Free A Charming Secret (Magical Cures Mystery Series Book 6) by Tonya Kappes

Jittery was best how I could describe the feeling deep in my bones.
    “June?” Izzy stepped up. “What is going on?”
    “I think Gwendolyn Shrubwood is dead in my shop.” I bit my lip and took off toward the shop. I couldn’t stand it any longer.
    “You aren’t going anywhere.” Bella’s voice was dark, cold and it scared me. “You stay right here where everyone can see you.”
    “Is it her?” I asked, looking around, trying to find her face in the crowd. She wasn’t anywhere.
    All the people I knew and loved were next to me. Every shop owner was there. Gerald and Arabella stood with Petunia and her family. Ophelia kept her distance on the steps of Ever After Books. Raven and Faith stood with her.
    “Mr. Prince Charming wasn’t in there.” Peony came back, out of breath. “What’s going on?”
    “Colton found a body,” Petunia held tight to Amethyst.
    “Dead body?” Peony’s voice cracked. “Surely not.” Petunia’s face dropped.
    We stood there in silence waiting for anyone to walk out of my cure shop. It seemed like it was hours, but in reality, it was only a few minutes before Oscar walked out. He took his cop’s hat off his head and rubbed his hands through his hair. Ruffling it a bit.
    His blue eyes stared at me, making my gut ache. It wasn’t good news. He knew something. Something bad. I ran my hand over my wrist. If I could use some protection, it would be now. And I definitely could use Mr. Prince Charming by my side.
    Oscar walked past me and stopped in front of Petunia.
    “Petunia,” his voice was almost a whisper, “I hate to bring you such bad news on your celebratory day, but your cousin Gwendolyn is dead.”
    Petunia fell to the ground, Gerald catching her.
    “Dead?” Amethyst stepped up. “What do you mean dead?”
    “When Officer Lance did a sweep of the attic after the fire was put out, her body was found on his search.” Oscar held his hat tight to his body. “There doesn’t seem to be any obvious cause. Was there a reason she’d be in A Charming Cure?”
    “Her.” Amethyst’s finger stabbed my way.
    Oscar glanced over. Slowly his eyes closed as though his heart sank.
    “She had to be the last one to see Gwenie. After all,” Amethyst’s words were bitter. “Little Miss Heal had mixed words with Gwenie, not to mention she just so happened to have wanted to help with her IBS. Didn’t you?”
    “I. . .I,” I stuttered. “She left my shop alive. I locked the door behind.  . .” I stopped when I realized I didn’t lock the door. I was in a hurry to get to the smudging ceremony. “I didn’t mean anything by my words. Hell,” I pointed to Izzy, “she said she wanted to strangle her. And Raven,” I moved my finger down the street to Wicked Good, “she said Gwenie put down her tarts. It wasn’t just me she offended.”
    “Don’t say another word,” Bella warned. “Wait until Mac McGurtle gets here.”
    “Mac?” I questioned. “Why do I need Mac?”
    Mac McGurtle was my childhood neighbor when I was growing up in Locust Grove. Though I had found out, he was really a spiritualist who had been summoned by the Elders to live next door to me and Darla to make sure we were safe.
    “He was assigned to you as your spiritual guide as a kid and you kept him all your life.” Bella shook her head. “Something is fishy and Mac will get to the bottom of it.”
    “There is no evidence June or anyone had anything to do with the death of your cousin.” Oscar made sure to keep Gwenie’s family and friend a safe distance from me. “The Karima sisters will do an autopsy to see if there was any funny business.”
    “Move it! Dead body coming through!” Constance screamed, the gurney rolling at a fast speed behind her.
    “Dead body! Fresh dead body!” Patience beamed with joy.

 
     
    Chapter Ten
     
    Everyone stood still in silence. An uncomfortable silence.
    Colton said a few things to Oscar; then Oscar came over and kissed me on the forehead, whispering