Page 14 of Tragic Ink
Chapter 6
By the timeI walked off the worst of my temper, the sun was high in the sky and traffic in the square was bustling. In preparation for Valentine’s Day, the gazebo had already been decorated with fresh red roses and climbing vines that had been woven through the railing. The lattice I’d seen being delivered yesterday had been set up and more climbing roses decorated that, creating a selfie station for pedestrians to stop at. Despite the chill in the air, the color and energy was cheerful. Too cheerful. It only made my dark mood feel even moretempestuous.
To top it off, people were still nodding and smiling softly at me as I passed by. Some of them even whispered a hello or an “I’m sorry for your loss.” Miss Mary Beth stopped me and asked what time I’d be home later, so she could drop off a casserole. She was too nice to argue with, so I made the arrangements, secretly a little comforted that so many people wanted to show how much they’d cared about Aelwyn. But it also served as a nonstop reminder that she wasgone.
My own grief was heavier by the time Miss Mary Beth had disappeared and I’d turned toward my shop. These people were grieving for Aelwyn, same as I was, but watching them do it only made my own pain worse. To keep from crying, I let it piss me off. God, what the hell was wrong with people today? When did everyone become so damnfriendly?
My phone rang, and I answered with a clipped, “Hello?”
“Miss Facharro, Sheriff Kasun here. You asked for a phone call.” He didn’t sound happy to be fulfilling my request, and that could only mean he knew why I’d asked him to call—and how I felt aboutit.
“Yes. I’d like to know who you released Aelwyn to and why you think you couldjust—”
“She was released to Rhys Graywalk, her oldest living relative per the legal code onguardianship.”
I blinked. “What?”
“Rhys Graywalk. Aelwyn was his legal guardian, right?” He spoke slower now, like he was waiting for his words to sinkin.
“Yes.”
He sighed. “And he’s older than you,correct?”
I didn’t answer. We both knew that hewas.
“Miss Facharro, I am sorry you were in the dark on this, but that’s something you’ll have to take up with Rhys.” When I still didn’t answer, he cleared his throat. “I am sorry for yourloss.”
“Thanks,” I said in a wavering voice and then hungup.
A quick scroll through my texts confirmed what I’d already suspected. Rhys had tried to reach out, several times actually. Two of the texts he’d sent had specifically asked me to call about making Aelwyn’s arrangements, and I’d ignored them all. This was my ownfault.
I reached the alley and shoved my way through the throng of people that loitered on the stairs leading up to myshop.
It wasn’t until I reached the front door to Tragic Ink that I realized the loiterers on the stairs weren’t just hanging out for fun. This was a line. And they were all waiting to enter myshop.
“Oh, there she is,” said one of the men near the front. “That’s Gwen. The owner.” Ricky, a bear shifter I remembered from high school, pointed me out to the crowd from where he stood second in line. “You have any appointments available today?” he askedeagerly.
“Um. I... need to...” I didn’t finish answering him before I shoved him and the man in front of him out of the way and unlocked the door. Then I slipped inside and closed the door behind me before they could follow. A few called out protests and whined at being keptwaiting.
I locked the deadbolt and didn’t bother with the lights as I strode to the back cabinet where I kept a stash of whiskey. The first shot went down harsh, burning a trail down my throat and into my empty stomach. The second was smoother and calmed the worst of the storm insideme.
I did my best to shove aside thoughts of Aelwyn—and what I wanted to do to the person who had murdered her. For the first time in years, the temptation to ink myself with a magical tat made for harm was strong. A vat of acid, a plate of rat poison—a bullet would have been too good for whoever it was. But then I pulled myself up short. Killing was not the answer. And I was not amurderer.
Someone else was,though.
I had no idea who in Havenwood Falls was capable of that, and it was nearly impossible for an outsider to gain that kind of access to the town without tripping an alarm—all of the boundaries were spelled for that kind of thing and the Court’s magic was strong. Surely, they would know if someone had breached their wards and snuck inside the borders. Regardless, I would be the last to know if something like thathappened.
Isighed.
Rhys was right. I couldn’t do this alone. I needed help. And someone who had access to information. I had no idea if he did, but he was the only one who believed in my innocence. In fact, without Aelwyn, Rhys was the only person I had left in the world, and that, I realized, was depressing ashell.
Ten minutes later, the whiskey had served its purpose. I was calm enough to realize I needed help and just depressed enough about that fact to realize the line outside my shop was a perfect distraction until I could talk to Rhys. I knew for a fact his working hours nearly matched mine exactly thanks to the bar he owned and ran near the ski area. Resigned and more than a little cautious, I pulled my appointment book out and unlocked the frontdoor.
The next four hours passed quickly. The first hour was nothing but scheduling as I worked my way through the line of people outside. It was a first, having my calendar full like this. I told myself it was a good thing, that having the bills paid on time would be a nice change, but this sudden influx of attention still had me suspicious. Four people had the balls to ask me how much I charged for the magical ink. The first three left easily enough when I told them to get the hell out without confirming or denying my ability. The fourth wasn’t soeasy.
The man stood with hands out, pleading at me from the other side of the front counter. “Look, I’ll pay whatever you ask. I justneed—”
“I said I don’t do that.” I leaned over the counter, planting my hands for more leverage as I got in his face. “And if you don’t leave now, the only magic I’ll infuse into your tattoo is the blood I’ll draw when I stab you with my favoritepen.”
