Gretchen: Familiar Face

Gretchen put the chain holding the sending stone around her neck back under her dress, hiding it away. It figured both Aspen and Parvil were too far away to do anything, not that it was their fault she didn’t blame them for doing their work but it was just her luck that when she needed help it was left in the hands of people with no stakes in the game, and no connection to the problem. Not sloppy work necessarily but just lacking the vested interest in solving the problem fast. It was one indecent, hardly a pattern, and it took place in an enchantment shop, or well its back garden but that’s fine details. The constabulary likely thought she just botched it, and was trying to get out of responsibility for destroying something she couldn’t afford to replace.

Gretchen rubbed the head where horns met skin she could feel a headache starting. Stress, the explosion, and trying to unravel the mystery she was sure was just being put at the bottom of a stack of cold cases. “Who would want to do this?” She asked herself, rubbing her temples. A few thoughts crossed her mind. None of them gave her much hope. She didn’t have many enemies. None willing to go that far. Far enough to be the proverbial ‘roach in the stew’ of a fine restaurant. Running her business sure, stealing customers, of course. But murder, even for the most cut throat competition was a step too far. Which didn’t leave many alternatives to the situation. One being it was an honest accident, Gretchen had worked with wizards with grand ideas, no sense, and lacking the tools for enchanting on the level required. But they would usually supply her with a place to create the spell in their tower, with protective measures, and though that mishap was on a strange combination of enchantments it shouldn’t have resulted in the events that transpired. Which left the more chilling option being the most likely or it being likely from her point of view. Either she was collateral for some other plan or the would-be killer was attempting to draw someone out. “Aspen or Parvil? But why?” she said in a mumble trying to order her thoughts. “Well Parvil does cause a lot of trouble for ‘wrong doers’ and Aspen has made countless arrests so either is likely. “Did they want to kill me, to make Parvil sloppy? Make him make a mistake that would cast him dearly. But if that’s the case why an explosion, and not just a sneaky murder. An explosion would draw attention…” She closed her eyes and sighed. “Too complicated. I’ll have to ask Parvil in the morning if that matches anything they’ve had to deal with.

Gretchen pulled down some metal tins from the many shelves in her store, some dried ginger, some peppermint, tea leaves, and a bottle of lavender oil. She was about to go into the back room when she heard the small bell over the door. “Sorry we’re closed.” she said.

“Oh…sorry, the door was unlocked so I thought…” Nathaniel Cross said, “I’ll just put the payment on the counter. Sorry to have bothered you.” he said, sitting a small coin purse on the wooden counter, and leaving.

“Thank you.” she said, she sat her things on the counter to go over and lock the door when something struck her, the face of that man was familiar. She pulled open the door and looked up and down the street but he was gone. He’d vanished in the busy shopping crowd.