Pet Psychic Mysteries Boxset Books 5-8 (Magic Market Mysteries Book 2) Erin Johnson (good books for 8th graders .txt) 📖

Pearl yet—he said he needed to break it to her gently. My mom just told me.” She pressed her hands to her heart and gazed at me earnestly, while the tip of Daisy’s tail wagged.

Whatever she’s blabbering on about, it’s true.

Snakes. I’d been so sure she was involved. I guess that explained why both she and Ralph had seemed grossed out by the idea of an affair between them. Maybe Pearl had found out and threatened to divorce Ralph? Maybe he’d killed her to keep from losing his stake in the company? Unfortunately, this meant Peter had probably been right. I mean yay, if we’d found the killer and solved the case, but I’d really wanted to be right.

“They had an affair ages ago, and Ralph was so nice when I told him—he even gave me a job!” Her expression crumpled as she glanced toward the door. “I haven’t known him long, but I want to help!”

I scoffed. “My advice? Run far away from these people—they’re trouble.” Oh, Avery Ann, you poor little doe-eyed fool. She reminded me of this kid I’d defended years ago. It’d actually been the case I’d been working when I’d been cursed. Emerson, my boss, had urged me to take a plea deal. But I took a liking to the kid—he was a good guy, just young and naïve and had gotten caught up with the wrong crowd. The more I looked into it, the more I’d realized he was taking the fall for someone—someone in a position of power. He was going to go to jail for years for a crime he didn’t commit.

I’d had a sense there was something bigger at play. He’d staunchly refused to cooperate, but over time I’d worn him down and he’d finally admitted that he’d been paid off to take the blame. Then just as quickly, he’d changed his tune and insisted on pleading guilty again. He’d even warned me off pushing anymore. I’d always suspected someone had gotten to him, and I’d bet that if this girl wasn’t careful, she’d end up either going down with the company or taking the fall for something.

Avery Ann shook her head. “I know he didn’t kill his wife.”

I cocked a brow. “You know it? How? Because you killed her?”

The young woman gasped. “No, I didn’t kill Pearl.” She lifted her chin. “It’s just a feeling.”

I rolled my eyes. “Uh-huh.”

She huffed, looked around the empty office, then edged closer to me, voice low. “Okay, I’m not allowed to tell you this but that woman… Maria Wu.” She flashed her eyes significantly at me. “You should talk to her.”

I frowned. “Should I know who this is?”

She shook her head. “It’s very hush-hush—even I’m not supposed to know about it, but Ralph told me. She claimed Potent Potions messed up her husband. She sued the company, and the company paid her off to keep quiet, but the night Pearl died, Ralph was drinking and talking about how he’d bet she was after revenge.”

I frowned. This actually sounded like it might be a legit lead—maybe Avery Ann wasn’t the simpleton I’d taken her for. I glanced toward the door where Daisy continued to whine. What about me? Peter?

For sand’s sake, this was getting pitiful. But maybe we’d arrested the wrong guy. It was worth looking into.

“Do you know how we can find this woman?”

“Um.” Avery Ann bit her full lip, frowning in thought. She perked up and dashed behind Ralph’s desk, then dug through a drawer full of files. “He pulled these all out the other night and I reorganized them for him after he sobered up—I remember seeing her name on something… here!” She pulled out a manila file folder and opened it on the desk.

I leaned forward and read upside down as her finger traced down the top page. I recognized the legal document—the case would’ve been sealed after the settlement, both parties legally obligated to keep quiet about it.

Avery Ann found the name of the woman and her contact info at the bottom and rummaged around in the drawer for a quill and scroll, then copied her address down for me. I mulled over the information as she did so—if the potions had somehow harmed this Maria Wu woman’s husband, she might not have been content with some merkles to keep quiet. Maybe Ralph had been right and she’d come after Pearl for revenge.

Avery Ann tore off the corner of the parchment and handed it to me. I looked over Maria Wu’s name and address—then paused and glanced up at her. The girl had dotted all her i’s with hearts. She was in way over her head with these scam artists.

“Please look into it?”

I nodded. “We will.”

She clasped her hands. “Oh, thank you.”

I nodded and tucked the paper in my jeans pocket. I headed toward the door, but frowned and spun to face Avery Ann. “Hey—where’s Opal, by the way?” I’d have thought Pearl’s sister would have rushed in here as soon as she heard we were arresting Ralph. She’d basically told us she thought he was guilty the other day.

Avery Ann cupped one hand around her elbow. “She’s been working from home the last couple of nights.”

I nodded. “Understandable.” She probably wasn’t keen on coming to work with the man she assumed was her sister’s killer.

I sidled up to Daisy and grasped the door handle. I bent forward and let out a quiet yelp. Free at last.

She just tapped her front paws.

I rolled my eyes and whined again. Desperate much?

Without taking her eyes off the door, she growled. Try being trapped in a room with you, and you’ll know how I feel.

I opened the door, and she bounded out.

21

Maria Wu

Peter, weary though he looked, was only too happy to have another lead to follow. I knew he trusted Daisy’s abilities and had to have strong doubts about Ralph’s guilt, given Daisy had smelled him as truthful—at least about not having killed Pearl. The affairs were a different story.

The