A Charming Crime Read Online Free PDF

nose. “I’m Gerald Regiula. I own The Gathering Grove. You should stop in
and have a cup. And bring your friend.” He glanced over my shoulder looking at
Mr. Prince Charming, who had jumped up on the Green Machine’s roof and began to
clean himself.
    “Thank you.”
There wasn’t any more time for me to spare. I had already wasted the few
minutes I had been in Whispering Falls, when I should’ve been in Locust Grove working
on Darla’s Mr. Sandman’s Sprinkle.
    “And, if I might
add, you should stop in Bellatrix Baubles.” He gestured down the road. “She has
some amazing charms to add to your collection.”
    I followed
Gerald’s eyes because he wasn’t talking to me. He was talking to Mr. Prince
Charming. And for a second, I could’ve sworn I saw Mr. Prince Charming nod.

 
    Chapter
Four
    “Traitor,” I
scolded Mr. Prince Charming as I drove down the main street. I noticed the dash
clock read that I had been in the village for over three hours. I drummed my
fingers on the steering wheel. It didn’t seem that long. Just like when you
went to the circus. You’re there for a couple of hours, but you were so
entertained that it only felt like fifteen minutes.
    Mr. Prince
Charming stared at me like he knew exactly what I was saying.
    “You were the life
of the party.” Reaching under the driver’s seat, I pulled out a Ding Dong I had
stashed in case of an emergency. Hearing an evil spirit was after me definitely
qualified as an emergency. The foil crinkled as I unwrapped it, and Mr. Prince
Charming knew what was coming next. I tore off a piece of chocolate and fed
him. “You weren’t the same cat.”
    Purr, purr. He wiggled his
head under my hand and took the chocolaty treat.
    We passed a few
more of the cottage shops. When someone rushed in front of the Green Machine, I
slammed on the brakes.
    Mewwwwlll,
hissss. Mr.
Prince Charming’s claws dug in the vinyl dash board where he caught himself.
    “Sorry, buddy.”
Ducking my head around his hanging body to see if I saw anyone on the street.
There hadn’t been a thud, so I knew I hadn’t hit someone, but I swore I’d saw
someone.
    Creak, creak. A wooden sign
hanging from its hinges caught my eye. I gasped, threw the El Camino in park,
and jumped out, leaving Mr. Prince Charming in the car.
    The sign looked
awfully familiar. Scraping the moss off the rotted sign, I gaped in wonder.
    “A Dose of
Darla.”
    No. It couldn’t
be. There was no way Darla had a shop here or any place other than the flea
market or I’d have known about it, though it was vaguely familiar. Kind
of like déjà vu.
    I couldn’t
comprehend what was going on. Dizzy, everything spun around me. I held on to the
gate to keep from falling.
    The sign hung in
front of a small cottage.
    Two little windows
were covered in moss, and the rest of the outside was covered in the most
beautifully wisteria vine. The purple and white flowers grew up and around the
front door.
    Cautiously, I
opened the front gate and moved in for a closer look. Wiping my hands across
the window, I took a quick peek inside; only it was too dark to see.
    “Can I help
you?” Someone’s voice startled me, causing me to jump around, landing in my
best karate position. “Whoa. I’m only wanting to help.” The woman’s wonderful
low voice was soft and clear. She stood with her hands folded in front of her.
She wore a turban like Ann, but she was all smiles instead of snarls.
    “Did you see
someone out here?” I did a 360 degree turn, keeping my hands in the air, just
in case I had to chop someone. I’d seen a man, not a woman with a turban on,
run out in front of me. I was sure of it.
    “Man? No. If you
are looking for a man, you’ve come to the wrong village.” She tapped her
temple. “Though I do think there is a romance village with a matchmaker, this
is not that village.” She giggled. “If you are looking for answers you
seek while getting those horrid fingernails of yours manicured, you’ve come