Witch rose, p.10
Witch Rose, page 10
Once they arrived at the station, they were shown into separate interview rooms. Bryony gave Ivy a brief wave before disappearing into one of the rooms. It was painted pale green, but the color shimmered in front of Bryony’s eyes, and when she squinted hard, she could see magic covering the walls.
The door to the interview room opened and Angelica Blaze, Gabriel’s boss, walked through the doorway. “Take a seat, Miss Thornheart.” She stood almost seven feet tall; a lithe, slender looking angel in her mid-forties, with a shock of white blonde hair and eyes so pale blue they appeared translucent.
Bryony sat down. Her hands twisted in front of her and she hid them in her lap. “I’m not in any trouble am I?”
“No trouble. I simply have a few questions for you.” Angelica took the seat opposite her and placed two files on the table.
“I thought Gabriel might do the interviews,” said Bryony.
“I’m standing in for Gabriel while he’s out of action.”
“He didn’t seem too ill when I saw him earlier,” said Bryony. “Has he gotten worse?”
“Gabriel is just fine,” said Angelica. “But we like to take care of our employees here. Rest is the best thing for him at the moment. The stress of an investigation like this will not help with his recovery.”
“Oh, that makes sense.” Bryony wished Gabriel was interviewing her. Angelica gave off an intimidating air of power that made her feel like confessing even though she was innocent. “What can I help you with?”
“Tell me about your relationship with Lizzie Green?”
“I don’t know Lizzie well,” said Bryony. “After she was married, she disappeared out of sight. In fact, I didn’t even know she had married.”
“So you weren’t close?”
“We were passing acquaintances,” said Bryony.
“What was the reason for your visit to Lizzie’s house earlier today?” asked Angelica.
“I was following up on a problem one of my customers had,” said Bryony.
Angelica opened one of the files and ran a finger along some text. “You run the Love Cauldron jointly with your sister, Ivy?”
“Yes, that’s right,” said Bryony. “We had a customer come in with a blackened finger. After some investigation, we realized she had been poisoned.”
“And by investigation, you mean when she arrived in your store and died?”
Bryony felt herself growing warm. Angelica had not smiled since she’d entered the room and the glint in her ice blue eyes was not friendly. “That’s correct. I didn’t realize it was poison to begin with. And when the customer, Josie Spicer, returned to the store, it was too late to save her.”
“Tell me about the other victims,” said Angelica.
“Well, there’s also Belinda and Tania,” said Bryony. “And I just heard the horrible news about Lizzie.”
“Do you often do your own investigations into criminal matters in Old Sarum?”
“No, well, only when it relates to a customer I’m helping,” said Bryony.
Angelica’s eyebrows rose an inch. “And what happened when you spoke with Tania?”
“She revealed she had the same problem as Josie and was trying to find a cure,” said Bryony.
“So you ruled her out of your investigation?”
“It seemed unlikely that she would poison Josie and also herself,” said Bryony. “Do you have any information about her that makes you think otherwise?”
Angelica leaned back in her seat. “Belinda is not considered a suspect in this matter.”
“I agree. To begin with, I thought there was a link between the three of them because they used to take part in beauty and magic pageants. There was a lot of rivalry between the girls when they entered these competitions.”
“You think they are poisoning each other because of some old rivalry?”
“It’s possible.” Bryony shifted in her seat. When she said it aloud it sounded ridiculous. “Some people have a hard time letting go of things in their past.”
Angelica shook her head, dismissing Bryony’s comment. “So you visited Lizzie because she was in these pageants as well?”
“That’s right.”
“And what did she tell you?”
“That she stopped entering them after she met her husband, Horatio,” said Bryony. “She is very different from the Lizzie I remember.”
“And you didn’t like the new Lizzie?” asked Angelica.
“I liked her very much,” said Bryony. “She gave me tea and fed me tarts.”
“You didn’t argue when you were at her house?” asked Angelica.
Bryony dabbed at her top lip. “No, there was no argument. I warned her about the poisoned flowers to make sure she didn’t become poisoned herself.”
“And yet she’s dead,” said Angelica.
“By poison as well?” asked Bryony.
“You tell me,” said Angelica. “Do you have any reason to get rid of Lizzie?”
“No! No reason whatsoever.” Bryony sat up straight in her seat. “Am I a suspect in this investigation?”
“You and your sister were the last two people to see Lizzie Green alive.”
“But that doesn’t mean either of us killed her,” said Bryony.
Angelica flipped open the second file she had brought into the room. She read through the contents of the first page. “Tell me about your sister, Ivy? From the records we have on her, she tends towards the darker side of magic. What are her abilities like when it comes to poisons?”
“My sister didn’t poison Lizzie,” said Bryony.
“But the two of them weren’t friends?”
“They weren’t friends or enemies,” said Bryony. “Ivy barely knew her.”
Angelica flipped a page on the file. “Your sister has an interesting history in Old Sarum. She's been implicated in a number of illegal activities, but never charged with anything.”
“My sister is not a criminal,” said Bryony. “And there’s nothing wrong with favoring the darker arts, so long as you don’t let them consume you. She has her abilities under control.”
“Does that include her poisoning skills?”
“Ivy isn’t a poisoner,” said Bryony.
“What kind of magic does she prefer?”
“She excels in most things,” said Bryony. “But back her into a corner and she’ll blast you in the face with a fireball.”
“Fire magic,” said Angelica. “That is a difficult skill for a witch to master.”
“My sister is extremely talented.”
“Not so much in the friend department, it would seem. There are several accounts in her file of Ivy having disagreements with other residents of Old Sarum,” said Angelica. “And there have been a number of complaints filed against her.”
“Ivy has plenty of friends,” said Bryony, knowing that wasn’t true. “I don’t know anything about the complaints.”
“There are details here of harassment, threats made to people’s lives, threats to burn down buildings, and the beginnings of an official statement over assault, that was later withdrawn for an unknown reason.” Angelica looked up from the file. “Do you want me to continue?”
Bryony realized she was digging her fingernails into the palms of her hands and relaxed her fingers. “Ivy is lovely when you get to know her. The people who filed those complaints simply don’t understand my sister.”
“But you know her well since you work together and live together,” said Angelica. “Is she capable of poisoning somebody?”
Bryony looked down at her hands and saw a pale blue glow covering her palms. She pushed down on her magic, realizing she was at risk of losing control as her temper rose. “Ivy would never poison anyone. We were trying to help when we visited Lizzie.”
“And what about you, Miss Thornheart,” said Angelica. “Behind that innocent little smile and those big blue eyes, is there a poisoner sneaking around in the shadows?”
“Absolutely not!”
“I hear you have quite an impact on the men in Old Sarum,” said Angelica. “Is that why your sister can get away with so much and not be arrested? You smooth over the problems with a flutter of those lashes and the use of those pretty lips?”
“You’ve most likely got a file on me as well.” Bryony's cheeks flamed. “That will give you all the information you need.”
Angelica flipped shut the file in front of her. “We don’t. But we may have to create one.”
“Neither Ivy or I have anything to do with these poisonings,” said Bryony.
“And if I were to come to the Love Cauldron and search the premises, I wouldn’t find the ingredients I need to create the poison that is running through my best officer’s veins?”
“Of course you would,” said Bryony. “We are a magic store, we sell all kinds of different things.”
“Why do you sell poison?”
“In tiny doses, poison has a medicinal effect,” said Bryony. “And it’s an important activator in a number of spells.”
“Do you keep records of everyone who has purchased these poisons?”
“Naturally,” said Bryony. “The store would be shut down if we didn’t keep proper records.”
“I shall want to see those records.” Angelica stood and picked up the files. “You are free to go. But don’t leave the village. I will have more questions for you.”
“I’m not the poisoner and neither is Ivy.” Bryony followed Angelica to the door.
“That will be all for now, Miss Thornheart.” Angelica opened the door and gestured for her to leave.
“You’re looking in the wrong place,” continued Bryony. “Don’t focus on us, or you’ll miss the real killer.”
“Thank you for the advice.” Angelica pointed down the hallway.
Bryony opened her mouth to continue arguing but then heard Ivy’s raised voice coming from another room.
“It would appear your sister is also ready to leave,” said Angelica.
The door to another interview room opened and a harassed looking half angel hurried out, closely followed by a furious Ivy, her hands clenched into fists.
“If you accuse me or my sister of poisoning anyone again, I’ll drag you into the Magical Forest and let the were hounds have you.” Ivy stalked after the half angel who shot her a fearful look as he retreated along the corridor.
“Ivy, wait,” said Bryony.
Ivy pulled up short and turned on her heel, glaring at Angelica when she spotted her. “That idiot thinks I poisoned somebody.” She gestured wildly at the vanishing Charm Police officer.
“No harm will be done to any of my officers,” said Angelica. “We are following relevant lines of inquiry into the poisonings in this village. Since the two of you were the last to see Lizzie and Josie alive, it makes sense we want to question you.”
Ivy jabbed a finger at the rapidly retreating form of the half angel. “He practically accused me of poisoning somebody. And then he started on Bryony. As if she’d do anything like that.”
“If she wouldn’t, would you?” asked Angelica.
“I prefer a more direct line of attack,” said Ivy. “I like to look my victims in the eyes so they know they’ve done me wrong. It gives them a chance to apologize.”
“Any victims, in particular, you care to name?” Angelica’s blue eyes narrowed.
“Ivy, let’s get out of here,” said Bryony. She looked at Angelica. “Unless we’re under arrest?”
“You are both free to go, for now,” said Angelica. “But like I said, don’t leave Old Sarum.”
“Don’t worry, we’re not going anywhere,” said Bryony. “We want this solved as much as you do.”
Angelica’s expression turned icy. “And stop interfering in a police investigation.”
“As if we’d waste our time helping you,” said Ivy. “Although you need all the help you can get.”
Angelica took a menacing step towards Ivy and Ivy matched her as her fingers dripped black magical spirals onto the ground.
Bryony sucked in a gulp of air. Things were about to get nasty.
Chapter 15
Bryony grabbed hold of Ivy’s hand and pulled her along the corridor in the Charm Police, determined she wasn’t going to lose control in a building full of Charm Police. “Don’t start a fight with the Chief of the Charm Police,” she muttered.
“She’s a stuck up angel,” said Ivy too loudly as her magic continued to fizzle on the ends of her fingers.
“She’s not a friendly angel, but she will put us behind bars if we push our luck.”
“What did she question you about?” Ivy shook the magic from her hands.
Bryony pushed through the exit and they hurried outside into the evening gloom. “Mainly about the poisonings. What about you?”
“The same. They kept asking if I like to use poisons, and what I had against the victims. The idiots have no clue about anything.”
Bryony looked over at Ivy. “They have a file on you. Angelica was reading bits out of it to me.”
Ivy shrugged. “Not exactly a surprise.”
“I can’t believe they think it was us.”
“It’s the logical, if rather stupid, conclusion to come to,” said Ivy.
“Did you find out how Lizzie died?”
“It was poison,” said Ivy. “But not from flowers. She ate it.”
“She voluntarily ate poison?”
“No, the idiot who interviewed me said they found a half-eaten box of chocolates in the cottage. Lizzie’s brainpower didn’t stretch to the idea that the poison could be inside of them.”
“That’s horrible,” said Bryony. “No wonder it killed her so quickly. If she ate it, it would go straight into her system.”
“The delivery must have come not long after we left her cottage,” said Ivy.
“Either that, or she’d received the chocolates before that and was saving them for a special occasion,” said Bryony. “They could have been inside the cottage while we were there.”
They reached the Love Cauldron and walked into the store. Spike appeared from behind the counter and growled at the girls, and Sweetie ruffled her feathers from her perch, her head tilting as she inspected Bryony.
Bryony walked behind the counter and extracted the book where they kept records of the poisons they sold.
“No more work tonight,” said Ivy. She patted Spike on the head and his growling intensified.
“You're right. Let’s go to the apartment and have some dinner,” said Bryony. “I just want to check over our poison records to make sure we haven’t missed anything. It would be terrible if we’d sold the poison to the killer.”
“We haven’t,” said Ivy. “When I was interviewed, the guy told me there’s a poison they can’t identify.”
“Your interviewer was very chatty,” said Bryony.
Ivy grinned at her. “I may have used a little persuasion on him. In fact, I ended up asking most of the questions.”
“Angelica was not nice to me.” Bryony lifted Sweetie from the perch and settled her on her shoulder.
“You couldn’t work your magic charms on her,” said Ivy. “That was probably why she was the one to interview you. You’d have been getting a proposal of marriage by the end of the interview if it had been anybody else.”
“That’s not fair,” said Bryony. “But you could be right, there was certainly no getting around her.” She led the way up the stairs to the apartment.
Ivy kicked off her boots in the hallway and walked through into the open plan kitchen diner. The walls were painted a pastel blue, the sofa and chairs were a delicate floral pattern, with matching curtains. The floor was wooden, with large white rugs scattered around. The style was most definitely Bryony’s.
“Feed me,” said Ivy as she slumped onto the sofa.
Bryony shook her head as she placed Sweetie on her perch in the kitchen. The units were a glossy white and the black granite worktop sparkled under the overhead lights. “We can have leftovers from yesterday.”
“Boring,” said Ivy.
“Or there’s pasta.”
“Yuck,” said Ivy.
Bryony pulled open the refrigerator door. The contents were pitifully sparse. “How about toast?”
“If we’re going down that route,” said Ivy, “let’s just open a tub of ice cream.”
Bryony grinned. It sounded like an excellent idea after the interrogations they’d experienced. She shut the refrigerator door and opened the freezer. “We’ve got mint choc chip, strawberry, chocolate, vanilla, salted caramel and cookie dough—”
“Stop there, salted caramel and cookie dough it is,” said Ivy. “Bring in two spoons and a dish for Spike.”
Bryony pulled out the ice cream and left it on the side to soften as she swiftly pulled together a salad from the contents of the fridge. She wanted to make an effort to try to eat a little healthily.
The salad made and ice cream softened, she carried everything through to the lounge and settled on the sofa next to Ivy.
Ivy scooped some ice cream into the dish for Spike and set it on the floor. “Now we have the Charm Police breathing down our necks, we have to figure out who’s the real poisoner.”
Bryony spooned out some ice cream. “There is still the jealous pageant rival theory to consider. I don’t think we should discount it.”
“It could be that,” said Ivy. “Over the years, there must have been hundreds of bimbos entering these things. That's a lot of suspects.”
“They aren’t all bimbos.” Bryony ate a spoonful of ice cream.
“Most of them are,” said Ivy. “It will take some digging to get a list of everyone who has entered over the years.”
“What about a jealous lover?”
“You think all three of them dated the same guy?” asked Ivy.
“It’s possible,” said Bryony. “There aren’t a lot of eligible bachelors in Old Sarum.”
“There’s plenty if you don’t mind warts, bad breath, and terrible taste in clothes,” said Ivy. “But Lizzie’s been married for a year, and she was seeing Horatio for about six months before that. Why would a jealous lover suddenly decide to poison them all?”
