Pumpkins and Potions

by Tegan Maher

  “Well, it sounds like Peter’s missing out.”

  “That’s right, he is,” Kelly said hotly. “Keri-Lynn was too good for him, anyway. If he couldn’t recognize what a good thing he had with her, well, that’s his problem. I’m sure Shelly is funny, but will she stay up with him and make him potions when he’s sick?”

  “Is Keri-Lynn a potion maker, then?” I asked, and Kelly nodded.

  “That’s right. She works for one of the pharmaceutical companies. She commutes every day to Spellford, where the company is located. They generally only take witches and wizards who graduated from college there, but Keri-Lynn was that good that she applied and they accepted her anyway.”

  “Wow,” I said, raising my eyebrows. I was impressed. I remembered Keri-Lynn as being rather average in almost every way, including intelligence. Of course, being earth coven witches, we were naturally more adept at potion-making than witches from non-earth covens, but Keri-Lynn had never stood out to me as being especially skilled.

  “Yeah, Keri-Lynn is amazing. So Peter can go spend the rest of his life with Shelly for all I care. I was the one who suggested we go drinking last night. She was so sad, it was a terrible sight to see. Keri-Lynn couldn’t do anything except cry and eat ice cream, so I told her I was taking her out to forget her worries. It took a few pumpkin punches—more than usual—but eventually she started feeling a little bit better, and we ended up having a lot of fun. I hope she managed to forget that idiot. Of course, I’m still feeling it a little bit today, but at least this job isn’t too hard most of the time. I took a few potions earlier and my headache is mostly gone.”

  I grinned. “Yeah, that sounds familiar. Did you see anything last night that looked suspicious to you at all?”

  Kelly looked up at the ceiling while biting her lip, trying to think it through. “No, I don’t think I did. But of course, a lot of the end of the night is pretty fuzzy. I don’t even have a memory of going home after the bar. The only reason I know I spent the night at my sister’s is because I woke up there. So I’m afraid I can’t be of much help to you. Sorry.”

  “That’s alright,” I replied. “You never saw anyone behind the bar, especially around closing?”

  “I don’t even know if I was back there,” Kelly said. “Which I know isn’t the greatest alibi. To be honest, it could very well have been me, playing a prank. If I go home and find the recipe sitting on the table, or if I ask Keri-Lynn and it’s at her place, I’ll give you a call straight away.”

  I shook my head. “Don’t worry about it. Whoever has the recipe knows they have it already. I can’t say more than that, but you didn’t take it by accident without realizing.”

  “Well, that’s a relief. I’d hate to find out that I caused trouble for Frances because I got drunk and did something stupid.”

  I laughed. “Does that happen often?”

  “I wouldn’t say often, but it’s been known to happen. Not in a few years, though. Back when I was a teenager at the Academy, though, I had a few nights that I wasn’t particularly proud of.”

  “Oh, no?” I asked with a small smile flittering on my lips.

  Kelly giggled. “There was one Halloween in particular, when we snuck into Frances’ party all dressed up and managed to get a few cups of the pumpkin punch without anyone noticing. Of course, it made me feel super giddy, and I wasn’t quite as used to the power of alcohol and potions back then, so it had an extra effect on me. Two of my friends and I went back to the Academy, where we charmed the entire building. The next day, as soon as anyone walked through the front doors their heads turned into pumpkins. It was Halloween, after all.”

  I laughed. “I remember that! People thought Grandma Rosie did it, and the principal came to the house to talk to her. She said it wasn’t her who had done it, but that she commended the enterprising soul who had come up with such a clever prank on Halloween.”

  “Well, now you know the secret,” Kelly replied. “That’s the worst thing I’ve ever done while drunk. I’m pretty sure the hospital was overwhelmed with students and teachers.”

  “Willow says that day is a legend among hospital workers who have been there a while. Supposedly there were over a hundred students and teachers admitted that morning, and it took them two hours to figure out what potion to use to make their heads go back to normal.”

  “I honestly do feel bad about having caused that much trouble,” Kelly said sheepishly. “I barely remembered doing it at all. But it also shows how important Frances’ potion is to the entire history of this town. Everyone in Mt. Rheanier has a story involving pumpkin punch and Halloween. It’s as much a part of the holiday as trick-or-treating and dressing up.”

  “Agreed,” I nodded. “That’s why I need to get it back. Do you know where I can find your sister? I want to see if she knows anything that can help me find it.”

  “I can get her to meet you at the coffee shop,” Kelly said. “She’s out and about today running errands.”

  “Would you? That would be great, thanks.”

  “I’ll tell her to meet you there in half an hour, if that works for you.”

  “That would be fantastic. Thanks for the help, Kelly.”

  “No problem. I hope you find the paranormal who took the recipe. Frances’ bar is an institution in this town, and that pumpkin punch recipe means so much to so many people. I’d hate to see it disappear forever.”

  “Me too,” I replied. “I’ll do my best to find it.”

  5

  I was very pleased to find Pyxis working behind the counter at The Magic Brewmstick. Her silver wings fluttered behind her excitedly as I walked up to the counter. Pyxis could always be counted on to have all the latest and greatest gossip in town. Of course, only about a quarter of it was ever remotely accurate, but if you could sort through the information she gave and find out what was real and what was completely false, she was an excellent resource for an enterprising private investigator such as myself.

  “Ali,” she greeted me, her brown curls framing her smiling face. “How are things?”

  “Good, thanks Pyxis,” I replied. “I was hoping you might be able to help me with something.”

  “Oh, well I’m always willing to help with anything I can, you know that.”

  “You know the Rockford sisters? Have you heard anything about them lately? Anything about them being in trouble?”

  “Can’t say I have, sorry,” Pyxis replied, shaking her head.

  “What about Julianne Kent? What do you know about her?”

  “Oh, she’s a lovely young witch,” Pyxis replied. “I like her. She’s far too good for her family, you know.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, her mother left when she was just a baby. No one knows what coven she went to, or if she’s even still alive. Poor thing. And her father did his best, but he had it rough when Elise left. He’s been spotted in Desert Plains quite a few times the last couple years.”

  “Ah,” I said, nodding in understanding. Desert Plains was a magical town with an old west feel, where casinos were as plentiful as bars.

  “So poor Julianne ended up somewhat raising herself, and of course the family hasn’t got any money as her father drinks it away. She got a full scholarship to Spellford, though. I believe she’s training to become a Healer. She’s just the sweetest little thing, too. She comes in here sometimes, just to grab a seat and study. I don’t think she has a lot of places to go, poor thing. I always give her coffee on the house, and usually a slice of banana bread or a muffin, but don’t tell my boss,” Pyxis said with a wink.

  “Of course I won’t,” I said with a light laugh. “What about Ken Dryden? Know anything about him?”

  Pyxis frowned. “Only what everyone else in town knows. Poor man has been drinking himself half to death, and shows no sign of stopping anytime soon.”

  “Ok, thanks. I’m going to get a large latte today, maybe with a shot of caramel. I feel like an extra burst of sugar.”

 
“That’s funny, because you’re sweet as anything as you are.”

  I laughed. “And that right there is why I always tip you. Anyway, I don’t know if you heard, but Grandma Rosie is thinking of getting a job.”

  Pyxis’ eyes widened. “Is she really? Your grandmother?”

  “Yup,” I said, nodding. “Don’t tell anyone, though. I think she wants it to be a surprise.”

  The reality was Grandma Rosie wanted me to make sure word got around that she was looking. She’d told me the other day that she wanted to start working in town. And this way, Pyxis got some information back in exchange for telling me what she knew.

  “I’ll keep it to myself,” Pyxis said, and I knew she was lying as I handed her a few bills.

  “Thanks. I’ll be sitting at the back. If you see Kelly Rockford, tell her where I am, will you?”

  “You got it.”

  I headed to the patio at the back of the coffee shop, one of my favorite places on the planet. The patio backed onto Lake Cyrene, and was magically enchanted so that while the air outside was brisk and cool, it was still comfortable t-shirt weather on the patio year-round. The light from the late afternoon sun danced on the water and bounced off the gorgeous fall colors of the trees on the other side. This was my happy place, and when Pyxis brought me my coffee out a few minutes later I sat at one of the picnic tables, staring out over the water and thinking about just how much I loved this part of the world.

  About ten minutes later Keri-Lynn joined me, holding a take-away cup herself.

  “Hi, Ali,” she told me. “Kelly texted me and said you needed to speak with me. She said someone stole the recipe for pumpkin punch from Frances’ bar last night?”

  I nodded. “That’s right, I’m looking into it. That’s not to say I think you did it.”

  “That’s good. That’s the last thing I need right now, is to be accused of a crime.”

  Looking closely at her, Keri-Lynn’s eyes were a little bit bloodshot; she’d obviously been crying not all that long ago.

  “I hear things ended between you and Peter,” I said softly. “I’m sorry.”

  Keri-Lynn nodded, hanging her head. “I can’t believe it. I had no idea. I thought we were happy, and then one day, out of nowhere, he tells me he’s leaving me for Shelly. That stupid witch.”

  I raised my eyebrows slightly. Keri-Lynn didn’t seem to be taking the same empowering stance as her sister had with regards to the breakup.

  “I thought Keri-Lynn said you were over him, and that you could do better.”

  “Oh, she said that alright, but that doesn’t make it true,” Keri-Lynn said sadly. “I wish it was. But the reality is, Peter was a great guy. I loved him with all my heart, and I don’t know where I’m ever going to find someone else like him.”

  Her eyes dropped to the table, and my heart went out to her. I knew exactly what it was like to have the love of your life ripped away from you like that, without any warning.

  “I know it feels hopeless now,” I told her. “But things will get better for you. I promise.”

  “I hope you’re right, I just can’t see how right now.”

  “Yeah. Don’t worry, that eventually passes. So you were at the bar last night?”

  “That’s right. I didn’t want to go. I wanted to mope around the apartment a little bit more, feeling sorry for myself. You know, I was just thinking to myself a few weeks ago that Peter and I should start talking about moving in with each other. I was ready to take that next step with him. But we never got there. Kelly came over around eight; she knew I wasn’t doing too great and wanted to help. But by nine o’clock or so she got sick of my moping, and insisted that we go down to It’s Rheaning Beer. I didn’t want to go. I tried to make excuses as to why we couldn’t do it, but she wouldn’t listen to me. She kept insisting that tonight was a perfect opportunity to have a few drinks and let loose and forget about Peter.”

  “Did it work?”

  “Well, I embarrassed myself a fair bit during karaoke, I think. And I have a feeling the other young witch who was there—I don’t know who she was—wasn’t especially pleased with us; she kept throwing us dirty looks. But then, she also had a bunch of books out. Who goes to a bar to study?”

  “That’s true,” I said. “Did you see anything suspicious while you were there?” I asked, and Keri-Lynn frowned.

  “Not really. I don’t think so, anyway. What do you mean by suspicious?”

  “Did anyone go near the bar, or even behind it while Frances wasn’t there?”

  “Oh, not that I saw at all. Ken was at the bar all night, of course, but that’s where he sits. I don’t think he moved the entire time we were there except to go to the bathroom. The woman with the books went up to the bar once or twice to order drinks. And she went to the bathroom once as well, I guess. Then there was just Kelly and me. Kelly wasn’t in great shape toward the end of the night. I think she let herself get a bit loose with the drinks. Wouldn’t be the first time. But she didn’t take the potion recipe, and neither did I. I could never steal from Frances.”

  “Ok, thanks,” I said.

  “Mind if I head off? I have a hairdresser’s appointment in a minute.”

  “Sure. Thanks for the help.”

  “No problem. I hope you find whoever did it.”

  As Kelly walked off, I thought over the three suspects I had spoken to so far.

  Ken seemed so out of it I wasn’t sure he’d be able to find his wand with both hands, let alone be able to open a safe, get the recipe out of there, and get out of the bar without anyone noticing that he had it. I doubted he had it in him. And then to manage to buy a burner cell phone and ransom off the recipe? No, he just didn’t seem physically capable of it.

  Then there was Kelly. I tended to believe that she didn’t do it, simply because she didn’t seem to know about the ransom call. But then, maybe she had mentioned that on purpose, to divert suspicion away from herself. Still, I felt it was unlikely that she had done it.

  Keri-Lynn didn’t seem particularly happy right now. In fact, she had seemed downright depressed to me, and I couldn’t blame her. I remembered how I had felt when I found out Sean and I weren’t going to spend the rest of our lives together. I’d lain in bed for about two weeks without moving, and Willow coming over and practically hand-feeding me pizza was the only sustenance I’d gotten during that bleak time in my life.

  I had a hard time believing someone in that frame of mind would have thought to steal the recipe, done so, and then gone ahead with the ransom.

  I had to speak with Julianne, but it already seemed unlikely that she was the culprit. I hated it when I had cases with a handful of suspects but no one who I actually liked for the crime. It was so much easier when my culprits handed themselves over on silver platters.

  6

  Checking my watch, I knew Julianne would still be at Spellford for a few hours, so I decided to pop on home for a little while before speaking to her. As I approached the tiny cottage in which my mom lived with Grandma Rosie, I could already hear their heated voices, and I knew I was going to be sneaking into the shed at the back where I lived without saying hello to either. I didn’t want to end up in the middle of this argument. Not by a long shot.

  “You don’t need a job!” Mom’s voice carried outside, one octave higher than usual.

  “Of course I do. I read an article that said witches should all know what it’s like to work outside the home, and that it’s a great way to stay active. Besides, I like having money.”

  “You’re too old for a job. No one will hire you.”

  “That’s ageism, and I expect better from my own daughter. It’s not about how old you are, it’s about how old you feel. Or how old the man you feel is.”

  I shuddered on the inside at the idea of my grandmother getting herself a twenty-something boytoy.

  “You’re not getting a job. Do you know how hard the workforce is out there?”

  “Please, I’m a hard worker. I’ll find
something.”

  “You won’t even clean up the dishes at night and you can do it with magic,” Mom replied. “How do you expect to do an entire day’s work with a boss telling you what to do?”

  “If someone’s paying me money I’ll do whatever they want,” Grandma Rosie replied. “Besides, it’s good for me to get out of the house.”

  “Fine, if it keeps you out of trouble, I’m all for it.”

  “See? And you thought complaining was a good idea. I’m telling you, I’m getting a job, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me. I even have an interview in a few hours.”

  “Rhea have mercy on whichever poor business owner thought it was a good idea to hire you,” Mom said. “I’m going out. I need some air.”

  I rushed quickly into my shed before Mom reached the front door so I wasn’t caught eavesdropping.

  I ran into the shed and slammed the door behind me. My familiar, Vincent Van Goat—he went by Vinnie—let out a small bleat behind me and immediately fainted on the ground.

  “Oh, I’m sorry Vinnie,” I said, picking him up and placing his tense body on my lap. Vinnie was a fainting goat. Technically, he didn’t faint, it was just that when he got scared all his muscles contracted and he generally fell over for about thirty seconds until the fear passed.

  Sure enough, it took less than a minute before he came to, shaking his little head. “I hate it when that happens. I’m a big, brave goat and I want to act like it.”

  “I know you are,” I replied, stroking his head.

  “Why did you have to come rushing in like that, anyway?”

  “I’m avoiding Mom and Grandma Rosie,” I replied. “They’re arguing in the house because Grandma Rosie wants to get a job for some reason.”

  “That reason can’t just be money,” Vinnie replied. “She’s up to something.”

  “I agree,” I said, nodding. “Grandma Rosie has never in her life cared about having a job, and I don’t believe she’d start now. She’s got something up her sleeve, I know it.”