Free Corpse in the Crystal Ball by Kari Lee Townsend

got your back. I promise you.”
    “In the meantime I’d like Miss Meadows on the case,” Mayor Cromwell said in a no-nonsense tone. “And I want the detective’s car and house searched before he has a chance to go back and hide anything else.”
    “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Mitch grumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose.
    “I’m flattered, Mayor,” I said carefully in this highly charged situation. As much as I wanted to argue with Mitch about my competence, I knew now was not the time. Besides, I had my own work to do. “With all due respect, I’m really busy these days with my fortune-telling business. I’m sure your boys in blue can handle things.”
    “Miss Meadows, I know firsthand how successful your business is. That’s why I insist you be a part of this case.You’ve proven yourself invaluable to this department. Today being no exception.
    “We never would have found Ms. Gonzales without your help. And I have a feeling that finding her killer will be a whole lot easier with your assistance. The good citizens of Divinity reelected me for a reason. I won’t let them down.” The mayor paused and looked us each in the eye, one by one. “This discussion is over. Are we all in agreement?”
    “If you say so,” Chief Spencer reluctantly agreed. He still wasn’t any more of a believer than Mitch was, and I never felt as though he liked me for some reason.
    “Consider it done,” Captain Walker said, always the peacekeeper.
    Everyone looked at me expectantly, except Mitch, who stared at me accusingly as though his job were the last piece of candy on earth and I’d stolen it. But what could I do? I felt guilty for wishing Isabel gone, felt sorry for Selena, and even felt worried for Mitch. If there was any way I could help solve this case, bring justice to Isabel, peace to Selena, and clear Mitch’s name, then I would do whatever I had to.
    I was doing this for
him
.
    I sighed. “Sure thing, Mayor. When do I start?”
    “Immediately,” he said, but Mitch wouldn’t even look at me.
    Arms loaded with Chinese takeout as a peace offering, I climbed the cast-iron staircase to the top floor of Mitch’s apartment later that evening. The rain had stopped, but the sky still looked dark and foreboding much like the man who dwelled within. I knew Mitch was angry that I was helpingwith the case and that he was suspect number one, especially since he still considered himself the boss and me his lowly assistant.
    He had no clue I didn’t want this job any more than he wanted me to have it. I had enough on my plate with my fortune-telling business now that it was thriving. Being a consultant to the police was time-consuming and dangerous. I was only helping out so I could clear Detective Grump Butt’s name.
    The stubborn knucklehead should be thanking me.
    I’d felt guilty watching him leave the station earlier without his gun or badge and having to be humiliated as his fellow officers searched through his belongings. He’d somehow looked naked even though he’d been fully clothed. He’d glared at me so accusingly, like this was all my fault.
    I hadn’t written his name in the dirt. Isabel had!
    Still, the thought of him sitting in his apartment feeling lost and alone tore me up inside. So I’d shown up with my peace offering and prayed for the best. Taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door.
    The door swung open, but a lost and lonely Mitch did
not
stand on the other side. A fragile-looking, stunningly gorgeous Selena Gonzales did. She wore cute little yoga pants, a long-sleeved T-shirt, and nothing on her perfect peach-painted toes. I just stood there with my mouth open, gaping at her.
    “Hi, Miss Meadows. Please, come in.” A red and puffy-eyed Selena smiled and stepped back, albeit a bit wobbly.
    I’d completely forgotten about her and the fact that Mitch had been left with the unpleasant task of picking her up from my house and telling her that we’d found her sister dead.The captain