Page 24 of Fresh Old Bounties

“Why would anyone want to mess with you?” Dru asked, dubious.

“Same reason Vicky wanted me out of the shop? It must be someone interested in taking over Olmeda’s witchy market.”

Mentally, I ran through the list of suspects. Sonia, Hutton, Bosko, Wilburn, even Veva were all on the list—after Vicky and Key, nobody was catching me by surprise again.

Everyone was a suspect.

“The Council wouldn’t just take it from you,” Dru said.

“I’m still in the probation period. They can and will take it if they think I’m not up to the job.”

Dru’s eyes widened with sudden realization.

“What?” I asked.

She pointed at me, her outraged expression matching mine. “It’s gotta be Preston.”

I wasn’t expecting that one, but, then again, everyone was a suspect. “You think so?”

“Yes. It makes perfect sense! He must’ve realized that I’d try to stop him from getting the Corner Rose, and as my friend and shop owner, you might get in his way, so he’s trying to put you off your game, so you’re too worried about this to stop his plans.”

That sounded farfetched. “Did he have the time to research how to hit me where it hurts?”

“It wasn’t a coincidence that you got the note the same week he shows up to check the Corner Rose. We don’t know how long he’s been interested in it.” Her voice lowered to a dark whisper. “How long he’s been studying us.”

That made sense. The timing was too coincidental. My gaze strayed to the windows, and I gasped.

“What is it?” Dru turned around, and her sharp inhale was even louder.

Preston was crossing the street, walking toward the cars parked on the curb.

“Look at that,” Dru exclaimed. “He leaves right after you get that call? Give me a break.” Her ominous gaze met mine. “Time to follow his suspicious ass.”

Her grim enthusiasm was contagious. “We need to figure out what he’s up to,” I agreed.

She charged toward the back of the shop. “Hurry up.”

I flipped the sign to closed, bolted the door, and ran after her. By the time I emerged into the backyard, she already had the back gate open and was pushing the Vespa into the back alley.

I joined her on the street and watched her put on my helmet.

“I only have one helmet.”

“I know,” she said, then tapped her foot impatiently. “Hurry, or he’s going to get away.” Her eyes narrowed. “Are you going to let him get away with this?”

I huffed. I was most definitely not going to let him get away with anything.

If he was guilty of trying to mess with me, it’d only help us kick his butt come Thursday’s PBOA meeting.

I sat on Bee-Bee, and Dru got on behind me. It started after a couple of tries, and I turned us around toward the Corner Rose. A few moments later, we were out onto the main street.

“Did we lose him?” I asked worriedly, scanning the cars for a blue one.

“There he is,” Dru said, pointing ahead of us to a red Lexus pulling out into the street. “Bastard still driving the same car.”

I nodded curtly and concentrated on following the car without being too obvious while Dru hunched behind me, muttering the whole time. Good thing she was a demon and not a powerful witch, or her intention would’ve made a mess of the streets around us.

About five minutes later, Preston slowed down and began rounding the same block, obviously searching for a parking space.

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