Fatal Fairies (Renaissance Faire Mystery Book 8) by Joyce Lavene, Jim Lavene Read Free Book Online

I’d say it worked out very well, wouldn’t you?”
    “Yes.” I grinned. “It did, didn’t it? I was thinking I could probably never duplicate that moment at the King’s Feast when I believe we fell in love. I’ll have to settle for this. I have the advantage of knowing how Chase feels about Isabelle. He didn’t really love her, didn’t even really like her. They just got along well . . . in other ways.”
    “You don’t have to mince words with me, Jessie. I know all about the birds and the bees.”
    We walked along the cobblestones as I thought about what this was going to take.
    “I have to get britches and a shirt from Portia. It won’t be easy since she’ll have me listed as working at the bookstore where I should be dressed in a peasant gown.”
    “I’m sure you’ll find a way. But how will you get Chase involved in the murder investigation? Since he’s not the Bailiff, he won’t be part of it.”
    She was right, of course, but I thought I had the answer to that too.
    “He’ll be interested once I get some information about Apple Blossom. I know that much about him. Curiosity and wanting to take care of people was why he became Bailiff. If he wasn’t here in the Village, I think he might’ve been a cop.”
    “Do you need me to do anything else?”
    “No. Not right now. Maybe not ever unless you’re going to reverse all this and put me back where I belong.”
    “Oh, of course not, dear. Where would be the learning experience in that? You’ll be able to find all the answers you need. I’m going to rest for a while. I’ll see you later.”
    I walked quickly toward the Main Gate. The Village was still closed, and things were quiet. I was too late to get a new costume which might have worked in my favor. The long line of residents waiting to get their clothes for the day was gone. That meant all the best costumes were gone with it.
     “Jessie.” Portia yawned, her face framed in the window at the costume shop. “It looks like you should have changed clothes yesterday. How are we supposed to get that clean for someone else?”
    “I’m sure you can handle it, and you’ll be glad to know that Paul wants me to clean up at the bookstore today, including his hand presses for creating the newspaper. He wants me to dress like a boy.”
    “Good idea,” she said. “A gown is much harder to clean.”
    She reached behind her and grabbed a pair of heavy cotton britches and a blousy white shirt. “You’ll have to make due with those boots you’re wearing. I don’t have any other in your size.”
    We both looked at my size twelve feet. I sighed, knowing I would have to wear damp boots all day. Portia turned away, finished with her part.
    “Thanks.” At least I was working on one of my goals, I reminded myself. I was going to get Chase back.
    I spied Detective Almond was headed into the Village, no doubt to work on the fairy murder. Beside him was Officer Tom Grigg. In my Village, he’d been put in as an undercover cop and had gone native, becoming a pirate on the Queen’s Revenge . It was so odd seeing him in uniform again. I followed them toward the Good Luck Fountain .
    “Can I help you with something?” Detective Donald Almond asked after a short walk down the cobblestones.
    It seemed he didn’t know me either. Another casualty of my wish.
    “I’m Jessie Morton,” I told him. “I might be able to help you with your investigation into the fairy murder.”
    Detective Almond was nearly a foot shorter than me. He had a chubby face, and his pants were always too tight. He didn’t have any food stains on his pale blue shirt yet, but the day was young.
    “What do you know about it, Ms. Morton?”
    “Not enough or I’d probably already have it solved,” I boasted. Maybe not a wise choice.
    “Yeah?” He studied me. “How’s that? Do you know who killed her?”
    “No. Of course not. Not yet anyway.”
    “You’re some kind of psychic, right? This place is full of crazies.” He