Read The Old Witcheroo for Free Online

Whiskey and Bel in tow, and grabbed a notepad and pen from one of the drawers in the kitchen island.
    “So let’s get this show on the road, guys,” I muttered, doggedly determined despite feeling exhausted.
    My legs were shaky, but my mind darn well wasn’t. I’d never sleep anyway. Not now. Not until I gave Sophia justice.
    “Boss, maybe Win’s right,” Bel twittered against my ear. “How about we wait until tomorrow? If you throw one of those gag-worthy frozen sandwiches in the microwave and pop some popcorn, I’ll stay up all night and binge watch repeats of the Gilmore Girls with you.”
    “No!” Bracing my hands on the counter, I took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Bel. I didn’t mean to yell. But I can’t let this go. Okay? Please?” I begged.
    Bel snuggled next to my ear in answer and Win clucked his tongue in resignation. “Then let’s begin. Tell me what you saw, Stephania. Every detail. Let’s write it down.”
    A thought occurred to me then, making me grip the edge of the smooth counter. “Wait, did you see her cross over, perchance? Maybe she’s in limbo? Alone? Confused?”
    I couldn’t bear that. I just couldn’t stand the idea that Sophia might be wandering around, looking for the light, alone and afraid.
    “There’s been no sign of her here on Plane Limbo, Dove. Surely you know I would have told you.”
    “Right. Also, she’s definitely religious. At least to some degree, if the cross she always wore was any indication. She probably crossed. I have to believe she crossed, Win.” Tears began to well up in my eyes, but I swiped at them with impatience.
    “Well done, Stevie. Good personal observation. You’re growing in leaps and bounds as an investigator.”
    Win’s approval spurred me on. Squaring my shoulders, I set about remembering as much as I could from the crime scene before the police arrived. Every ugly detail.
    “Cause of death,” Win said.
    I squeezed my eyes shut to block out the horror of that wound and reopened them with the intent of keeping my recollections clear and my details sharp. “Gunshot wound to the chest. Maybe the heart? I know it was the left side of her chest and just above her breast. Very clean, if I do say so myself. The blood was coagulated and dried around the wound, meaning it likely happened sometime earlier, and because of the way she was dressed, I’d say it was after she left her date with Dana last night.”
    “So someone who knew how to handle a gun, would you say?”
    “I don’t know a lot about guns, but whoever the killer is, they were either lucky or skilled. I mean, think about it. We didn’t hear anything, right? I know I sleep like a rock, but did you hear anything last night, Win?”
    “What leads you to believe this happened last night?”
    Rubbing the heel of my hand over my eyes, I pinched my temples. “Because she was still dressed up. She had on a cute outfit, matching shoes and purse. Makeup, too. She doesn’t normally wear makeup at the library. In fact, I know she doesn’t because I was forever green with jealousy over her gorgeously creamy skin. So it had to be after she left Officer Nelson and their date. Also, she was stiff… I think I read somewhere rigor mortis sets in around twelve hours after…after death. Or maybe it was two to six. I can’t remember.”
    I blew out a breath. It was one thing to read facts like that on the Internet, but another entirely to attribute them to something you’d actually witnessed.
    Win cleared his throat, and I knew exactly where he was headed, but I didn’t try to stop him because I knew we had to explore this avenue, even though this avenue was a dead end. I knew it in my heart.
    “Their date…” Win said, caution in his tone. “Do you suppose something went horribly awry?”
    “Like maybe he popped the question and she said no?”
    “Yes,” was Win’s reluctant answer.
    I crossed my arms over my chest and emphatically shook my head. “Uh, nope. I sure don’t.