find them?”
I laughed. “I swear you have an evil mind.”
“Nah, too many detective movies. But you have to admit it’s creepy. Three weeks ago she hated your guts and called you the harbinger of death. Now she wants to drink lemonade and has your sketches on her wall. What is she planning? And if Anne Marie is working for her, what is their end game? Is she there to hurt Eirik or you? Tell him your suspicions and let him deal with them.”
I rolled my eyes. “I used to help Dad solve crime before I met Eirik, missy. I don’t need him holding my hand to solve this puzzle. He went through so much to find his sister, and he would be devastated if she is not real. This is the least I can do for him. Find answers.”
“Fine, there’s no point in talking to you once you make up your mind.” She started for the door. “I’m going to find something to eat. And FYI, it’s the least we can do for him. I owe him, too, for finding my mother.”
I tried different search engines, but I still couldn’t find Serenity House. I checked listings under retirement homes, health spas, nursing homes, and even psych wards, and came up blank. Frustrated, I grabbed my keys and left my room. Hayden’s head was inside the fridge when I found her in the kitchen.
“You have no food,” she said, closing the door.
“I haven’t shopped yet, I promised Dad I would this weekend. There are cold cuts in the drawer.” I laughed when she made a face. “Come on, I’ll buy you a chai latte and scones.”
“Now we’re talking.” She followed me outside. The second she sat in the car, her smile disappeared. “Where are we really going?”
“Starbucks, then my dad’s office.”
“Do I need to ask why?”
“To talk to officer Davies or Sullivan. I’ll keep Dad busy while you find out where they took Marguerite when she came to your store. Either she has a home here in town or she was staying with someone. She could still be living right here under our noses and using a portal to work.”
“Why do you want to know where she lives?”
“To talk to her neighbors. They could tell us if a girl fitting Anne Marie’s description lived with her until a month ago.”
“That actually makes sense.”
“Thank you.”
“Tell me about Vanaheim while we drive. I need something to remove the image of your mother being nice from my mind.”
I talked and answered her questions. She wanted details about everything. “You should try the meads in Vanaheim. They are fruity and taste so good. Because I drank too much in Ironwood, Eirik wouldn’t let me take more than a sip.”
“You were wasted?”
“A little. Their mead is potent. I met cute wolf cubs in Jötunheim. You’re going to love them. The little girl is so cute.” I didn’t tell her about healing her cut.
We pulled up outside our favorite coffee shop. We got two refreshers—Cool Lime for me and Strawberry Acai for Hayden. I got Dad a mocha Frappuccino and scones before heading to the police station.
“Are you sure about this?” Hayden asked as we pulled into the parking lot.
I turned off the engine and stared at the gray and white Windfall Police Department building. It used to be an ugly tan color before Hurricane Katrina.
Hayden waved a hand in front of my face. “Earth to Celestia?”
I caught her wrist. “Yes. I heard you, and no, I’m not sure. But I have no choice.”
I grabbed the Starbucks cup and the box of Dad’s favorite scones and left the car. Hayden followed. A young officer was on duty and flashed us a beaming smile, his eyes lingering on Hayden. I didn’t recognize him.
“We are here to see—”
“The chief,” he finished. “I recognized you from the pictures on his desk. Nice T-shirt.”
I glanced down and smiled. The pithy Witch expressions on my printed tees always acted as an icebreaker. “Thanks. Can we see him?” I asked, and he dragged his eyes from Hayden to answer.
“Sure. Go right in. And you are?” he asked, his
I laughed. “I swear you have an evil mind.”
“Nah, too many detective movies. But you have to admit it’s creepy. Three weeks ago she hated your guts and called you the harbinger of death. Now she wants to drink lemonade and has your sketches on her wall. What is she planning? And if Anne Marie is working for her, what is their end game? Is she there to hurt Eirik or you? Tell him your suspicions and let him deal with them.”
I rolled my eyes. “I used to help Dad solve crime before I met Eirik, missy. I don’t need him holding my hand to solve this puzzle. He went through so much to find his sister, and he would be devastated if she is not real. This is the least I can do for him. Find answers.”
“Fine, there’s no point in talking to you once you make up your mind.” She started for the door. “I’m going to find something to eat. And FYI, it’s the least we can do for him. I owe him, too, for finding my mother.”
I tried different search engines, but I still couldn’t find Serenity House. I checked listings under retirement homes, health spas, nursing homes, and even psych wards, and came up blank. Frustrated, I grabbed my keys and left my room. Hayden’s head was inside the fridge when I found her in the kitchen.
“You have no food,” she said, closing the door.
“I haven’t shopped yet, I promised Dad I would this weekend. There are cold cuts in the drawer.” I laughed when she made a face. “Come on, I’ll buy you a chai latte and scones.”
“Now we’re talking.” She followed me outside. The second she sat in the car, her smile disappeared. “Where are we really going?”
“Starbucks, then my dad’s office.”
“Do I need to ask why?”
“To talk to officer Davies or Sullivan. I’ll keep Dad busy while you find out where they took Marguerite when she came to your store. Either she has a home here in town or she was staying with someone. She could still be living right here under our noses and using a portal to work.”
“Why do you want to know where she lives?”
“To talk to her neighbors. They could tell us if a girl fitting Anne Marie’s description lived with her until a month ago.”
“That actually makes sense.”
“Thank you.”
“Tell me about Vanaheim while we drive. I need something to remove the image of your mother being nice from my mind.”
I talked and answered her questions. She wanted details about everything. “You should try the meads in Vanaheim. They are fruity and taste so good. Because I drank too much in Ironwood, Eirik wouldn’t let me take more than a sip.”
“You were wasted?”
“A little. Their mead is potent. I met cute wolf cubs in Jötunheim. You’re going to love them. The little girl is so cute.” I didn’t tell her about healing her cut.
We pulled up outside our favorite coffee shop. We got two refreshers—Cool Lime for me and Strawberry Acai for Hayden. I got Dad a mocha Frappuccino and scones before heading to the police station.
“Are you sure about this?” Hayden asked as we pulled into the parking lot.
I turned off the engine and stared at the gray and white Windfall Police Department building. It used to be an ugly tan color before Hurricane Katrina.
Hayden waved a hand in front of my face. “Earth to Celestia?”
I caught her wrist. “Yes. I heard you, and no, I’m not sure. But I have no choice.”
I grabbed the Starbucks cup and the box of Dad’s favorite scones and left the car. Hayden followed. A young officer was on duty and flashed us a beaming smile, his eyes lingering on Hayden. I didn’t recognize him.
“We are here to see—”
“The chief,” he finished. “I recognized you from the pictures on his desk. Nice T-shirt.”
I glanced down and smiled. The pithy Witch expressions on my printed tees always acted as an icebreaker. “Thanks. Can we see him?” I asked, and he dragged his eyes from Hayden to answer.
“Sure. Go right in. And you are?” he asked, his
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