Murder of a Royal Pain

Skye had been able to push her concern aside for the next couple of hours while she was writing a psych report back at the high school, but once she was alone in the Bel Air, her anxiety level ratcheted higher and higher, like a ski lift lurching to the top of a slope. She gripped the steering wheel and tried to figure out her next move.

Skye had planned to stop at the Harrisons’ house on the way home, since Evie was still not answering her phone, but Hope’s statement was now her top priority. She had to talk to Wally ASAP, and she didn’t want to do it on a cell phone that might lose its signal at any moment.

Once Skye was inside her house, she went directly to the kitchen and picked up the receiver. After dialing, she grabbed a can of ginger ale from the fridge. She’d felt queasy and light-headed all afternoon.

Wally answered on the fourth ring. “Everything okay?” His voice was tense.

“Well”—Skye cursed caller ID—“there hasn’t been another murder.” She barely restrained herself from adding yet. She needed to work herself up to telling him about Quirk. “How’s your father?”

“They still don’t know what caused him to collapse, but since he appears to be fine now, the docs say it was probably exhaustion. They’re releasing him tomorrow, and I’ve arranged for a live-in nurse to start Friday. He’s agreed to work from home, and she’ll keep an eye on him.”

“That’s wonderful.” Skye hoped that meant Wally was coming back soon. “I’m so glad he’s okay. I know all this waiting and wondering must have been awful for you both.”

“I’ve got a flight into O’Hare on Saturday and should be in Scumble River by late evening.”

“That’s fantastic.” Skye’s spirits lifted. This was the first good news she’d had in quite a while.

“So, what’s up?”

Skye hesitated. Maybe she should wait until Wally got home, but that was still five days away, and a lot could happen before then.

“Are you there?” Wally asked, irritation in his voice.

“Uh, yes, sorry.”

“No, I’m sorry. I’m just so frustrated. I wish I could split myself in half.”

“I understand.” Skye took a sip of soda; her mouth felt like the bottom of Bingo’s litter box. “Unfortunately, what I have to tell you won’t make you feel better.”

“I had a hunch that was the case. Quirk already told me about the chemical bombs at the high school.”

“It’s not about that.” Skye’s heartbeat felt irregular, and her head was pounding. “It’s about Quirk.”

“He’s still not including you?” Wally demanded, seeming almost happy to have a target for his frustration.

“No, he isn’t, but that’s not why I’m calling.” Skye tried to order her thoughts. “I talked to Hope Kennedy today. She was one of the witch trio.”

“And?”

“And it turns out Quirk has a reason to want her dead.”

“Fu—” Wally stopped, then asked, “Why?”

“Fred isn’t her first husband. When she was sixteen, she got pregnant and her parents forced her to marry the baby’s father.”

“Quirk?”

“No, his older brother,” Skye answered.

“Surely, after all this time, Quirk’s not still mad at her for divorcing his brother?”

“No. He’s mad at her for killing him.”

“What?”

“It was self-defense.” Skye took a deep breath and went on. “Quirk’s brother, Ray, was a druggie. About a month before the baby was born, he got hold of some PCP, went berserk, and started beating her. She grabbed a rifle and shot him.”

“This happened, what, twenty years ago?”

“Eighteen.”

Wally paused, obviously doing the math. “So, her son, Ross, is Quirk’s nephew?”

“Yeah, but Fred adopted him when he was a baby, which is another reason Quirk is pissed. When she changed the baby’s name to Kennedy, he told her it was as if she not only killed his brother, but also erased his very existence.”

“But why would he wait eighteen years to murder her?” Wally asked.

“Quirk’s mother is terminally ill, and she wants to see her grandson before she dies. She’s never made any attempt to be a part of his life before, and Ross said no.”

“Why would Quirk be upset with Hope for that?”

“Hope refused to try to talk Ross into it.” Skye swallowed, then added, “So Quirk told her that he’d see her dead in hell for all she’s done to his family.”

“Which would explain why Quirk doesn’t want you poking around. If he killed Annette thinking she was Hope, the last thing he wants is your convincing everyone Annette was the wrong victim.”

“Yep.” Skye was relieved that she and Wally were on the same page. “And you know, I was just thinking how quickly Quirk arrived at the haunted house the night of the murder.”

“Like maybe he was already there?”

“Yeah.” Skye thought about the situation, then asked, “So, are you going to call in the sheriff to take over?”