Madam Rosa hurried over, her long, skirt and knit shawl flowing behind her. The loose clothes didn’t hide her tall, willowy frame that was typical of dryads. She winked at me, then turned to Riley. “Welcome to the Tea and Tarot, where we brew magic one cup at a time.”
“Thank you,” Riley said.
“Hello, Madam Rosa.” I waved at her.
“It’s good to see you again, Kitty.” She ushered us to a table draped in a rust-colored tablecloth. “Have a seat and I’ll have your tea right out. Do you want the usual?”
I scanned the menu where the chalk glowed faintly on the blackboard. My magic stirred inside me, urging me to pay attention to the moonlight maple chai this time? No, I didn’t want any chai teas.
“The usual is great,” I told her.
She smiled and turned to Riley. “And what about you, young man?”
Riley’s gaze also flicked to the menu, which didn’t hold a single coffee option. “I’ll have whatever she’s having.”
“Splendid, splendid.” Madam Rosa bustled off.
“It’s hot in here.” Riley tugged at his shirt collar and eyed the floating candles, which hung interspersed around the tables.
“I know. Isn’t it wonderful?” I unwrapped my scarf and put it and my jacket on the back of my chair.
Riley shook his head and looked around, taking in the wall lined with bookshelves and the fortune telling booth in one corner with crystal balls. That was something else Madam Rosa had added since the last time I’d come. She was always updating the shop to get the edge over her competitor, The Enchanted Teapot.
“So what did we order?” Riley asked as we settled into our seats’ soft cushions.
“A pumpkin spice hibiscus tea.”
Riley grimaced. “I see drinking tea runs in the family.”
He must’ve learned about our caffeine intolerance from Lizzy. Most herbal teas were okay, but coffee and alcohol were a no-go since it made my magic fuzzy and hard to control, like I was a fizzing soda bottle about to burst. Maybe it had something to do with our being half-witch, half-fae. “I take it you aren’t a tea drinker?”
“Not when I can help it,” he said. “I usually have a thermos of coffee on me, but I rushed out without it this morning.”
“Shame,” I said. “So, how do we do this?”
“First, we need to ask her if she saw the victim yesterday, and with a little luck, she’ll remember him and who he was with.”
I pressed my lips together and traced the grain of wood on the table. Luck wasn’t usually on my side.
“She’ll probably recognize him anyway from the news, but it wouldn’t hurt if you had a picture of you and Graham to show her. Sometimes that jogs people’s memory more effectively,” Riley said.
I pulled out my phone and flipped through my recent photos until I found one of Graham and I together. It was from a hike we’d done about six months ago. Graham looked so happy and normal in the photo… so alive.
Madam Rosa returned, two steaming cups of tea floating behind her. “Here you go, dears. This will warm you right up.”
I took a sip, savoring the deep hibiscus flavor of the tea mixed with the creamy pumpkin, topped with a swirl ofvanilla. I smiled at Madam Rosa. “As usual, it’s delicious. Tastes like autumn in a cup.”
“Splendid,” she said.
“Oh, Madam Rosa.” I stopped her before she could glide off to another table and held out my phone. “Do you know if this man came in yesterday?”
“Why yes, he did. He was in here before closing, I believe.” She pursed her lips. “Poor dear. I heard what happened to him on the news.”
“Was he alone?” Riley asked.
“No, he was with a young woman.”
“Did you know her?” I leaned forward so fast I almost spilled my drink.
