Date With Death: Suburban Witch Mysteries, #4

By Ruby Blaylock

Love is in the air, but so is murder...

The Country Acres Coven of Kensleigh Landing East is faced with the terrifying possibility that there is a serial killer in their small suburban town. The murderer seems to be targeting single women, especially those who have used a particular dating app. 

When Seneca teases Poe about her 'relationship' with Oliver, Poe does the only thing she can think of to prove that she's not interested in the nerdy wizard--she agrees to go on a blind date with someone via a dating app, unaware that a murderer could be using the very same app to pick his next victim.

Meanwhile, Ellie's on Cloud Nine when her daughter's gorgeous math teacher asks her out on a date. She's thrilled at the prospect of being in a relationship again, but she's just not sure how she'll break the news to him that she's a witch. And was that a dating app that she just saw on his phone?

Join the witches of the Country Acres coven as they look for love in all the most dangerous places...

Reading Order for this series:

Magic, Mistletoe, & Murder (A short prequel mystery)
Demons Don't Play Fair
Spells Like Teen Spirit (an optional short story featuring the witches)
Date With Death

Spellbound & Starcrossed

• Language: English
• Publisher: JB Woods
• Release date: Jun 6, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393727941

Ruby Blaylock

Ruby Blaylock grew up in a small, southern town surrounded by colorful characters and lots of food. She loves a good helping of gossip and great food, not necessarily in that order. She is a country girl at heart and can often be found sitting on the back porch, sipping sweet tea and watching her fat hound dogs chase bugs. If she's not reading a book, she's writing one, or reading one to her kids, who can always help her think up new ways to kill off annoying characters.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Acool breeze rustled the leaves above Seneca Wolfram’s head. She closed her eyes and breathed in the late spring air.

This is heavenly, she sighed, taking a long sip from the margarita in her hand.

The weather or the booze? Mischa Henley pushed her dark curls back from the edge of her face. She was just happy to be away from her house and her two bickering children. The margaritas were definitely a bonus.

Both, Seneca replied. Ellie, you do make a mean margarita.

Ellie Watkins took a bow. Eh, what can I say, potions and mixology are just too similar. Besides, I worked at a bar for a while before I got the gig at Eattaburger. A girl can never have too many skills, right?

The three witches nodded in agreement. Where’s Poe? She loves margaritas. Mischa glanced at the fourth empty sun chair—the only one with a giant umbrella standing over it—in the grassy patch of Seneca’s backyard.

She’s on a date. A silky Siamese cat stared up at Mischa, her lips moving to carefully enunciate the word date.

The three witches all sat up straighter. It wasn’t the speaking cat that surprised them—they’d known Cleo and her brother, Raven, could speak for ages—it was the fact that their youngest coven mate, and the most introverted, was apparently on an actual date with a real human being.

Who is she on a date with? Seneca asked with a tone of suspicion in her voice.

It’s that stupid Oliver, Raven whined, his chubby midsection shivering as he spoke. He doesn’t ever bring us treats and when he comes over there are never any leftovers. He’s ruining my life, the cat moaned dramatically.

Ellie laughed. Are you sure? Oliver and Poe don’t seem like supercouple material to me. He’s kind of, well, not her type, wouldn’t you say?

What is her type? Mischa asked.

Someone a little gloomier? Or maybe someone a little more tech savvy? Ellie shrugged. He’s just so…nice. And Poe’s just so…

Sarcastic? Snippy? Emo? Raven offered.

Complex, Ellie replied.

Maybe opposites attract, Mischa suggested. I mean, look at Joe and I. He’s sporty, outdoorsy, and completely non-magical. And I’m a witch who prefers to stay indoors, unless your margaritas are involved, she added.

Seneca shook her head. I don’t know. Maybe our little Poe is growing up. I mean, she must get lonely in that house all day.

Hey, she’s not lonely. She has us. Raven scowled at the blonde-haired witch. We’re perfectly good company.

I’m sure you are, you chubby little furball. But she needs a companion that can go and do things with her.

Like a dog? Cleo’s voice held a hint of sarcasm. How’s Alistair?

Seneca raised one eyebrow. Why don’t I let him out here and you can see for yourself?

Cleo shrugged her feline shoulders. I’m not scared of that dog. He and I have an arrangement. He leaves me alone and I won’t scratch his eyes out. I’d say it’s a pretty good arrangement, so far.

A rustling noise and the squeak of a hinge being opened distracted the group’s attention. They looked towards the source, the gate leading out of the yard, and saw Poe’s slender frame pushing open the gate.

Hey, witches. She pushed her inky hair out of her eyes. I hope you saved some booze for me. Poe slinked into her chair with a sigh and accepted a frosty glass with a salted rim from Ellie. Nice. She took a long draw on the drink and smacked her lips. An awkward silence filled the air and she realized that her coven mates were all staring at her. Do I have something on my face?

How was the movie? Cleo’s question was slightly accusing. Did you and Oliver have a nice time?

Poe’s pale cheeks flushed. It was alright. Well, it was okay, at least until Oliver got sick. I guess I should have warned him about scarfing all that popcorn before watching a 3D Imax movie.

So, you and Oliver, eh? Mischa waggled her eyebrows. Cute. Can we call you Poliver?

Poe rolled her eyes hard. It’s totally not like that. We’re friends. That’s it. I’m teaching him about the human realm because he’s totally clueless and can’t be left alone over here.

Why does he keep coming over here? Seneca sipped at her drink coyly. He’s training to be a magical attorney, isn’t he? Not much call for those in the human realm.

He likes it here. He likes the tech, he likes the movies, and he likes the fact that the Council don’t watch him like a hawk over here. Here, he’s just a normal wizard hanging out in the human realm. We all prefer it over here, so why wouldn’t he? Poe slurped her drink.

Well, I think it’s great that you two hit it off so well. I mean, we all worry about you spending so much time alone. Mischa ignored Raven’s indignant mewl. It’s good to see you dating.

I’m not dating. We’re just friends, Poe repeated. Besides, I’m not alone. I have the cats.

That’s not really the same as having a human companion, though, is it? Mischa made a little pouting shape with her mouth.

Ouch. Well, Seneca doesn’t have a human companion. Neither does Ellie. Why aren’t you pushing them to start dating? Poe glared her coven mates, daring them to say something about her lack of a boyfriend.

For one thing, I’m not alone. I have Holly. And I’m way too busy to date. I work full time and then some. Ellie poured herself some more margarita.

And I spend all day at the bank. I see more people than I would like to, so being alone in the evenings is my way of relaxing. You work from home and wear your pajamas all day. I think a human companion would do you a world of good. As wonderful as the cats are, they aren’t the same as a person. Seneca didn’t mean to sound condescending, but it came out that way just the same.

So, you’re saying that because I work from home, I must be some maladjusted weirdo who can’t find a man? Poe dropped the question casually, then finished off the last of her drink. I have a coven, don’t I? Who needs a boyfriend when I have nagging girlfriends who are constantly up in my business?

Ellie sighed. I miss dating. I mean, the fun stuff. I miss going out to dinner, going to the movies. I miss sex. She stirred her drink with a plastic straw. Being a single parent isn’t always as glamorous as it looks. We mean well, Poe, we really do. We like Oliver. If you two are dating, that’s awesome. If you’re not, well, that’s awesome, too, I guess.

Mischa nodded. Right. What she said. We just want you to be happy.

Seneca shrugged. And you’re right. You don’t need a man to be happy. But I like Oliver. I just don’t want to see you hurt his feelings. He’s a nice kid.

We’re friends, that’s it, Poe reiterated. And really, it’s hardly even a friendship. I mean, he’s nice and all, but I don’t think he’s my type. We just like the same kinds of movies. And he is a blank slate when it comes to technology. This is the twenty-first century, it’s my witchy duty to make sure my fellow magical brethren know how to use Snapchat.

I think it’s sweet. And I think we should stop teasing her about Oliver. Let love grow where it will, Ellie hiccuped. Oh, I think I may have made my margarita a little too strong, she added, putting down her empty glass. Besides, young people nowadays don’t even date the way we used to. Holly says most of them just hang out. Sometimes, they never even see each other in person. They just instachat and snapgoogle. Or swipe up. Or is it left? I don’t know the difference with these dating apps.

Poe groaned. I hope Holly’s not using dating apps. I mean, they’re fine for people who are older, but teens definitely shouldn’t be using them.

Ellie shook her head. Oh, no. No way. I’d ground her for eternity if she ever used one of those. But I’ve been thinking about trying one out. There was a stunned silence from the rest of the coven. What? Like I said, I don’t have time to find someone decent to date. I could just let an app do the legwork for me.

Well, purred Cleo, That makes me glad I’m a cat. If I like another cat, I just pounce on him and bite his neck. None of this swiping business.

Seneca laughed. Maybe Poe should try that approach. The dating app, I mean, not the neck-biting. Though that can come later if your beau isn’t opposed to the idea. The entire coven, except for Poe, burst into peals of laughter.

Poe’s face reddened noticeably. Fine. Maybe I will try a dating app.

I’ll believe that when I see it, Seneca replied, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. And I was just kidding, Poe. You don’t have to prove anything to us. Date who you want, when you want, if you want. No judgment here.

Poe considered Seneca’s statement. She pulled her phone from her pocket and began scrolling through the apps furiously.

Let’s change the subject. How’s things at work, Ellie? Mischa sat her still mostly full glass on the table between her and Ellie.

Oh, I forgot to tell you guys! Officer Dawson stopped by work yesterday. He told me to be extra careful leaving work at night and to make sure the girls all had someone walk them to their cars.

Why? Poe stopped scrolling through her apps and waited for Ellie’s reply.

Murder. Two women have been murdered in Kensleigh Landing East in the past month. Dawson said the two deaths could be related. As in serial killer, she added in an exaggerated whisper. I’m not supposed to talk about that part, because it’s on the down low, but since he’s a wizard, he thought it was okay to tell us witches.

Did he say if it was witches or normies who were killed? Poe asked, using the slang term for non-magical humans.

It looks like non-magical women were targeted, but he said he has no idea why. The police are still investigating, I guess.

That’s awful, Mischa exclaimed. You be extra careful coming home at night, Ellie. I can have Joe meet you, if you want.

Ellie waived her friend’s suggestion away. I’ll be fine. I’m a witch, so it’s not like I’m completely helpless. Anybody messes with me, they’ll be sorry. She did a clumsy karate chop, then sat back in her chair. But I thought you guys should know about it. I mean, we could have an actual serial killer on the loose in Kensleigh Landing East. How weird is that?

Done. Poe laid her phone down triumphantly on the table between her and Seneca. On the screen, the logo for Come Get Me Cupid, a popular dating app, flashed on the screen.

What? You actually downloaded the app? Seneca’s eyes widened in surprise.

I did more than that. I created a free account. I get five free matches before I have to pay. Don’t try and suggest that I’m all gaga over Oliver again, or I’ll go home and create an account in your name and match you with the worst jerks in all of North Carolina. Poe crossed her arms indignantly.

For a moment, Seneca was speechless. Then, she simply shook her head. I don’t know what’s more shocking, the fact that there’s a possible serial killer on the loose in our town, or the fact that you actually signed up for a dating app with the word Cupid in the title. I think maybe these margaritas were a little stronger than any of us realized.

Chapter 2

Ellie shook the fries in the hot oil and glanced over at her fry cook. The new employee was nineteen and no novice to fast food, but the fryer at Eattaburger was temperamental and she made it a point to always show new employees how to handle its quirks.

See, the thermostat lies. It says that oil is hot enough, but I find that you have to leave the fries in a minute longer than it says to or they don’t get crispy enough.

The new employee nodded. His nametag read ‘Cristian’ and his uniform was as spotless as it would probably ever be. Makes good sense, cuz ain’t nobody got time for no soggy fries.

Ellie smiled and handed him the basket. I’ve got to finish making up the schedule. Avery will help you if you need it. I think you’ll do great! She forced her enthusiasm, plastering what she hoped was a reassuring smile onto her face. Cristian didn’t seem worried. His application said he’d worked at four different fast food places in the past four years. With a track record like that, Ellie reckoned she could at least get six months’ worth of work from him.

She sighed as she settled behind her desk in