Page 34 of Jane's Story
Chapter 13
Idreamtofbeingback at the Grand Lakes Hotel, but the Christmas tree in the lobby stood over a hundred feet tall, and glittery snowflakes fell from the ceiling. Margery Blake danced alone in a corner. Then the lights went out, and the ceiling lit up like the Milky Way. In the starlight, Charles appeared in his tuxedo and asked me to dance, but before he took my hand, he faded into smoke. Then, a thief in a ridiculous old-fashioned black-and-white-striped “bad guy” suit charged toward me with an unnerving smile.
I woke up with a start.
Moonbeam was curled up next to me and purring. Sunlight streamed in through the window, and the dream faded. The unmistakable aroma of Aunt Penny’s waffles filled the air. Reality was the opposite of my nightmare. This home was the coziest, safest place in the world.
After brushing my teeth and running a comb through my hair, I made my way to the kitchen. Aunt Penny, Uncle Terrance, and Charles all sat around the breakfast table. Aunt Penny was in the middle of telling a story, and Charles laughed so hard he looked like he’d cry.
“Oh, this can’t be good,” I said to Uncle Terrance.
He shook his head. “Nope. No secrets among family, and I’m afraid this young man knows them all now.” Then he lowered his voice and winked. “You’ll just have to keep him.”
Embarrassment washed over me. My face was probably the shade of a ripe tomato. “Aunt Penny, what are you telling him?” I interrupted her story.
Charles shook his head, still laughing.
“Oh, nothing, just a few stories from when you were kids.” She beamed at me.
“Do I want to know which stories?” I asked.
Charles finally breathed normally but still smiled. “Probably not.”
I cringed as I sat down and loaded my plate with waffles. “Welcome to my life.”
“You all had a lot of fun as kids, didn’t you? I mean, with your sisters at home and your cousins that livedhere?” Charles looked happier than he had in ages. If embarrassing stories cheered him up, it was worth it.
“Yes. We were a handful, I’m sure.”
“Well, you all survived. So it couldn’t have been that bad.” Aunt Penny patted my hand.
Charles’s phone beeped several times, and he checked his screen. “Oh, well, this is a surprise.” He showed me the message. “The police took Lance Patel in for questioning this morning.”
It made sense, kind of. But something wasn’t right.
“What do you think?” I asked Charles.
“I’m confused, honestly.” Charles frowned. “As far as I can tell, it doesn’t benefit him to have Armond out of the picture.”
“And questioning isn’t an arrest.” I took a sip of water.
Aunt Penny and Uncle Terrance sat at the table with us and exchanged glances.
“So they’re looking at the guy who was arguing with Armond, then?” Aunt Penny narrowed her eyes. “But you think they’re mistaken?”
“Even if Lance lost his temper and killed Armond, what does that have to do with Margery?” I asked. “Unless we’re dealing with more than one killer.”
Charles’s face grew somber. “We need to look a little more deeply at the other employees, and maybe even the hotel staff.”
“Is there any kind of spell that can help us know where to look, Aunt Penny?” I asked. “Last night we were looking over the employee list, and something like that might’ve helped.”
She paused for a minute, then clapped her hands together. “There’s not really a spell so much as my glasses.”
“Your glasses?” I choked on my orange juice. “Sorry? What?”
“Well, you know I’ve used magic to help me with my job. Research is very tedious sometimes. So, I have a few tricks up my sleeve. I have a pair of glasses—enchanted, of course—if I can find them. When you read with them, the most important words and phrases will stick out more—like a bold font or something.” She stood up and rummaged through several cupboards. “I know I’ve got them around here somewhere.”
I bit my lip. Though the house was tidy, and I wouldn’t call my aunt a hoarder, stuff—an entire lifetime’s worth—filled the place.
