Page 53 of It All Started with a Bite

I got my first look at the crystal skull as Ellie removed it from the display case. It glittered ominously as it caught the light, the empty eyes radiating a chill that was almost palpable.

Ellie was oblivious to it as she carefully wrapped the artifact and put it in a bag. The kid paid her and turned to exit the shop.

My pulse spiked. “Stop there! Gavin, can you zoom in on his clothes?”

The dragon newt clicked a few keys. The image enlarged.

My breath caught. The hoodie label was partially visible.

“That’s from MoonlightCouture,” I said. “Victoria took me there yesterday.”

Didi and Gavin exchanged a surprised look.

Mrs. Owens frowned. “That’s not the kind of place teenagers usually shop.”

“He was walking around with a whole wad of money.” Gavin scratched the back of his head. “Maybe he’s just a rich kid who got bored and fancied a crystal skull?”

“Can you play the footage again?” I asked. “I want to confirm something.”

Gavin obliged.

My scalp prickled as we watched the replay. “He made sure the cameras didn’t capture his face.”

“Definitely not an amateur then,” Didi said coldly.

I nodded. “We should pay a visit to Moonlight Couture.”

17

The Werewolf and the Boogeyman

Claudette lookedup from the cash register when we entered her shop twenty minutes later. Her eyebrows rose.

“Back so soon?” Her gaze danced approvingly over my outfit before landing on Didi and Gavin. Her eyes lost some of their shine as she scanned their attire. “And with friends, no less.”

“Don’t take it personally,” I muttered at Didi’s and Gavin’s expressions.

Didi recovered her composure and pulled out her badge. “We’re here on official Hawthorne & Associates business.”

“When do I get a badge?” Bo panted hopefully.

“When you can pay the rent,” I muttered.

“Ah.” Claudette sobered. “How can I be of assistance?”

I looked around the shop and spotted what I was looking for. “That hoodie.” I pointed to a garment identical to the one the kid had worn in the security footage from Mystical Moments. “I take it it’s from your current season?”

“Of course,” Claudette said with mild affront. “Our stock is always in season.”

“Great, this makes it easy,” Didi said curtly. “We need to know who bought it and when.”

Claudette’s eyes rounded. “What?!” she squeaked.

One of her assistants poked her head out of the workshop.

“Everything okay, ma’am?” the fae asked in a musical voice.

She floated into view, her movements ethereal. The shiny earrings dangling from her ears swung with her every graceful step.

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