Deadly Magic (16 page)

“
We didn’t really get to that.”

Michael groan
ed and dropped his head back. He sighed heavily.

Belle look
ed back and forth between Kyle and Grace. “What have you two been doing all this time?”

Kyle spoke first.
“We went up—”

“
We had to wait for your father to arrive. Once he did, we spoke to him for a few minutes. I guess time just got away from us.”

Belle shook her head in confusion.
“Didn’t Papa show you the storage room?”

Kyle and Grace shook their heads.

“Okay,” Belle said, still confused. “I’ll take you there.” She motioned for them to follow her back inside the building.

Kyle stay
ed rooted to the spot. “I’ll wait out here.”

Ethan
smiled at him. “Me too.”

“
Me too,” Michael said weakly.

Sighing heavily, Belle grabb
ed Michael and Kyle both by the hand and dragged them into the building.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Grace took in her newly furnished apartment and sighed in pleasure. She ran her hand over the blue velvet sofa and smiled as she curled up against its arm, with Abry in her lap. Scrunching her face, she looked at her gray walls.

Belle was standing in
front of the new floor length mirror hanging between the two bedrooms. She was trying on Grace’s Italian leather jacket, white silk blouse, and tweed skirt. “I can’t believe how well your clothes fit,” she said, twirling around. “Do you think I can borrow that green silk scarf I saw on your dresser?”

“
Hmm. Did you say Michael was a good painter?”

“
He said he can help us paint next weekend.”

Grace smil
ed. “I have a red scarf that would look good with that outfit, too. Look in the box on the top shelf of my closet.”

Ring
.

Grace glanc
ed at the phone. Reluctantly standing up, she placed the bunny on the floor, walked over to the desk, and answered the phone.

“
Hello?” she asked again. She waited half a beat before asking one more time. When she received no answer, she hung up the phone. “Creep,” she muttered, pressing the answering machine button.

Her fingers trail
ed the rich mahogany finish of her new dining room table, as she walked from the dining room to the kitchen. She reached into her refrigerator and pulled out a pitcher of iced tea, as the digital recorder played back her messages. Abry stood on his hind feet and placed his paws against her leg. With one hand reached down and petted the bunny; with the other she took out a small carrot stick and brought it in front of its twitching nose. She smiled as the rabbit grabbed the treat and hopped away.

The answering machine began replaying her messages. “
Grace, we’ve had a change of plans . . .
”

“Who’s that?” Belle ask
ed from her room.

“
. . . We’re not having Christmas in Gatlinburg this year . . .
”

“My twin sister, Hope,” Grace call
ed out over her shoulder.

“
. . . Mom wants to go somewhere warm, so we’ve decided to go to Hawaii . . .
”

“
Ooh.” Belle walked back into the living room, a red silk scarf tied around her throat. “Mele Kalikimaka.”

“
. . . I’m going to send you some money for the baggage fees . . .
”

Grace look
ed up from the fridge towards the answering machine.

“
. . . Get a suitcase and start packing my clothes—
”

Grace dash
ed over to the desk, slamming her hand on the delete button.

“
Your sister sounds so nice.”

Grace press
ed the forward button. “Yes, she’s a sweetheart.”

“
It’s so nice that you can share clothes with your sister. I wish I had a sister. I have a brother . . .” Belle kicked off Grace’s—or in reality—Hope’s heels. “It’s just weird when we share clothes.”

“
Belle?
” A soft feminine voice came over the machine. “
I hope this is your number. I’ve been trying to reach you on your cell phone all day, but it just keeps going to voice mail . . .
”

Belle swore softly. She pick
ed up her purse and pulled out her cell phone. “Battery’s dead.”

“
Your dad gave me this number. I hope it’s yours. I really need your help . . .
” The caller began crying hysterically.

Still standing by the machine, Grace asked Belle who was speaking.

Belle shook her head, sadly. “Tabitha.”

“
I’m in a lot of trouble. Can I come by tonight? Ilya gave me your new address. I just need to talk to you for a few minutes. Could you meet me outside around eight o’clock? I’ll wait across the street. Please, please, be there. Don’t tell anyone I called. Not a soul, Belle. Please.
”

They turn
ed to the grandfather clock. Eight-twenty.

Quickly, Belle grabb
ed her keys and ran out of the apartment. Just as quickly, Grace crossed to the window and pulled back the drapes. Tabitha was leaning against the lamppost across the street, speaking to a man in a parked car in front of her. Suddenly, Tabitha started backing up, away from the post. Pleading, she held her hands out.

To Grace’s surprise, Daniel Burns exit
ed the driver’s side. He was saying something to the obviously distraught girl and pointing to the car. Tabitha wrung her hands nervously before suddenly launching herself in Daniel’s arms. They kissed briefly, hurriedly. Pulling apart, they hopped into the car and sped away.

Just
then, the phone rang.

Hesitantly, Grace pick
ed up the phone and brought it to her ear.

There was no sound. Just breathing.

Monday
, December 12th

Grace switched the
phone to her other ear. “No Jeff. No zombies. I told you, it’s a board game. You remember, we used to play them with Mom and Dad all the time . . . Yes, I know how old you are. That’s why I’m calling . . . What do you think about a mystery game? There’ll be a dead body,” she cajoled. “What? . . . No Jeff, it won’t turn into a zombie . . . Would you just think about it? Talk it over with your friends and get back to me . . . Good. Talk to you later.” She hung up the phone and glanced up at Kyle standing in the doorway.

“
What did your brother say?”

Grace grimac
ed. “He’s fifteen. It was so much easier to use him as a guinea pig five years ago.”

“A zombie board game may be fun. We could make the little game pieces various body parts,” he said
, warming up to the idea.

“Uh . . . no,” Grace said slowly.

“Did he like the detective’s name?”

“
Hated it. Said it sounded too girly.”

“
See—”

She smil
ed. “He hated yours, too.”

“
Oh,” he said disappointed. “Did you explain that it was based on the first game?”

“
He didn’t care. He said it sounded dumb.”

“
He’s fifteen. What does he know?”

“
He and his friends are an example of our target audience. He promised to poll his buddies and girlfriend to see what they think.”

Kyle sigh
ed. “You had some calls while you were talking to your brother. A Melodie Baker called. She wanted you to know that your ten-year reunion is set for next year. An invitation will be arriving.”

“
Oh, that’s great! I wonder if Ethan would like to go with me.”

“
If he’s still around,” he muttered.

“
What was that?” she asked, despite having heard what he said.

“
Your sister called, she said don’t even bother asking. She’s not going to the reunion and she wanted to remind you that her closet is not a department store. You can send the clothes you swiped from her at any time now.” He lifted up his hands. “Her words not mine.”

“
She’ll get those clothes over my dead body.”

Kyle star
ed at her.

“
She knows what she did. Did you find those old designs in the attic?” she asked, changing the subject. She had sent him up to the attic earlier in the morning to bring down all of the boxes from the previous board game department. Even if the game was missing, perhaps they could find the designs.

He look
ed over his shoulder before walking in and closing the door behind him.

“
I didn’t find the designs, but I found something else,” he said sitting down. Reaching under the desk he pulled out the
All the Murderers
board game.

Grace let out a small squeal as she reach
ed for the game. “You found it!”

“
There were over twenty boxes of the game. All of them clearly labeled. They actually weren’t hard to find. The old design team had found them too, because I found their notes. They had tried updating the game in the late nineties. Guess who was in charge of the update?”

“Who?”

“Daniel Burns. He had to have known these games were up there.”

“
So, Daniel lied.” She set the game on her desk. “But why lie about something like this,” she asked bewildered.

He shrugged.
“That’s not all. I think . . .”

“
Go on,” she prompted when he hesitated.

“
Well, I think someone or something—” He sat back and sighed.

“
What is it?” she asked, growing more curious by the second.

“
You’re not going to believe me.”

She quickly assur
ed him that she would.

“
Someone’s been living in the attic.”

“
Don’t be silly.”

“
I’m telling you the truth. There’s a mattress up there. Blankets. A little kerosene lamp.” At her doubtful look, he said, “I promise you.”

“
Did you see anyone?”

“
No. I think whoever was squatting up there is gone.”

“
I’ll let Straker know. He’ll—”

“
That’s not all. Someone was in your office while you were at lunch. After I finished my lunch, I noticed that your door was wide open. I figured you were back, so I walked in here and I found your chairs lying on their sides.” He stood up and walked to the flip board. “This was lying on the floor.” He turned to the page where she had listed the suspects for Lily’s death. “You should take a look at this.”

Grace stood up and walk
ed over to the board. She didn’t notice it at first. It wasn’t something that you would necessarily notice. It wasn’t large. It wasn’t written in a bright color, in order to get one’s attention. It was actually very unremarkable, but quite frightening just the same. At the top of the page, Grace had written
Who killed Lily Straker?
Only that’s not what was there now. Someone had crossed Lily’s name out and had written in Grace’s.

“
You’re still getting those strange calls,” Kyle said quietly.

“
Have they said anything yet?”

“
No, but they’re coming in more frequently.”

Belle rapp
ed on the door. “Kyle, I need your help.”

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

“Have you seen Daniel?” Grace asked Valerie.

Valerie was standing next to the filing cabinet near the doorway.
“He’s having a late lunch with Straker and Louisa. They should be back any moment. Oh, by the way, Ethan came by while you were at lunch. He said he’d call you later tonight.”

Grace fill
ed her in on what she saw the night before.

“
Daniel’s been fooling around with the magician’s assistant?” Valerie asked, a little too loudly for Grace’s comfort.

“
Shh.” Grace looked back out into the hallway. Kyle walked past carrying a box. She couldn’t tell whether he overheard or not.

Valerie put a hand to her heart. Her face a mixture of pity and sorrow.
“Oh, poor Louisa.”

“
Do you think Straker knows?”

Valerie shook her head.
“No way,” she whispered. “Daniel would be out the door if Straker knew. Why do you want to see Daniel?”

“
I’m going to ask him about it. That and about the mystery game in the attic.”

“What mystery game?”

Grace didn’t answer. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched as Belle walked across the hallway. Valerie leaned over and looked out the hallway. She looked at Grace and back at the blonde disappearing around the corner.

“
Isn’t that your jacket?”

Grace nodd
ed.

“
That looked like your skirt, too.”

“
Yep.”

Belle pass
ed back in front of them carrying a box. She continued down the hall.

“
Is she styling her hair like yours, too?”

“
Yes, but in her defense, you have to style your hair that way in order to wear those hair clips.”

“I wonder where she got that scar from.”
A worried frown crossed Valerie’s face. “You lock your bedroom door at night, I hope.”

“
Don’t be silly. I’m not going to start worrying, until she dyes her hair red and stops saying y’all and that’s so cool.”

They watched as Belle and Kyle passed by, carrying a flashlight, a rope, a camera, and a hacksaw.

“Hmm. Do you think someone should check on them?” Valerie asked.

Grace sigh
ed. “Probably,” she admitted reluctantly. She pushed herself off the wall, walked down the hallway and turned the corner to the elevator. She was just about to take the stairs to the attic when she heard voices coming from her right. She opened the conference door.

Empty.

She stepped back into the hallway and looked at the closet door to the right. She debated on whether she should knock first, but decided against it. She opened the door to find Kyle sitting on the floor and Belle standing on a box in the corner, looking at her phone.

“
If Jack and Chrissy are done playing, it’s time to go.”

“
We weren’t playing,” Belle said quickly. “I was checking my messages.”

Grace turn
ed to Kyle who was just picking himself off the floor. “And you?”

“
I was waiting for her to get done. We were going to go up to the attic.”

“
Why?” Grace asked, with a feeling of dread coming over her.

“
To see who’s hiding up there,” Belle answered.

“
Or what’s hiding up there,” Kyle countered

“
It’s not a what,” Belle said in exasperation.

“
Well, that’s what we’re going to find out,” Kyle responded icily. Turning to Grace, he said, “I really do think this place is haunted.”

Grace motion
ed for them to precede her. She reluctantly followed them up the stairs, listening with horror as Kyle recounted the last ghost story he had read in excruciating detail.

When he reach
ed the part where the poor hapless female was dragged kicking and screaming into the attic by some unseen force, Grace finally had enough. “Don’t you know any happy stories?”

“
It sounds like the legend of Amelia Dale, Papa always tells during Halloween. The poor tragic Miss Dale, struck down by a magician’s sword, doomed to haunt the Dragon’s Lair forever,” she intoned shining a flashlight under her chin.

“I thought she di
ed in the glass chest?”

Belle shrugg
ed. “He likes to change it around sometimes.”

“
It would explain some of the strange things going on here,” Kyle said.

“
Do you really think Lily was killed by the ghost of Amelia Dale and then came over here to haunt us?” Belle asked sarcastically.

“
I said this place was haunted, not the Dragon’s Lair. What do you think the ghost called a cab? There can be more than one ghost you know?” he asked a bit defensively.

“
You’re right, how silly of me.”

Grace tri
ed turning the doorknob. “That’s strange. No one ever locks this door. I’ll have to go back downstairs. I don’t have my keys.”

“
That’s okay.” Belle reached up to her hair and pulled out a couple of small metal picks. Grace watched in fascination as the other woman used the picks to unlock the door. Once the door was unlocked, Belle stepped back and returned the picks to her hair.

“Nice.”
Grace pushed open the door to the attic. All three remained at the entrance, peering into the darkness. Grace motioned for them to go forward. “Well, go on.” They stood rooted to the spot. Belle took out her camera and took a picture from the doorway.

When neither of them made any more attempt to move, Grace sigh
ed and stepped through the doorway. She snapped on her flashlight. All she could see were rows and rows of toys, old filing cabinets, and broken office furniture. “Okay, where did you see the mattress?”

Kyle
pointed to the back corner. She carefully made her way down the makeshift row between desks and broken chairs on one side and old moldy boxes on the other. She heard something moving to her right. She swung her light. An old lamp, lying on its side rolled off the desk and came to rest at her feet.

She felt Belle and Kyle move closer to her.

“I probably knocked into the desk without realizing it,” she said to reassure them.

“
Uh huh.” Belle wrapped her hand around Kyle’s arm. “Sure.”

Grace grabb
ed Kyle’s other arm and moved him out in front of her. “This will go faster if you show me exactly where you found the mattress and blankets.”

Reluctantly, he l
ed her down the path and made a right, beside a row of unicycles.

Grace shin
ed her flashlight down at a bunch of computer monitors.

“
No. These weren’t here. There was a mattress here.” He looked back over his shoulder. Stepping over the monitors, he shoved a couple of boxes out of the way. “It was right here.”

They stay
ed up there for thirty minutes as Kyle tore the attic apart. He finally found some blankets covering some stuffed toys a few feet away, hidden by another row of boxes. He held up the blanket, “See, no dust. These are new.”