Unraveling Threads of Magic: The Misadventures of a Cat Detective: The Misadventures of a Cat Detective, #2

By Alice Stone

After inheriting Mr. Livingston's mansion and solving the death of his estate lawyer, I've settled in Picklesquare quite nicely as Detective Grey's partner against crime.

 

However, the tragic death of a town ruffian shatters my short-lived tranquility in this usually sleepy town.

 

Soon, the town is buzzing with rumors of the man that mysteriously returned to Willowbrook, just in time to stumble on the dead body.

 

I sense there's more to this murder than meets the eye and I must rely on my cat to lead the way.

 

With a mixture of empathy and curiosity, I delve into a world within our world, uncovering hidden spells, spectral whispers, and connections that have remained buried for years.

 

Danger escalates and the clock ticks, drawing Detective Grey and me closer together to solve the murder.

 

A tapestry of magic woven with lies threatens life as we know it. If we don't catch the killer in time, we might not escape the intricate web before we're caught in its threads forever…

Join the mystery today!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alice Stone
• Release date: Jan 13, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224207725

Book preview

Unraveling Threads of Magic

The Misadventures of a Cat Detective

Alice Stone

MM Innovative Creations

Copyright © 2023 by Alice Stone

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

Contents

1.The Prophecy

2.Strangers and Stones

3.A Bitter Reunion

4.Ghostly Shadows

5.George’s Little Book

6.Night at the Sepulcher

7.The Realm Beyond Earthly Strings

8.The Second Soul

9.Gwen

10.Home

11.Prom

12.The Trick

13.The Ultimate Return

14.The Thief

15.Time's Up

Chapter one

The Prophecy

Breathtaking . 

The morning sunlight streamed through the grand windows of Livingstone’s mansion in the small town of Picklesquare, casting a warm glow across the room. 

I glanced outside to see Picklesquare faintly visible, as the clouds and mountains obscured the downtown, giving it a picturesque look. 

Today marks another day to solve a murder mystery, Charlotte Millers! 

Diana, the chef, had recommended several books to me since I started working with Detective Grey. Ever since our last adventure, I have found a new home in this magnificent mansion and a newfound curiosity streak. 

I became the owner of an expensive historic mansion and found out that a paralyzed man intended to turn Picklesquare’s citizens into animals to avenge his father. 

Crazy, right? I wish that was the craziest part. 

I looked over at the floor to the right of my bed. I wish Priscilla was still there. 

After being inseparable for months, my tabby-cat-turned-grandmother had suddenly stopped coming back for food. Alone again. 

Moving without family in Picklesquare, then discovering my cat was a grandmother I never knew, loneliness doesn’t begin to explain the hole in my heart that I feel. 

Even so, the tranquility of the morning was a stark but welcome contrast to the chaos of my life just a few months ago. 

Today, my only plans are to finish reading my book and then play chess with Diana. The mansion chef has become a friend, too, since we solved the mystery involving the death of Anna. 

The time where she hated my guts. Okay, maybe that’s overkill. But if looks could kill… Hers would be a sniper. 

There was nothing to do, yet so many things to explore. Maybe I should stop by the garden and check on the flowers Joe Abernathy, the gardener, had persuaded me to plant.

He was completely convinced that he could turn my black thumb into the gold-prize-winning gardener of Picklesquare.

As I made my way down the grand staircase, I could hear Diana singing softly in the background as she went about her work in the kitchen. The faint laughter of other staff outside drifted in through the open windows combining with the bustling sounds of the staff going about their daily tasks inside. 

Miss, I made this bouquet for you. Noelle, one of the ladies that helped in housekeeping, handed me a beautiful collection of spring flowers. 

Thank you, Noelle. I collected them and sniffed them. They smelled wonderful. They're beautiful. I'll put them in water now. 

Heading to the kitchen with my flowers, my staff would smile and wave. 

After enjoying a delightful breakfast of avocado toast with poached eggs that Diana had specially made for me, I picked up my coffee and settled myself in the mansion's cozy library, surrounded by towering bookshelves. I sipped my coffee, relishing the blend of warmth and sweetness that Diana always knew how to blend perfectly. The aroma filled the air, adding to the comforting smell of books. 

I eagerly picked up a novel and lost myself in its enchanting world. The characters came alive, their stories unfolding before my eyes, and I was transported to a realm far beyond the mansion's walls. I relished these quiet moments of escapism, where I could immerse myself in the pages of a thrilling story.

Deep into my reading, I heard a familiar, deep voice behind me. Good morning, Miss Miller. 

My heart skipped a beat as I turned in my seat. 

There goes Detective Grey, walking into the library with that boyish smile of his. 

A smile naturally spread across my face, and my heart fluttered with joy at the sight of him. My heart completely ignored the fact that I wanted to take things easy and just be friends with him. 

Detective Grey greeted me with a charming grin, a wicker basket in his hands obscuring part of his broad frame. I have a little surprise for you.

That was enough to spark my interest away from the other world in the book for a moment. I set the book aside and turned my attention to him. Oh, Detective Grey, what do you have for me today?

He carefully set the basket down on the table and opened it, revealing a fluffy white cat with striking blue eyes. I've brought you a new companion. Meet Pearl.

My eyes widened with delight as I peered into the basket, marveling at the adorable feline. Oh, Pearl is simply lovely! Thank you, Detective Grey.

You’re very welcome, he said.

It’ll be so nice to have a new companion! I reached out to gently stroke Pearl's soft fur, feeling an immediate bond forming between us. 

Ouch. Am I not enough? As the detective laughed, a lock of his hair fell on his forehead and I itched to brush it away for him. 

I cradled Pearl in my arms, rubbed my face against her soft fur, and laughed. You’re not a cat.

I miss my grandmother, but I hope she’s enjoying the afterlife. After we found the Headsman’s stone she vanished without a word.

Watching Pearl paw at my arms, I thought better of trying to keep my new friend captive in my arms. I set Pearl on the floor and watched as she curled against the leg of my chair, purring deeply. 

What case are we working on now, detective? I asked eagerly, not looking away from Pearl. 

Whoa, whoa. He laughed, holding his open hands in front of his chest. Slow down. Look at you, getting all pumped after your first case.

I poked the air in front of me. You admitted I was good, I looked up at him, very good, to be precise.

I don't deny that, he spoke warmly with a smile. But there's no case now, and I doubt you'd find one soon. You don’t live in New York City anymore. 

How hard is it to find a case? I wondered out loud.

Picklesquare is relatively peaceful. You'd only find a case if you're interested in solving mischievous kids' acts, and trust me, we've got loads of those. 

I snorted. No, I don't want those cases! 

Exactly! The detective laughed again. You'd better be content with growing flowers and exploring the many rooms in this mansion. 

Did you know that I have visited the 12th room, and it still seems endless? 

Did you count the Room of Many Doors? That's a million rooms in one on its own. 

I didn't. I don't think I want to visit that room anymore. 

Why not? the detective teased. That little ghostly girl has more riddles for you, and you should be eager to solve them.

He’s got me there. I love a good puzzle.

As we laughed, the door of the library flew open to reveal the gardener, the brother of the town’s leaf-reader, Miss Abernathy.

Joe Abernathy has served as a gardener for the mansion for a few years. He rarely talked except when he helped us get to Mr. Livingston’s room to solve the mystery of Anna’s death. Why was he looking like he just saw a ghost?

What is it? I asked in alarm as soon as Joe stopped running. He folded in the waist, a hand on his chest as he panted, trying to catch his breath.

It's… she… you have to come with me! Joe gasped. He so rarely spoke aloud that it made these words all the more urgent. My heart sank. 

What would make him speak like this now? 

Detective Grey and I exchanged worried glances at his incoherent sentence and scrambled out of the library after him as he tried to explain what was happening with flailing hand gestures. 

He led us out of the house and into the lush garden. Suddenly all the gibberish he was saying started to make sense. 

Miss Abernathy was sitting cross-legged on one of the garden seats made with stones, her tea leaves strewn beside her. She was still clad in the murky knee-length dress that looked like it needed to be washed and her beautiful brown hair was spread on her shoulders. 

She was perfectly still and looked like nothing was wrong with her. But a closer look showed that there was a weird smile on her face, and her left eye was twitching madly. 

I looked at her brother and he was biting his fingernails nervously. I stepped forward and a twig snapped underneath my boot. Miss Abernathy raised her head sharply and I saw that her sea-green eyes weren't focused. 

She lifted her bony finger and pointed at Detective Grey as if possessed by some otherworldly force. He's coming... I can see him. 

She dropped her hand and began to whisper to herself.

I moved to touch her, but Detective Grey stopped me and mouthed, Let her finish. 

I guess he no longer thinks she is a fraud ever since her trance pointed us in the right direction to solve the last case.

She was still whispering to herself until she suddenly lunged at Detective Grey and grabbed him by the collar of his jacket. Miss Abernathy looked into his eyes and spoke out loud in a voice that shook me to my bones, He's coming back, and he brings doom with him! 

Immediately, her hands went slack and her whole body went limp. She swayed dangerously and Detective Grey and her brother had to move quickly to grab her and lay her gently on the garden seat. 

I looked at Detective Grey, feeling the excitement tingle from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet. I was both apprehensive and excited because this means that there was something to solve. The unmistakable grip of mystery seemed to have a strong hold on me once again. 

We tried to pry out more information from Miss Abernathy, but she seemed to have forgotten that she was ever in a trance. Marigolds, marigolds… Singing softly to herself, she also seemed to forget we were in front of her. 

We left her seated there as she slowly regained her consciousness, her brother fussing over her. I almost skipped back to the library with Detective Grey following after me. There was so much to be said but I didn't want to be pushy, so I sat quietly and picked up