A Potion to Die For: A Magic Potion Mystery by Heather Blake Read Free Book Online Page A

. . I hoped the potion would give him back a little confidence. You can help with another potion, right? Please tell me you can help.” Her voice dropped. “A girl has needs, you know?”
    I knew that, too. If Emmylou had a clue about my near-celibate life, she’d probably melt on the sidewalk in a puddle of disbelief. Or maybe
relief
that she didn’t share my fate. Well, up till now.
    “I can help, but you’re probably going to have to tell him about the potion.” I couldn’t imagine how she’d get him to drink it otherwise—plus, he’d probably welcome the help. “The shop’s closed today, but stop by tomorrow. Hopefully by then I’ll reopen.”
    Emmylou heaved an exasperated sigh. “Tomorrow? I’ve got to wait till tomorrow? Really?”
    “Nothing I can do about it. Sheriff’s orders.”
    Her hands fluttered over her chest. “I heard about poor Nelson Winston. Bless his heart.”
    Inhaling deeply, I decided this wasn’t the time to explain to Emmylou that in this town “Bless your heart” was a thinly veiled put-down and not at all the endearment Emmylou thought it was.
    Or maybe she did know. “Were you friends with Nelson?”
    She waved a hand. “Of course. Isn’t everyone? He and Dudley were close, and he’s been my lawyer since moving to town. I thought him to be a perfectly lovely man. A true gentleman. I was sorry to hear about his passing, especially the way it happened. Tragic. Dudley’s beside himself.”
    Well, that wasn’t going to help his
dudliness
at all.
    I couldn’t help thinking about what Emmylou said. Nelson did seem to be friendly with everyone in town—but obviously someone had had an issue with him. “Did you hear Nelson was thinking about taking a job in the city?”
    Her eyes widened. “I hadn’t, but I’m not surprised. He’s a mighty good lawyer, and the case with Coach Butts has garnered him a lot of attention.”
    Heat bugs buzzed as I once again wondered if there was a connection between Coach Butts and Nelson’s death. And how I could find out.
    Emmylou tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Well, I best be going. I’m meeting Dudley for a picnic later to hopefully take his mind off Nelson, catering two wedding parties tonight, and tomorrow I’ll be taking the food truck to the church’s white-elephant sale and Johnny Braxton’s extravaganza. Lots to do! Busy, busy, busy! But I’ll be sure to make time to stop in and pick up that potion.”
    Johnny’s extravaganza. I’d forgotten all about it—but now Mama’s costume made some sense. Johnny Braxton was my mother’s biggest competitor, always trying to woo couples to his chapel, The Little Wedding Chapel of Love, with themed events. There was nothing my mama liked better than showing him up, even if it meant playing unfairly.
    She surely had something planned to sabotage his event.
    As I watched Emmylou strut away, her ruffles flouncing, she suddenly whirled around. “I just had a notion. You know who might have more information about Nelson?”
    “Who?”
    “Nelson’s girlfriend.”
    “He has a girlfriend?” This was the first I had heard of it. “Who is she? Someone local?”
    “Oh, I don’t know
who
it is. Just that he has one. A woman can tell these things, and there was definitely a new girl in his life. Someone serious, too, if his behavior was any indication. Find her, Carly Hartwell, and you’ll find the answers to some of your questions.”

Chapter Five
    T he phone was ringing as I came in the back door, the one that led straight into the kitchen. I snatched the cordless from the wall and breathlessly said, “Hello!”
    “Heavens above, child. Do you know what your mama is up to?”
    “I’m sorry, I think you have the wrong number.”
    “Not funny, Carlina Hartwell.”
    “Daddy, I’m busy,” I said, trying to head off my father’s vocal, impassioned disapproval of my mother’s behavior. “You knew what Mama was like when you asked her to marry you.”
    “Thirty