“Probably for the best. It will be quite embarrassing when the decorations are found.”
“A mischievous child might have done it. Teenagers do things like that,” Hazel said.
“But there’s more. Someone redecorated Noah’s house last night, and all the decorations we borrowed from you are gone.”
“Gone?” she asked in a shaky voice. “Are you certain?”
“Yes.”
“What else has changed?”
“The lights on the roof” Petunia said. “Where did those decorations come from?”
“I thought you just said you got them from Maxine’s cellar,” Hazel said.
“Can you just let the girl talk,” Wanda scolded her friend.
“That will be enough out of you two,” Aunt Maxine said. “I really don’t know their origins, but how old did they look?”
“Didn’t you see what they took?” Hazel asked.
“We loaded the decorations in a hurry,” Petunia said. “They were antique-looking.”
“I need more description, dear,” Aunt Maxine said.
“I don’t know. The white of the Santa was a faded dingy color. All the colors were faded and dirty. I thought it might be because they were really old.”
Aunt Maxine clucked her tongue. “Maybe older than we know.”
“Would you be able to find out how old?”
“I’ll have to look through Anastasia’s books and records.”
“So you don’t know anything about the elves?”
“Elves are quite mischievous,” Wanda said. “Be happy that they haven’t found a way into your house.” She snickered.
Petunia’s eyes widened. “Now that you mention it, there were tiny footprints in the snow among the decorations.”
“Oh my,” Aunt Maxine said. “That can’t be good.”
“And there was a tiny rope ladder attached to the roof,” Petunia added. “What do you think that means?”
“That I shouldn’t have lent those decorations to Noah. Apparently we have elves at work in Lake Forest.”
“What does that mean?”
“That the elves came to life and decorated Noah’s house -- possibly.”
Petunia shook her head. “I don’t want to hear that. Besides, I thought you didn’t know the origins of the decorations.”
“I can’t be certain, but that’s what this is sounding like.”
“I haven’t seen any elves.”
“You had better hope that you don’t,” Wanda shuddered. “When they’re not supervised, elves running amok can be quite nasty.”
“I’m shooting for Santa’s elves because they most likely decorated Noah’s house. Cora had a fit when she saw his decorations. She accused me of conjuring them up.”
Aunt Maxine looked worried. “That’s very dangerous even if you use a spell book.”
“A conjurer I’m not. I’ve seen too many scary movies on that subject.”
“So what did Noah have to say about the decorations?”
“I don’t think he knew what to think. It will be hard to sell him on the elves decorating his house. That’s the last thing Noah would want to hear.”
“At this point you’re not even certain that it’s the work of elves, although they love to decorate,” Wanda said.
“And make toys.” Hazel grinned.
“How will I find out if there are elves?” Petunia asked.
“They’ll stay close. You might be able to lure them with frosted Christmas cookies,” Aunt Maxine suggested. “Leave them on your stoop and if they’re gone in the morning you’ll know.”
“Then you’ll have to catch them,” Wanda said. “If you don’t, there’s no telling what kind of trouble they might get into.”
“Let’s think positive,” Aunt Maxine admonished.
Petunia dug into her pocket and held out the fur she found. “I found this fur on the ladder.”
Aunt Maxine examined it.
“Here, take it,” Petunia podded.
“No, and you shouldn’t have touched it either. But it can’t be helped now. It isn’t fur; it’s from an elf’s beard.”
“An elf will always come back to retrieve even a part of his beard,” Wanda said.
“Elves are just like Santa -- leave nothing behind,” Hazel added with a devilish grin.
“For ladies who said they don’t know anything about elves you’ve all certainly supplied me with plenty of information. But what if the elves came to life?” Petunia asked.
Aunt Maxine stood up and pulled a leather-bound book from behind the counter. “I’ll have to see if there’s anything in here about elves.”
“You’re already busy and now you have this to deal with,” Hazel said.
“I was planning to visit Lucy today,” Aunt Maxine said. “She was very upset about the disappearance of her granddaughter.”
“Mallory is at Lucy’s house now. She was delayed is all,” Petunia said.
“I’m relieved about that. And now you’ll have to time to find the elves.”
“I don’t know about that. Noah and I met Mallory at the ornament store, but that wasn’t her at all. She introduced herself as Lucy’s granddaughter, and she had a little boy named Timmy with her.”
“You’re thinking Tiny Tim?” Hazel hooted.
“I know you think I’m crazy, but we do have a real Scrooge here in town -- Ned Lewis.”
“Don’t be so hasty in your opinion of the man.”
“I can’t help it. I’ve had two run-ins with the man, and he’s definitely in need of a visit from three ghosts.”
“Perhaps you should reunite Timmy with Ned,” Aunt Maxine said.
“So you think Ned is really a Scrooge?”
“I didn’t mean it exactly like that.”
“It could be a magical spell,” Hazel suggested.
“From who?” Petunia asked. “I’d think we’re the only witches in town.”
“For all we know Cora is a witch.” Aunt Maxine laughed.
“No. She protests my use of magic.”
“That’s because she doesn’t want the competition.” Wanda grinned.
Petunia vehemently shook her head. “That’s enough talk about Cora being a witch. Besides, I’m more concerned about why that woman claimed to be Lucy’s granddaughter the other day.”
“It appears you’ll be quite busy. I’m not certain how much you should tell Noah. If you tell him you believe the elves may have come to life he might think you’re crazy,” Aunt Maxine cautioned.
“He knows I’m not crazy, but I don’t want him thinking I’m responsible for this.”
“You should probably figure out if the elves came to life or if someone snatched them,” Hazel said.
“I’d better get moving. If I’m lucky, the elves didn’t come to life,” Petunia said.
6
Where would elves hide if they came to life? Petunia knew at the very least that they possibly decorated Noah’s house, but where did the decorations come from?
She pulled up the hood of her jacket and headed in the direction of Ornaments Plus.
Petunia nearly slipped on the sidewalk as she walked into the crammed store. She would have thought there would be a cheaper place to shop for Christmas decorations, but Lake Forest didn’t have a Walmart or any other large chain store.
Petunia pressed through the crowd of families and into the back where the larger decorations were displayed. There were plenty of Santa and reindeer decorations, but none of them were silver and gold -- and no carolers.
The manager Petunia questioned earlier approached. “I hope you’re not here to ask more questions.”
“No, I was thinking about buying larger Santa and carolers.”
“We don’t have carolers, but we have Santa and reindeer,” the manger replied.
“I meant a gold and silver Santa.”
“We don’t carry a Santa in those colors, and like I said, no carolers.”
Petunia sighed in defeat. “That’
s disappointing.”
“We have other Christmas decorations.”
“I’m sorry, I’m not interested. You see the thing is someone decorated my boyfriend’s house last night and we’re trying to figure out who did it. I had hoped you carried the decorations and that one of your staff would have remembered who might have bought them.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t have been of more help.”
“I didn’t catch your name,” Petunia said.
“Hope.” She smiled. “If you need further assistance come back and see me.”
Petunia nodded and walked out the door. She was disappointed that her hunch hadn’t panned out, but it made her think that something quite magical occurred at Noah’s house.
Cars roared through the green light, but Petunia had enough time to cross the street if she hurried. She ran across the street and slid on a patch of ice. Her arms waved wildly, but she was unable to catch her footing and fell to the pavement. The horn of a truck blasted as she lay helpless on the street. Someone grabbed her jacket and pulled her to the safety of the sidewalk. Petunia’s breath caught in her chest. When she glanced up to thank her rescuer, nobody was there. She took a long ragged breath as glistening snowflakes gently kissed her cheeks.
Sheriff Pinkerton flipped on the flashers of his car and his heavy steps moved in Petunia’s direction. “Are you okay?” His eyes met Petunia’s. “Oh it’s you! Allow me to assist you.”
Petunia allowed the sheriff to help her, but there was no way she would tell him she was jaywalking when something quite strange happened.
“I slipped on the ice,” Petunia said.
“You need to be more careful. I would hope that you weren’t jaywalking again. Deputy Cartwright mentioned she ticketed you recently.”
“Of course not.”
Pinkerton gave Petunia an odd look, as if he had something on his mind other than her splayed out on the sidewalk.
He wiped the snow from the shoulders of his parka. “I was just headed in your direction. I have a few questions about what happened the other day at Ornaments Plus.”
“Yes, Cora made a spectacle of herself. She knocked into the other customers with a plastic reindeer. I didn’t know anyone called the police.”
“What?” Pinkerton smiled. “Leave it to Cora. But that’s not what I wanted to speak to you about. Let me give you a ride home and we can talk in the car.”
“I’d much rather walk.”
“Now look here, you’ve had a nasty fall and you might even need medical attention.”
“I don’t, but thank you.”
“I insist about the ride. I’ll put the siren on.”
Petunia tried to suppress a smile, but it was impossible not to. She climbed into the passenger seat of the squad car.
Pinkerton coasted to the front of Petunia’s house, only a few blocks away. When he parked at the curb, she asked, “So what’s this about?”
“Lucy Winters asked me to file a missing person report for her granddaughter, Mallory.”
“She’s at Lucy’s house now. Apparently she left Grand Rapids later than she had planned.”
“She’s told me as much, but I’m investigating the disappearance of another woman and a little boy. Word has it that you might have been the last person to have seen them.”
“I spoke to a woman at Ornaments Plus. She had a little boy she called Timmy with her. The woman introduced herself as Mallory Winters, Lucy’s granddaughter.”
“What?”
“I’m as shocked as you. I thought she really was Mallory, but Lucy told me Mallory didn’t have any children. When Lucy introduced me to Mallory at her house, she resemble the woman slightly. What’s her real name?”
“This is strange indeed,” Pinkerton said as he stroked his long chin lost in thought. “All I was told is to look for a missing woman and a child.”
“No specific description?”
“The woman has long dark hair and the little boy has brown hair. You say his name is Timmy?”
“Yes, but I wonder why the woman is claiming to be someone else.”
“I couldn’t tell you, but I’m going to find out. Where did you go after you spoke with the woman?”
“I took Pansy home after I made a purchase, and Noah met me back here.”
“Did you see the woman again?”
“No, but I asked around at Norm’s Market. One of the meat cutters told me he might have seen a woman with a little boy.”
“I’ll have to verify your alibi.”
“Alibi? It’s not like I kidnapped them. I’ve never seen them before. They might have come to town of their own volition and didn’t want anyone to know where they are.”
“You’re right, but with a child missing it might be a parental kidnapping.”
“If that’s the case why don’t you know either of their names?”
“We don’t have the names of all suspects, but that doesn’t mean we can’t find them.”
“Now the woman’s a suspect? For what?”
“I already told you.”
“But is that what the caller told you? I’d think you’d have told me that in the beginning if that was the case.”
“I suppose I’m just tossing out a few ideas. I know you’re very resourceful, Petunia, and I’d appreciate it if you could contact me if you locate the woman and child.”
“I will after I question her myself, even if you’re checking out my story.”
“I know we haven’t always gotten along, but I’m just doing my job. You’d do the same if you were sheriff.”
Petunia nodded. “Sheriff Patterson has a ring to it. Of course I’d have to let Deputy Cartwright go. She’d make the job painful.”
“Cartwright would quit first, I imagine. But I have no plans to go anywhere. I don’t think Lake Forest is ready for a woman sheriff who is a witch.”
Petunia put her hand on the door handle. “That’s what Lake Forest needs -- a little more magic.”
Pinkerton smiled. “You can leave now unless you want me to run you to the doctor.”
“Thanks again for your assistance,” Petunia said as she stepped from the car.
Noah came out of Petunia’s house and asked, “What are you being accused of now?”
Petunia frowned. “How did you get into my house?”
“Your key. You shouldn’t keep it under your mat. It’s quite a common place to hide a key. I’d hate for you to be broken into.”
“Why are you in my house?” Petunia asked.
“Your cats were howling. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a cat sound like that before. I know you would have wanted me to check on them. I think your American Bobtail escaped out the back door.”
“You think?”
“I opened the back door to make sure the screen door was secured and the cat flew out the door.”
Petunia sighed. “That’s all I need. But I can’t believe he’d go out in the snow. Cats hate to get their paws wet.”
“So I’ve been told,” Noah said as Petunia glided past him.
She bent and picked up a frantic Pansy.
“He’s been off the rail. He clawed me,” Noah complained and offered his arm.
Petunia sighed at the nasty scratches. “You shouldn’t pick him up when he’s upset.”
“How was I supposed to know he was upset?”
“You mentioned howling. That’s not normal cat behavior.”
“Is there such a thing as normal cat behavior? Seems to me they have the run of the place.” Noah laughed. “So what did the sheriff want?”
“Apparently someone is searching for the woman and boy we saw at the ornament store the other day.” Petunia told Noah about her suspicions about the woman posing as Lucy’s granddaughter.
“Why do you think the woman would introduce herself as Mallory Winters?”
“I don’t know, but at least the sheriff is looking for the pair now. He’s concerned about the child.”
“You need to find the wom
an and boy before the sheriff does. I doubt the sheriff will share information with you.”
Petunia sat down and rolled up her pant leg to check for injuries. She found a vicious scrape and bruise forming on her knee.
Noah knelt and asked, “What happened?”
“I was doing a little jaywalking and fell in front of a truck.” Petunia gasped when she lightly touched her knee.
Noah exclaimed, “You could have been killed!”
“I very nearly was, but someone grabbed my jacket and pulled me to the sidewalk in the nick of time.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know. When I opened my eyes I didn’t see anyone nearby.” Petunia bit her lip. She might have bumped her head, though she was certain she felt a hand grab the back of her jacket.
“I learned my lesson about jaywalking during the winter.”
“Please make that your New Year resolution. I’d hate to lose you.”
Petunia smiled up at Noah. “Thanks, me either. I-I mean I’d hate to lose you too. Who else can I confide in, or investigate with?”
“I haven’t done much investigating with you lately.”
“Because there may be two missing persons in town now we’d better start tomorrow. I need to talk to my aunt again.”
“Didn’t you just do that?”
“Yes, but she didn’t have anything to say about the missing decorations. She’s planning to do some research.”
“You should ask your aunt to come here instead of you going there. You’re injured. It won’t be good for your leg if you go traipsing around town.”
“I’ll do that, but I’d better find Merlin before he freezes outside.”
Petunia walked out the back door and frowned at the tiny tracks in the snow she couldn’t identify. Judging by his paw prints, Merlin was in pursuit of something.
“Where are you going, Red?” Pansy asked.
“Merlin is out here somewhere.”
“And your point is?”
“That I need to find him.”
“Just think how much you’ll save on cat food if he can’t be found.”
Petunia ignored Pansy. She marched across the yard, tracking the prints to the chain-link fence. They continued into Cora’s yard. Drat!
Petunia walked back inside and found Noah making a pot of coffee. “We have a problem,” she said as she stomped the snow off her boots. “Merlin’s paw prints lead into Cora’s backyard.”
Meows, Magic & Elves Page 5