Ties and Alibis: Amethyst's Wand Shop Mysteries, #11

By Laura Greenwood and Arizona Tape

When all the usual suspects have alibis, it's going to take some experienced sleuthing to get to the bottom of this murder.

Amy and Ambrose have their hands full with the latest case, especially when the usual suspects all have solid alibis.

But soon things begin to unravel, and it becomes clear precisely what connection caused the witch to end up dead.

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Ties and Alibis is book eleven of Amethyst's Wand Shop Mysteries, an urban fantasy murder mystery series featuring a quirky witch, a serious detective, a slow burn m/f romantic subplot and a standalone crime.

If you love quirky main characters, the murder of the week format, light-hearted back-and-forth, magic, and murder mystery, start the Amethyst's Wand Shop Mysteries series today!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Twin Souls Publishing
• Release date: Mar 11, 2024
• ISBN: 9798223230861

Laura Greenwood

Laura is a USA Today Bestselling Author of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and fantasy romance. When she's not writing, she drinks a lot of tea, tries to resist French macarons, and works towards a diploma in Egyptology. She lives in the UK, where most of her books are set. Laura specialises in quick reads, with healthy relationships and consent positive moments regardless of if she's writing light-hearted romance, mythology-heavy urban fantasy, or anything in between. You can find a full book list and more information on her website, or in The Paranormal Council Facebook Group. Happy Reading!

Book preview

One

I pull into the car park outside the station and head straight to my usual spot only to find a car already parked in it.

Are you kidding me? How many consultants does this place have? I mutter to myself as I select one of many other empty spots. Somehow, despite not having to search very hard for it, I'm still annoyed that I can't have my usual spot.

I sigh and grab my handbag from the passenger seat. It's just going to be one of those days. I root through it until I manage to get my hands on my consultant ID badge and finally get out of the car.

The police station is about as busy as the car park suggests, only making me more annoyed about someone being in my spot. I know it isn't logical, but some things are just frustrating.

At least I'm not in handcuffs. Not that I have a massively wild streak, that's always been my sister's thing, but I can't deny the murderous intent running through my veins after the morning I've had.

Good afternoon, Topaz sings from behind the front desk.

I glare at my sister, though none of this is actually her fault.

She raises an eyebrow when she looks at me. Or not a good afternoon.

Don't start, I warn as I stomp past her to get into the station.

Her laugh chases after me and a few people in the waiting room look a bit confused about what's going on, but I ignore them. I hover my badge under the scanner, not waiting for the light to turn as I pass through.

An officer I don't know blocks my way and points to the red light. Sorry, can you do that again?

What? I present my consultant badge again but the scanner keeps blinking red. Must be a glitch or something. Technology.

I'm afraid I can't let you through, the officer says solemnly.

Are you kidding me? I work here. I all but shove the badge in his face. Look. Amethyst of the Gemstone Coven. I'm a consultant.

The officer gives me a long, dismissive look. Well, anyone can claim that. I'm going to have to verify your credentials properly. Please wait here, Ma'am.

Ma'am?

The insult. I'm barely thirty and someone is calling me ma'am?

I glare at the officer and his name badge. I haven't seen him before so maybe he's new and worried about letting a terrorist into the station. I have to respect him for that, even if it's incredibly annoying for me right now.

I hand him my badge and he checks my credentials on his little computer, painstakingly slow in his movements. I tap my foot impatiently and sigh in relief when I spot Ambrose coming out of the hallway with an empty mug in his hand.

Ambrose! I shout, waving to get his attention.

His stern expression turns into a smile when he sees me and he comes my way looking equal parts amused and confused. What's going on here? he asks, looking between me and the officer intent on blocking my path.

My badge isn't working, I grumble, tempted to give the machine a kick. Anywhere else, they might forgive the rare outburst of aggression but it's still the police station, so I don't.

Ambrose pats the officer on his shoulder. She's with me.

The officer nods in respect and hands me my badge back. Come on through.

I know he's just doing his job so I conjure a forced smile as I pass. It's not his fault that I'm having an awful day or that I'm now worrying that there's something wrong with my consultant status. I don't think they could just boot me out, especially not without Ambrose letting me know, but it's always a concern.

Ambrose touches my arm affectionately, mindful that we're in public. So I'm guessing things didn't go well at the Centre of Wand Control, then?

It was a disaster.

More insulting job offers? he asks as we go into the staff kitchen which is luckily empty. Coffee?

Yes, please. I sit down on an empty chair. And there were actually no insulting job offers this time.

Ambrose looks over his shoulder while he pours coffee. Oh? I thought you'd be happy about that.

I am, I protest, but we both know that's not true. I mean... Why have they stopped offering me a job? Their offers were insulting, but them not wanting me is even more insulting. And I also had to wait three hours before my licence check. Three hours? What kind of administration is that?

He chuckles as he sets a mug in front of me and kisses the top of my head. Sorry, Ames.

Despite my mood, I soften at the affection. The Ambrose I met three years ago would never have done anything like that in the workplace. Then again, the Ambrose I met three years ago wasn't in love with me yet.

It's fine. It's just one of those days, I respond with a sigh. Rover peed in the kitchen after you left so I was already in a foul mood before I got to the CWC. And then someone took my parking spot.

An apologetic grimace falls on Ambrose's face. Sorry.

It's not your fault. I didn't hear him scratching at the door. I check to make sure we're still alone and lean my head on his shoulder. Please tell me you have a fun murder to solve?

Well, I don't know about fun but there is a new case. I only just got the initial briefing so I don't know much yet except that our victim is a witch so we'll have to deal with the Hexagon.

Great, more ridiculous witch bureaucracy, I complain as I wrap my hands around the steaming mug. I don't know whether it's the coffee, the company, or the case that makes me feel better, probably a combination of all three, but I start to feel my stress slipping away. Oh well, even a bureaucratic murder is better than no murder so when are we leaving?

Ambrose checks the old watch on his wrist. I'm good to go now.

Great. I take a sip from the coffee and grimace. And let's stop on the way to get better drinks. The coffee here is truly awful.

He chuckles heartily. I know. I'm surprised you said yes to it.

Temporary madness, I mutter. You probably think it tastes just as bad as fancy coffee shop coffee.

"I can tell the difference," he responds.

And yet you drink both and like neither.

He doesn't argue with my statement, probably because he knows it's true. I'm starting to think he might just not be a hot drinks person at all.

Or maybe he's a soup person. I should get some of those packet soups for his office in our next shop.

Anes? Are you coming? Ambrose says from the doorway.

Right, yes, murder. It's going to be the highlight of my day.

It's only potential murder, he reminds me.

I shrug. Good enough for me. Lead on.

His amused expression says it all, but luckily, I know he loves me enough to put up with my eccentricities, even if one of them is a fondness for murder.

Two

No matter how many crime scenes I've visited in my short time as a consultant, there's always a sense of trepidation when I arrive at a new one.

And this one is no different. I think it may even be worse because it's just a house in the middle of a normal street. Children are playing outside a few doors down and from their giddy shouts, I don't think they have any idea about what's going on. Either that or they're budding murder enthusiasts.

Something about the whole situation just makes me feel a little uneasy. It really drives home that murder can happen anywhere, anytime. To anyone.

So what are we walking into? I ask Ambrose as we get out of the car.

He checks his tablet, scrolling through the initial report. The house belongs to Rosa of the Pebble Coven. Fifty-seven, witch, and going off her driver's licence, she is the victim. He turns the screen to show me, and sure enough there's no doubt that the woman in the initial crime scene photo is the same one staring at the camera on her licence. Maybe this is the reason the DVLA insists on people not smiling in their photos, it makes them easier to identify when they're dead.

Now there's a cheery thought.

We've requested more detailed records from the Hexagon but it'll be days before we get those, Steve says.

It'll be easier to find the information ourselves, I mutter, not having much faith in witch bureaucracy, and I am a witch, I can only imagine how Ambrose feels about it.

There are no other owners listed but she might have a tenant living with her. We'll have to check that with the neighbours or family, if we find any, Ambrose says.

Or they might come home from work, I muse.

Let's hope not, initial reports say it's a messy one.

Was it Stacey who said that?

No idea, why?

I shrug. It could have told us what we were walking into more. Is she disappointed because the scene of crime officers have messed with her scene, is she gleeful because she thinks it'll be a fun autopsy, or is even she horrified?

Does Stacey do gleeful? he asks.

Only when it comes to murder.

He chuckles, presumably knowing I'm right.

We make our way