Page 30 of Of Magic and Murder

“I— what. How am I… no. No, I’m sorry, but no.”

“What did she say?”

That’s right. Riordan picked up on my reaction and knew we had company. Based on one side of the conversation, he’s gotten enough context clues to follow along, but he can’t see Olivia. He can’t talk to her. If I want him to know what’s going on, I have to tell him.

“She asked me if we know who killed her yet.”

Riordan follows the point of my stare so that he can address Olivia despite not being able to see her. “I’m good, but I’m not that good. I only got back to Moonburrow this morning. Give me a little time to review the case and I’m sure I’ll have a few leads to follow.”

“I didn’t ask him. I asked you.”

“We’re working together,” I tell Olivia.

She huffs. “Of course you are. Why am I not surprised? Okay. We got Watson and Holmes here.” The ghost waves one hand at me. “I’m sure you’re gonna be Watson, Penelope. But if this is what it takes for me to get my revenge⁠—”

“Closure.”

“Sure. I guess I can wait a little longer for the Alpha’s brother to dig around and show off. At least someone cares about me.”

I don’t have the heart to tell Olivia that Riordan doesn’t care that she died. He just wants to make sure there aren’t any other murders in Moonburrow.

“She says you can solve her murder for her.”

“How kind of you, Olivia,” Riordan says wryly.

“You’re welcome.”

“She says you’re welcome,” I translate. Riordan’s face creases into a small smile. “What? She did.”

“I believe you, Pen. And this is all the more reason why I need you to work with me. I don’t know what she’s saying, but you do. Do you think I could ask her some questions and you can tell me her answers?”

I look at Olivia.

She lets out a put-upon sigh. “Very well.”

I nod.

“Who killed you?”

Olivia’s sigh becomes a bleating laugh. “This is the best we have? Doesn’t he think I would’ve told you that if I could? No. You’re supposed to figure that out. Not me.”

I try my best to keep my patience. “I’m sure Riordan didn’t expect you to give him a name. But he wasn’t there when we found your body. He doesn’t know what you told us. He’s just gathering information, Olivia. That’s all.”

She sniffs, a little mollified. “Then tell him it was a wolf.”

I do.

“A big one. With black fur.”

I repeat what she said.

Riordan’s lips go tight at the corners. “There aren’t that many alphas in Moonburrow with black fur. It might’ve been a delta… we have plenty of those… but if it was a big wolf… What about the eyes?”

“Gold. Just like yours.”

I swallow a nervous lump in my throat. “She says they look like yours.” And then, because sometimes I can be a real glutton for punishment, I say, “I’ve never seen you in your fur. What color is your wolf?”

“Black,” he says flatly. “So it was a shifted wolf. You saw him before he attacked?”