Lethal Assets: Accounting Numbers Mystery Books, #2

By Ava Stantson

What happens when you mix murder, witches and mayhem? Trouble for accountant Lilly Wermeier. A local bowling alley employee finds a popular singer dead inside the building. Her coven suspects the bowling alley owner, but Lilly knows there's more to the story. As she investigates further, she finds the singer's inner circle is not as it seems and discovers a skimming fraud that puts her life in danger. Even the strongest spell won't bring her back if Lilly doesn't find the murderer in time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ava Stantson
• Release date: Dec 4, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393978633

Ava Stantson

Ava Stantson is a cozy mystery writer, part-time amateur sleuth, and occasional tea drinker. The sunbelt is where she calls home and enjoys warm weather year round. Connect with her on Twitter @AStantson and on Instagram @Avastantson.

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For my family

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Epilogue

Chapter One

Lilly Wermeier sat in a porch swing looking at her boyfriend, Aiden Caroselli playing catch with her golden retriever Paice. They were beginning their long weekend at his parent’s house in Patulia, a small town that was 2 ½ hours from Stonewynde. It was early morning, and the sun was rising over the lake. Orange and yellow reflected in the water with a mix of sunlight and fall leaves that mimicked the same colors. She sipped her tea and continued to sway, enjoying the scenery. Paice returned a medium-sized stick to him. He threw it high and far into the woods. The cheerful dog dashed after it. Aiden reached down in his pocket and answered his phone.

Hello, he said without his usual serious tone. 

Calm down Louie, it’s going to be alright. We can drive down today. It will take us 2 ½ hours to return to Stonewynde. He was walking around in a circle looking at the ground as he talked.

Aiden worked as a detective at Stonewynde police department. He investigated crimes committed by humans and the town’s hidden residents who called themselves phantasms. He is also a phantasm, being an elf prince. Lilly was lucky enough to be the human accountant dating him. She could hear Louie Grossman’s booming voice over the phone. Louie spoke at one volume, loud. He did not speak at the same levels as everyday people. However, Louie wasn’t an ordinary person, he was a vampire. He owned the local bowling alley and jazz club in town. 

After about 10 minutes of listening, he said, Ok. We will be back tomorrow. I’ll see you then. Good Bye. Aiden put his phone in his pocket and hurried towards the porch. Paice found the stick and was trotting beside him, trying to hand it to him to throw again.

Sorry, Paice. We have to stop for now. I need to speak with Lilly. Paice bent his head and dropped the stick. He followed Aiden up the steps of the porch and sat across from Lilly. Aiden sat down next to her.

Is everything ok? She placed her tea on the railing edge.

No. That was Louie. The body of Viona Healy was at his bowling alley this morning. Cheryl had gone to the bowling alley early, to prepare for the large tournament they were going to host this evening and found her lying by the shoe rental counter. Aiden rubbed his hair with his hand and sat for a moment.

Lilly touched his shoulder, trying to comfort him. Both of Louie’s businesses were popular hangouts in Stonewynde. His first, Knock ‘em down Pins, was the bowling alley in town that hosted local and state bowling tournaments. The second business, Jazz and Gin, was a 1920s inspired nightclub that he built after going through the arduous process of obtaining the city council’s approval. Because of the unfortunate circumstances of last year’s werewolf murder, Louie was rebuilding his reputation amongst humans and phantasms as an honest business owner. Viona Healy and her mother Joselyn Healy were the headlining act for the club. They called themselves The Orchids of Pearl and had sold-out shows. Patrons from other towns and cities in Pennsylvania would come to hear them sing. Business flourished and Louie planned on marketing the singing duo for bigger engagements sponsored by Jazz and Gin. 

Where is Louie? Lilly moved closer to Aiden and put her arm around him.

He’s at home. The police want to question him later today. I told him we could come back to Stonewynde. He told me to stay here and he would be in contact tomorrow. I want to leave to tomorrow to support Louie.

No problem. I can pack tonight. Lilly stood up to go inside the house. Aiden stood up too and wrapped his arms around her waist.

I’m sorry, Lilly Bloom. I know you were looking forward to the weekend with just the two of us. But I’ll make it up to you. I promise.

He kissed her and grabbed her hand and lead her and Paice into the house. Aiden gave her the nickname Lilly Bloom when they visited the botanic gardens in Alleghany on one of their dates. He said she bloomed like the Lilies in the garden and called her Lilly bloom. Lilly loved the nickname, and it warmed her heart every time Aiden used it. During dinner, Aiden seemed preoccupied and wasn’t eating. Lilly cleaned up the dishes and asked him to join her by the fireplace. A large paisley sofa faced the fireplace with a smaller ottoman in front. The space was a perfect fit for her and Aiden. She sat close to him; under the warmth of a blanket his grandmother crocheted. Paice laid sleep at the side of the fireplace.

Who would kill Viona? She was young and had her entire life ahead of her. Lilly asked as she nestled closer to Aiden.

I am not sure, but they found a murder weapon next to her body. It is a carnelian agate stone that witches sometimes use in their rituals. I know Louie didn’t kill her. He had too much to lose. Someone was trying to frame him. Her and her mother are witches and belong to one of the local covens in town. Which concerns me because covens are protective of their witches. They can become quite hostile towards anyone or anything they believe has murdered one of their own and make things difficult for them.

Aiden put his arm around Lilly and drank from his coffee cup in the other hand. 

I didn’t realize she was a witch. Does the coven think Louie killed Viona?

I hope not for his sake. However, he is dating Joselyn Healy; that might help his case.

Lilly watched the fire dance on top of the logs. It was crackling in rhythm with the flames.

Do all the witches’ covens in town get along?

They get along. There are witch’s codes they follow on how to handle disagreements. Aiden took a drink from his coffee mug.

Where will the investigation begin? Lilly wanted to help.

I’m going to speak with the detective assigned to the case. It will be Jack Martins because he is the only other detective in the department. He is a human but knows about the phantasms in Stonewynde. He married an elf named Mariana.

Mariana Martins, who just had twin boys last month? I didn’t know she was an elf. But I should have guessed. Both babies have beautiful sparkling brown eyes. 

Yes, they are adorable. Jack says they are a handful. But I can tell he loves every minute because his face lights up whenever he talks about his sons. 

Lilly yawned and sat up on the sofa.

I am guessing we will leave early tomorrow morning. I’m going to bed so I won’t be too sleepy in the morning. They both stood up, and he kissed her.

Good night. Need me to tuck you in? He winked at her and she smiled.

I can manage. Good night Aiden. She kissed him again and went upstairs. Paice was shifting in his sleep and made a quiet whimper sound. Aiden walked over and patted him. Paice stopped whimpering but did not wake up. He placed his coffee mug in the kitchen sink and stayed up a little longer. He took out a notebook from his bag in the living room and jotted down three names. The names included Joselyn Healy, Bruce Platten, and Louie Grossman. He crossed out Louie’s name and then put on a question mark. It was getting late, and he also needed his rest for the long car ride and the day ahead of him. He put the notebook back in his bag, checked on Paice, and headed upstairs.

LILLY AND AIDEN PACKED and close up the lake house in the morning. Since she was in a rush, Lilly didn’t have time to dry her long thick wavy blonde hair. It was easy putting the long strands in a damp bun on top of her head. They left by 7:00 and were on track to arrive in Stonewynde by 9:00 because of Aiden’s speeding.

Aiden, please slow down. I know you are eager to talk to Louie, but I want to arrive there in one piece. Lilly was holding her donut she bought at the gas station after they left the lake house.

We are making good time. I’ll slow down, sorry if I scared you. There was a noticeable change in the car’s speed as Aiden slowed down. Lilly could see more definition of the woods that lined the highway instead of a blur of browns, yellows and greens. She took a bite of her donut, enjoying the sticky sweetness. Paice popped his head up front looking for a bite, but Lilly refused. Instead, she dug in the bag at her feet and presented him with a dog biscuit. Paice sniffed it and took it, crunching it in the back of the car.

Aiden looked over, then said, Lilly, I know this may not do any good, however, I am going to ask you to not conduct your own detective work on this case. You were lucky on the last case you didn’t get hurt. The information you gave us solved the case, but it is not worth risking your life.

His comment irritated Lilly. She was only trying to help and definitely had no connection to this murder, so there was no danger in her investigating.

She sighed and said, I promise to be careful gathering up clues.  I am not a threat since I have no connection to the case.

Aiden also sighed. I can’t tell you what to do or make you stay at home. But I am asking you to promise me you will be careful.

Lilly smiled, leaned over, kissed Aiden on the cheek, and said, Of course! There are new skills in my amateur sleuth kit I think will come in handy.

One of those new skills wouldn’t be picking a lock, would it? 

Lilly put on her most innocent looking face and said, Now why I need to know how to pick a lock? Aiden said nothing, he just smiled and continued to drive. 

They arrived in Stonewynde a short time later. Aiden dropped Lilly and Paice off at her house and drove to Louie’s house. Lilly showered, got dressed, and fed Paice. She was going to drive by the bowling alley to check things out. Paice would be fine at home until she got back. Lilly’s accounting business was doing well and to celebrate, she bought a new electric vehicle. She did little driving and when she did; the mileage offered by the vehicle before having to charge was more than sufficient. As Lilly approached the bowling alley, they had taped all parking lots off by the police. There were two police