Хармони Харт - Basic Witch

He lifted his face to meet mine. “Really? You think I’m nice?” His teeth clacked as he chuckled to himself, visibly relaxing beneath his hooded robe. “Wowie! What a sweetheart you are!”

I offered a confused smile, which probably came across as more deranged than anything, and stepped back toward Beau. As nice as Brian seemed, I hadn’t yet moved beyond the whole skeleton-who-harvests-the-dead-for-fun-and-profit vibe.

After Brian stopped laughing, I took a chance on leveraging our newly established friendship for a bit or information. “Say… Brian?”

“Yes, ma’am!”

“Do you know what happened? To Morty, I mean?”

“Of course!” He reigned in his enthusiasm before he continued speaking. “But I’m not at liberty to say.”

“Oh,” I replied as I cast a long look at Morty’s body. “I understand. It’s just that… well, I found his body. And I’m sure that’s old hat for you, but that’s not an everyday occurrence for me. It’s been pretty scary. And I think I might find it easier to sleep tonight—in the same place where he passed—if I knew he died of natural causes, you know?”

“Aw, shucks, Gemma.” Brian raised an arm to scratch his skull with one bony fingertip and let out a sigh. “I guess I can tell you a little bit. In the name of being a good neighbor and all.” He lowered his volume so I could barely make out the words between his raspy breaths. “But keep it between us?”

“Of course!” I leaned in closer so I could hear him better. Not the most comfortable position I’ve ever been in, but it wasn’t every day Death confided in me, so I might as well make the most of it.

“Morty didn’t die of natural causes.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive. This is my area of expertise. If there’s one thing I know for certain, it’s death.” He beamed at me proudly.

“How did he die?” I tried to brush off the discomfort creeping through my body as Brian cupped a hand over his mouth and whispered. “Blunt force trauma to the head. One good whack to knock him down, then another when his noggin bounced off the ground. That’s the one that cracked his skull.”

I swallowed hard. “That certainly sounds deliberate. Did they find a murder weapon?”

“Not yet. Detective Otto is on it. But you know how that goes.” He shrugged.

“Not really,” I said. “But I think I’m starting to get the picture. Thanks for the info, Brian. Your secret is safe with me.”

“How did you find out?” Brian grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the carriage, his voice taking on an urgent tone. “Who told you about them?”

“Find out about who?” I asked. “I just meant I wouldn’t tell anyone that you shared Morty’s cause of death. What secret are you talking about?”

“Oh! Haha. Same.” Brian released my arm and nudged me with his elbow. “Sorry for the drama! Just a little game I like to play with my friends, you know? The Secret Game.” He twiddled his thumbs as he backed away.

“That really doesn’t make any sense, but okay,” I offered. “I, uh…” I gestured to the shop entrance. “I should really get going. It’s been a long night.”

“Righty-o!” Brian answered. “I should probably get this guy back to the morgue.” He latched a gate across the back of the carriage and gave me a salute. “Goodnight, new friend!”

“Goodnight, Brian!” I waved to him as I backed up to the shop door. I kept one eye on him as I fumbled with the knob and pushed the door open, then spun inside and slammed it shut, latching it behind me with a sigh of relief.

“Hiding from someone?” Detective Otto’s slow drawl scared me out of my brief moment of relaxation. As if I needed any help with the whole general-anxiety thing.

“No, I just…” I took a deep breath and faced the moose shifter. “Kind of. I just met Brian.”

“Ah. No need to get all bent out of shape,” he said. “Brian’s harmless.”

“That’s what everyone keeps telling me. Maybe I’m just a little on edge, considering.”

“Returning to the scene of the crime, eh?” He ambled toward me, his eyes filled with mistrust. “Enough to make anyone nervous. What’s the matter? Coven decided you weren’t worth protecting after all?”

“Actually, they told me I could live here. And they want me to run the shop.” I silently wished Beau would hurry up.

“Aha!” Detective Otto cried. He pointed a finger at my face, regarding me with suspicion. “Motive! We already have the opportunity. Now all we have to do is find the murder weapon, and you’re done for, Missy.”

“I didn’t kill Morty,” I insisted.

“Like I said before, I’m the law around here. I decide who’s guilty.”

I started to snap back with a retort about the court system, but I wasn’t sure if Salem’s criminal justice system worked the same way as it did back home, so I thought better of it. No use making him dislike me even more. But since we were on the subject, I couldn’t refrain from prying a bit. “So you’ve determined it was a murder, then?”

“That’s none of your concern.”

“Oh, I understand the investigation is in your capable hands,” I lied. “But… you don’t think the murderer will come back, do you?” If the damsel in distress routine worked on Death Himself, maybe it would be equally effective on Detective Otto. “It’s my first night here, and I hardly know anyone. Should I be worried?”

“Come on now, Miss.” Right on cue, the Detective softened, his shoulders relaxing as he propped one hand on his utility belt. Do you really think I’d leave a lady unguarded after a gruesome crime like this?”

“You mean you’re going to stay?” Abort! Abort! An intimate evening with the not-so-friendly neighborhood moose shifter was so not where I pictured this interaction going.

“If you want me too,” he said. He pointed to a tattered sofa near the fireplace. “Down here, of course. Keep it strictly professional.”

“That’s awfully nice of you, Detective.” Please for the love of everything, go home. “But I think Professor Bacchus is on sentry duty tonight. Coven’s orders.” I crossed my fingers behind my back, hoping the embellishment didn’t come back to bite me.

“Ah. Well, then. You should be safe enough, I suppose.” He almost looked disappointed. I got the feeling the Salem Chief’s Department didn’t see much action. Might as well throw the poor guy a bone.

“I’m happy to talk to you about Morty’s death again tomorrow, after we’ve both had some sleep. Maybe something else will come back to me by then? The Coven said I could meet you for an official interview at the Chief’s station? At your convenience, of course.”

“Three o’clock,” he barked. “At the station.” He started to make his way to the door and gave me a nod. “You should lock this behind me.”

“I will. Thank you.” The sound of footsteps echoed down the stairway, signaling that Beau was finally coming back down.

Otto loosened his hold on his belt and cleared his throat. “We, uh… appreciate your full cooperation.” It was almost as if he wasn’t sure how to verbalize a simple concept like gratitude.

“Absolutely, Detective. I’ll see you tomorrow. Three o’clock.”

With a tip of his hat, Detective Otto excused himself, leaving me alone with Beau and Titus in the Little Shop of Horror. At least I wasn’t spending the night in jail.

Finally, Beau reappeared, Titus hot on his heels.

"The apartment is fine,” he said. “Musty, and probably not your style, but it will make a suitable sleeping space until we get it spruced up and redecorated to your liking. I turned on the lights and started a fire in the bedroom and living room to warm it up a bit.