Page 31 of A Jingle of Justice
“You don’t?” Her eyes widened, confirming my suspicion.
“No. I suspect when you researched the history of the Tillbury clan, you found out they had been wealthy. You imagined that fortune had been passed down to Tianna. You wanted it for yourself.”
She kept quiet.
“When you met her and saw the extravagant diamond on her finger, your hunch was confirmed, and greed consumed you. You were a baker. She was a wealthy heiress. You wanted what she had. You didn’t reveal yourself to her. Instead, you begged to be friends. A kind and trusting soul, she embraced the relationship. Along the way, she disclosed the family secret. Thatwas when you knew you had to unearth the treasure so you could be as well off as your cousin.”
She didn’t deny it.
I continued. “Slyly, you convinced her the current owner of the property would never let her take possession of the treasure. You suggested the two of you steal it. She balked, didn’t she?”
Idris pursed her lips, weighing a response. Finally, she sighed and said, “She wanted to go through the proper channels.”
“But you pushed back and?—”
“She caved.” The word snapped out of her. “She surrendered, okay? Because she was weak. Weak!” Her mouth twisted into a cruel grimace. “How I detest weakness. She deserved to die.”
Reddick removed the shears from Idris’s hand, after which Fiona soared above her head and dusted her with a silver calming potion.
I felt sorry for her, but I was sadder for Tianna.
Later that afternoon,as I was tallying up the receipts for the day—the book club tea attendees had cleared the shelves of all of the holiday bells—Joss informed me she had to hurry out. The retirement facility had called. Her mother was suffering and in the final stage of her life. I advised her to take the week off. Do whatever she needed to do. I could manage.
Fiona kissed Joss and wished her courage.
Joss shook a finger at her. “Do not go back to the fairy kingdom forever without saying goodbye to me. Do. Not.” She rushed out.
A frisson of dread crawled up my spine. “What was Joss referring to? Did you tell her you were leaving?”
Fiona perched on the register. “Just for a few days.”
“Why?”
“My aunt told me my sister isn’t healthy.”
I scoffed. “Not possible. Eveleen is younger than you and as spritely as, well, a sprite. Plus she’s a nurturer fairy. They live much longer than all other fairies.”
“Notthatkind of unhealthy. She’s not going to die.” In dramatic fashion, she mimed choking her neck, after which she tittered and added, “She’s got a crush on another fairy. My mother wants her to cease and desist.”
I laughed. “She’s lovesick. Got it. Go. Enjoy. And be a good big sister. When you return, we’re going to chat about you bossing me around.”
“I don’t boss. I bolster.” She flexed her arms before somersaulting with hysterics.
“Yoo-hoo,” Wanda called from the door. “Still open?” She entered with my father. They had been Christmas shopping, I presumed. A number of handled tote bags hung over their forearms. “We have a bit of news.”
Dad was beaming.
“You won the lottery and bought out Carmel?” I teased.
“Something better,” Wanda said. “Not material in nature.”
Fiona stopped her antics, suddenly serious.
“Tell her, Kip,” Wanda prodded, which was difficult given all the parcels.
He set the bags he was carrying on the floor, weaved his fingers together, extended his arms to stretch his fingers, and then dropped his arms to his sides. “I have?—”
“Seen a fairy!” Fiona cried. “He’s seen one. Was it Ulra? It had to be Ulra. You have a to-go bag from Hideaway Café. And now you can see me, too.”
