Hex on the Beach (The Magic & Mixology Mystery Series Book 1) (17 page)

“You’re not arguing,” he said.

“I just haven’t gotten around to it yet.”

“So you’re okay with this arrangement?” He gestured to me on his bed.

“If you mean me being your prisoner, then no, I’m not.”

“I figured.” He sighed. “Don’t make me lock you up again.”

“Don’t make me…” I considered a few threats but couldn’t come up with one good enough to say. “I’m going to put a pin in that threat and come back to it.”

His lips flicked into a brief grin before settling back into
business mode
.

“How long do you anticipate having to babysit me?” I asked.

“Assuming it wasn’t
you
, then until we find whoever killed Leonard
.
”

“But that could be days, weeks… who knows, even months.”

“Not if I have any say in the matter.”

I cleared my throat. “I have a question for you.”

He raised an eyebrow. “That’s never stopped you from asking questions before.”

“I’m just warning you.” I looked at my feet and ran light fingers over my neck. My fingertips detected the tiniest bit of salve residue, but the substance had begun to sink in nicely. “It’s a bit of a strange question.”

“Like I said, that’s never stopped you before.” His eyes fixed on my fingers as they ran over my neck. “Feeling at all better?”

I nodded, though I wasn’t really listening. I was more focused on my own question. “You don’t seem as set on the same conclusion as everyone else. You accused me of it before, but… for some reason, I get the feeling you don’t believe it. Why?”

Ranger X watched me with a level gaze. He didn’t look surprised. “What conclusion is that?”

I scowled. “You know what I mean. The conclusion where you think I killed Leonard—either by accident or on purpose.”

“Why would you kill him on purpose?”

“That’s exactly my point—I have no reason to kill him.”

“I’m explaining,” Ranger X said. “You asked the question. If you want to hear the answer, then listen.”

I debated between lecturing him about rudeness once more then decided I’d rather hear what he had to say. Sealing my lips, I looked toward the ceiling before eventually settling my gaze on his and nodding for him to continue.

“The possibility of you being the murderer jumped into my mind, of course.” Ranger X stood, clasping his hands behind his back. “How could it not? You’re a newcomer to the island, playing with magic though you don’t fully understand it, and our victim visited you the day he died. All the indicators make you the perfect prime suspect.”

“But—”

“Listening is not your forte, is it, Miss Locke?”

I closed my mouth again.

Ranger X resumed talking once he seemed sure I’d listen. “My job is to consider every possibility. You were one possibility but not the only one.”

I scooched forward on the bed, listening closer.

“First of all, why would you kill him? A bit of digging told me it was the first time you’d met Leonard. Now, he rubbed many people on this Isle the wrong way, but not in the sense he’d be murdered for it. And you had even less of a reason since you hadn’t been here long enough for him to annoy you.”

My eyes followed Ranger X as he strolled around the table in the middle of the room, talking as much to himself as to me.

“I struggled with your motive. Which made me pursue other, more likely theories. For example, the theory that you made a mistake with the potion you gave to Leonard.” Ranger X looked up. “It was your first Mix. I found that out from asking around a bit, and I
also
found out that the chance you’d made an innocent mistake was entirely possible. You could’ve accidentally Mixed in a poison powder or combined an herb and flower to make a toxic combination. I’ve seen you only on a handful of occasions, and each time has given me more of a reason to believe you’re entirely capable of making a mistake.”

“Hey—”

“It would make sense. You’ve got a bit of clumsiness, an overeager desire to learn your trade, a need to
prove
yourself, and a vast array of Mixers, herbs, and flowers at your disposal.” Ranger X crossed his arms. “I have to say, I’m still not convinced it wasn’t a mistake on your part.”

“But I didn’t use magic,” I said, forgetting I wasn’t supposed to be speaking.

“That’s also what I heard. And if you didn’t use magic, that’s where we have a problem.”

I frowned. “What sort of problem?”

“Magic is meant to enhance, not harm. It’s against the nature of pure magic to be used for evil.” Ranger X unclasped his arms, letting them fall loosely at his sides. “Which makes magic used for evil a far more draining process than using it for good, for healing. Magic sort of…
fights back
against the evil user, I guess you could say.”

“Is that true for The Faction?” I asked. “These witches and wizards who want to take over the world with magic… is that part of the reason they haven’t succeeded yet? Because magic is more difficult to use for evil than good?”

“It’s one of the reasons.” Ranger X eyed me in a new light, as if surprised I knew about The Faction. “It doesn’t hurt our cause, that’s for certain. Magic is
always
draining to the user, but more so when it’s used maliciously.”

“Is that enough to stop them?” I asked. “Or is that not enough?”

“That’s a chat for a different day.” Ranger X crossed his arms. “We’re focused on you, on Leonard, on local business for now.”

“Are you involved in the fight against The Faction?”

“What did I just say?” Ranger X’s voice turned hard.

I swallowed. “I want to help.”

“We don’t need your help.”

“So you are involved with fighting The Faction?”

Ranger X ran a hand through his hair. “Why are you so difficult?”

“I didn’t kill Leonard.”

“I know that!” Ranger X’s voice escalated in volume. “The glass you used was coated with poison. I discovered it when I stopped by the store to have a look, after they found Leonard. His death wasn’t an accident, Lily. It was murder.”

“But… why would someone want to murder Leonard?” I asked. “And how did they know which glass to use? I didn’t even know he’d stop by. I could’ve selected any number of glasses.”

“That’s exactly what I wondered.” Ranger X bent over and met my gaze. “Can you think of a single reason why someone would break into your bar, line a coffee cup with poison, and time it
just right
so that Leonard would stop by and drink from it before someone else did?”

“To try to frame me? But
why?
I’d used that coffee cup a few hours before. It was mine. I’d just washed it out after breakfast. There was no reason Leonard should’ve used it…” I looked up, a sinking sensation in the pit of my stomach as I realized Ranger X’s conclusion. “
Oh.
”

He nodded and stood. “They weren’t after Leonard. Lily, the murderer was after you.”

An hour later, we’d exhausted a hundred different reasons someone might want me dead.

I threw myself back on the bed. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore. Someone wants my job or wants me off The Isle, most likely. But talking about it over and over again is getting depressing.”

Ranger X sat next to me on the bed. “Take a nap. You look like you could use some rest.”

“What are you trying to say?” I narrowed my eyes at him.

He stared at me. “Nothing?”

I let him off the hook for now, since we had more pressing matters. “I’m sure my cousins are worried. I should be getting back to them.”

“You forgot the little detail that you’re staying with me until we figure this out.”

I shot right back up on the bed. “Nobody knows how long that’ll take.”

“It shouldn’t be much longer. I have a few ideas of who might be behind this.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Really? And who’s on your short list?”

Ranger X shook his head. “Ranger business.”

“Where are all your buddies?” I asked, looking around. “Shouldn’t they be helping with ‘Ranger’ business?”

“Part of keeping you here is so that nobody
knows
where you are. Flaunting you would defeat the purpose of that secret.”

“You’d flaunt me?” I winked. “That sounds like a date.”

“I don’t go on dates.”

I sighed. “I’m going back to my cousins. I’m an adult, and you can’t stop me unless you arrest me, which you’ve already done once today. In that case, I’d ask you to please make up your mind if you want me arrested or not.”

“I want you safe.” Ranger X swiveled toward me, our legs bumping into one another on his bed. The close proximity felt more intimate than it should have, given the circumstances. “I didn’t arrest you because I thought you were guilty. I arrested you because it was the only way you’d let me protect you.”

“I don’t need you to protect me.”

“Do you want to die?”

I shook my head. “Not today, if I can help it.”

“Can you think of anyone else who would do a better job than me?”

I thought about mentioning Poppy or Zin, but their track record wasn’t great. “Aarik was doing a fine job of it.”

“I don’t trust him.”

“Why don’t you trust him?” I raised my arms in exasperation. “He could’ve let me keep choking on the floor of Harpin’s tea shop if he wanted.”

“As I told you earlier, I don’t believe Harpin was trying to kill you. Scare you to death, maybe… there’s no way Harpin would’ve gotten away with killing the new Mixologist in plain daylight. He’s not that stupid.”

“I don’t know about that,” I said. “The only people who like me are the West Isle Witches. Even Gus doesn’t seem to like me much.”

“You’re the center of gossip these days.” Ranger X raised an eyebrow. “People are curious.”

“I didn’t picture you as one to keep up with the gossip.”

“It’s impossible to miss the rumors.” Ranger X pressed a finger to his lip in thought. “People have been awaiting your arrival for
years
.
Longer even, some of ’em. Neil, the previous Mixologist, held his own as a fill-in, but he was nothing compared to your skills once you’ve spent some time studying with Gus.”

“People keep saying that.” My shoulders slumped. “But they have no reason to think that’s true. What if I fail?”

“You?” Ranger X scanned me incredulously. He shook his head. “No, not you. You’re too stubborn to fail.”

I looked at my hands. “I’m fairly certain that was some sort of compliment, and I… I really appreciate it.”

It was Ranger X’s turn to look away. “Stay away from Aarik.”

“I think it’s Harpin I should stay away from.” Subconsciously I raised a hand to my neck and stroked the skin where the salve had been absorbed.

“Him too,” Ranger X said. “He’ll be reprimanded for what he’s done to you.”

“By the law?”

“I am the law.” Ranger X swallowed. “So yes, you could say that.”

I swallowed. “Don’t hurt him. Not too badly.”

Ranger X’s hands closed into tight fists.

“Look, he hurt me, but I’m okay now.” I rested a hand on Ranger X’s thigh. “I’m more worried you’ll do something
you’ll
regret later. I don’t care about Harpin. I’ll just avoid him.”

“He won’t be bothering you anymore.”

“And what about Aarik?” I asked, keeping the conversation business focused. “He did nothing wrong. Well, except for the smoking bit.”

“I don’t believe in coincidences.”

“You think he rescued me because he was working with Harpin?”

“No, I don’t.” Ranger X shook his head. “Not in the slightest. But the man is high as a coconut most days.”

I laughed. “High as a coconut?”

Ranger X looked confused. “It’s a saying.”

“We say high as a kite in human world.”

“Well, here on the island, coconuts are usually the highest fruit on trees, so…” He shrugged. “Same thing, I suppose.”

I grinned. “That’s cute.”

Ranger X’s eyes turned dark for a moment. “Cute. Really?”

My heart sped up as he leaned close, his hands hovering just over my hips, never quite touching me.

“Call me cute one. More. Time.”

I took deep breaths. Part of me wanted to provoke him. Another part of me knew that’d be a terrible idea. Thank goodness logic won out.

I cleared my throat. “So why don’t you trust Aarik?”

“Besides the fact he smokes day in and day out?” Ranger X shrugged. “Not much. I’m not sure where he gets his stash. However, I do believe your grandmother might have a few in her gardens…”

My mouth hung open. “My grandma grows special leaves? Is that
legal
?”

Ranger X gave a wry smile. “She says she only grows them as fertilizer for her garden.”

“I sense a ‘but’ in your words.”

Ranger X laughed, the sound nice and happy for a change. “I have a strong, strong feeling she nips into the stash now and again.”

I gasped. “You have evidence? Have you arrested Hettie for growing special plants?”

“You’ve met your grandmother.” Ranger X shook his head. “I’d have to have a death wish to arrest that woman.”

“Don’t tell me she’s the one witch in the world you’re afraid of?” My cheeks hurt from smiling.

“I feel no shame in admitting that your grandmother terrifies the living daylights out of me.” Ranger X stood. “I think admitting that makes me pretty manly, in fact. Because the only people
not
scared of her are idiots, and I don’t fancy myself an idiot. I might be a lot of things that aren’t nice, but I’m not an idiot.”

“I propose a plan, then.” I rose, planting my feet next to Ranger X’s. “I’d be a burden if I stayed here. I know you have work to do, and I don’t want to be in the way. Can we strike a deal?”

“I’m open to options.” Ranger X crossed his arms. “I like to negotiate.”

“How about I hole up at Hettie’s for now? The Twist provides a good defense. Plus, as you’ve proven, everyone is scared of my grandmother.” I licked my lips, building steam for my case. “I accidentally left my book there earlier, so I can study. And my cousins can come by. And you don’t have to feed me. Or give up your bed.”

Ranger X looked torn.

“Look, I don’t fancy myself an idiot
either
. A klutz sometimes, sure. But I don’t want to end up dead. I won’t do something stupid and wander off.”

“I suppose I can work with that, if you
promise
to stay on your grandmother’s land.”

“I promise.” I didn’t want to leave his house. Not really. Something about Ranger X made me feel safe. But I also didn’t want to be a burden. “Thank you for being reasonable.”

“Let’s go before I change my mind.”