by R K Dreaming
He had not replied.
“Good,” she said. “You can invite me in for tea.”
Felix stared at her, as if he was trying to think of a polite way to tell her that she wasn’t welcome for tea.
Percy burst into laughter. “Just kidding. You should’ve seen the look on your face.”
“Er, well, it’s not —” His cheeks flamed red. “I wasn’t trying to be rude,” he mumbled.
“Chill,” she said, “I wasn’t being serious.”
She supposed that his sentinel family would not welcome a witch’s daughter in for tea. But an awkward silence fell, and now she wished she hadn’t said it.
“So, er… Did you find out anything?” he enquired.
“I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours.”
“Octavia really did tell you everything we found out from the wizard,” he said. He chuckled. “After not agreeing to your deal as well.”
“Why do you put up with her?” Percy asked.
Felix shrugged, that serious expression on his face again. “Well, she’s sort of the boss in our partnership. Councilor Strickt trusts her. And she’s not all bad,” he added quickly. “She’s really dedicated to her work.”
“That is lame-o,” said Percy.
“I don’t think so,” said Felix seriously.
“Gosh, you and Nan are like identical twins,” said Percy. “Except she’s got magical superpowers and you’ve got, you know, sentinel superpowers.” She swirled her arms around in a kung fu manner.
Felix actually laughed.
“So what were you buried inside your phone for?” she asked. “Found anything interesting?”
He looked slightly alarmed, as if she might have looked over his shoulder, and quickly stuffed his phone into his trouser pocket.
“Ooh!” said Percy. “You did find something interesting.”
“It’s just… It’s nothing I can share right now.”
“So you believe that I’m not a would-be murderer?”
“I have to keep an open mind,” he said carefully.
She looked at him thoughtfully. To her surprise, she was not offended by his answer. At least he’d been honest.
She grinned. “In your heart of hearts you know that I’m not, because otherwise you wouldn’t be standing here talking to me.”
Felix gave her a surprised look, as if he had not considered this.
She tapped her nose wisely.
His phone vibrated in his pocket and he quickly put his hand on it. She had the feeling he had been expecting a call and was eager to answer it.
“I’d better be off,” he said.
“See you in school,” she said cheerily, and marched off down the street.
But Percy only walked long enough to be sure he was no longer paying her any attention, and then she quickly glanced back just in time to see him disappear into a narrow alleyway going off the main street, his phone held to his ear.
It looked like one of those alleyways that led nowhere in particular, which meant that he had gone there to get some privacy for his call.
Eager not to miss anything, Percy sprinted lightly over to it, and peered along it.
Felix was standing a short way down, just past a large pallet of flattened cardboard boxes carrying the branding of a nearby luxury toiletries shop. He was having an intense conversation with whoever was on the other end, and Percy was sure it must be about the murders.
She had to get closer, but there was no way to do this without him seeing her. Unless…
The luxury toiletries shop had a side door just near the pallet he was standing by. If she could only get there, she’d be able to hear what he was saying.
The main entrance of the toiletries shop was on the main road and not too far from Percy. She entered it and hurried through the inside, ignoring the shelves of merchandise. When she reached the side entrance, she carefully eased the door open and stepped out. She made sure to keep the door wedged open slightly with her toe so that the bell would not ring and alert Felix to her presence.
She could hear him now, but could not see him as he was on the other side of the pallet of boxes.
“They’re sure,” he was saying. “They’ve sent me the file. I’ll forward it to you.”
He paused, listening to the person on the other end of the phone saying something.
Then he said a bit defensively, “I had a hunch, so I wanted to see if he did have a record. His real name is Freddie Greezy. He’s well-known to the Eldritch Council, with a long history of magical misdemeanors, first with selling controlled potions without a license – quite good ones too – and then he served a ten-year stretch for selling faulty stolen wands to hegs and goblins.”
Percy’s eyes widened. He had to be talking about the Fabulous Floriano. The next words confirmed it.
Felix said, “With his record he can’t get a license to sell magic, which must be why he’s selling fake stuff to Humbles. I think we need to take a closer look at him. We might have missed something.”
Ha, thought Percy. Octavia wouldn’t like being told she had missed something.
And Percy thought it must be Octavia on the other end. Felix was listening to whatever she was saying, but did not seem happy about it.
“You can’t just rush to close this case because you’re hoping to be put on the Juliet Jolie one,” he said, sounding impatient.
He paused to listen, and then said, “I know she’s a big case, but she’s not even in our jurisdiction. We need to give our full attention to the one we’ve got.”
Then, “That’s not true. It’s not fair of you to say that. I am being impartial.”
Finally he said, “I’m not saying that we should stop investigating Persephone Prince, but I am saying that this Floriano character is a strong lead. He links together all three victims, and we can’t afford to ignore it!”
Felix paced as he listened to whatever Octavia was saying, and argued his point some more, ending with, “I’ll forward it to Councilor Strickt too.”
Percy got the feeling Felix was about to wrap up his phone call. And she had heard enough. She quietly let herself back into the shop and exited via the main entrance. She hurried away to avoid any chance Felix would see her and realize she’d been spying on him.
She had been right. The Fabulous Floriano couldn’t be trusted one bit. And if Octavia and Felix were now onto him, then Percy intended to get there first.
15. Potion Promises
On Tuesday, new Killer Snitch posters had been put up all around the school to replace the ones that the teachers had taken down. The caretaker grumbled as he worked his way down a corridor, painstakingly unsticking them from the lockers.
When Percy passed him at lunchtime, he shot her an angry look as if it was all her fault.
Percy had just come out of Humble Studies, a lesson during which the Three Bees had been alarmingly restrained. This had not make Percy feel good.
As she walked down the corridor towards the dining hall with Nan, she said, “They’re up to something. Maybe you should get lunch alone today?”
Nan shook her head. “I’m not going to let them scare me off from hanging out with you,” she insisted.
Percy felt a little anxious on Nan’s behalf. A few weeks ago Nan had been quite friendly with the Three Bees, and the way that Bella looked at Nan these days, it was clear that she considered Nan’s change of allegiance to be a major betrayal. One worthy of punishment.
A silence fell as Percy and Nan entered the dining hall, and everyone looked at them is as if they were trespassing and unwelcome.
Percy ignored them, sliding her tray along the hot food counter to get what looked like an unusually good offering of pizza and some chicken goujons with fries.
Nan looked enviously at Percy’s tray, but selected only a salad for herself.
“Eating dinner at your house all the time is making my dresses too tight,” she explained.
The two of them took a seat at a table in a corn
er, well away from the central tables where the popular kids sat. Percy spotted the Three Bees coming their way, carrying their trays.
“Incoming,” she hissed at Nan, who had her back to them.
Nan turned around in alarm, and glared at the approaching Three Bees.
And yet Bella, Blanche, and Barbie all had smiles on their faces.
“We think we might have overreacted on Friday,” Bella explained to Percy. “So we thought we’d come and talk to you so that everyone doesn’t think you’re the enemy.”
“How magnanimous of you,” said Percy.
“Are you saying it wasn’t you three who’ve put up all those posters around the school?” said Nan, her eyebrows raised.
Bella looked offended. “As if I would resort to something so low.”
Blanche said, “We’ve already spread it around that we don’t want people putting up those posters any more. We don’t want people to think that we’re bullies.”
Percy demanded, “Explain how that video of me got around if it didn’t come from you three?”
Barbie genuinely looked confused. “Councilor Strickt confiscated our videos. It wasn’t us. It must have been a leak from somewhere else.”
Percy noticed Bella and Blanche exchange a swift glance, before nodding along to Barbie’s words as if this was all entirely true.
Percy very much doubted it.
“Peace offering!” Bella said, putting two cans of fauxhitos down on Percy and Nan’s trays.
The drinks had been opened, and sparkly straws were sticking out of them. And just as Percy had expected, black mist was swirling around the cans. The Bees had spiked them with something.
Smiling as if impressed, Percy said, “Gosh, that’s so big of you! Are you sure Headmistress Glory didn’t have a word with you guys? It’s just the sort of thing she would do…”
While carrying on babbling in this vein, Percy discreetly swapped the tainted cans with the ones that were on Bella and Blanche’s own trays, which the two succubae had made the mistake of resting on Percy’s table.
When Bella made a move to leave, as if eager to get away from Percy’s grateful spiel, Percy rose to her feet and said, “But don’t you want to sit with us? To really make the haters see that we’re friends now?”
“Sorry,” Bella said with a sympathetic smile. “We’ve already promised to sit with someone else.”
The Three Bees made their way back to their usual table, tossing their shiny hair like streamers, their heads held high.
“Wonder what that was about?” said Nan worriedly. “It can’t be good.”
“It isn’t,” said Percy, picking up her fauxhito and taking a big sip. It was tangy and sweet with a hint of mint, and tasted very good.
“Don’t drink that!” hissed Nan.
Percy winked at her. “No really, drink up. Drink it all while they’re watching.”
Percy beamed and waved over to the Three Bees who were grinning broadly at her from across the room.
Nan smothered a giggle. “You switched the cans, didn’t you? You are such a Demonling.” She picked up her own can and took a long drink and sighed in bliss. “Yummy!”
Halfway through the meal Bella and Blanche shot up from their table like someone had set their bums on fire. They looked at each other in horror, then looked at Percy and Nan, who both waved at them. Bella looked murderous as she realized what had happened.
Clutching their stomachs, Bella and Blanche raced out of the dining room, their faces already turning greenish.
Percy and Nan threw back their heads and laughed.
“Served them right,” said Percy. “What do you think it was?”
“Greenghast,” said Nan thoughtfully. “Makes you turn green and vomit. They’re gonna be in big trouble with the headmistress if they get caught.”
“They’ll probably blame it on me,” said Percy.
“Not for hours they won’t,” said Nan with a twinkle in her eyes. “Because that’s how long they’ll be vomiting.”
They burst into laughter again.
When the last lesson of the day came, Sports, neither Bella nor Blanche turned up. Barbie looked miserable without them. Rather than picking a partner to play with, Barbie loitered on the side benches of the badminton courts.
Percy, Nan and Shara decided to play as a trio and claimed a court for themselves.
Shara was looking far less glum today than she had been yesterday.
“Are things better with your brother?” asked Percy quietly.
Shara shook her head. “No, but someone told me about something that might help. I already picked some up. We’re going to wait until he’s a bit stronger before we try it.”
Shara avoided Nan’s gaze as she said this. Nan looked worried, but said nothing. Clearly this was another private thing Shara didn’t want Percy to know about.
The teacher had spotted Barbie still sitting on the benches. “Paschal!” she shouted. “Get over there with those three!”
To Percy’s annoyance, the teacher had pointed towards her and Nan and Shara. Barbie looked as happy about this as Percy felt. She dragged her feet as she came over.
“Hey Barbie,” said Nan. “Do you want to partner Shara?”
“Doubles?” said Shara.
“Fine,” said Barbie sulkily.
“Hey Barbie, how come you’re all alone?” said Percy. “No best buds today?”
“I don’t know where they’ve got to,” complained Barbie. “I can’t believe they just ran off and left me like that!”
Percy’s lips twitched. “Bad prawns, do you think? They were positively green when they ran out.”
Barbie looked confused. “But I ate a prawn cocktail too and I’m fine!”
“You must have a stronger constitution,” said Percy, trying not to laugh.
Barbie’s eyes brightened. “Do you think so? Really?”
Shara and Barbie walked to the other side of the net.
“Gosh, she really hasn’t a clue,” Percy observed.
“I think they don’t tell her stuff because her face gives it away,” said Nan sympathetically.
“Oh please,” said Percy. “I bet if she did know what they were up to, she still wouldn’t have told us.”
“She’s not all bad,” protested Nan. “And anyway, she might tell us if the other two weren’t around. I think Barbie knows more about stuff going on in this school than the other two put together. She’s a total gossip.”
“She is not! I hardly ever see her saying a word.”
“She is. Closet gossip. Doesn’t like people to think she’s doing it.”
“Hmm…” said Percy thoughtfully, filing this information away. Maybe Barbie was the Three Bees’ weakest link.
When Sports was over, Percy and Nan went to Lucifer’s office to pick up Lucky kitten. Percy had to let herself in with her own key because Lucifer had already gone home for the day.
“Typical,” she muttered. “He’s getting worse and worse!”
She might not be talking to him, but she had still expected him to be there.
Percy waited until she and Nan were walking home for dinner at Percy’s house as far as Nan knew, before dropping her bombshell on Nan.
“So I’ve been thinking about how to get Fab Floriano to tell us what we need to know,” she said.
“Not again!” said Nan. “I thought you said Octavia and Felix were on to him already?”
Percy scowled. “They are, but if you think I am going to let Octavia bungle this up you’ve got another think coming.”
“You’re not worried about a bungle up,” accused Nan. “You’re worried she is going to save your skin and that you will never hear the end of it!”
“Who’s Juliet Jolie?” said Percy, suddenly remembering the name Felix had mentioned. “Because I heard Felix say that Octavia wanted to rush to finish this case because she was more interested in the Juliet Jolie one.”
“Juliet Jolie?” said Nan looking astonished. “The actr
ess?”
“Oh, her,” said Percy. No wonder the name had rung a bell. Juliet Jolie was a very famous witch actress who was a superstar in Humble Hollywood. “Why would Octavia be interested in her?”
“Don’t you watch the news?” said Nan. “Juliet Jolie has gone missing, and the Humble police found her husband dead. People are saying Juliet did it and she’s on the run. I can’t believe you haven’t heard of it.”
“I don’t have a TV remember?” said Percy.
“It’s been all over the Witching Wireless. You should listen to it.”
“Nah, I don’t have time.”
“You must have heard wrong,” said Nan. “Octavia can’t be thinking of working on that case. It’s in America. And it’s way out of her league.”
“Never mind that,” said Percy. “I have a foolproof plan for our case. You don’t even need to help. I just need you to keep a watch in case… Just in case something does go wrong.”
“How is it foolproof if it might go wrong?” Nan demanded.
“I’m going to call Floriano to order something expensive and urgent over the phone, a bespoke potion, and negotiate a really high price that he can’t refuse. And when he goes to make it, I’m going to burst in and catch him in the act!”
Nan buried her face in her hands with a groan. “And this is supposed to be fool proof? Yesterday you were worried that he might have magical booby-traps all over his shop, and today you are planning to break in?”
“That’s why I’ve got Lucky kitten with me!” said Percy excitedly, patting her pocket where the kitten was taking a nap. “We know the lay of the land now, and she can help me find a way to break in. I told you that this kitten is special, didn’t I?”
Nan’s mouth dropped open. “That’s your brilliant plan? To rely on the darn kitten!”
“When this works out, you are going to have to eat your words about Lucky kitten,” said Percy.