of pillar candles onto a shelf, eyes darting back to them frequently as she worked.
“And this is Rose,” Annaliese continued, gesturing to the brunette who watched him just as avidly, with less amusement on her face.
“Oh, Rose Spencer?” The name clicked for Nick, she was one of the ones involved in the nudity incident with Annaliese, and he extended his hand to her as well.
“Do you have the sight?” Rose asked, moving behind the counter to stand next to Annaliese, ignoring his offered hand.
“The sight?” He fixed her with a puzzled look, dropping his hand at the rebuff.
“How did you know my name?” she asked, darting a pointed look to Annaliese.
“I didn’t say anything. Hand to God.” Anna placed a hand over her heart.
“Which one?” Rose smirked, nudging her with her elbow.
“Actually it’s my job to find these things out, Miss Spencer.”
“It’s Ms. Spencer,” she offered him a tepid smile. “What else did you find out about me?”
“Your name came up in connection with ah… an incident… involving Miss Cross… and a park… and…”
“Say no more,” Rose nodded sagely, “it figures that would be my defining characteristic as far as the police are involved.” She gave a roll of the eyes.
“You found out about that?” Annaliese’s eyes flicked to Nick’s face, but she didn’t say anything further.
“What else do you know about me?” Rose asked, drawing his attention back to her.
“That’s about the extent of it, your name came up. I wasn’t even sure if you knew Miss Mackenzie, or just have mutual friends.”
“See, I told you,” Annaliese nudged Rose back. “I didn’t rat you out.”
“Rat you out?” Nick’s brows rose expectantly.
“Anna tells me that you have been asking questions about the rest of the coven,” Rose replied. “But she also told me that you’re a very nice man and I have nothing to fear from answering your questions,” she added, in a tone that made it clear she was parroting what she’d been told.
“You think I’m nice? That’s always good to hear.” Nick gave Annaliese a lopsided smile before turning his attention back to Rose. “And good to hear you don’t mind talking to me. I thought it was called a circle, though.”
“Circle sounds a little less scary than coven to outsiders,” Annaliese replied with a half shrug. “I’ll give you two a minute to talk. Feather, I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me!” She called out before retreating through the archway, a last glance over her shoulder before she disappeared from sight.
“So, did you find out what started the fire?” Rose asked.
Nick blinked, not having expected her to come out swinging. “How did you know there was a fire?” So far he’d been careful not to discuss the cause of death, or the circumstances surrounding it.
“I saw the fire on the news… I recognized her house… she’s dead… I figured that made sense.” Her head moved from side to side as she spoke, weighing in with each point.
“Ah,” he nodded, not quite sure what to make of her. Her tone was pleasant enough, but he couldn’t quite shake the idea that Rose didn’t like him, and he couldn’t tell why. Maybe it was because he was a cop; it happened. “I’m not at liberty to discuss the ongoing investigation into the fire,” he answered with a note of apology in his voice. “How long have you known Miss Mackenzie?”
“Skye and I go way back, since she first blew into town. She was a beautiful, innocent, lovable, crazy goofball; my kind of person.” Rose gave a crooked smile and he saw the first bit of real warmth from her.
“When was the last time you saw her?”
“Last night. We went to a movie, but she cut the night short because she had a headache.
Someone who’d actually seen her the night of the murder… now he was getting somewhere. “What time did the movie start?”
“Ah…
Luis Jaramillo
N. D. Wilson
Diane Stanley
Andro Linklater
Hervé This
Steena Holmes
Charlotte Phillips
Marion Zimmer Bradley
Willow Cross, Ebyss
Erin Hunter