Incantations and Iced Coffee

by Jinty James

  Feeling slightly better, she handed Grace the latte.

  “Thanks girls.” Grace sipped her coffee and made a sound of appreciation. “Just what I needed.” She peered into the truck. “Where’s Trixie?”

  “She’s having a day off.” Maddie spoke lightly, still unable to believe that Grace might have killed Veronica.

  “Give her a pat for me,” Grace said.

  “We will.” Suzanne smiled as she closed up the register.

  Maddie waited until Grace departed, then jumped into the driver’s seat.

  “What’s the rush?” Suzanne wrinkled her nose. “You’ve still got plenty of time to cook my brother dinner.”

  “It’s not that.” Maddie started the engine. “Grace could be the killer!”

  CHAPTER 20

  “W hat?” Suzanne stared at Maddie as if she’d been drinking too much coffee. “No way!”

  “Remember the plant pot Claudine was talking about?”

  “How could I forget?”

  “I saw one just like it in Grace’s garden.”

  “You did? When we were there?”

  “Yes.” Maddie pulled into her driveway.

  “Are you sure it was the same one?” Suzanne frowned.

  “No, I’m not. I’ve been trying to tell myself that for the last few minutes. Maybe everyone in Estherville has the same pot with a chip in it.”

  “Do you think the local plant nursery would have a record of customers buying those pots – if they stock them?”

  “I think we should call Detective Edgewater and tell him to check,” Maddie replied.

  “Good idea!”

  They rushed inside Maddie’s house. Trixie trotted to greet them, her ears pricking as she sensed what sort of mood they were in.

  “Mrrow?”

  “We need to call Detective Edgewater right away, Trix,” Suzanne told the Persian.

  “Mrrow!”

  Maddie plucked her phone out of her pocket and dialed the number. After leaving a message for the detective, she sank down on a kitchen chair.

  “I don’t know what else to do,” she confessed.

  “I know what you mean.” Suzanne drummed her fingers on her lips. “I can’t believe Grace killed Veronica. I know we had her on our suspect list, and Veronica stole her high school boyfriend, but why would Grace kill her now? Especially since Richard has passed away.”

  “Exactly.” Maddie nodded. “Maybe it isn’t her.” She sounded as if she were trying to convince herself. “Maybe everyone in Estherville does have the same kind of plant pot.”

  “With a chip in it?”

  “Maybe it was a damaged shipment?” Maddie asked hopefully.

  Maddie’s phone rang. They looked at the flashing cell, then Maddie answered it.

  “Detective Edgewater,” she mouthed to Suzanne. After a moment, she said, “Okay, thank you,” into the phone and finished the call. “He said he’s going to check around Estherville this afternoon, since the plant nursery should still be open – and he’ll ask Claudine where she bought the pot.”

  “Good.” Suzanne sighed with relief. “Hopefully it means that Grace is in the clear.”

  A sudden thought struck Maddie and she groaned.

  “What?” Suzanne peered at her.

  “I’ve just remembered Claudine said she chipped the pot,” Maddie said. “So that means—”

  “It’s not a damaged shipment,” they spoke together.

  “Oh pooh.” Suzanne frowned. “I like Grace.”

  “So do I.”

  “Mrrow!” Trixie looked upset.

  “Maybe there’s a reasonable explanation for why Grace has the same kind of pot in her garden,” Suzanne said. “Ooh!” She snapped her fingers. “Maybe the killer gave it to her!”

  “Yes!” Maddie felt like cheering. “Surely that must be it?”

  “We should go over to Grace’s house and find out,” Suzanne declared.

  “Do you think that’s wise?” Maddie asked, Detective Edgewater’s words about not poking around in the investigation springing up in her mind.

  “We should be safe because you can do magic!” Excitement flickered across Suzanne’s face.

  “But only a few spells,” Maddie reminded her.

  “Trixie can do a spell on her own, can’t you, Trix?” Suzanne looked over at the familiar, who sat on “her” kitchen chair.

  Maddie shuddered at the memory of the Freeze spell Trixie had cast to save her a few months ago.

  “Mrrow!” Trixie said proudly, sitting up straight.

  “I’m very grateful she did.” Maddie stroked Trixie. “But I hope she doesn’t have to repeat it.”

  “Hmm.” Suzanne looked a little disappointed. “But we can still go and just talk to Grace, can’t we?”

  Maddie checked her watch. It was two-thirty.

  “I guess we have time before Luke comes over this evening,” she said reluctantly.

  “Awesome! I know! You can use the new incantation to see where Grace is,” Suzanne enthused.

  “Sometimes I think you should be the witch,” Maddie said wryly. But she knew if she ever lost what little powers she possessed, she’d definitely mourn the loss.

  “I wish.” Suzanne sighed.

  “Let me get the incantation.” Maddie rose from the table and headed to her bedroom. She’d placed the piece of paper that she’d written the spell on in her nightstand drawer.

  A minute later, Maddie walked back into the kitchen.

  “Okay.” She placed the notepaper on the table. “It says I have to say these words in order to find somebody and see what they’re doing right now.”

  Suzanne and Trixie were quiet while Maddie closed her eyes and focused. She opened her eyes and read out the words of the spell three times.

  “Show me the person I am thinking of

  Show me their actions

  Show me true”

  Maddie suddenly had a mental image of Grace. She was chatting to a friend at the library.

  “Well?” Suzanne asked eagerly.

  “She’s at the library.”

  “Pooh.” Suzanne pouted. “How can we talk privately to her there?”

  Maddie closed her eyes and thought about Grace. Another image arose in her mind. Grace got in her car and drove in the direction of her house.

  “I think she’s going home,” Maddie said, beginning to feel excited.

  “You saw her twice?” Suzanne’s eyes widened. “Can you see her again?”

  Maddie shut her eyes and refocused, but this time nothing happened. No helpful image of Grace.

  “No.”

  “So it looks like you get to use the spell twice in the first couple of minutes,” Suzanne surmised. “Maybe you should cast it again!”

  “Trixie?” Maddie looked to her familiar. “What do you think?” Sometimes she thought Trixie had a better handle on magic than she did.

  “Mrrow!” Trixie seemed to nod her head.

  “Okay.” Maddie recited the words of the spell again. Another image of Grace. She was definitely driving in the direction of her house.

  Maddie opened her eyes. “Let’s go to Grace’s house.”

  “ARE WE SURE ABOUT THIS?” Maddie said doubtfully. They’d just pulled up to Grace’s Victorian house.

  “Of course.” Suzanne sounded confident. “We’re just going to talk to her, that’s all. We’re not going to accuse her of anything.”

  “That’s good.” Maddie looked at her friend sideways. “Are you sure that’s all we’re going to do?”

  “Yes.” Suzanne’s ponytail swished. “You show me where the pot is in her garden and then I can ask her where she got it from. I’ll tell her I want to plant some flower bulbs.”

  “Do you plant bulbs in summer?” Maddie queried.

  “Hmm.” Suzanne whipped out her phone and did a quick internet search. “Apparently you plant spring flower bulbs in the fall. If she asks, I’ll just say I love her pot so much I want one just like it for next year’
s daffodils.” Suzanne looked satisfied with her reasoning.

  “Okay.” Maddie clipped on Trixie’s harness. “Let’s go.”

  They opened the gate and walked into Grace’s garden.

  “Over here,” Maddie whispered, discreetly pointing to a corner of the garden filled with flowers. An empty blue and white marbled pot stood next to a border of pink dahlias.

  “It does look nice.” Suzanne bent down for a closer look, then suddenly recoiled as she remembered where the pot could have come from. “No wonder Claudine had second thoughts about getting rid of it.”

  “There’s the chip.” Maddie looked around but no one – including Grace – was in sight. A medium sized white chip ruined the decorative marbling on one side of the pot.

  “Mrrow?” Trixie rubbed the side of her neck all around the pot, then pawed at the underside.

  “What a shame.” Suzanne straightened. “Because I would definitely want a pot like that if I didn’t know it had been involved in a murder – somehow.”

  “Maybe we should check if Detective Edgewater’s texted us,” Maddie said hopefully.

  “But you’ve had your phone on the whole time – haven’t you?”

  “Yes, but I might have put it on silent and not realized.” Maddie dug the phone out of her pocket. No message or missed voice call from the detective. They were on their own.

  They walked along Grace’s path to the porch, Maddie hoping Grace wouldn’t find it strange they were visiting her that afternoon.

  “Trixie?” Maddie looked down at the Persian, but Trixie seemed intent on gazing at all the plants around them. If her familiar felt unsure about their plan, she wasn’t showing it.

  Suzanne pressed the doorbell, a loud chime echoing inside.

  “Hi, girls.” Grace seemed surprised to see them when she opened the door. “Oh, you’ve brought Trixie. How lovely!”

  “Hi, Grace,” Suzanne chirped. “Maddie and I were talking about the cuttings you gave me and I remembered I saw a really pretty pot in your garden that day. Did you buy it? Or did someone give it to you? I’d love to plant daffodil bulbs in something like that for next spring.”

  “Which pot, dear?” Grace asked. She gave a little laugh. “I do have lots in my garden.”

  “It has blue and white marbling.” Suzanne pointed at the corner of the garden Maddie had shown her. “The pot is empty at the moment,” she added helpfully.

  “Oh, that one.”

  Was it Maddie’s imagination or had Grace paled just a little?

  “I’ve had that pot for so long, I can’t remember where I got it from. But maybe the local plant nursery has something similar.”

  “I’ll check it out,” Suzanne replied.

  “Mrrow.” Trixie put her paw on the doorstep and left something behind. A little speck of dark dried up stuff – was it soil?

  “I’m so sorry,” Maddie apologized. “Let me pick that up.”

  “No need.” Grace bent down and scooped up the bit of dirt in her hand. “All gone.”

  “Mrrow!” Trixie sounded urgent as she looked at Maddie with widened eyes.

  A speck of dark dirty – whatever it was. Maddie stared at her familiar when suddenly it clicked. The plant pot had been the murder weapon!

  She straightened and turned to Grace, attempting to school her expression.

  “You girls better come in.” Grace held the door wide open for them.

  “Thanks.” Suzanne entered the house before Maddie could stop her.

  “I think we should be going now,” Maddie said, turning to leave. “We’ve got that thing on, Suzanne, remember?”

  “What thing?” Suzanne swiveled around. “You mean you want to have plenty of time to get ready for Luke tonight. She’s cooking dinner for my brother – eek!”

  Grace had hauled Suzanne back into the house, a steely look of determination on her face.

  “You know, don’t you?” she snarled at Maddie.

  “If you mean I know you killed Veronica, then yes,” Maddie replied, her heart hammering in her chest.

  “Mrrow!” Trixie agreed.

  “Oh no,” Suzanne groaned, attempting to wrestle her arm out of Grace’s grasp. It was no use.

  “If you want your friend to stay alive then you two better come in,” Grace commanded.

  Maddie looked down at Trixie. I hope you’ve got a plan. She just hoped the telepathic bond between them was working. Trixie’s demeanor didn’t give anything away.

  “I won’t allow you to hurt Suzanne,” Maddie told Grace, using her most determined voice.

  “Mrrow!”

  “Then you better get inside.” Grace narrowed her eyes at Maddie and Trixie, suddenly looking like a totally different person.

  Once they were inside the hall, which was tastefully furnished with a mahogany antique dresser, Grace slammed the door shut behind them.

  “We didn’t want to believe you were the killer,” Suzanne said.

  “How did you know it was me?” Grace demanded.

  “Claudine accused us of stealing her plant pot,” Maddie told her.

  “I knew I should have left that pot there.” Grace screwed up her mouth in self-disgust. “But I couldn’t resist it. I’ve never seen a pot like that and it was just thrown away like garbage. Just because it has a chip in it. Besides—” her shoulders sagged and she didn’t seem quite as ferocious, “I thought it a good idea to remove it from the crime scene as it had my fingerprints all over it.”

  “So you used it to kill Veronica?” Maddie held her breath, waiting for confirmation.

  “Yes.” Grace nodded.

  “But why?” Suzanne asked. “Why kill her?”

  “She stole Richard,” Grace replied. “And in doing so, she ruined my life.”

  “Did you know he died of cancer?” Maddie asked tentatively.

  “Not until the day I murdered her,” Grace replied, shuddering.

  “What happened?” Maddie asked gently.

  “I still don’t know how it happened,” Grace told them. “I was walking along the back alley as there’s a wild piece of land nearby and I wanted to get a cutting of this unusual flower I saw there, when Veronica came out of the café’s rear entrance. I didn’t even want to say hello to her, but she said we should catch up. Then she said she wanted to let me know Richard died of cancer two years ago!”

  “Oh,” Suzanne murmured.

  “I couldn’t believe it! I’d decided to swallow my pride and track him down, just before Veronica came to town, and when I saw her here, as if she’d never done anything wrong and had every right to be back in Estherville, I knew I’d made the right decision. I’d been researching private investigators, because I wanted to hire someone who knew what they were doing, when Veronica told me Richard died!” Grace flushed and her eyes narrowed. Maddie wondered if she was reliving that scene.

  “What were you going to do if you found him?” Maddie asked.

  “I was going to beg him to leave Veronica and come back to Estherville with me,” Grace replied. “The reason I hadn’t searched for him before now was I couldn’t believe he’d left me for Veronica in the first place, even if my father had threatened him.

  Back then I thought we could run away together after my father pointed a gun at him. Richard knew I was going to college, and we could have lived together in a small apartment off campus. He could get a job and my father was giving me a small allowance, so we would have managed just fine. And then when I graduated and got a job, I would have supported him so he could go to college. By this time I imagined we’d be married. I had it all planned in my head.” She laughed bitterly.

  “Why didn’t that happen?” Suzanne asked curiously.

  “Because—” Grace sucked in a huge breath, “—Veronica told me she stole Richard from me! She said those exact words! I was so shocked all I could stammer was, why? And she said after my father threatened Richard, she found him in a bar, dead drunk. She took him home with her but he was too drunk to have sex wit
h her. But she didn’t care. In the morning she told him they’d slept together.” Tears trickled down her face.

  “He must have been so ashamed of himself. He’d always told me he didn’t like her, and in fact we’d been saving ourselves for each other. And then—” she sucked in another breath, “—Veronica told me she lied to him and told him he got her pregnant! That was why he ran off with her. Not because he fell in love with her but because she tricked him! No wonder I never saw him again.”

  “Is that when you ...” Maddie trailed off.

  “Yes. I couldn’t take any more. That woman seemed to delight in taunting me about Richard. I can just imagine the sort of miserable life he must have led married to that – that – b-witch. She said they never did have any kids.”

  “Then what happened?” Suzanne asked breathlessly.

  “I grabbed the lid of the trash can, ready to hit her over the head, but then I saw that pot. I was worried the metal lid wasn’t heavy enough to do the job properly, so I reached into the can, picked up the pot and heaved it at her head with all my might. And it worked!” Grace sounded proud. “I stuffed her in the trash can because that’s where she belonged. In the trash.”

  “And then you took the plant pot home with you,” Maddie said.

  “Yes. I thought I’d washed it thoroughly and then I put it in a corner of the garden, out of sight of most people—” she frowned at Maddie and Suzanne “—but where I could admire it – as long as I didn’t think about what I used it for. I don’t know how Trixie found that bit of ... Veronica on it.

  “And I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren’t for you two girls.” Grace glowered at them. “Veronica had upset plenty of people in Estherville before she left town with Richard. The sheriff’s department would never be able to work out who did it.”

  “Why don’t we call Detective Edgewater and tell him what happened?” Suzanne said hopefully. “I’m sure he would understand there were mitigating circumstances. You mightn’t even go to jail.”