As much as I wanted honesty, I couldn’t do it. Some truths were bigger than attraction; bigger than whatever was building between us. The moment passed, and pretty soon, the carriage was rolling to a stop in front of the magic shop.
Derrick walked me to the door, checking again to make sure I hadn’t hit my head or suffered some other injury. It felt nice to be cared for. That luxury always got pushed aside in favor of survival. For the first time in a long time, my struggles didn’t feel so overwhelming, and a tiny pinprick of hope blossomed.
I listened to the carriage pull away while breathing in the earthy scent of the magic shop. There was a chill in the room. I half-expected to find Ella hovering in the shadows, but she wasn’t there, and I was surprised by the wave of disappointment. I’d become used to her appearing out of thin air, and found myself wishing I had someone to talk to.
The clock inched closer to midnight. After lighting the lamps, I headed upstairs to change out of my damp clothes. Finally dry, I heard the midnight chimes and returned to the shop, pausing on the bottom step. There she was, a silver glow near the back door.
“You’re here. I have so much to tell you. I think we’re getting closer.”
She stood motionless, then lifted a translucent arm toward the door that led to the back yard. It was slightly ajar. Was it open when I arrived home? Was that why it was so cold?
“Someone was here. They left something on your step.”
I peered out into the dark and found a box wrapped in red ribbon. Someone had entered my back yard and left the gift while I was away. It felt like a violation rather than an act of kindness.
Bending to lift it, I shook the box. It wasn’t heavy, but something shifted inside. Sensing unseen eyes on me, I hurried back and slammed the door shut.
Ella didn’t take her gaze off the box. “What’s in it?”
With shaking fingers, I untied the ribbon and removed the lid. It landed with a thud on the floor.
A glass slipper rested on a wad of tissue paper. There was a note tucked beneath the heel, which I unfolded and held up to the light for Ella to read aloud over my shoulder. Her voice trembled, catching on the last word.
“If the slipper fits, you’re next.”
Chapter 19
“This was on my doorstep last night.”
Vivian peered into the box and read the note. She scrunched her nose in distaste.
“If the slipper fits? The killer’s taunting you.”
I removed the shoe from the box, running my fingers over the smooth glass. Like a crystal spike, the faceted heel glinted in the light. The warning was clear:I know who you are, I know where you live, and if you continue to hunt me, you’ll be next.
“I told you this case was too dangerous. What are you going to do?” Vivian placed the note on the table.
“The shoe is evidence. I can’t hide it. I have to show it to Derrick.” I winced, remembering his reaction to finding me after my accident at the fountain. “He won’t be happy.”
Vivian chuckled and leaned back in her chair. “That’s an understatement. You should tell him everything. He needs to know Argus is blackmailing you.”
A knot formed in my stomach. “Viv, you know I can’t do that. He’ll think I’m working for the enemy.”
“Aren’t you?”
“No! I have zero intention of helping Argus. I just think if I can figure out why he wants information on Ironhazel, it might reveal a clue about Ella’s case.”
“That’s fine, but do you have to go behind Derrick’s back to do it? When will you learn that you can’t do everything on your own? You have to let other people help you.”
“I do let people help.”
“You do not. Case in point, rather than coming to me about your shop, you borrowed money from Argus.”
I couldn’t meet her gaze. “I handled it.”
“No, Tess, you didn’t handle it. You turned one problem into many. You’re basically a magician of catastrophe.” She sighed. “Look, it’s okay if people see you struggle. No one expects you to be perfect, and what happened with your mother wasn’t fair.”
“Stop, Viv. I don’t want to talk about it.”
