magical cures 06.5 - a charming christmas Read Online Free PDF

hesitated, “I was going to see if Oscar wanted a week off so I could get away from all the drama going on over at the bookstore.”
    My heart pounded. There was something really off. Colton confirmed they were working the split shift, but Oscar wasn’t. He was working every day, not every other day nor was he stopping in the shop to see me, not that he had to.
    My bag glowed, letting me know Madame Torres had something to tell me. I snugged it closer. There was no way I could pull her out and see what she needed while Colton was in front of me.
    Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Mr. Prince Charming flicked the jolly jingle in the air with the bells attached to his tail.
    Colton laughed, grabbing the ringing phone. “Whispering Falls Police. This is Sheriff Lance.” He paused. “I’ll be right there.” He slammed down the phone. “Sorry to cut our visit short. I’ve got a theft in progress at Bella’s Baubles.”
    Both of us rushed out of the police station and down the street, weaving in and out of the last minute shoppers of the day.
     “What happened?” I wrapped my arms around Bella.
    She stood in front of Bella’s Baubles shivering with no coat on. I tried to keep the cutting wind rushing down from the mountains through Whispering Falls off of her but I realized it was her nerves causing her teeth to rattle. 
    Colton had his flashlight out looking around the crime scene. I looked around to see where Oscar was. I figured if he was out and about making sure the shop owners were okay with the new bazaar shoppers, or keeping an eye on things, he’d get wind of the theft. Plus everyone was gathered around us. Everyone but him.
    The snow was falling at a fast rate, it was hard to stand there and not shiver.
    “I was having the best day. New customers bringing in new business, plus the old ones came in. I was so busy that I haven’t left the shop until a few minutes ago when I closed. I was going to go over to The Gathering Grove to grab a cup of Nightfall tea when I noticed,” her voice cracked, a glazed look of despair began to spread over her face.
    The pink Christmas trees were gone; the garland around the door was gone. The only thing left was a couple broken ornaments which had been smashed like they were trampled.
    “I have no idea who could’ve done this.” She buried her face into her hands.
    I bit my lip until it throbbed like my pulse. It felt like ice was spreading through my stomach as my intuition told me this was not the last we were going to see of the Whispering Falls Grinch.

 
     
    Chapter Four
     
    “I can see why someone would want to rip this happy ho-ho stuff out of their life.” Petunia groaned with a warm cup of decaffeinated tea between her hands as we gathered in Ever After Books after hours while Colton did the best he could trying to find any type of evidence. It was very hard since the entire area was covered in snow.
    Ophelia Biblio had a roaring fire in the floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace. The large comfy couches were filled with me, Petunia, Chandra, Bella, Ophelia and the Karima sisters. I think we were all stunned. I would call it vandalism more than theft, but Bella insisted they stole her decorations because they were expensive.
    I’m not a cop or investigator, but from what I could see from the crime scene, most of her ornaments were smashed and all the greenery was gone. Then again, the thief could’ve been in a hurry, which explained how the garland was ripped away from her door.
    “I told Gerald this whole Christmas time makes people crazy.” She rubbed her belly before setting the tea cup on her stomach. “All of this.” She jutted her finger toward the Christmas tree Ophelia had put up next to the fireplace. “Makes everyone nuts.”
    “I agree.” Constance Karima nodded her head, giving Patience the wonky eye. The nose of Rudolph, on her sweater, blinked at an alarmingly fast right. “Nuts.”
    “Nuts,” Patience agreed and nodded,