Wrapping Up

by A. A. Albright

  I peered at the images on the phone. The drawer definitely looked oddly neat and dust-free, especially when compared to other drawers Gretel had photographed.

  Finally, my appetite was returning. I grabbed a doughnut and began to chew. ‘We need to think about this. Why would someone steal the records for Godbody house? What would that prove? And what does it mean that someone was recently messing about with Winnie’s drawer. And ... are you saying you think that the robbery was just a front? They only took the money to hide why they were really there?’

  ‘Yes on the robbery being a fake,’ Gretel confirmed. ‘It just felt way too neat for me. There was no magic used, according to my scanner, but there was telekinetic energy at the scene. And that feeling that I was telling you about when that vampire, Fontanella, was murdered by the Dark Team? When I first got to the robbery, it was just the same. There was a moment or two when I was sure I was being watched.’

  As she described the feeling, I shivered. I had the same experience more than once when I was investigating the murders of Benny, the Jeffs and Fontanella. ‘The Dark Team,’ I said quietly. ‘It always seems to come back to the bloody Dark Team. So were those the only records messed with yesterday?’

  Gretel shrugged. ‘There are too many records there for me to get a real idea if anything else was taken, but it seems that way at the moment. And here’s the kicker. These are the only records on file for the Godbody land. The staff in that department never digitise anything.’

  Finn cursed below his breath. ‘Of course they don’t. It’s not like it’s the twenty-first century or anything. And it’s certainly not as if they could back the whole lot up in a matter of hours with a simple spell.’

  Gretel’s glossy lips curled into a smile. ‘Sorry, I should have clarified. The usual staff in that department never digitise anything. But the usual staff are all off on a very long Winter Solstice break. They’ve got temps in. And one of those temps really likes keeping busy. I believe you know her, Wanda. Adeline Albright?’

  I nearly spat out my doughnut. ‘But she works in Crooked College.’

  ‘She does. But Crooked College staff also get incredibly long holiday periods, and Adeline is using hers to make some extra cash. She’ll have the records for you when you talk to her this morning. She’s also a Crafty Lady, apparently, so she’s over at the community hall right now.’ Gretel finished off her croissant and stood up. ‘Well, I have that other little matter to work on today, so I’ll get going. I’ll report back later, whether I find anything interesting or not.’

  As she walked away, waving at us, I was sure that she changed from a blonde to a redhead in front of my eyes. It would have been the most amazingly seamless and graceful transformation – if she hadn’t tripped over the edge of the footpath while she walked.

  ‘I’m okay.’ She stood up. ‘I’m fine. Nothing to see here.’ She waved once more, and clicked her fingers.

  7. She’s Gonna Find Out Who’s Naughty or Nice

  Once we’d finished breakfast, we fought our way through the town. Witches are many things, but being organised about their Solstice shopping is not one of them. People were rushing about, pushing their way in and out of shops and skipping through the queues in the market – so, disorganised and rude when it came to holiday shopping. See? We’re not so different to humans, after all.

  I was sure we were nearing the community hall – if only because I could see the sign that hung above the doors.

  ‘If I don’t make it,’ I said to Finn, as a skinny but oddly strong woman pushed me out of her way, ‘promise me that you’ll make a life without me!’

  He tried not to smile, but he couldn’t help it. ‘You’re mental, do you know that?’ he said as he grabbed my hand, and pulled out his truncheon. ‘Peacemaker coming through!’ he cried. ‘Move out of the way or be arrested!’

  Some people swore at him, but most shifted an inch or two, and we managed to squeeze our way through.

  ‘Oh, I do like a man who takes control.’ I gave him a faux-simpering smile as we reached the other side of the square. ‘My hero! I mean, sure, you’re a bullying, throwing his truncheon around the place sort of hero. But a hero nonetheless.’

  ‘Watch your mouth, princess. I can always throw you back to the mob and leave you to fend for yourself.’

  I looked back the way we had come. It didn’t seem possible, but the crowds had multiplied since we’d battled our way through. Of course, where we were now standing wasn’t much better. For some reason, even the community hall was thronged.

  Just as I was psyching myself up for round two, I heard a voice I missed very much saying, ‘Good morning, Wanda.’

  I looked down as a white fluffy kitten wrapped her way around my legs. She was getting bigger, even though only a couple of weeks had passed since I saw her last.

  ‘Hello, Kitty.’ I scooped her up and snuggled her close. ‘Oh, I do like your outfit.’ She was wearing little green shoes with bells on, and she had a bright red collar around her neck. ‘I guess that lovely little witch of yours has been spoiling you. Is she around?’

  Kitty purred. ‘She told me to come fetch you. She’s at the community hall.’

  I craned my neck, and could just about see Candace. She was standing behind a long table, with a sign strung up above: The Riddler’s Edge Appeal.

  ‘That must be the fundraiser that Gráinne Wywood was going on about,’ said Finn. ‘And Candace is involved?’

  ‘Not just involved,’ said Kitty with a proud smile. ‘She’s in charge of the whole thing. Come on, Wanda. She wants to show you just how much progress she’s making at being the best witch she can be.’

  For some reason, holding the most beautiful kitten in the world helped us through the crowd far quicker than Finn’s truncheon had. I could soon see all of the items Candace was selling – cakes, candles, toys, clothing, wreaths and other decorations … basically, whatever she could fit on the table. Judging by the coins quickly changing hands, the fundraiser was a success. I could barely believe that Candace, the most annoying ten-year-old I had ever met, was the one behind it all. Could I have done this when I was ten? Maybe, but only if it was a pretend fundraiser run by my dolls.

  Of course, Candace did have some help. And by help, I mean frightened minions running around and doing her bidding.

  ‘Really, Eunice?’ She fixed an old woman with a withering stare. ‘This is the best you could do? Twelve blueberry muffins. Twelve. Do you know how many muffins I baked for this fundraiser? Try twelve dozen, Eunice. And I’m only ten!’

  Eunice swallowed. ‘Well ... I suppose I could bake a few more. But my arthritis has been playing up and I–’

  Candace placed a finger to Eunice’s lips. ‘Say no more. It’s fine. I understand exactly where you’re coming from.’ The little girl picked up a notebook and began scribbling furiously on a page. ‘You can get off now, Eunice. Wouldn’t want that arthritis to bother you anymore. I mean, it’s not as though you could ease it with an affordable potion, or bake your muffins with a simple spell. Is it?’

  ‘But I could–’ Eunice began.

  ‘Just stop right there. As I said, it’s fine.’

  ‘But, Candace, I think that I could maybe–’

  ‘No need.’ The little girl gave a scary grin. ‘You’ve already proven yourself, Eunice. Proven yourself to be lacking, that is. Now go on home so myself and all these other people who care can get on with the job.’

  Candace waved the woman away, and began bossing around some of the other helpers. There were about a dozen girls her own age, and maybe ten or so grown-up women. Adeline Albright, and a few others who I guessed to be the Crafty Ladies, were unpacking the two boxes of winter woollies that Gráinne had taken from her mother’s kitchen.

  ‘I want you to lay them out over on the left side of the table,’ said Candace. ‘And put a few on the snowmen, too.’

  Adeline approached a family of snow-people, life-sized statues that looked eerily real, and bega
n to kit them out in the hats, scarves and gloves.

  ‘Not that way.’ Candace rolled her eyes. ‘The red and white striped ones should go on the boy snow-people, and the red sparkly ones should go on the lady snow-people. Duh.’

  Adeline laughed good-naturedly, said, ‘Whatever you say, Candace,’ and did it exactly as Candace commanded.

  With that order out of the way, Candace turned to a girl her own age. ‘I asked you to make as many candles as you could, Lucy. But five? You’re telling me that you could only make five candles for such a worthy cause?’ She sighed and shook her head. ‘I thought we were on the same page, Lucy. I really did.’

  Lucy walked away looking annoyed, and Finn and I finally took the chance to approach.

  ‘Morning, Candace.’ I waved at her. ‘Kitty told us you’d be here.’

  ‘Wanda!’ She beamed and spread her arms out, showing off the table of wares. ‘Look what I’m doing. I’m being nice!’

  ‘Um ...yes.’ I cleared my throat. ‘You’re certainly being ... charitable? You’re raising funds for the Riddler’s Edge community hall to be rebuilt?’

  ‘That’s right.’ Candace grinned. ‘I’m selling cakes, and clothes, and Solstice toys, and ... well, I wouldn’t look too closely at the candles if I were you. I should have known not to ask Lucy.’

  ‘You know she’s my cousin, right?’ said Finn, picking up one of the candles and examining it. I could kind of see Candace’s point. The candles were lopsided and lumpy, with wicks as long as my arm.

  ‘Oh, I know.’ Candace’s smile was all teeth. ‘And as a Plimpton, Lucy should know that our coven has to try much harder than that to improve ourselves.’

  Finn put the candle back down. ‘And I suppose this is what you meant when you said Candace was making progress at being the best witch she could be, Kitty?’

  ‘Exactly.’ The kitten jumped from my arms and looked up at her witch. ‘Candace is trying very hard.’

  ‘Why thank you, Kitty.’ Candace patted her familiar, and then looked at Finn and me. ‘And now that you two are here, I expect you’ll be buying quite a few items.’

  Seeing as it most definitely wasn’t a question, Finn and I hopped to it, picking over the goods on the table. Under Candace’s command, the knitted items had been arranged into pretty sets of matching hats, scarves and gloves. I picked up one of the scarves. I hadn’t spent too much time looking at the woollies yesterday, what with the murder scene and all, but they really were cute. Some were entirely red, with a sparkly fibre running through the wool that made them look extra festive. The other sets – the ones Candace had insisted should only go on the males in the snow-family – were red and white.

  ‘I think I’ll grab one of the red scarves and hats. Lassie looks great in red.’ Finn blushed even redder than the wool. ‘I mean ... y’know ... there’s nothing wrong with buying a present for a female friend. In fact, I’ll get a scarf for Gretel too. And for Wanda.’

  ‘You’ll want to buy the whole set.’ Candace’s teeth came out again. ‘Scarves, hats and gloves.’

  I withheld a laugh. ‘I’ll have one of each set,’ I said. ‘The red for Melissa. And Max will look great in the red and white.’

  ‘Max? Oh, your weredog boyfriend.’ Candace began to wrap up our purchases. ‘Kitty was telling me all about him. Yes, he’ll definitely look good in this set. I’ve seen the two of you together, from a distance. He’s quite striking looking isn’t he?’

  I shook my head at the cat. ‘Did you tell Candace I was going out with Max? You know better than that, Kitty. Me and Max aren’t a couple. We’re just housemates.’

  Kitty shrugged. ‘Oh, I remember you had a date or two with some other boy while I was staying with you, but I thought you would have come to your senses by now. I mean, Max is just about the nicest boy I’ve ever met. Why aren’t you a couple?’

  ‘Funny you should say that.’ Finn smirked. ‘I’ve often wondered the same myself.’

  ‘You know perfectly well that I already have a boyfriend,’ I said. ‘Max and me are friends. Housemates and friends. That’s all.’

  ‘Kitty was telling me she had loads of chats with Max,’ Candace put in. ‘You know that’s a big deal, right? Familiars are very fussy about who they speak to. Most of them only talk to witches.’

  ‘What can I say? Max is lovely and everyone knows it.’ As I spoke, I noticed she was scribbling something down in a notebook. I saw her write my name and Finn’s, and our covens. ‘I saw you having a scribble there when you were talking to Eunice. What’s that all about?’

  She beamed. ‘It’s my list. I knew you and Finn would be on the nice side.’

  ‘Excuse me?’ Finn asked, doing a double take.

  ‘My naughty and nice list. I got the idea from that guy the humans worship this time of year. Sandy Claus? Something like that. Anyway, he keeps this list of people who are naughty and nice, and the nice people get presents and the naughty ones don’t.’

  ‘Yeah, but why are you keeping a list?’ Finn pressed. ‘You’re not Santa Claus.’

  Once again, the teeth appeared. ‘Because. Oh, look, I’m trying to decide on a coven, all right? I don’t want to be tarred with the Plimpton brush for the rest of my life. But when I do change covens, I need to know I’m making the right choice. I need to know which coven is the nicest. You know – the one least likely to be involved in the same sorts of nastiness that the Plimptons get up to. So I record the names and covens of everyone who buys something in support of the new community hall. You two are on my nice list because you’ve bought something. But anyone who makes a mean comment, or who refuses to support the fundraiser, they go on my naughty list. So far I’ve already ruled out three covens.’ She sighed. ‘I really didn’t expect it, Wanda, but my naughty list is longer than my nice.’

  I matched her sigh. ‘It sure does seem that way sometimes, doesn’t it?’

  ‘Sure does,’ said Finn. ‘But you’re doing a great job here, Candace, so don’t let the naysayers get you down. And remember – things don’t need to be perfect. Just do your best, okay? We’ve got to go now, kiddo, but anything we can do to help, let us know.’

  As Finn and I went to leave the table, a hesitant look crossed her features. ‘Wait. Before you go ... I was just wondering something.’ She looked down at the ground. ‘Um ... how come my mother hasn’t been arrested yet?’

  I swallowed. This was not the sort of conversation I wanted to be having right now. Or ever. Candace’s mother was just one more person who had done whatever the former Minister asked of her, no matter how evil. She knew that her boss was keeping my father prisoner, and said nothing. She even went so far as to lock Candace away from the world for a short while, to ensure she didn’t spill the secret.

  Thankfully, Finn stepped in. ‘I’ve given your mother a warning, Candace. She knows to be on her best behaviour. But the thing is, the former Minister insists your mother had no knowledge that Wanda’s father was imprisoned in Facility B. The witnesses who could have testified that your mother did know are all dead. And Wanda’s dad was on a lot of drugs at the time, thanks to the former Minister. Which means that the one remaining person who could testify against your mother is ... well ... you.’

  I glanced at Finn. He was wearing an excellent poker face. I just hoped mine was even half as good. If Candace was going to buy any story, surely it was that one.

  She stuck her hands on her hips. ‘So then I’ll testify.’

  Oh, dear goddess. I fixed a smile on my face. ‘Thanks for the offer, Candace, but it goes against Clause 390A.’

  Candace gave me a look of confusion.

  ‘It’s all very long-winded, so I won’t bore you. Basically it says that kids can’t testify against their parents. Even if they want to.’

  ‘I’ve never heard of that law,’ she said.

  ‘Well.’ I cleared my throat. ‘It’s a real thing.’

  Candace’s jaw began to saw. ‘But that means she’s getting off with a warning. H
ow is that fair? She ... she ...’

  ‘She is your mother,’ Finn said softly. ‘As much as it pains me, where Wanda’s father’s experience is concerned, a lot of people are getting off lightly. But Candace, we have to learn how to pick our battles, y’know.’

  She looked thoroughly unconvinced. And seeing as Kitty was giving us a look that told me she wasn’t buying it either, I decided it was time to skedaddle.

  ‘Anyway. Thanks for all you’re doing here, Candace. I bet the folk in Riddler’s Edge will really appreciate it.’ I glanced over at Adeline. ‘We’ll need you to gather up the Crafty Ladies and follow us inside, Adeline,’ I told her. ‘We want to question all of Winnie’s group together.’

  As we scurried inside, Finn hissed, ‘390A? There’s no such clause. What if she looks it up?’

  ‘Well, hopefully by the time she does, we’ll actually have made some progress with Operation Long Leash.’ I banged my head against his shoulder and groaned. ‘Finn, I haven’t even told my mother about our operation, and now I’m lying to a child about it. I’m feeling kind of guilty here. Are you sure we’re doing the right thing?’

  He gave me a quick squeeze. ‘I’m absolutely positive. And you know what? The kind of kid who keeps a naughty and nice list would probably approve of what we’re doing, too.’

  8. Crafty Ladies

  The Crafty Ladies occupied a small section of the community hall, just off the kitchen. They had chairs laid out in a circle, and most of them were sitting down by the time we arrived. One was crying into her needlework, another was crying into her knitting, and three of them were sharing a flask of something that did not smell like tea.

  The age difference in the group surprised me. There were women in their early twenties, right up to women in their nineties. Of course, witches tended to live long lives, and also had the ability to use glamour spells to make themselves look younger, so who could really tell?

  Finn and I dragged chairs over, and joined the group. One woman – a tall, thin woman who I didn’t recognise – dropped her knitting needles to the ground and exclaimed, ‘What are you doing here? Can’t you see we’re grieving?’