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  David’s phone rang and he picked it up, then immediately went into the other room. Margaret followed him.

  “That was the office,” David told her after he hung up. “I sent some officers over to Tana’s house but she wasn’t there. She wasn’t at the camp either.”

  “I wonder where she is,” said Margaret. David’s phone rang again. He answered it and spoke briefly. He hung up and told Margaret he had to leave.

  “Where are you going?” she asked.

  “There is a lead on Tana. Stay here and I’ll check it out. I’ll call you when I hear anything.”

  “Oh no you won’t,” said Margaret. “I’m going with you.”

  By now, David knew it was pointless to protest.

  “I’ll be in the car,” he said.

  Margaret told Emily and Zach what was going on.

  “Everyone stay here. I’ll call you when we know anything,” said Margaret.

  “What about the candy store?” asked Zach.

  “We can keep it closed this morning. Just stay here until you hear from me,” said Margaret. She ran out to the car and hopped in beside David.

  “Where are we going?” she asked.

  “To the beach.”

  David pulled the car out of Margaret’s driveway and headed toward town. He drove quickly, with his sirens on to get through traffic faster. When they got to town David parked, and they ran to the beach. There were police officers there. David slowed down and motioned for Margaret to stay put. She followed David at a distance. She saw Tana standing on the beach. She was holding what looked like a blueberry muffin.

  “Take one more step and I’ll eat this,” said Tana.

  Death by muffin, thought Margaret, and the absurd phrase almost made her laugh. But then she turned pale. She remembered the nightshade. The berries were deadly. That’s how she poisoned him, thought Margaret. She realized David had made the connection, too. He told the officers to stand down.

  “I just wanted him to love me,” Tana said. “When he didn’t react to the spells, I realized he had to die, otherwise I’d never be able to stop thinking about him. I got some nightshade berries and baked some muffins with them. I put them in with the other gifts he received at his party. I knew he would eat one the morning after his birthday. After he ate the muffin and was unconscious I went in and set up the candles and put the markings on the floor and on the note. I thought you would blame the coven. They don’t know what they’re doing. I’m the only one able to perform magic in this town. Everyone else is just an amateur.

  “I was going to get Michael into an art school,” Tana continued. “José said no. He said he didn’t have the money to send him there. I told him I would pay for Michael’s school, but José said no, he couldn’t let me do that—even though I have plenty of money from an inheritance from my grandmother. When I told José I was in love with him, he told me he didn’t care for me that way. I was heartbroken.”

  As Tana spoke, Margaret crept around behind her. Tana was paying too much attention to the police to notice Margaret. When Tana finished her speech she put the muffin up to her lips.

  “No,” cried Margaret, and tackled Tana. The muffin rolled out of Tana’s hand and David rushed forward and cuffed her.

  “Looks like another case solved,” said Margaret.

  15

  A week later Margaret was helping a customer pick out some candy for her granddaughter. She got a pound ready and wrapped it for her customer.

  “Thank you so much,” the woman said to Margaret.

  “It’s my pleasure,” said Margaret. The woman left and just as the door was closed, it opened right up again. Margaret looked up to see Sarah, Samantha and Emily walking into the shop.

  “Hey all. Patty is in the back,” Margaret said. “I can get her for you.”

  “That’s okay. It’s you we want to talk to,” said Sarah.

  “Sure. What did you need?” asked Margaret.

  “We just wanted to thank you again for helping us. The scandal has quieted down and no one is bothering us anymore. I also wanted to extend an invitation. We would love for you to join our coven,” said Sarah.

  “Thank you very much,” said Margaret. “I’m very flattered, though I’ll have to decline. My store and my investigations keep me busy.”

  “We understand,” said Samantha. “I wanted to give this to you.” Samantha handed Margaret a pouch.

  “What is it?” asked Margaret, hoping there weren’t any human teeth in this one.

  “It’s a good luck charm. It’s for you and your investigations,” said Emily.

  “Thank you,” said Margaret.

  “You can keep it in your house or your store,” said Samantha.

  “I will certainly do that,” said Margaret.

  “Also, we would like to offer our services,” said Sarah.

  “What for?” asked Margaret.

  “Well, Allie read your fortune the other day and she said you may need us,” said Emily.

  “Interesting. Well, if I need you I appreciate you being around,” said Margaret.

  “Also, I noticed your lovely garden while I was staying at your home,” said Emily.

  “Thank you. I garden to relieve stress. I may not be able to cook food, but I can grow it,” laughed Margaret.

  Emily laughed, and handed Margaret a bag with some seeds.

  “These plants provide protection. Plant them in your garden and around your house. They will help keep evil spirits at bay,” said Emily. Margaret thanked her and told her she would plant them that afternoon. Margaret asked Emily how her children were.

  “Oh, they’re fine. The police finally caught the group of children that messed with Hudson. I told the police I didn’t want them arrested, and they understood. They made the boys come to my house and clean the graffiti off of my wall instead,” said Emily.

  “Good for the police,” said Margaret. The women said goodbye and left. As soon as the door closed, Margaret’s cell phone rang. It was David.

  “I’m glad you called,” Margaret said. “I have a question for you. Why did Tana leave me that creepy note before she even killed José?”

  “Oh, I meant to tell you about that,” David said. “When we questioned her, she finally told us she left you that note to scare you off before there even was a case. She had heard how good you were at investigating and didn’t want you to even get started. Then when you started nosing around anyway, she gave you all those other notes and the pouches with the teeth in them to try to scare you off again.” David laughed. “It’s obvious she knew nothing about you.”

  Margaret laughed too.

  “So,” David said. “Now that the case is wrapped up I have a little more free time. Dinner and a movie tonight?”

  Margaret grinned into the phone. “Oh dear. What if people see us together?”

  David chuckled. “Right now, I don’t even care. All I want to do is spend some time with you.”

  Margaret felt that tingle again. “It’s a date,” she said.

  Thanks for Reading

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  About the Author

  Wendy Meadows is the USA Today bestselling author of many novels and novellas, from cozy mysteries to clean, sweet romances. Check out her popular cozy mystery series Sweetfern Harbor, Alaska Cozy and Sweet Peach Bakery, just to name a few.

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  Get in touch with Wendy

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  Read more by Wendy

  Maple Hills Cozy Mystery Series

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nbsp; Nether Edge Mystery Series

  Chocolate Cozy Mystery Series

  Alaska Cozy Mystery Series

  Sweet Peach Bakery Cozy Series

  Sweetfern Harbor Mystery Series

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  Pineville Gazette Mystery Series

  Copyright © 2019 by Wendy Meadows

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  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.