted my eyes back and forth on my way out of the bakery as I tried to figure out what all just happened.

  “Are you okay?” Patrick asked after I’d gotten Sassy and Pepper in the car along with myself.

  “Yeah.” I blinked, knowing I had something to tell him but couldn’t quite remember. “She said to go straight down here and take a left past the pet store to go to the hotel.” I gulped, knowing there was more to be said, but not sure what. It was as though I’d lost my memory.

  Chapter Two

  June Heal

  “There you are.” The sound of my black boots ticked across the black and white tile floor of the Wicked Good Bakery. “You are an ornery cat,” I said to Mr. Prince Charming, my fairy god cat. My fingers flew down the front of my cape, unlatching the buttons until it was open in the front. I pushed back a strand of my short black hair and fluffed my bangs. “Have you been begging for food?”

  “I’ve always got a treat for him,” Raven Mortimer laughed from behind the counter. “Did you get the Whispering Falls Newspaper this morning?”

  The Whispering Falls Newspaper was delivered by Faith Mortimer, Raven’s sister. It wasn’t your typical newspaper that was printed on paper. It was carried on the breeze. Through the air. Only spiritualists could hear it.

  “Yes.” I nodded and took my cape off, hanging it on the coat tree next to the counter.

  You see, Whispering Falls was a spiritual community. And by that I mean all the shop owners have some sort of magical power we use for good. I’m a homeopathic curist. I make and sell potions at A Charming Cure, my shop down and across the street from Wicked Good Bakery. I also have a keen intuition that’s always on high alert.

  Raven has the gift of Aleuromancy. Messages and answers came to her in the form of her baking. The dough forms itself into shapes unbeknownst to her while little messages for incoming customers stick in the back of her head. Those customers always pick out the perfect pastry for them. Sometimes she could do reading like a medium, only the spirit wasn’t standing there like with most mediums.

  Today, Raven appeared to be baking up the storm.

  “The young woman Faith warned us about?” There was a worried look in Raven’s dark eyes as she handed me a cup of coffee and the box of cookies I would give out to my customers at my shop. “She was in here when the paper was being delivered. I was waiting for her with the perfect heart-shaped pastry. She ate it.”r />
  “Oh, good. What did the dough tell you about her?” I asked over the rim of the coffee cup I’d lifted to my lips. We’d been awaiting her arrival for a couple of months.

  “Her name is Roxy Bloom. She’s got two dogs. Very sweet, but very curious. She is so in love with her new husband of a couple of months, but the dough told me I had to keep her and her honeymoon alive. Meaning, more romance. There’s something that’s going to make her want to spend time away from him while they are here,” Raven’s voice trailed off.

  “Do you know what that is?” I asked and looked over when I heard Mr. Prince Charming jump off the café table. He scurried over and rubbed a figure eight design around my ankles with deep purring delight.

  “No. But I don’t have a good feeling.” Raven’s lashes swept down and created a shadow on her cheek. “The paper said she was nosy.”

  Rowl, Mr. Prince Charming growled. Something fell out of his mouth.

  “Is that. . .” Raven scurried around the counter and we both stood silently over my fairy god cat and the pig charm he’d dropped on the floor.

  I gulped, setting my cup on the counter, and rubbed my left hand over the charm bracelet on my right wrist.

  “A pig,” Raven gasped, drawing her hand up over her mouth.

  ”Greedy. Selfish.” The words fell out of my mouth before I could stop them.

  The door of the bakery flew open. Mr. Prince Charming took the opportunity to run out into the blustery winter day. I grabbed the pig charm, my cape off the coat tree, and the box of cookies from the counter, and went out after him.

  “June! Do you want your coffee?” I heard Raven call after me.

  “I’ll have it later!” I yelled over my shoulder.I swept the cape around me, knotting the fabric in a ball with the charm embedded in my palm and bringing the collar of the cape around my neck to help ward off the chill.