Fly by Midnight (2 page)

“They were nice at first, but then I heard less and less from them, until they stopped answering my calls.” She wiped her nose with the napkin.

“Anyone else looking?”

“I hired another investigator, if that’s what you’re getting at. But she couldn’t find anything, either.” Jane reached out and touched Honora’s hand. Her nails were short, with pale pink polish. “I’ve heard you’re the best, and I need the best to find him as quickly and quietly as possible.” A fat tear fell from her eye to the bar, leaving a drop on the wood.

“I don’t know,” Honora said, her voice brimming with hesitation. The case was cold, and from what Jane said, the police and another investigator had already given up. There was probably nothing to find. The husband was a ghost.

“I’ll double your fee,” Jane said without missing a beat.

“I do require a substantial retainer.” If she was taking a case, Honora always liked to get the money manners addressed up front. It only got harder to get paid if she had to give her client bad news.

“Money is no object. I have my gold card right here.” She went for her purse, but Honora stopped her. Gold was the currency of Everland, and most witches didn’t burden themselves by carrying around a bag of gold coins, but instead used a gold card, making it much easier to do financial transactions.

Honora was sympathetic with Jane’s situation, and though she could empathize with her pain, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to get involved and milk Jane for the fee, knowing full well it was probably a lost cause. But the rent was coming due on her office space, and she could use a paying client. When she was starting out as a private investigator, she would have jumped all over this case, believing every word Jane said, holding out hope that her husband was different, that he was a nice guy, but experience was brutal in the investigation business. Happy endings were not the norm.

Jane must have sensed her hesitation. “You probably think he’s gone, too, and that the case is unsolvable. But I know he’s out there. Jonathan is my soul mate, and I’ll never stop looking for him. I refuse to believe that the
right
investigator can’t help me. I’m sorry to have wasted your time. I thought you were the one.”

The one. The solver of the unsolvable.
Honora loved a challenge: call it a weakness, an almost relentless desire to succeed where others had failed. Her teachers at the academy looked down on her overconfidence, labeling her cocky, but she felt it was one of her strengths. “I’ll look into it,” she said, changing her mind in a flash.

Jane’s expression brightened, and her brow cleared. “Oh, thank you so much.”

“I’m not making any promises, but I can assure you that I’ll do my best. Also, we can’t meet here anymore. I don’t like working at The Owl Bar. I come here to relax. Do you understand?” The last thing she wanted were clients invading her personal space, and The Owl Bar was where she drew the line.

“Of course.” Jane pulled an embroidered handkerchief out of her purse and blew her nose.

“Wouldn’t you be more comfortable at my office? You can come by tomorrow afternoon, and we can discuss the details.”

“No, not there.” Jane shook her head. “Somewhere else more private?”

Honora found Jane’s desire for privacy a little strange. Discretion was one of the reasons witches hired a private investigator, but Jane had already contacted the police, so there was no need to hide. She was the customer. “How about your place? That’ll give me the chance to inspect your house and your husband’s things. If that’s all right?”

“I suppose that’ll be fine.”

Honora pulled a business card out of her jacket pocket and slid it across the bar. “Write down the address.”

Jane scribbled on the card and pushed it back across the bar when she was done. “Will you promise to do everything you can to find my husband? I need to know that I can count on you.” She stared at Honora like a wide-eyed doe.

“I’ll do my best. My schedule’s light right now, so your case is my top priority. Try not to worry,” she said reassuringly.

Jane’s hands trembled slightly as she passed Honora a sealed parchment packet, taken from the seat next to her. “Here’s some information on my husband to get you up to speed.” Her gaze darted around the bar, checking out the other patrons. “My husband had
secrets
.” She leaned closer and lowered her voice. “Things he needed to keep quiet. You’ll see. I have to tell you, I’m worried. I hope this doesn’t sound strange, but I think someone is following me.”

“What makes you think that?” Honora asked, intrigued.

“A strange feeling.” The client glanced over her shoulder. “Like someone is watching me, but when I turn around, no one is there. It’s stupid. I’m probably just paranoid.” Waving off the notion, Jane eased off her stool and adjusted her purse strap over her shoulder. “Come by the house tomorrow at two o’clock and we’ll talk.”

With the package in tow, Honora hurried back to the booth to rejoin her friends.

“Another case?” Slader asked as Honora slid back into the booth. He’d taken his aviator cap off, exposing his thick brown hair and sideburns. He resembled a well-groomed grizzly bear.

“Yep. And I need it, too. Business has been slow.” Honora took a sip of champagne and tried to relax.

“Like I always say, take the work when you can get it.” Slader did search-and-rescue jobs for the Stargazer City Police, as well as personal training.

“Anything exciting?” Jonas asked, digging his fork into the mammoth birthday cake that was in the process of being devoured.

“Missing wizard. We’ll see.” Honora gave him a look of mock awe at his ferocious appetite. She snatched up a fork and dug into her birthday cake before he could inhale the whole thing. “The cops didn’t get the results my new client wanted, and neither did another investigator, so I’m taking a crack at it.”

“She picked the best of the best. Little old you will have this case solved in record time,” Harper said. She worked at the Witch Council headquarters and was the resident geek witch when it came to anything Everland, including history, laws, and council business.

“I hope so,” Honora mumbled through a mouthful of deliciousness.

Jonas reached over and wiped a blob of frosting off her chin. “The cake goes
in
the mouth,” he said. Jonas worked “freelance,” which meant they didn’t really know what he did. He liked to think of himself as a wizard shrouded in mystery. He did a little bit of everything, including stunts, product testing, and anything that involved risk, sports, or free-falling off ridiculously high places. Harper suspected that he might also be hiding a brilliant mind under his cavalier attitude. He was basically a typical adrenaline wizard with a high IQ.

“Thanks. But I think this case is going to turn out to be a real bust. The guy has probably run off, like the police think. I’m sensing a snorefest, but you never know.” Honora shrugged and smiled to herself, recalling Jane’s words about her husband,
“He has secrets
.”
I’ll see about that
, she thought.

Slader pushed the box across the table toward her. “Maybe this will help with your new case.”

Honora’s attention immediately shifted to her birthday surprise. She snatched up the box and then hesitated.

“Well, it’s not going to unwrap itself,” her friend coaxed.

She pulled the ends of the glossy ribbon. Metal hinges lined one side of the box. She cracked the top open, revealing a shiny gold ball that reflected the low light of the bar and rested on a velvet bed. A thrill of uncertainty filled her. She’d never seen anything like it. “Wow. It’s gorgeous. I don’t know what to say.” Honora eyed Slader, who gave her a straight face.

“How about thanks?” Not a clue could be registered from his expression.

She nudged him with her elbow. “I’ll thank you as soon as you tell me what this little beauty is.” She glided her finger over the smooth gold surface. It seemed to hum under her touch, and she pulled her finger back in surprise.

“It’s an elfin stone.” Slader reached over and lifted the golden orb from the box and held it pinched between his thumb and forefinger.

“Stunning.” Honora curiously eyed the shimmering globe. She snorted. “Now, tell me for real. What is it?”

“Don’t you believe me?” he asked. Cupping the stone in his hand, he held it like a precious gem. “It’s a rare find. The rarest.” His expression shone with wonder.

“Believe him,” Harper said, a smile curling up her lip.

Honora chuckled. “Do you like elves? Are they your secret magical friends?” She chuckled, but no one was laughing with her. “Are you guys serious?” Honora took the elfin stone from Slader. It was heavy and warm in her palm.

“This stone contains a valuable piece of magic, one we think might interest a sneaky witch like you,” Jonas said, a mischievous look on his face.

Honora arched a brow in response. “Do tell.”

Slader cleared his throat. “Kept safe inside the stone lives an elfin familiar. Once a witch claims the stone, the familiar will perform a task. Give it a command, and it will do your bidding. But be warned, it’s a proud being. Don’t insult it with menial chores.” Slader’s smile widened. “This one is unclaimed.”

Honora twisted up her lips. “Stealing elfin familiars, are we? That’s not very nice.”

“Slader was lucky to get it. A new street peddler sold it to him,” Harper said with a hiccup.

“Elves and their familiars are joined once and for life, but when an elf’s light is extinguished, the familiar is set free and is subject to claim by anyone. It’s not cruel at all. They’re born to serve. It’s called a glee,” Slader said.

Elfin magic was tough to get, close to impossible since the witching wall had been erected centuries ago, and a familiar was even more rare. Honora knew Slader had some serious connections, but this gift was over the top. Honora tried not to drool, but her excitement must have been evident. The glee would do her bidding in ways no ordinary familiar was capable of. Jonas was right; in her line of work, the magical creature would make her life so much easier.

Slader handed her a small parchment scroll. “On this paper you’ll find the activation spell. Use it when you’re ready to claim the familiar and send it on an assignment. But remember it only performs worthy tasks.”

“Got it. Thanks. It’s the nicest gift any one’s ever given me.”

She returned the glee to its velvet bed in the wooden box. This was turning out to be an
interesting
birthday.

2

H
onora burrowed under a pile of goose-down pillows and massive feather comforter, luxuriating in the warmth. Morning was akin to black magic in her opinion. Dreaded sunlight spilled in from the tall apartment windows, wrecking havoc on her slumber. The party had lingered into the wee hours of the morning, and between the sharp pain in her temples and parched throat, she was currently paying the price. She grunted and flung back the covers. It took all of her willpower to crawl from her snuggly, warm bed.

She fumbled her way to the kitchen, reached the copper coffee pot, and mumbled a brewing spell to get it percolating while she took a blazing-hot shower. Steam filled the bathroom as she slowly came to life. She wiped condensation from the mirror. Her blue eyes were surprisingly clear. She’d been blessed with high cheekbones, full lips, and thick dark brown hair that hung stick-straight past her shoulders. She ruffled her bangs and coiled her wet mane up in a towel. Padding out of the bathroom, Honora poured herself a rich dark cup of coffee. A rustling noise filtered down from above. The loft apartment was a cavernous open space with her bedroom tucked up in the second floor. From the kitchen, she got a full view of the living and dining room combination.

Barnaby was snoozing away in his domed birdcage, so she knew it wasn’t him. Honora kept a high window cracked at all times so her feathered familiar could come and go as he pleased. She glanced up and saw Rumor sitting on one of Barnaby’s wooden perches. Rumor was Vivi’s glossy black raven familiar that, with Barnaby, often delivered messages back and forth between the two sisters. A tiny package was attached to his leg.

“What do you have here, boy?” Honora gingerly untied a bit of twine and removed the message while the bird pecked at a handful of dried cherries she strategically dropped on the counter for him to eat.

Inside the packet was a charming glass vial dangling on the end of a black leather cord, a present from her sister. Vivi had been experimenting recently, designing decorative potion vials and turning them into necklaces. Honora wondered what cool potion she’d sent for her birthday, which technically was yesterday, but a belated present was still a present.

She unfolded the note.

Dear Sis,

I foresee an exciting year ahead! An intriguing new case is on the horizon. Be careful. You have a knack for getting into trouble. Oh, wait—so do I. Must run in the family. Have a wonderful year. The potion is a fun experiment I’m working on, and I thought you’d make the perfect test subject. It’s called “midnight mist” and creates an atmosphere of mist and mystery for a late-night rendezvous or secret meeting. I’m experimenting with some romantic mood-setting potions. Use with caution; it still has some bugs. Happy birthday, Mayhem sister!

Love, Vivi

Honora smiled and slipped the cord around her neck. She loved being a potion guinea pig and couldn’t wait to test out the contents of the tiny vial. Mysterious meetings were always fun in the investigation business. Vivi’s note was interesting, and though it sounded more like the horoscopes printed in
Witch World Daily
, she secretly hoped for a jolt of excitement in her life. Maybe her sister was an insightful seer after all, now that she had come clean about her true
persuasion
of prophecy. For all Honora knew, Jane Rainer might provide her with a little surprise.

She took a sip of her drink and sighed. It was another birthday without her mom. Elspeth was part of a mysterious Travelers Program with the council and was exploring the Otherworld. Honora and her sisters had been expecting her home for the Yuletide and were excited about finally seeing her after ten years of absence. But the holidays had come and gone and Elspeth hadn’t returned, and the council was tight-lipped, no matter how hard Honora questioned them. Frustration and sadness washed over her, but she had to shake it off. The Mayhem curse struck again.

Being a Mayhem sister was never boring. Their great-great-grandmother Rosemary had had a feud with a disreputable trader of witches’ familiars, who had been running a cruel animal factory. Rosemary freed all the animals, nursed many back to health, and turned him in to Hex Division. But before the scumbag trader was sent to prison, he laid a curse on Rosemary and her descendants—a curse of mayhem, and it had meant pure trouble for generations. In fact, a few months ago, Vivi had discovered just how true the Mayhem curse could be when she’d gotten caught up in a case involving a kidnapped witch tortured by a dark wizard.

After Honora finished getting dressed, she grabbed her bag and headed out for the office. Since she had a new case to keep her busy, she decided to skip her morning workout at the gym and get started on it right away. Plus, she was still nursing a headache from last night’s champagne and the fresh air would do her some good. She hurried down the street, stretching out her legs.
Walking is healthy
, she told herself. She couldn’t fly everywhere she went—well, technically she could, but she liked to mingle with other witches and wizards in the throngs hurrying to work. Moving through the crowds kept her senses sharp as she listened and observed, slipping unnoticed between witch and wizard alike.

Honora wasn’t meeting Jane until two o’clock that afternoon, so she decided to pay a visit to the illustrious Stargazer City Police and see what she could dig up on their stalled investigation. The Witch Council building, courthouse, police station, and additional office buildings were located in the city center. Once inside the station’s vestibule, she was enveloped in magical detection spells performed by a young rookie officer who rigidly waved his wand over her body, uttering a series of spells in a monotone. He was searching for any suspicious or dangerous weapons and was very serious. Honora smiled and wiggled her eyebrows at him, but to his credit, he remained professional. Once cleared, she was allowed into the station.

The place hummed with magic. Layers of protective wards surrounded her as she navigated the building. Being a licensed private investigator in Stargazer City had its perks, and bypassing the registration desk was one of them. She nodded to the cop on duty and headed up to her favorite detective’s office.

Honora figured out early in her career that making friends at the station was imperative. A little metaphorical backscratching went a long way, so sharing information with detectives had helped her gain their trust. Andreas Corder had been investigating an embezzling council member a few years back, and one of Honora’s contacts had provided key evidence to bring him down. The witch and wizard had developed an interesting relationship. Known to the flock of eligible witches in town as “Detective Undress Me,” Andreas had a chiseled jaw, lush brown hair, and a manly physique that could bring a witch to her knees. He reminded Honora of a piece of toffee—golden and delicious. Not your typical detective, he knew his effect on witches and had a healthy ego.

“Detective,” Honora said, slipping into the empty chair next to his desk. A few glances came her way from other officers and staff, but she ignored them. The desk area was open, so there were no secrets or subtle meetings.

He leaned back in his chair and appraised her with an approving grin. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I need a little background information on a case I just took.” She crossed her legs, showing off high-heeled boots slipped over a pair of dark jeans.

“I do what I can to help out the local PI.” He waved his wand over his desk and a thick parchment casebook with leather binding appeared.

“You’re so kind. His name’s Jonathan Rainer.”

The detective’s demeanor changed in a flash. Not one to bother hiding his feelings, Andreas’ body tensed, and he let out an exaggerated groan. “I thought we were done with that incessant witch.”

“Touchy, touchy. Did the sweet, gentle lamb strike a nerve?” Honora grinned.

“Jane Rainer is not gentle. She’s the most stubborn witch I’ve ever met, and I have met many a witch.” He tugged at his collar.

Honora didn’t doubt that. He
was
the most handsome wizard on the police force and had a sterling track record as a top detective to match. He was honey to the drooling, witchy beehive. “She came to me looking for an investigator. She didn’t seem too happy with the police. Tell me about the case.”

“That tiny bulldog of a witch is right. We never found her husband, and trust me, we searched. He worked for the council, and his wife pulled every string she could to make this a top-priority case.” Andreas rolled his gorgeous brown eyes. “Even though it was pretty clear there was no foul play. In fact, that was the weird part. There was nothing—no ransom or physical disturbance. He completely disappeared. It took months to find his trail.”

“So you
did
find something on him?” Honora asked.

“Eventually. We found travel documents and a hotel reservation
for two
heading out of the city in his name. We also found a separate gold card with gifts of expensive jewelry and clothes for a well-kept witch. If you ask me, he doesn’t want to be found. Jane Rainer was not happy with the evidence.”

“The telltale signs of a cheating husband. Not pretty.”

“We were never able to get much further than the initial travel itinerary out of the city on the Silver Train to Ghost Beach.” He tapped on the magical casebook, spoke the activation spell, and flipped it open. The parchment revealed the requested case materials. “Here we go.” He spun the book around so she could see two tickets stubs for the train and a receipt for the exclusive hotel, The Ghost Lodge, on Ghost Beach.

“Wow, nice digs.” Honora couldn’t deny that the detective had solid proof.

“The wizard spared no expense for his sugar witch.”

A coastal getaway, Ghost Beach was a stark stretch of white, powdery sand where witches and wizards went to disappear and relax. Honora would give anything for a week at one of the beach’s famous invisible vacation houses. The low-key destination gave the occupants the illusion of being on a deserted tropical beach. No distractions, no other witches or wizards for miles, just utter, tranquil bliss.

“The clerk at the check-in confirmed it was Rainer. I’ve got no identification on the witch, but does it really matter? The trail went cold after he checked out.”

Honora shook her head, remembering why she was there. “What a raw deal. No wonder Jane’s in denial.”

“She didn’t want to accept that her husband up and left her. He walked away from everything—a good job at the council, nice house, plenty of gold. I was a little surprised he would do it. His life seemed like a good one to me, but no matter how hard I looked, I found nothing suspicious.” Andreas closed the casebook with a thud.

“What did Jane think really happened to him?” Honora asked, curious why the scorned witch kept pursuing the case.

“She thinks he was kidnapped and taken against his will.” A rueful smile lit up the detective’s face.

“I see.” The truth was difficult to accept. Jane Rainer had lost her husband to another woman and refused to believe it.

“I sympathize. I really do. But we couldn’t keep investigating. The case is closed. Really, really closed,” he said.

“What did the council have to say about it?”

“They told me to shut it down. It was an embarrassment. He was a respected academic and consulted with them on top projects. They wanted the whole mess behind them, and fast.” Andreas leaned back in his chair.

“Pretty neat and tidy.” Honora twisted up her mouth. Something about the case gnawed at her. She stood. “Thanks for your help, cutie pie. I owe you one.”

“I tried to break it to her gently. But as I said, Jane Rainer is a bulldog. She won’t give up, and you being here only proves that.”

“I was really hoping this would be a good one. I could use a juicy investigation.” Honora slung her bag on her arm and sauntered toward the door.

“Sorry to disappoint you,” he called after her. “I’d drop this case if I were you, and do it quickly. You don’t want to ruin your reputation by looking like a fool.”

“Not going to happen,” she said over her shoulder. “I’m taking the case anyway.”

Something wasn’t sitting right with Honora, and when that happened, she always trusted her gut.