Fatal Fairies (Renaissance Faire Mystery Book 8) (18 page)

He kissed me and glared at Bart before he left.

“Obviously a disturbed man.”

“So what’s your plan for finding the killer?” I asked him.

He moved away from the wall. “It doesn’t concern you, Bailiff. I’ll keep you advised as events unfold.”

As he started back out the door, I couldn’t resist one more nudge in the right direction. “Have you talked to Daisy?”

“That’s another thing that you needn’t worry about. I’m perfectly capable of finding this killer and managing my own life. Good day to you, Lady Bailiff.”

Chapter Nineteen

When he was gone I sat on the bed and wished really hard that this was over and I was back home. I heard the buzzing of tiny wings before I opened my eyes and saw Starshine next to me.

“I’ve already told you that I can’t change the wish you already wished,” she said. “I can grant other wishes if they don’t contradict your original wish. I hope that’s clear.”

“Two people are dead and someone broke into our room last night. That was after they tried to intimidate me and Chase. How much worse does this have to get? Where is the part where you say it’s over and it all goes away?”

“I thought I was very specific about what you need to do to go back to your Village.”

“Yes. Get Chase to love me, and the two of us solve the murder. But like I said, now there are two murders. How many more do we have to solve?”

“Calm down, Jessie. There is still only one killer. Find him, and you’ll go home before you know it.”

“You admit there’s only one killer?” That was good news. It meant that Canyon had to be innocent. “If you know there’s only one killer then you must know who it is. Can’t you give me a hint?”

She kicked her feet. “What fun would that be? And what would you have learned from this experience? You know, a fairy godmother’s wish is more than just a good time.”

“You can say that again.”

“I think you know what I mean.”

I got up and stalked around the room. It wasn’t easy since we were supposed to leave everything a mess until the security people came back. Most of the carpet was full of clutter.

“What’s to learn? Chase and I wouldn’t be together if he wasn’t the Bailiff. I get that. Wanda, Isabelle, and Ginny would still be alive. Roger and Mary wouldn’t be together. Neither would Bart and Daisy. And Bart would wear those awful suits and people would hate him.”

“Very good.” She clapped her hands. “And what conclusion does that bring you to?”

I had to think about it. People were different. My matchmaking skills weren’t useful here, or I hadn’t used them. What did that have to do with the dead fairy?

“I don’t know. The killer is someone different than he is at home?”

“That’s true,” she agreed.

“And he’s looking for a girlfriend? Would I have set him up with someone if Chase had been Bailiff?”

She frowned. “Cold. You’ve lost the scent.”

Our conversation was cut short when the castle security men returned to take samples of everything from toothpaste to carpet. I couldn’t figure out what they were doing and was happy when they finally left.

I waited a few minutes for Starshine to return, but she didn’t show. Maybe she had other people’s lives to mess up. Eventually I had to hit the cobblestones as my radio began squawking out a dozen problems that needed to be corrected.

This time, I tucked a small dagger into the top of my boot. I didn’t want the killer to take me unaware again and someone to end up looking into
my
death. A gun would’ve been better, but this was Renaissance Faire Village. It would be entirely out of place.

After wrapping the heavy leather belt around my hips, I strode out into the crowded Village, keeping in mind what Chase had said about earning respect. I attacked each situation with renewed vigor and strength. From someone running by and taking King Arthur’s sword after he’d pried it from the stone to helping catch Mother Goose’s goose, I kept my head high and my confidence higher.

I wasn’t sure if the residents of the Village respected me any more by early afternoon, but I was exhausted.

Chase sent a messenger to
Fabulous Funnels
where I was breaking up a fight between two mommies with babies in strollers. They were all dressed as fairies. He had free lunch tickets at the
Pleasant Pheasant
, a restaurant and pub that we liked. I was glad to meet him there.

“Harder than you thought, huh?” he asked as we waited for our late lunch of fish and chips.

I didn’t bother lifting my head from the table. “It was much easier when you did it.”

“I’ve never done it.”

“Of course you haven’t.” I rapidly picked my head up and smiled. “I meant it would be easier if you were doing it.”

He leaned toward me. “Jessie, you keep saying this weird stuff like you know things the rest of us don’t. And you knew things about me that I don’t remember ever telling you. What’s going on?”

“My fairy godmother brought me to an alternate reality because I wished you weren’t the Bailiff anymore so you wouldn’t have to find out who killed Apple Blossom. How crazy is that?”

“Pretty crazy,” he agreed. “Are you telling me that’s what happened?”

“Of course not. I’m just tired from the new work. I’ll get used to it.”
Or I’ll figure out a way to go home.
“Don’t worry about me. How was the joust?”

“It was good. I was surprised to face off against Sir Reginald again. I don’t know what he’s trying to prove. I don’t think he’s in bad shape, but he’s older. And the
Field of Honor
is rough even when you’re not fifty.”

“I agree. I’m sure something will happen to make him give it up.”
Yeah. Like a heart attack
.

“In the meantime, I can’t do my best. I’m afraid of hurting him.”

“He’s probably going through a midlife thing. Just joust with him like you would anyone else.”

Our food arrived, and Chase told me he was going to have to look for yet another squire. The one he’d grabbed when I became Bailiff wasn’t working out.

“They have plenty of them at the castle. I’m sure they wouldn’t miss one.” I told him about the visit from castle security. “They took samples of everything except the leftovers in the fridge.”

“There really needs to be a unified security force for the Village and the castle. Probably under the direction of the Bailiff.” He smiled at me. “Are you ready for something like that?”

“No. I don’t think so. Maybe when Canyon takes the job back again.”

“You’re giving it up when he gets back?”

Before I could answer, Detective Almond was at our table with Pirate Grigg following him. They both scooted in beside us and ordered lemonade.

“Are you two working the Bailiff job together?” Detective Almond asked. “I hear you got rousted last night and your room was trashed. Anything stolen?”

“Didn’t your source tell you that?” I stared at Grigg.

“No. He was out on the lake with the pirates when it happened.” Detective Almond frowned. “This wasn’t what I had in mind when I said ‘undercover’. I was thinking a juggler or a sword swallower.”

“All admirable professions,” I agreed. “But the pirates get around the Village more than other characters. I was doing my best for him.”

“Thank ye.”

I almost spewed sweet tea through my nose when I heard the accent Grigg had taken. It seemed some things absolutely remained the same here.

Detective Almond stared at him until Grigg looked away. He was playing with an earring in his newly pierced right ear.

“As I was saying,” Detective Almond continued. “You two are highly visible here. The killer seems to know that you’re looking for him. It’s a good shot that he’ll take advantage of it. Fine work.”

Chase and I exchanged glances.

“It wasn’t what I had in mind,” I told him. “I don’t think my life is supposed to be threatened as Bailiff.”

“It is what it is.” Detective Almond shrugged. “What have you got on the squire?”

“Nothing,” Chase said. “There are too many of them to figure out what’s going on. No one knows who Jordan was working for when he threw away the armor.”

“I’m glad you brought that up.” Detective Almond took out his notes and perched a pair of reading glasses on the edge of his nose. “The armor Mr. Britt was wearing during your sword fight matches what we’re looking for. No blood or semen, but the scratches and kicks from the fairy tell us she fought the man wearing that armor.”

“But it wasn’t Canyon,” I argued. “Surely the dead squire tells us that.”

“I tend to agree with you,” he said. “The ME says the handprint on the squire’s neck was the same size as the one on the fairy’s neck. He’s hoping to get some fingerprints from their skin, but no luck on that so far.”

“So you’ll release Canyon?” I asked.

“I think we’ll let him go.” He put away his notebook. “See what stirs up when he gets back. Maybe nothing, but the killer might want to get rid of him too. If nothing else, he could take his job back as Bailiff again.”

I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. It was a hard job, but I had the radio. I could spend more time with Chase, but he probably wouldn’t feel pushed to become the Bailiff with Canyon in that position.

“We’ll see. Thanks for the update,” I said. “Has Grigg heard anything about what’s going on?”

Grigg heard his name mentioned and suddenly paid attention. “I haven’t heard anything, but the pirates are busy right now trying to get the cannon up and running again. It’s not as easy as it looks.”

He was already going native!

Detective Almond didn’t look happy about Grigg’s report. “We need to have a talk when we’re done here.”

“Yes, sir.” Grigg’s tone lacked its usual snappiness. Instead he sounded more like a whiny teenager.

A call came through on the radio. A woman was riding an elephant and refused to get down. They were calling my name. “I have to go. See you later, Detective.”

Chase walked with me. “Good news about them releasing Canyon, huh? He doesn’t take the job as seriously as you do.”

“And that’s a good thing?”

“Good for me.” He put his arm around my waist. “Come on, Jessie. You can’t really want to be the Bailiff. No one wants that job.”

I stopped walking. “Why not? It’s an honorable position.”

“So is being a knight, and it’s a lot more fun.”

“Sometimes you have to think about something other than fun.” I started walking again.

“I suppose so. But does it have to be you thinking about it? Can’t we just let Canyon do what he was doing before?”

“Why can’t you see that this is important?”

“Why does it matter to you?”

Oh no.
We were having a fight, and we hadn’t been together long enough in this place to have a fight. I couldn’t risk that part of the equation. Chase and I couldn’t break up.

“You’re right,” I agreed with him. “It would be better for Canyon to take over the job again.”

What was I doing? I was always honest with Chase—at least about the important things.

He smiled at me. “That’s my girl. We’ll be a lot happier without that radio between us.”

I gritted my teeth and agreed with him. We had to get the murders resolved before Chase and I had a major meltdown.

Chapter Twenty

I still had to coax the woman off the elephant or at least try to. She’d obviously been out in the sun too long. She wanted to ride the elephant home.

“My house is close by, and I have a two-car garage,” she rationalized. “It’s mean for you to keep the elephant here. I can take better care of him.”

While I was discussing it with her, two of the handlers got up beside her and lifted her off the animal. I’d requested a security guard from the Main Gate, and he escorted her from the Village.

“Thanks, Lady Bailiff.” The elephant handler saluted me.

“You’re welcome, good sir,” I returned.

The line of visitors waiting moved forward slightly as the next children got on the elephant’s back.

“Good work,” Chase said. “But I like you better as my squire. Will you come back to the job?”

“Of course,” I replied with a quick smile.

It wasn’t what I wanted, but all I wanted was to go home. I didn’t have time to argue with him. We had to solve the fairy’s murder.

We stopped at the blacksmith’s shop near the
Field of Honor
. Chase was having new shoes put on his horse. I watched as he and Phil from the
Sword Spotte
talked about swords and knives. Phil was there to oversee the work being done on his new line of swords.

I noticed a large pile of armor in the corner of the area where the forge was. It was almost too hot in there to even pay attention to what they were saying. Still that pile of armor bothered me. Why was it there?

I asked Hans Von Rupp, the blacksmith. He wiped his brow with a blue handkerchief and continued working, banging on metal in the fiery pit.

“The knights bring it in to be repaired. It’s not thick metal, so I can take out some dents and patch holes in it. It’s cheaper than buying new armor.”

“Thanks.”

I wondered why the knight who’d had his armor thrown in the trash didn’t do this instead. It probably would have taken out the dents that had occurred while he was killing Apple Blossom. Was there something else about the armor that would have given him away?

“Most of the knights at the field use interchangeable armor,” Hans said. “Only a few can afford their own armor, like Chase. They usually have something inscribed on it that identifies it as theirs. Chase has his lion on the inside of his chest plate and other pieces. Every well-to-do knight in the Village has their own inscription.”

“Really? Like what?”

“Karl has an eagle inscribed in his armor. Milton has a troll in his.” Hans took a sword out of the fire. “It has to be on the inside. Everything on the outside has to be plain so they can fight for whoever they serve each day.”

“And the squires who serve them would know which inscription belonged to each knight.”

“That’s right.” Hans grinned. “Thinking about getting some armor, Lady Bailiff?”