As An Antique Shop Owner, It's Only Reasonable That I Know A Bit Of Magic - Chapter 24

“Once these herbs burn out, no one would suspect a thing—after all, I occasionally light incense in the shop anyway.”
“And the police would never believe a simple symbol could be deadly.”
“Tell me, who would ever connect an ‘accidental death’ to a little girl?”

Su Fan’s rhetorical question sent chills down the detective’s and Karl’s spines.

The detective silently admitted that if Su Fan were just an ordinary stranger, Lena’s scheme would’ve worked flawlessly—leaving him to die in disgrace, with no one ever uncovering the truth.

Exchanging glances, Karl and the detective saw the same dread reflected in each other’s eyes.

Frankly, Lena’s methods weren’t sophisticated. Yet by exploiting her childlike appearance and the assumption that children were harmless, she’d nearly succeeded in murder.

“Take this as evidence.”

Su Fan handed the remaining herbs to Karl, who immediately pulled out a sealable bag from his pocket and carefully stored them.

“Wait a minute…” The detective suddenly frowned. “You’re the only one with the keys to this shop. How did she get in?”
“The door was locked when we arrived.”

He rewound the surveillance footage, scrutinizing it frame by frame—until he saw it.

The lock had unlatched itself.

Karl, now holding the evidence, leaned in and gasped.

Was this the voodoo Su Fan had mentioned?

Earlier, he’d dismissed the totem as mere superstition. But now, faced with this impossible act, doubt turned to icy certainty.

“So it’s… supernatural crime?”

As a rookie cop, why was he tangled up in something this dangerous? Was he about to become collateral damage?

A shudder ran through him.

“Don’t worry.” The detective clapped Karl’s shoulder. “Like I said—Su’s a professional.”
“Before I transferred here, I worked a case involving a murderous spirit…”
“You can’t imagine the horrors we faced. Hell, I almost died.”
“Su was the one who ended it. Trust me—he’s the real deal.”

Karl nodded vigorously.

Just then, Su Fan spoke up.

“Karl, I need you to handle something for me.”

———

Meanwhile, in the Coleman Household

Thunk. Thunk.

The sound of a knife chopping vegetables echoed through the kitchen as Kate worked, her face stormy.

She regretted adopting Esther.

No—she regretted bringing that girl into their home.

Esther’s sweet facade had crumbled within days. She’d developed an obsessive possessiveness over John, sabotaging Kate’s intimacy with her own husband. She sneered at Kate, bullied Max, and once—once—Kate had caught her trying to push Max off the attic stairs.

If she hadn’t intervened…

Worse, John refused to see it. He dismissed Kate’s concerns, accusing her of “picking on a child.” Esther was a different person around him—a perfect angel.

Then came the final straw.

Based solely on Esther’s lies, John had reported Su Fan to the police for molestation. The case was dropped for lack of evidence, and Su Fan had even provided surveillance footage proving his innocence.

Kate demanded John take Esther to apologize.

He refused.

Their argument ended with John storming out—with Esther in tow.

Exhausted, Kate remembered Su Fan’s warning. At the time, she’d thought it odd. Now, it felt like prophecy.

The doorbell rang.

“Just a minute…” Her voice lacked its usual warmth as she set down the knife.

But it wasn’t John on the doorstep.

“Sister Abigail?”

The kindly Black nun smiled. “It’s been a while, Mrs. Coleman. May I come in?”

———

Over tea, Abigail studied Kate’s weary face. “You seem troubled.”

“I… actually wanted to talk to you about Esther.”

“That’s precisely why I’m here.” Abigail’s expression darkened as she pulled a file from her bag.

Kate flipped through it—incident reports from Esther’s orphanage.

After Esther’s arrival, accidents had spiked. Every time, Esther was present. And every victim? A child who’d crossed her.

“My investigation uncovered something worse.”

As Abigail spoke, Kate’s hands began to tremble.

A family of seven, dead in a suspicious fire. Esther, the sole survivor.

Rare disorders. Extreme aggression. Psychological disturbances.

By the time Abigail finished, dusk had fallen, draping the room in shadows.

“I’ve come to take Esther back to psychiatric care. Is she here?”

“No—John took her out! He’s in danger!” Kate shot to her feet.

“Where did they go?”

“I don’t know, but I can’t stay here!” She grabbed her keys.

“Wait! Think of your children!” Abigail pleaded. “What if Esther returns alone?”

Kate hesitated.

“Please, Sister—watch over them. I have to find John.”

With a sigh, Abigail relented. “Bring him home safe.”

“I will.”

Kate rushed out—unaware that behind her, in the darkness, Sister Abigail’s lips had curled into an unnatural smile.