The path ended at the entrance to a squat, narrow building. All I needed to find was a single rose bush, and I could shove the clue in his face. Honestly, why people thought being a detective was so hard was beyond me—I’d been doing it for less than a week and already had a prime suspect. Imagining Helen behind bars, unable to bat her lashes at Derrick, played no part. Witch’s truth.
I peered through the window pane, cupping my hands on either side of my head to block the light. Inside, chrysanthemums bloomed and ferns sprouted from ceramic pots. A pair of pruning shears rested on the table, but besides containers of potting soil and a watering can, there wasn’t much else. There wasn’t any evidence of a rosebush, and none were planted in the adjacent garden. Deflated, I slumped against the wall.
“Find any murder weapons? Should I have Helen arrested for not watering the plants enough?”
I scowled. “Rule number three. Everyone and anyone is a suspect. You said so yourself, and that includes irritatingly perfect stepsisters.”
“So, you do remember the rules.” He plucked a stray leaf from my hair. It was a casual gesture but it felt familiar, almost intimate.
“Just the one.”
“You did well back there. I should tell you, my men searched the garden shed days ago, and we noted Helen’s injury during her interview the night of the murder. But you asked the right questions.”
“Were you testing me?”
“Would it make you happy if you passed?”
“It would.”
Derrick tried to hide a smile. “Either way, thanks to your weird connection with a ghost, you discovered Ella slept in another wing of the house. The angle with her father is something I still have to delve into.”
“We.” I poked him in the chest. “Somethingwehave to delve into.”
“All right, we.” He caught my hand and rubbed a thumb over the dark symbols. “I’m not saying I will start trusting in all of your mumbo jumbo—”
“I think you mean magic, Detective.”
“Sure, magic.” He examined the symbols, tracing their outline. “How does your link with Ella work?”
“I’m not sure. This is the first time something like this has happened. The mark on my palm should have faded when the illusion did, but since she died while under my spell, we’re connected. Before she appeared, I experienced strange occurrences, chilled rooms, voices…”
“You heard voices?”
“Not like that, so forget about carting me off to the asylum, but it is strange how I was able to see her moving through the past.”
Derrick looked grim, his features cut from stone. “They’re only visions, right? They can’t hurt you?”
“I don’t think so. It doesn’t seem to be a physical connection.”
“If that changes, this partnership is over.”
I nudged him in the shoulder. “Is that what this is, Detective? A partnership?”
He was still frowning, but some of the tension drained from his features. “I don’t know what this is, but like your connection with Ella, there’s a first time for everything.”
I didn’t bother to deny the pleasure his words gave me. I had a partner. A reluctant one, but given time…
“So, what’s next?”
“Nothing. We’re done for today.” He left me leaning against the garden shed.
I hurried after him, noticing he went in the opposite direction from the way we came. A direction that was vine and foliage-free. My jaw clenched. He would have known this way was easier if he’d had his men search the shed. I had a feeling he was waiting for me to complain, but I would not give him the satisfaction.
He slowed so I could catch up. “I’ll be at the magic shop tomorrow afternoon. Be ready by six. We have an interview at the palace.”
I nearly tripped over my feet. “Seriously? You’re taking me to the castle?” I picked a twig from my skirt and noticed a dark stain near the hemline. “What should I wear?”
“Tessa, we’re going to visit a crime scene. Wear whatever.” He waved a hand dismissively.
