Yule Be Magical (Familiar Kitten Mysteries Book 8) by Sara Bourgeois (popular novels TXT) 📗

her out, or we can talk in the storage room,” I suggested.

“Let’s just step outside, then,” he said.

“What’s this about?” Reggie asked.

“It’s official business between me and Kinsley,” he said. “Sorry, but I really can’t talk about it.”

“I’ll fill you in when I get back,” I told Reggie and Dorian.

“You may not want to,” Jeremy said.

“All right, let’s take this outside. You’re being all cryptic, and I want to know what this is about before you get me really freaked out.”

He held the door for me, and then followed me outside. There wasn’t anyone around. Most people were still over in the square gawking, and no customers had returned. Some had started to cross the street to the Brew Station, so I figured it wouldn’t be long before we got some business at the shop.

“What’s this all about?” I asked Jeremy once we were about a half a block away from my shop.

“What did you overhear when you were doing your little ninja spy thing earlier?” he asked.

“Oh, you saw me…”

“Yeah, Kinsley. I’m not sure that stealth is your strong suit,” he said gently.

I wanted to tell him that I could outstealth the most accomplished ninja if I used a little magic, but I had to keep that to myself. Instead, I was just thankful he wasn’t angry. Not that he could arrest me for standing behind a Christmas decoration. Murder or not, it was still a free country.

“Just the victim’s first name and how she died,” I said. “But I put together that it was Pepper Howard who works at the grocery store. Am I right?”

Jeremy sighed. “You are, but that doesn’t mean you should get involved.”

“I didn’t say that I was going to,” I said.

“Yeah, but you were hiding behind a Christmas display trying to get details from the case. I think that means you’re getting involved, Kinsley, and I’m telling you now to stop.”

“You make a lot of assumptions,” I said.

“But you’re not denying it,” Jeremy countered.

“Is that all you wanted to talk about?” I asked. “Because Reggie and Dorian showed up, and I didn’t really hear anything else.”

“That’s not all,” Jeremy said gloomily. “I need to ask you something.”

“Well, ask away,” I said and crossed my arms over my chest. The tone of his voice and Jeremy’s posture were sending me all sorts of warning signals. He was genuinely making me nervous.

“Were you with your father last night?” he asked.

“No,” I said, not quite sure what to make of his question.

“What time did he pick you up this morning?”

“I’m not sure,” I said. “I don’t look at the clock a lot now that I’m not really working. It was late morning. Not too much before we arrived at the Santa house. He came over to find that costume, but he wasn’t at my house long.”

“So, you can’t vouch for his whereabouts last night or early this morning?” Jeremy asked.

“No,” I said and then it hit me why he was asking. “Wait, are you trying to get an alibi for my Dad? You think he killed that girl?”

“I’m not saying that,” Jeremy said and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. “But I have to…”

“No, you do not,” I cut him off. “No, you most certainly do not. You do not have to investigate my Dad. Jeremy, you and I both know he had nothing to do with this. He found that poor woman when he was dropping something off. He didn’t kill her.”

“Kinsley, please calm down,” Jeremy said.

“Oh, no. Don’t you ask me to alibi my father and then tell me to calm down. I have every right to be angry,” I said.

“I’m doing my job,” Jeremy said firmly. “I have to ask. I don’t think he killed the woman, but I have to ask. I have to follow the law and not let my personal feelings about your family get in the way. Thorn has already had to take himself off the case because he’s too close to it. I don’t want to have to do the same thing and leave one of the less experienced deputies in charge.”

“Thorn’s off the case?” I asked. I felt myself relax at that. I guess it was better than Thorn having to help investigate my father. Not that there would be much of an inquiry when it came to Dad. Of course he had nothing to do with it.

“I’m going to talk to your mother,” Jeremy said. “I’m going to do that when I accompany your father home. He said he gave you a ride, though. I think it would be better if you didn’t come along. Can you find another way home? Perhaps Thorn could give you a ride?”

“I can get a ride,” I said.

“Why don’t you get a ride with Thorn?” he said again.

“You lose all illusion of objectivity when you start meddling in my personal life,” I said. “One or the other, Jeremy.”

“Don’t be like that, Kinsley. I saw you two earlier. You have a chance to work this out,” Jeremy said.

“He’s the one that walked out on our wedding. You know that because you were there begging him not to,” I said. “So why are you pushing me now?”

“Because you both need to get over yourselves and get it together. You belong together. Everyone but the two of you can see it. So, knock it off and make it work,” he said.

“What if he’s not who we think he is?” I couldn’t believe I was bringing it up, but I had to know. Knowing for sure was the only way to shut off the worried little voice in my brain.

“What do you mean?” Jeremy asked.

“I’m not sure if I should say anything,” I said.

“Spill it,” Jeremy demanded in that annoying big brother tone he took with me sometimes.

“Fine,” I said and blew out a breath dramatically. “Azriel told me some things that made me doubt that Thorn had the evidence against him to prove that he tried to have me killed. What if Thorn