I had to tellAndy.
How could I, though? What had I really heard, after all? Two brothers shouting at each other, already in the middle of an argument when I arrived? And maybe I hadn't heard it exactly right.
I knew that they'd been unhappy with how Darryl had been behaving, but being annoyed with your cousin didn't exactly inspire murder. If it did, half of Molly's relatives would be dead and buried.
I didn't have any cousins, but many people had annoyed me over the years, and it had never occurred to me to hit one of them in the head with a hammer. I just couldn't see either Mr. Peterson doing something so awful.
Unfortunately, though, the past year had taught me a lot about making assumptions. I had no idea what could've happened in that hardware shop that morning. Neither did anybody else.
Nobody but the person who'd picked up the hammer.
I really, really needed to talk to Jack.
A wave of pure happiness spread through me when I pulled into my driveway and saw Jack's truck. I'd always loved my little house, but sometimes arriving home to find it empty except for my cat had been lonely. It felt like a gift to know that someone I loved was there waiting for me.
Someone who loved me back.
I blinked away the tears and swallowed the lump in my throat. I was just tired. That's all. Just overtired and upset at what I'd overheard … what IthoughtI'd overheard. All of it was making me emotional.
Jack stepped out onto my porch holding my cat, and I smiled at him. I was home, and Jack was here. We'd figure everything out together.
* * *
Turns out, tigers love chicken casserole.
I had two big helpings and Jack ate the other three quarters of the dish, while telling me about his and Shelley's adventures with Rudolph.
"I can't believe the new vet handled a flying reindeer with such calm competence," I said after I stopped laughing.
"It was great. She and Phin were champs. They're going to find out where Rudolph belongs and get him back there."
"Does she have any idea where he might have come from?"
"She has some suspicions. Turns out you can rent a live reindeer for your holiday event. Have you ever heard of such a thing?"
I rolled my eyes in disgust. "No, but I'm not surprised. It's a horrible practice to rent out a living animal. I hope that's not where he came from."
"If he did, we'll make sure he doesn't go back there. Maybe your uncle needs a reindeer to keep Bonnie Jo company."
I grinned at the thought of Uncle Mike's face if we asked him. "Do you think whatever Shelley did to make him fly will wear off?"
Jack stood and collected the dishes. "I think it already was. By the time we got to the vet, he had floated down into the back of the truck, and he showed no signs of flying when it was time to get out. I had to lift him down. Hopefully, Rudolph's aeronautical adventures are over."
My grin faded. "On a serious note, we're going to have to get Shelley some lessons or training or whatever apprentice witches get. She's clearly too powerful to just figure things out on her own. I mean, who knows what will happen next time? What if she decides she wants to see a flying elephant? Dealing with Dumbo would be a little harder."
I raised a hand before he could ask. "Disney flying elephant. Made me and Molly cry buckets."
Jack ran hot water in the sink, poured in some dish soap, and scrubbed the casserole dish while I put the jug of iced tea back in the refrigerator. Tigers, as I'd found out early on, like to wash dishes. Or at least my tiger did. It was truly a wonderful thing.
"I know Alejandro said Rose can help, but I can also ask Erin. She's a powerful witch, and if she can't come personally, she'll have some ideas for who might or what we can do."
I nodded, sighing in relief. I'd met the prince of Atlantis's magical wife, and she was wonderful and very kind. "That's a great idea."
Working together, it only took a few minutes to clean up, and then I walked out to the living room and collapsed on the couch.
"Well, at least we have one clue about the person or persons behind the crime wave," I said.
"I thought you said the video was blank?"
