He cleared his throat. “When does fall’s promise, slip from light into shadow, shortening the days?” No, no,” I said a touch too abruptly. “We’re not. It’s just that Beatty was acting strangely when he left our place the other day, and—”

In the Company of Witches by Auralee Wallace, Paperback

She needed me to fluff her pillow. At three in the morning. Oh! I just realized I could have smothered her with it, and this would all be over.”I smiled. I was kind of proud of myself too. I hadn’t gone into town in months, especially not to the bookstore, and while it wasn’t going to be easy, I really thought it was progress. I reached for my mug of Honeybush orange tea. It was very soothing. I probably should have made a pot to share. And I don’t know if I would call it madness. The woman in question was paying for her stay while her historic home was undergoing some much-needed renovations, and when you run a B&B you have to expect that on occasion you are going to have demanding guests. Although some guests really were more demanding than others. Well, if you insist.” He adjusted his weight in the leather armchair. “Long year winding down, colors blaze then turn to ashes, woodpiles awaken.” Regrettably, that particular incident had taken place in the middle of July, and Mr. Henderson, seeing the entire event unfold—save the snap of Izzy’s fingers—made it over to examine the ice before it had fully melted. Oh, well, Constance wasn’t a beautiful young woman,” Izzy said, shaking her head. “I mean, she was lovely in her own way, but not young. I think she must have been in her sixties. Which some may consider young, but—”

In the Company of Witches by Auralee Wallace: 9780593335833

No, it’s not, but Constance certainly had her fair share of people being miserable to her. All that business with her father’s will?”This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. I’m not sure I would call them grisly.” Beatty reached for the notepad in his leather bag. “My understanding is Constance slipped and hit her head on the bathtub?”

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Sky Corporate". Sky. Archived from the original on 26 September 2018 . Retrieved 25 September 2018. I was hoping the conversation might turn in this direction. “Beatty mentioned they had a falling out. Something to do with their father’s will?” It really won’t be that difficult,” I said. “I’m just going to the bookstore. That’s all.” We both knew it wasn’t quite that simple though. Constance Graves lay motionless on the floor, her eyes open and lifeless, blood seeping from her head.Roxie, originally named Dorothy, was Beatty’s older sister and occasional legal secretary. She also happened to be the local dance instructor, a onetime Vegas showgirl, and an infamous town gossip. If anyone knew what was going on with Constance’s case, it would be her. Izzy. Stop,” I said with a laugh. “You’re making far too big a deal out of this. And you heard Nora last night. Remember that one idea she came up with? The one where the killer would lose a body part for every hour that passed without a confession?” Well, in answer to your question. No, I have not tried.” I took a deep breath, waiting for the question we both knew was coming next. I would have had a tough time explaining to an outside observer what it was we were doing scooping up a toad on a bright autumn morning the night after a woman had died, but not being able to explain our behavior was hardly a new experience for me growing up the way I had, in the family I had. Oh, I never got to sleep. And I remembered you said something about maybe going into town, and, as it happens, I have to pay a visit of my own, so I thought why not walk together?”

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Sure.” As soon as the word had left my mouth, a bad feeling came over me. Like somehow I had made a mistake without even realizing it.For the record, Nora had had a word with Minnie’s dog shortly after that particular event. She was quite good at reasoning with animals—aside from Dog, of course, who was a bird unto his own—and the canine had been beautifully behaved ever since. No need for thanks,” he called after us. “But you know I’d never turn away a slice of the B&B’s pie.”