Pet Psychic Mysteries Boxset Books 5-8 (Magic Market Mysteries Book 2) by Erin Johnson (reading diary .TXT) 📗

was determined that we hadn’t made any false claims at the corporate level.” She crossed her arms and huffed. “I know my limits as a potion maker.” She rolled her eyes. “In fact, that was the whole premise behind Potent Potions. Really, it was Pearl’s genius to take such a boutique industry that requires tons of money and one-on-one knowledge, and instead make it highly accessible to the masses in a much more affordable way. It’s true the potions certainly aren’t as powerful in certain cases, but for most common wants and needs, they work wonders.”

I slumped back in my seat, arms folded. So it was possible for a potion master, if highly skilled, to cure a curse. I thought of Ludolf’s promise to have his hex makers look into a cure for me. Could he have been serious?

Then again, I doubted that offer still stood, even if it had been made in earnest, given the way I’d recently busted a shifter working one of his illegal money lending joints. I frowned—just how many of those did he have? And why hadn’t I heard anything from him in over a month? I shrugged. It made me uneasy.

I bit my lip as I thought of finding my own potion master to work on my curse. Not that I had tons of money or knew any potion masters, but hey, it was something. If there was a chance I could get my magic back and break this curse, I’d do just about anything. My gaze slid to Opal, and I frowned.

Now I knew how Maria Wu would’ve probably felt, along with tons of other people who’d been suckered into the Potent Potions scam. They preyed on vulnerable, suffering, down on their luck people, willing to believe just about anything and follow any lead no matter how desperate if it promised a chance at better health or a better life for them and their families.

I looked around at her luxurious townhome and scowled at the woman. This had all been bought on the backs of those less fortunate.

Opal prattled on. “Besides, it’d be foolish and completely ill-advised to try and cure a curse, or any illness really, without truly understanding how it came to be in the first place. It’s easy to do more harm than good if you don’t approach it correctly—could even result in death.”

I raised my brows. “More harm? Like turning someone into a lizard?”

She shot me a flat look. “No comment.”

I smirked. Yeah—I’d bet she was thinking a few choice ones, though.

“Could you tell us a little more about your relationship with Pearl?” Peter shifted tactics, and I watched Opal closely. I still hadn’t ruled out the motive of sibling rivalry in my own head.

She glanced toward the stairs, no doubt not wanting to be overheard throwing sand at her deceased sister, then lowered her voice. “Pearl and I were sisters.” She splayed her palms. “We didn’t always see eye to eye, and yes—” She pressed her eyes shut. “I often felt my talents were being exploited, but… we were still sisters.”

Daisy whined. True.

Peter and I exchanged looks. I felt like we’d gotten all we could from Opal and shrugged. Peter nodded, then turned to Opal. “Thank you very much for your time.” We rose, and she showed us to the door.

“By the way, I heard you arrested Ralph.” She raised her brows. “Does that mean you’re wrapping the case up?”

Peter paused on the stoop and licked his lips. “We’re still tying up some loose ends, but yes… looks like we’ve caught your sister’s killer.”

She brightened before closing the door. “Good.”

24

All In

Heidi opened the door to the clinic for me and waved me inside. “Come on in!”

I stepped out of the foggy alley, looked around the lobby of the clinic, and groaned. I’d come by hoping to convince them to grab a later dinner with me and let me rant about the scam that was Potent Potions to blow off some steam.

Instead, half a dozen small golden chests littered the plastic chairs and topped Heidi’s tall desk. “Snakes, you guys! How many of these did you buy?”

Will sat on his rolling stool and uncorked a tiny vial of glowing purple liquid. He raised it to his nose and sniffed. His face crumpled. “Ew.”

Heidi held up a finger. “Sue told me the worse they smell, the stronger they are.”

Will replaced the cork. “Makes sense.”

I dragged both hands over my hair. “Does it, though?” I whimpered at Will. “Really? You, too.” I threw an arm out at the chests and tiny vials scattered around the room.

Will lifted both bushy brows. “You left before the end of the presentation. You don’t have all the information.”

I glared at him. “I’m investigating the death of the Potent Potions’ founder and have spent all night snooping around in their dirty laundry, so—”

“Gross.”

I rolled my eyes at Heidi. “Figuratively.” I turned back to Will. “So I know plenty. This is a scam.” I pointed around the room at all the merchandise. “You should insist on getting your money back—immediately.”

“Did you know you can make up to fifty thousand merkles a month? A month!” Will’s already huge eyes got bigger. He sighed, his gaze dreamy. “I could get my penthouse back, eat at Oyster Blue every night….”

“Get my own place….” Heidi swept over, glossy pamphlet in hand. “Look! These ladies even earned the super bonus and got a company-branded airship! Eek!” She squealed, then immediately sobered. “So, want to join my downline?”

“Uh!” Will gasped. “How dare you!” He rolled over on his stool. “Jolene, we’re closer. You’ll be in my downline, right?” He winked.

I backed away from both of them. “You’re both delusional—I’m not going to be in anyone’s downline.”

Will looked smug. “That’s what I said, too… and look at me now!”

I shook my head at him. “Yeah. Look at you.”

I felt like I suddenly weighed a thousand pounds and just wanted to be sleeping in my bed. I couldn’t handle the zombie horde of