Murder Out By Caster Bridge

Chapter twenty-eight

As soon as I left my cousin's house, I drove to work. Of course, as soon as I walked inside the magic shop, Norman and even Maxwell were standing in front of the counter. Norman had his arms crossed while Maxwell was standing there like a statue.

"I thought I'd find you here," said Norman.

I couldn't help but notice that Melinda was glaring at Maxwell but did not comment as to why. Most of the time, I couldn't detect her emotions. Norman was calm, but Maxwell, while not expressing it, had an air of anxiety swirling around him.

I rubbed the back of my neck. "What did you need? Did something happen?"

Norman shook his head. "Not much. I did find out that Maxwell's power of divination only works with the person in front of him. He can't see the future. Only read it in tea cups or tarot cards." He sighed as a wave of disappointment hit me. "I was hoping for more."

Maxwell glared at him. "Sorry for the disappointment. It's not like I can do much about it. Why did you bring me here, to begin with? I'm not a child. I'm thirteen."

Norman smiled. "Because Mr. Newman told me you needed some sunshine."

Maxwell rolled his eyes.

I watched them with a small smile. "Hey, Maxwell, did you read Norman's future?"

Maxwell's dark green eyes landed on me before looking at Norman. There was tension in his emotions and his posture before he shrugged. "Nothing worth mentioning."

I didn't know what to even say to that.

Norman ruffled Maxwell's hair. "Didn't you want to talk to Weston?" he asked like he was talking to a little brother.

"Talk about what?"

"Everglade."

"What about it?" I asked as I walked behind the counter.

Maxwell shifted. "Well, the professor wanted me to tell you more about it. For instance, because you and Norman visited even for a short time, you're both now able to see traces of its magic. It may appear like smoke."

"Like when Mr. Newman teleported us and it was a black smoke?"

Maxwell nodded. "Exactly. It isn't all magic. Only magic from Everglade. The magic of our world has no smoke. I don't know why exactly."

"Did you say smoke?" I asked.

"Yes, I did. Why?" asked Maxwell.

"No reason," I lied. I didn't want to tell them yet what I discovered about Angela. "Is that everything?"

Maxwell shook his head. "No," he said and then reached into his backpack and pulled out a leatherbound dark blue book, and sat it on the counter. "Here. You can borrow this. It's a list of every creature that lives in Everglade. It may be beneficial to you."

I looked at it. "Thank you, Maxwell. I'll be sure to give it back as soon as I can."

Maxwell shook his head. "There is no need. I made several copies." He then looked at Norman. "Can I go back to the museum now?"

Norman nodded. "Sure."

As the two of them left, a girl with a blue hue appeared suddenly next to me. She had long brown hair with highlights and dark green eyes. She had on a red blouse and jeans and sneakers. She had to be my age. The worrying emotions around her as she watched them confused me. But then she looked at me and smiled. "Hi, Weston."

"Uh, hi. How do you know my name?"

Her smile widened. "A lot of us know about you. Luckily, I'm one of the kind ones. This place keeps the bad ones at bay which is good."

I narrowed my eyes. "Is there something you need me to do?"

The girl shook her head. "Not yet. But one day." With that, she flickered away.

Feeling piercing eyes on me, I turned my head to find Melinda grinning at me suspiciously. "Who were you chatting with?"

"A ghost," I said. I then gripped the book on the counter that Maxwell left and was overcome by extremely powerful emotions of devotion. I don't know if I gasped as whiteness entered my vision and voices invaded my hearing and brain.

"Why am I doing this again?" asked Maxwell, pen scratching alone rustling paper.

"Because a group will need to be prepared," said Joseph. "I am sure Leo told you that very thing."

Maxwell sighed. "He did, Professor Chaplin. I just don't understand."

"You will. Now, continue writing."

The whiteness and voices vanished.

I opened my eyes and found myself sitting on the floor with Ray kneeling in front of me. I went to talk, but there was something hard in my mouth that tasted like cherry. Looking down, I saw a white stick sticking out. I pulled it out.

"A lollipop?" I questioned.

Ray smiled, relief flooding from him. "Thank goodness. It was Melinda's idea. You just collapsed suddenly."

I turned my head to find Melinda perching on the counter with her legs crossed and a creepy smile on her face. "Sorry, Weston, I called Ray to help you. I'm guessing your sugar levels dropped again."

"Uh, yeah," I said as I went to stand only to nearly fall back down.

Ray grabbed my shoulders and I flinched a bit at the contact. Afraid I would have another episode. He noticed because his emotions spiked with guilt.

"Sorry," I said. "I'm... I don't do well with sudden contact."

Ray wasn't offended. He just nodded and released his hands. "I understand. I know someone else like that. Are you sure you are okay?"

I nodded. "I will be. These things happen. Thank you for helping me."

"Oh, you two are precious," said Melinda playfully.

My face heated up. "Melinda."

She just grinned. "I'm only teasing. Why don't you head home? You'll be no good if you fall over. Ray can help."

"And you lower my pay even more?" I asked. "No thanks."

Melinda laughed. "I'm not docking your pay this time. Now go on. Tommy, make sure he makes it to his Jeep."

Ray nodded. "You sure he should drive?"

Melinda smirked. "Ooh. Good point. Maybe you should drive him home."

My face heated up more. "Melinda, stop it. I know exactly what you are doing."

Melinda raised her hand, a smile never leaving her face. "I'm not doing anything other than making sure you are well."

"Yeah, right," I said, not believing her. She was trying to play matchmaker again.

Ray's confused emotions were making my head pound. So, I grabbed my bag and quickly stuffed Maxwell's book in, and slowly walked out of the shop.

Ray followed. "You sure you will be okay?" he asked as we reached my Jeep.

I unlocked the door. "I will be. Thanks again for helping," I said, climbing in.

Ray came around and grabbed the door before I could shut it. I looked at him confused. The confusion in his emotions changed to nervousness. "I know this is sudden, but would you be willing to get a coffee with me one day?"

I blinked at that. Was he asking me out on a date? That was ridiculous. "I..."

His disappointment pierced my heart. "I'm sorry. I only meant..."

I gripped the steering wheel. "Coffee sounds good. I just can't today."

Ray nodded as the disappointment faded into relief and a small ray of hope. "No, I know. You need rest. That attack must have been awful."

"It was, yeah. Uh, thanks again, Ray." I touched the door. "I need to get home and rest."

"Right," he said, letting go of the door with a nervous laugh. "Sorry. Be safe heading home."

"I will." I shut the door and then started my Jeep before pulling away from the curb with Ray in my rearview mirror.