I frowned at Pandora. Had I become one of those crazy cat ladies who talk to their cats?

“Of course I don’t believe in magic.”

“Then I suppose you don’t believe in ghosts, either.”

I chewed on my bottom lip. Two years ago, I probably would have said I didn’t believe in ghosts, but now with Lavinia’s ghost gliding along happily beside me I could hardly say that anymore. Maybe just because I hadn’t experienced magic didn’t mean that it didn’t exist. Maybe I should give more consideration to what Elspeth had said.

Did magic have something to do with Lavinia’s murder?

As if reading my mind, Lavinia said, “So, are you making progress finding my murderer? I heard you telling Pepper about the embosser you found behind the library.”

I glanced over at her. “You were eavesdropping?”

“Not really. I was just floating around in the back of the store and heard you.”

I had no idea the ghosts floated around when I couldn’t see them and it kind of creeped me out. “Then you heard about the navy blue fabric?”

“Yeeees.”

“I found a navy blue cape in Ophelia Withington’s closet.”

Lavinia gasped. “You don’t say? A cape? I remember it seemed like the killer was wearing a cape, but I only saw a shadow. So, why didn’t you tell the police and have her arrested?”

Pandora let out a yowl beside me and Lavinia reached down to pet her, all the while gliding along perfectly beside me without even slowing down.

“Well, that’s the problem. I can’t really tell them I know about the cape, because I’m pretty sure they won’t believe I talk to ghosts, and if I tell them I just went through her closet they might get mad. I need more proof.” I thought about my visit to the church and how they didn’t have any candles. Lavinia had said she’d been in town early to light a candle … that’s how she saw someone in the library in the first place.

“Lavinia, you said you were at the church lighting a candle that morning, but I stopped by today and there’s no ca—”

“Ooops, gotta go.” Lavinia cut me off and then promptly vanished.

I stared at the empty space where Lavinia’s ghost was just seconds ago. Pandora looked up at me, and I swear she shrugged. Something fishy was going on at the church—why was Lavinia acting so secretive about it? Did it have something to do with her death?

My house came into view and I noticed clouds had rolled in, turning the sky as ominous as my thoughts. There were too many unanswered questions.

Why had Lavinia and Ophelia lied about the church? Had Lavinia really been murdered because she just happened across someone stealing the bronzes? And what was all this magic talk Elspeth was spouting?