Free Perilous Pranks (Renaissance Faire Mystery) by Joyce Lavene, Jim Lavene Page A

hands.
    “I’ll teach you to use a sword on me, hussy!” Wanda’s face and voice were thick with emotion.
    “Mercy, please!” Ginny called out, trying to get to her feet.
    Wanda would have none of it. The swords that were left by the pirates suddenly jumped up and set in a challenge stance around her, as though invisible hands held them. They poked and prodded.
    Wanda howled—the sound echoing off the roof of the cave. Even Ginny heard that. She dropped to her knees and put her hands over her face, moaning piteously.
    “I didn’t mean to kill you, Wanda,” Ginny explained in a terrified voice. “I only meant to scare you away from Marcus. You were bending down to get your bracelet when you opened the shower door. The sword was there waiting for you. God help me.”
    I sneaked past them and up the stairs to the trap door. I heard more ghostly sounds and actions going on behind me. I didn’t look back.
    Once I was out of the cave, I locked the trap door. Ginny could get out of the cave from the front but it was a steep walk down and I didn’t think Wanda would let her go that easily.
    I took out my cell phone, thankful for once that I had it with me, and called Chase. I apologized to the surprised visitors around me. I figured this warranted a break in protocol.
    Then I waited at a rough wood table, thinking how many times Chase and I had eaten here. The food was pretty good. Ginny never gave discounts for the residents like most of the other Village eateries. I certainly wouldn’t miss her, but it was the end of an era.
    Chase showed up at almost the exact minute that Detective Almond and two of his uniformed officers walked into the tavern. I explained everything as the officers asked the visitors to leave. More officers waited outside to take their statements.
    “Are you okay?” Chase eyed my blouse where blood had saturated the material. “You should go to the hospital and have those cuts looked at. You might need stitches.”
    “I’m fine,” I told him. “I was lucky to have Wanda with me.”
    Did I say that?
    We watched Detective Almond’s men escort Ginny up the stairs from the cave. She was crying and calling out for help.
    “What’s wrong with her?” Chase watched her walk by.
    I nodded to Wanda who accompanied her. “Ginny can’t see her, but Wanda can be pretty annoying even when she’s invisible.”
    He shrugged. “I’ll have to take your word for it.”
    “Be glad you can’t see her.” I shuddered. “She’s not a pretty sight. And she’s learned some really disgusting tricks.”
    “I heard that,” Wanda yelled back at me. “Don’t forget. You owe me, Jessie Morton. I saved your useless life.”
    I waved to her. Chase laughed at me. “What’s she saying?”
    “She’s promising to make my life miserable, as usual.”
    We got to our feet and I put my arms around him. “The day is turning out much better than I was expecting. Let’s go and get a cinnamon roll. I could use a triple shot mocha too.”
    #
    Chase and I were summoned to the castle as the Main Gate was closing that evening. It was bound to be something about Wanda’s murder and Ginny’s arrest. I thought we might even get some kind of Royal Decree for doing such a good job.
    Or a Royal Censure for pranking Wanda, though their Royal Highnesses usually ignored such things.
    The police were long gone, with Ginny in tow. Detective Almond had released his hold on the museum, and it continued to move toward its opening day. Everything felt like it could get back to normal now. Wanda’s memorial at the Village was scheduled for two days later.
    Chase had been the purveyor of that last information. I wasn’t eager to attend Wanda’s memorial, but it was going to be a Village-wide service held at sunset for residents only. I could hardly refuse to be part of it, especially given our relationship while Wanda was alive. I knew everyone would be waiting to see if I’d be there.
    I didn’t want to disappoint