A badly behaved witch, p.1
A Badly Behaved Witch, page 1
A Badly Behaved Witch
Keystone County Witches, Book 7
Kate Satori
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A Badly Behaved Witch
How well do you know your friends? Kate Brody is ready to enjoy her new-found freedom after closing her café. With a fresh start, a change in business plans, and a new friend in town, she’s off to a good start. Unfortunately, things take a turn when her friend, Daphne, is implicated in a murder.
Daphne was the last one seen arguing with the odd, cranky lawyer—and the one who found his dead body. With all eyes on Daphne as the most obvious suspect, there’s a flush of whispers quickly spreading across town.
Can Kate help Daphne clear her name before her reputation is shredded to tatters? Or is Daphne hiding a secret all her own? With a cast of quirky characters, and a mystery loaded with small-town charm, can you solve this case before Kate does? Can Kate’s witchy magic help solve the case, or will it hinder her at every move?
This story is a work of fiction. Any coincidental names and places are simply that—coincidence, as are similarities in appearance or actions. Also, please be advised that any recipes, spells, or magic mentioned in the story were created by the author for entertainment value only.
None of the recipes within are edible!
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be copied or printed without written and expressed permission.
Copyright 2022, Kate Satori
Cover Art: Kate Satori
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 1
Wind rattled against the shop’s front door. Snow drifted past the window. White-dusty patches stretched across the sidewalk, making it impossible to ignore that winter was firmly in place. The blustery weather and dampened chill refused to budge.
I wrapped my arms across my chest and watched from the front window. Smart people stayed off the roads. Smart people closed their shops. Smart people cozied up by fires at home, but there I was watching the storm roll by in my very open shop.
With so much to do, customers or not, it made sense to be there. I’d only bought Kindred Soul a while ago—well, what was Kindred Soul. I’d since renamed the store to Inspired Journey, since Rosie kept the previous name for continued business endeavors.
A shop was different. New. And I was still learning my way around the ins-and-outs of a retail business. Having run Enchanted Elixirs for so many years, I’d assumed I’d know all the ups and downs of business, but the inventory system and other measures were decidedly different from running a café. Profits worked differently, as did purchasing ahead, along with other bits and pieces I was adapting to. Now, moving product was vital to make room in the store, as was earning enough money to purchase new inventory.
The café, I’d been in the business for so long, I barely had to think about the pieces of the puzzle. I simply did what needed to be done. It became ingrained. Buying a new business felt like putting on a pair of boots you had to break in. Sure, they fit, but they weren’t made for your feet just yet.
My brother and I worked out a trade that would help us both. I’d sell Alex’s jewelry in a display near the front of the store, prime real estate in retail, and he’d work one day a week in exchange. Sundays for him, and then Mom and Dad each worked a half shift once a week to help. They covered me on Saturdays when things were a little busier, and a second employee was a blessing. Retired, they had a little more spare time on their hands.
Instead of working constantly, like I’d done for years at Enchanted Elixirs, this time I’d lean into a new lifestyle which entailed less work and more socializing. My café was a seven day a week operation, and I’d had enough. Rather than a Sunday to Saturday schedule at the new place, I’d decided to go with a Wednesday through Sunday schedule. That gave me two glorious days off each week.
I’d thought of hiring a local school kid to come in and help, but until the shop brought in more money, it simply wasn’t an option. I missed Avery’s girls. They’d adjusted well to college life, but had been such a blessing at the café while there. They were thoughtful, sweet, and enjoyable to work with.
As for Avery, I missed her as well. While we’d stayed connected through email and an occasional phone call, it wasn’t quite the same. I understood her wanting to move. She did it for her daughter, but it was still a blow losing my best friend halfway across the country.
Thankfully, Astrid filled in some of the gaps. Though, lately, she’d been busy with other things, mainly a new guy in her life. When there was a relationship in Astrid’s life, that’s all she lived and breathed. Life quickly pulled us in different directions. Whereas with Avery, we’d had years of history built up, and the sting lasted longer. And don’t get me wrong, I still see Astrid from time to time, but I’m currently at the bottom of her list.
The jingle bells on the door clamored, drawing my attention. Rosie stomped her boots on the welcome mat, to keep from dragging wet snow farther into the store.
“Hey, what are you doing out today? You don’t have to be here anymore. Remember?” I smiled, happy to see a familiar face. Kindred Soul was my happy place for such a long time, and she’d been an integral part of that experience.
“Hi, Kate. I was out running an errand, so I thought I’d stop by. How are things going?” She brushed off snow from the shoulder of her jacket.
“They’re going. People miss you, but a lot of our customers were familiar with my café, so they’re adjusting well. You chose a pickle of a day to run an errand!”
She poked around. “Ooh, I see you got a couple more tarot decks in. I love the art on the Spiritsong deck. Nice.”
“Yeah, it’s got a calming vibe to it. I’m going to host a class to help people learn to read tarot once spring rolls back around. Who wants to be out in this snowy mess? I keep picturing myself on a sunny beach down south, and yet, here I sit—still in Pennsylvania. What’s new with you?”
“My sister’s moving to town. Now that Dad’s fallen ill, she wants to spend more time with the folks. It’s weird that she hasn’t been here before. I guess Mom and Dad always flew out to see her instead. We were always in Pennsylvania, but below Harrisburg when we were younger. Now that she’s divorced, she’s ready for a fresh start, and combined with my folks, it was the right time. She’s about to make Red Cedar Valley her home.”
My heart broke on hearing the last bit. Her father, Bill, was such a good man. He’d been one of the area’s local plumbers for ages. “I’m sorry to hear about your father. It’s rough watching family get older. Your sister, is that Daphne? You’ve spoken about her before. She’s not into the new age vibe like you are, right?”
“Yeah, Daphne. She calls it woo-woo. She’s more of a hands-on girl. And she likes facts. Things that are concrete. Things she can see.” Rosie shrugged. “We’ve always been like night and day, but I’m still glad she’s moving closer. I’ve missed our relationship. When she moved up to Chicago, we drifted apart.”
“I get it. Avery and I, as close as we were…distance changes things.”
Rosie thumbed through one of the new decks I’d chosen. “The artwork on these cards are dynamic—so unique.”
“Yeah, a newer artist, I’m told. It had a different feel than the others.”
She put the sample deck down and brought a sealed one to the counter to pay. “When you have the tarot class in the spring, give me a shout. I’d love to do something with you.”
“Ooh, sounds great.”
Rosie tossed a twenty on the counter while I rang up the purchase. “I’d better head home. You should leave soon, too. Don’t get snowed in here. The roads are getting rough.”
I handed her the change and placed her new tarot deck in a small paper bag. “I’ll be closing up the shop soon. Thanks for letting me know about the roads, and you be careful, too. Oh, and good luck to your sister.”
“I’ll bring her in to meet you when the snow passes.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
I locked the door behind her and went to ring out the register. She was right, being there in the stacking snow wasn’t needed. Whatever I wanted to do could wait until the following day. Once I’d closed things out and turned out the lights, I pulled on my jacket and gloves and headed out to my car.
The snow whipped around me, dancing through the air on the wind. I pulled my collar closer to my face. My car sat with a blanket of fresh snow on it. Begrudgingly, I grabbed the shovel out of the back and brushed off the mess, while letting my car warm up.
Once inside, I clapped off my gloves, rubbed my hands together and placed them in front of the heater vents. Snow crunched beneath my tires
***
Daphne pulled to the side of the road. Red Cedar Valley. Time for a fresh start. She’d grown up in Pennsylvania, but a couple hours south of where she’d be now. Of course, it was snowing like crazy the day she’d rented the U-Haul to make the long drive. A squall lowered visibility enough that she’d decided to wait it out a few minutes.
She’d get there soon enough. The thought of staying with her parents was a tad off-putting, but financially, it was the only way she’d get back on her feet. After her bitter divorce, it’s not like she had many other options. Besides, her dad was sick, and who knew how much time he’d have left. Her parents weren’t getting any younger.
Daphne pulled back onto the road as the squall passed and found herself in the small downtown section of Red Cedar Valley. Her parents had raved about how cute the area was, but she’d never quite made it there. Year after year, they flew up to visit her, and there never seemed to be a reason enough to come back to Pennsylvania.
She rounded a corner and headed down the long stretch of road that led to her new home. Snowdrifts made it hard to find addresses. Mailboxes were covered, and there were no obvious signs. She’d set her GPS, but with the storm, it wasn’t working as well as it should have.
When the GPS noted she’d arrived at her location, there was no access to a driveway. Was it even the right driveway? A house sat in the distance with lights on, but how she’d get there was anybody’s guess. Daphne pulled over again and dug out her phone.
A truck rumbled behind her. As giant plow pushed past, piles of wet, heavy snow thudded on the roof of her car and windshield. She groaned. The trailer was probably buried. Daphne spun her wheels, trying to maneuver off the side, but her tires couldn’t gain traction. Great. I’m going to die right here, in a pile of snow, a few feet from my destination.
Chapter 2
I decided to take Rosie’s advice and head home. There was no point in sticking around. I locked the door behind her and went to ring out the register. Whatever I wanted to do could wait until the following day. Once I’d closed things out and turned out the lights, I pulled on my jacket and headed out to my car.
A blustery chill hit me squarely in the face, forcing me to pull my collar closer to my face. I locked the front door and yanked on my gloves. Snow whipped around me, dancing through the air on the wind.
My car sat with a blanket of fresh snow on it. Begrudgingly, I grabbed the shovel out of the back and brushed off the mess, while letting my car warm up. Maybe we didn’t get as much snow as places like Buffalo, but Pennsylvania had taught me to be prepared. A flashlight, a blanket, spare gloves, and ice melt were tucked into a bin behind the back seat of my SUV. Come winter, a shovel sat beside the bin.
It took a good twenty minutes to completely unbury the vehicle. Once inside, I clapped off my gloves, rubbed my hands together, and placed them in front of the heater vents. The sting of cold on my cheeks eventually faded as I thawed.
Snow crunched beneath my tires as I pulled out of my spot and cautiously pulled onto the main roadway. At least I had four-wheel drive, which would help in dicey circumstances, though it didn’t do much for black ice.
Coming into the shop was foolish. I knew better. Next snowstorm, I’d stay home. They’d called for a few inches, but it’d turned into a near blizzard with white-out conditions—or so it seemed as I slowly made my way down the road.
The drive was surprisingly mostly clear on the highway. It was when I hit my turn signal and pulled onto side roads that the reality of the storm hit. I crept along, then shifted onto a narrower path.
A plow had been through, but it’d only cleared the center of the road. Both sides of the road were piled with snow and stood higher than the row of mailboxes. Of course, between drifts and nowhere else to throw the snow, there wasn’t much choice.
I noticed red taillights up ahead and slowed to a crawl. A car with a U-Haul trailer sat off to the side. Were they stuck? How long had they been there? I pulled over. The last thing I wanted was for somebody to be stranded. There weren’t a lot of developments in this stretch of road. Hopefully, if they’d gotten stuck, they made it to one of the houses to keep warm.
I laid on my horn and waited. Was anybody inside the snow-covered vehicle? The car door slowly pushed open. A hand waved, as if throwing a flag of surrender.
I rolled my window down. “Are you stuck? Do you have heat? I can drop you off somewhere until this mess clears.”
“Thanks for stopping. I think I’m near the right place, but I can’t find house numbers. The mailboxes are covered. When I stopped, a snowplow went by and covered me.”
“Rough day to be moving,” I nodded toward the U-Haul.
“I know. Bad timing.”
The wind blew a burst of snow into my open window. “Is there someone you can call or anything I can do to help?”
“My tires spin when I try to move. You don’t have a shovel per chance, do you?”
“As a matter of fact, I do.” Grateful I’d put on boots this morning, I turned my hazard lights on, and climbed out. I opened my hatch and pulled out the snow shovel which would get its second workout for the day.
She climbed out and offered her hand. “Thank you so much. I’m Daphne. My folks live right around here, but I’m not sure which house is theirs. They aren’t answering the phone.”
I cocked my head. “Daphne? Any chance you’re related to Rosie? She mentioned her sister was coming to town.”
Her eyes flew open wide. “You know Rosie?”
“I just saw her before I left my shop. I bought Kindred Soul from her. Well, now it’s called Inspired Journeys, but yes, I know her well!”
“Small world.” She took the shovel and dug out her wheels. “You’d think I’d be used to this white stuff coming from Chicago, but I didn’t plan well.”
“Here, let me take a turn. Warm up in your car and see if you can get loose. I’ll dig out the tires on the trailer.”
“You shouldn’t have to do—”
“Nonsense. If we can’t help one another in a small town…”
“Thank you.” She jumped into the driver’s seat, and spun the wheels, trying to rock the car forward, then back.”
A clump of snow had wedged in the wheel well from when she’d spun her tires. I signaled for her to stop. With the back end of the shovel, using the narrower end of the handle, I pushed the snow out. “Try again.”
She rocked the car again, then pulled forward a few feet. Daphne jumped from the car and grinned. “Thank you! You saved the day.”
“Glad I could help.”
Her phone rang. She dug it out of her coat pocket. “Hello?”
Turns out it was her mom. Daphne had been sitting about two houses away from where she’d been going. According to her mother, the driveway was clear and waiting for her to show up.
Relief washed over her face. She disconnected the call and looked back at me. “I appreciate you stopping. Looks like I’m just about where I’m supposed to be. My folks live a couple driveways down. Would you like to come in and warm up for a while? I’m sure they wouldn’t mind?”
“I’m fine, but thanks. I live nearby.”
She brushed snowflakes off her cheeks. “Be careful getting home. It’s quite a storm. I’m sorry, I missed your name.”
“It’s Kate Brody.”
“Wonderful! I can’t wait to tell Rosie that her friend saved the day.”
I waited as she got in her car and then found her intended target. When she signaled and turned into the driveway, I passed by with a wave.
***
Daphne pulled into the freshly plowed driveway. Exhausted from the last-minute challenges, she grabbed her overnight bag and purse, and decided she’d unpack the rest of her things later. It was too cold and windy, and there was always tomorrow.
Her father waved from the open garage. “Over here.”
Daphne trudged through the wind, and spun in his arms, giving him a massive hug. “It’s so good to see you, Dad.”
“Come on inside and warm up.”
