Page 102 of Fresh Old Bounties

The landline began ringing. I answered automatically.

“The Tea Cauldron.” More like the frozen cauldron, from the way my voice came out.

It’s not the customers’ fault that life has thrown you a brick, then tied you to it and is currently trying to drown you, I reminded myself.

“I’ve been calling aaall morning,” said a familiar, petulant voice. Holly, the love potion girl. If she demanded her money back, I was hanging up.

“I just opened,” I gritted out. “What do you need?”

“Oh, nothing.”

Rainbows, Hope. Think of rainbows. And Fluffy. Fluffy running across a rainbow. Happy, calming thoughts! “How can I help you, then?”

“The potion worked!” She was all excitement now. “She baked the cookies, and it worked.”

“Wonderful,” I said dryly.

“We’re not paying you until we get married, though,” Holly hurried to remind me.

“Excellent.” And I meant it. One more satisfied customer. One less thing to worry about. “Remember. Don’t tell anyone, or I’ll cancel the magic.”

A gasp came through the line. “You were serious about that?”

“Yes.” I used my most severe tone. “So don’t mess around, or you’ll find out.”

“I won’t tell, I promise. Thank you!”

The chances of her not telling another of her friends were slim, but hopefully the threat would stick. It was all about balance—if personal life bad, then business life good.

I had looked up a lot of formulas when making my income spreadsheets.

“Another satisfied customer?” Bagley asked.

She still sounded chirpy, and I wondered what had put her in such a good mood. I eyed the shop, but nothing appeared out of sorts. No signs of a break in or dark magic spell. My wards were intact, although that didn’t mean much. I sniffed the air. No strange smells.

“Perhaps a shower is in order if body odor is in question?” the witch suggested.

“I just showered.” I took out my phone and browsed to my text conversation with Brimstone and Destruction.

Do you know Olmeda’s broker? I wrote, then pressed send.

“A broker?” Bagley asked, all fake concern, reminding me she could see everything. “Why, you don’t need those kinds of people, my dear. If you want, I can tell you how I ran my business without involving any other intermediaries. It’s very easy, really, and saves a lot of money.”

“As easy as murder and body dispatching.”

“Very easy if you know what you’re doing,” she agreed with obvious approval.

My phone shook with the mage’s answer.

Which one?

Great. Ian was right.

All of them.

Brimstone and Destruction took his sweet time answering. When he finally did, I was busy with two customers on the tables and Hannah had come to hang around at the counter, so I didn’t have a chance to check until much later when I was alone in the shop again.

Never dealt with them, sorry. Nice video, BTW.

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