Pretty Little Fliers: A Cozy Witch Mystery (Magic Market Mysteries Book 1)

at me with her dark, beady eyes. “Eviction’s at midnight.”

EVICTION NOTICE
I managed to hold my ground, though every inch of me itched to back away from my landlady. Word on the Darkmoon street was Mrs. Kim was a dragon shifter. Though I’d never seen evidence of this, outside her intimidating demeanor, I hadn’t ruled out the possibility.
I pulled my lips to the side. Though I had to wonder, did dragons wear housecoats and sandals with socks?
I glared down at her. “You can’t evict me.”
Her eyes narrowed to glittering black slits. “Oh?” She snorted, turned her head, and spat onto the broken cobblestones of the street. “You got your rent then?” Rain tapped away at the clear umbrella she held above her head.
I gulped and looked to the side. “I will… soon.”
“You’re a month late!”
I jolted at her volume.
“You pay now or get out tonight!” She bared her teeth at me, several of them missing.
I crossed my arms and widened my stance. “According to city rent code, you’re required to give me three days written notice and—”
“Don’t quote the law to me!”
I gritted my teeth. I may not be practicing, but I was still a licensed lawyer, and I knew my rights. “This is unreasonable expulsion, and if you don’t cooperate, the police can fine you up to—”
Mrs. Kim barked out a harsh laugh. “Right. Like you’re going to get the authorities involved?”
I shifted on my feet. She had me there. It’s not like I wanted anyone looking into my personal situation, least of all a cop. Speaking of whom….
Peter and Daisy jogged through the rain toward us. Mrs. Kim followed my gaze over her head and turned just as Peter and his dog reached us. He nodded at my landlady, then at me.
“Er, sorry if I’m interrupting something, but uh—” He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder toward the building across the street. “They have a pet parakeet in the office that woman fell from.”
I sucked on my lips, eager for him to leave me and my cantankerous landlady before all the embarrassing details of my life were revealed. “Okay?”
“Would you mind doing your thing?” He raised his brows and touched his free hand to his temple. “See if he—or she—saw anything?”
“Oh, Officer.” Mrs. Kim clasped her hands in front of her and slightly bowed her head.
I widened my eyes. Where was this sweet, docile tone of hers coming from?
“This woman is not a real psychic. She’s a fraud, who’s about to be a homeless fraud.”
“What?” Peter looked to me, his brow furrowed in concern.
I scrunched my nose and waved it off. “Nothing. I would, but I’m a little busy here.”
Peter looked between the Dragon and me. “I’ll pay you.” He lifted a thick brow. “We’ve got discretionary funds. I’ll hire you as a consultant to help me solve the case.”
My landlady crossed her arms. “How much?”
“Uh—” Peter blinked down at her. “I hadn’t thought about it but—”
“Three hundred merkles.” Mrs. Kim raised her brows, her mouth a tight line.
I shifted on my feet and frowned. Since when had she become my manager? And of course she’d demand exactly my rent money. I rolled my eyes. “Peter, you don’t have to—”
“Okay.” He grinned at her, then at me. “Deal?”
I sighed. It was a job and would earn me rent money and get the Dragon off my back, for a bit at least. Plus, though I could barely admit it to myself, I wouldn’t mind spending a little more time with Peter.
Though dealing with his dog wouldn’t exactly be rainbows and sunshine. Daisy glared at me, teeth bared.
I grinned. “Deal.”
“Great. Hand it over.” Mrs. Kim held out her tiny palm.
Peter chuckled, but she held statue still and stared him in the eyes.
“Oh! You mean… now? Okay…, sure.” He patted his thighs, then reached into the breast pocket of his uniform jacket and pulled out a small leather pouch. He counted out gold coins on his palm, and Mrs. Kim leaned forward, eyes round.
She reached a hand out, but Peter closed his long fingers around the gold. He poured several coins into his other hand and reached around Mrs. Kim, offering it to me.
“Here’s half. I’ll get you the rest once we solve the case.”
I reached forward, but my landlady intercepted it and shoved the gold into the pocket of her housecoat. “That’s mine, thank you very much.”
Peter raised a brow at me, but I sighed. “It’s fine.”
The little lady shook a short finger at me. “I expect the rest in the next three days—see? I’m giving you three days’ time, per the law.” She flashed me a simpering smile. “How generous of me.”
She nodded at Peter, then shuffled off into the drizzly night.
“What was that ab—”
I waved a hand. “Don’t ask.” I cleared my throat, unable to meet Peter’s concerned gaze. “Now let’s go see this parakeet.”
Peter watched me a moment longer, then shifted on his feet. “Do you need help with—”
I couldn’t take this man pitying me. I shivered. “What did you mean, I’ll get paid the rest when we solve the case?”
I locked the door behind me and shoved my key ring in my sweatpants pocket as we started across the street. Cool raindrops pelted my head—because that was just what my hairstyle needed to be even more awesome.
Peter and Daisy fell into step beside me. “Well, I’ve hired you as a consultant on the case, not just for this one parakeet.”
I quirked a brow.
“Who knows? There may be more pets involved that I’ll need you to read the minds of.” He shrugged, a good-natured grin on his face. “I want to get my money’s worth.”
Yeah, well, I supposed three hundred merkles to speak to one parakeet was a pretty steep price. He’d probably only agreed to the fee because he could tell I was in a bind. Still, we’d better solve this case in the next three days, or I’d be homeless.
I snuck a glance at the tall officer as we neared the body, which had been