Over the Broom

by Sara Bourgeois

  The water fountains were low, and the pictures hanging on the walls were about waist height for me.

  The school office was straight ahead at the end of the hallways. As we walked toward it, I got a sense of foreboding. It was that feeling of being called to the principal’s office. You knew you were in trouble, and you were desperately scrambling for a reason why they shouldn't call your mother. It was almost funny how quickly that feeling came back even though I hadn't felt it since I pulled Nancy’s pigtails back in the fourth grade.

  My shoes squeaked against the floor as we made our way to the office. I was afraid someone would come out into the hall to tell me to leave, so I used a little magic to muffle the awkward sound.

  Inside the office were two desks one in front of the other. The first one had a name plate on it that said "Secretary Farmer". Linda was typing something into her computer and didn't immediately greet us.

  "Can I help you?" she finally said. The tone of her voice told me she wasn't pleased by the interruption.

  "Hi, I'm Brighton Skeenbauer,” I said.

  "I know who you are. What do you need? I know you don't have a student here," Linda said.

  "I'm actually here to talk to you,” I said. "Do you have a few minutes?"

  "I'm really busy doing my job here, but I guess you wouldn't understand that."

  She was a nasty woman. I couldn't believe someone so caustic would work at a school. What I didn't know was if she was horrible enough to have tried to kill me and my entire family.

  "I wanted to ask you about the day you visited with my Aunt Coraline about food for a teacher appreciation thing at the school. It was my wedding day and the day she died,” I said, hoping it would soften her attitude.

  Nope

  "What about it? I only met with her for a few minutes. Just long enough to tell her that I wanted to go with the cheapest options possible. I hated having to arrange that stupid thing. It's not like they ever do staff appreciation. We do just as much around here as the teachers, but nobody appreciates us."

  "I'm sorry about that,” I said as sincerely as I could. "But you do remember meeting with Coraline that day?"

  "What's this about?" Linda scowled at me.

  "I'm trying to figure out who killed her,” I said and braced myself for a nasty response. "Any information you have could be helpful."

  "Why would I know who killed that woman?" Linda hissed.

  "I just wanted to know if you saw anything unusual that day. That's all,” I said.

  "No, I didn't, and right after I left my appointment with Coraline, I went to work at my second job. Just in case you you're trying to imply that I need an alibi."

  "I wasn't,” I said.

  "Sure," Linda said. "I work at the card store in Canton."

  "I'm not asking you for an alibi. It's not like I'm going to check." I was totally going to check.

  "Did you need anything else?" Linda asked curtly.

  "No, thank you,” I said.

  I left quickly because I didn't entirely trust Linda not to call Gunner and tell him I was trespassing in the school or something. Once I was out in the parking lot, I pulled out my phone.

  "What are you doing?" Meri asked as he emerged from my bag.

  "I'm calling the card shop in Canton to check Linda's alibi,” I said.

  "They probably aren't legally allowed to tell you stuff like that,” Meri said.

  "Well, I'll just use a little magic and also maybe lie and say I'm with the sheriff's office,” I said.

  "That's my girl."

  "It's my baby's life and the life of my family at stake,” I said. "I don't mind breaking a little tiny law to protect them."

  A couple of minute later, I had my answer. Linda had arrived at the card store that afternoon and had worked until closing. She hadn't gone back to Coraline's house or come to the wedding.

  "Well, her alibi checked out,” I said.

  "You're not thinking this through,” Meri said.

  "What do you mean?"

  "What if she or even Jenny poisoned the food while they were at Coraline's house?" Meri asked. "They could have done it while she was in the bathroom or something."

  "How the heck do I figure that out?"

  "You have Amelda test their houses, cars, and hands for any trace of the magical poison,” Meri said.

  "I'm going to need Remy for that,” I said. "Because I don't want to be the one who tells Amelda that I've been investigating the murder."

  "That means you're going to have to be more open with him about what you've been up to,” Meri said.

  So, we left for the courthouse. I was going to go into Remy's work and talk with him about it. I reasoned that we might not even have to call Amelda. Perhaps, he, Annika, and I could do it.

  As I walked up to the courthouse, I saw the woman with black holes for eyes and a mouth looking down at me from the top floor. Instead of glaring down at me like usual, she backed away from the glass a couple of inches and then faded away.

  I half expected to see the nasty specter when I walked into the lobby of the courthouse, but she wasn't there. I wondered if it had something to do with the baby. That was a matter for a different time.

  I took the elevator down to the archives, and saw Remy look up from his work. He was behind the big desk where the public or other courthouse employees could approach him for requests. I didn't think that happened very often, though.

  "Hey, this is a surprise. You haven't come in to see me at work for some time,” he said with a smile. "Wait. What did you do?"

  "I'm not sure that I like you implying that I did anything."

  "Sorry, baby,” Remy said.

  "You shouldn't be,” I said with a sigh. "Okay, here's the thing. I've been trying to solve Coraline's murder and find the witch killer."

  "I mean, I kinda already knew that,” Remy said.

  "You did?"

  "Brighton, it's obvious. It's okay. I'm just glad that you've been safe and that Meri has been protecting you."

  "How do you know Meri has been protecting me?"

  "Well, one, he's your familiar and that's his job. For two, he's been telling me,” Remy said.

  "That little snitch,” I said.

  "Hey, I heard you,” Meri said.

  He jumped out of the bag onto the counter in front of us.

  "But you don't dispute the facts in evidence,” I teased.

  "That I'm a snitch?" Meri asked. "Yeah, I am, but I do it to protect you. According to you and the dork, it's my job."

  "Something must have happened,” Remy said to me. "That's why you're here, right? So, what can I do?"

  "Okay, I found a couple of suspects, but there isn't any proof they were involved. One thing Meri pointed out was that while I ruled out that neither of the two suspects came to the wedding and that no one else visited Coraline the day of the wedding besides who was in her schedule, I can't prove that one of the two women she visited with didn't poison the food while they were there meeting with her. She could have gone to the bathroom or something. I need to have them tested for the poison."

  “How do you know no one else was there that day?” Remy asked.

  “While I was there, the nosy neighbor from across the street came over. She’s like the neighborhood watch all in one person,” I said.

  "And she confirmed that only the people in Coraline's schedule were at her house that day?" Remy asked.

  "Yep. She seemed like a straight shooter, so I believe her,” I said. "Neighborhood watch is apparently a passion of hers."

  "Well, why don't I call Amelda and I'll have her check your suspects for the poison. It should be easy for her. She can check them, their work, and probably their houses, and no one will question her,” Remy said. "That's probably why you should have come to me with their names right away."

  "I'm sorry. I just thought you'd tell me not to do this, but I had to, Remy. I have to do everything I can to protect our baby,” I said.

  "I understand that,
and I should have helped you more. But, Brighton, you have to know that there's one thing I'll never do."

  "What's that?" I asked.

  "Try to tell you what to do. Not seriously anyway. I know better."

  I laughed. "Hey, speaking of the old woman across from Coraline's house, her name is Gerty, and I promised I'd spend some time with her. She seems lonely, and I think that's why she watches her neighbors so much. Would you be upset if I invited her over for dinner?"

  "Not at all,” Remy said. "Do you want to have her over tonight?"

  "I think it's a good idea. She was disappointed when I had to leave the other day. I'd like to maybe pick her up later and bring her to our house," I said.

  "Maybe invite Annika and Gunner too,” Remy said. "I know they are busy being newlyweds, but I'd like to see my cousin."

  "Sure, let me send her a text,” I said. I waited a few minutes and she got right back to me. "Okay, she said she'll never say no to a free meal."

  "Are you going to go pick Gerty up now?"

  "I think I'm going to run home and check the house to see what we have for dinner. I'll go pick her up a couple of hours before I'm ready to start cooking. I think I should get some rest for a bit too. I'm feeling a little wiped out,” I said.

  "Well, maybe we shouldn't do dinner tonight then,” Remy said.

  "No, I'll be fine. I just need to put my feet up and maybe eat some rocky road ice cream at the same time."

  "Okay, sweetie. Well, call me right away if you need anything. I'll pass the names of the people you want Amelda to check out along. Write them down, though, or I'll forget." He passed a note card and pen across the desk to me.

  Meri and I went home, and I checked the fridge for what we had. It looked like I had everything I needed to make fettuccine Alfredo with grilled chicken. I knew Remy would love that. I figured I could even grill the chicken outside and get that nice char that gives the dish a little extra flavor.

  Once that was figured out, I grabbed the ice cream from the freezer and went into the living room. I set the alarm on my phone and kicked my feet up. Meri curled up on the sofa next to me against my leg.

  I ate the ice cream and set the carton with the spoon in it down next to me on the sofa. I felt full and content, so I closed my eyes.

  The sound of my phone alarm going off roused me from my sleep. "Guess we better get going,” I said to Meri.

  We got up, and I went to the bathroom to splash some water on my face. That perked me up right away, and I realized I felt much better after my nap.

  "You ready?" I asked Meri.

  "Do I have to go?" he asked.

  I just stared at him.

  "You're right. I know. Yes, I'm ready to go."

  We drove over to Gerty's house. She opened the front door before we even got the entire way up the sidewalk.

  "Hello!" she said cheerfully. "To what do I own this honor?"

  "We came by to see if you wanted to come to dinner at my house tonight, Gerty. I know it's short notice, but we were hoping you'd come,” I said.

  "Oh, that's wonderful, dear. Of course, I'd love to come. I was just going to heat up one of those turkey microwave dinners for myself," Gerty said.

  "I had planned to make fettuccine Alfredo and grilled chicken,” I said. "It's my husband's favorite."

  "I get to meet your husband too? Wonderful." Gerty seemed so appreciative, and I just knew I'd made the right decision.

  "My friend Annika and her new husband will be there as well,” I said.

  "Annika and your husband are Amelda Skeenbauer's grandchildren, right?"

  "Yes indeed,” I said.

  "Oh, what a treat. Thank you so much for inviting me, Brighton. Let me just grab my pocket book."

  I waited on the porch while Gerty ran into the house for her purse. She emerged a minute later with her bag over her shoulder and a fresh coat of bright coral lipstick on her lips.

  I drove her back to the house, and I couldn't help but notice that she seemed excited. I wondered how often she actually got out of the house, and I thought it was a shame that so many older people were isolated. I vowed to spend more time with Gerty, and thought that perhaps she could be my adopted Grandma. I had Amelda, but my own Grandmother was too toxic for me to continue a relationship. I thought it would be nice for the baby to have two grandmas, though.

  "Have you ever been to Hangman's House?" I asked Gerty as we pulled into the driveway.

  “I tried to sneak in several times when I was a kid,” she said with a laugh. “It never worked.”

  "Well, now you'll get to see the inside,” I said.

  "There was a rumor when I was little that there was a secret library in the attic, is that true?" Gerty asked.

  "No,” I said a little too fast.

  "Oh, well,” she said with a shrug. "I bet it's still really cool."

  "It is. I'll show you around when we get inside,” I said as we got out of the car.

  "The first thing I want to see is the kitchen. I hope you'll let me help you make dinner. I haven't had anyone to cook with for such a long time. I have such fond memories of helping my mother in the kitchen. I never had a daughter of my own to pass things along to, though."

  "If you want to help, that would be great. I could make the pasta from scratch,” I said.

  "That sounds like fun,” I said.

  We went inside, and I showed Gerty the downstairs as we walked to the kitchen. I got everything we needed to make the pasta out of the fridge and pantry, and put two big mixing bowls on the counter.

  "I'm going to put the chicken in an Italian marinade while we work on the pasta,” I said.

  "You can do that, I'll get started with the pasta dough," Gerty said.

  "Do you need a recipe?" I asked.

  "Nope, it's all still up here,” she said and tapped her temple.

  "All right,” I said.

  After I put the chicken in marinade, I got to work on the sauce. Gerty was happy to make the pasta, so she kept on that. In fact, at one point, she took over doing most of it. I just stood back and watched.

  "I didn't invite you over for dinner with the expectation that you'd do the cooking,” I said.

  "Oh, I know, dear. It's been so long since I had a family to cook for. I'm having a good time. You don't mind, do you?"

  "No, I don't mind. As long as you're having a good time. It's actually a big help to me. I was feeling rather wiped out today."

  "Well, then I'm glad I'm here."

  A little while later, Remy came home. I took the chicken out of the marinade, and he went outside to grill it for me. Annika and Gunner arrived as well. Gunner grabbed a beer and went outside to watch the grill with Remy. Annika looked in the refrigerator and decided to throw together a Caesar salad.

  When dinner was ready, we all pitched in to get it on the table. Gunner and Remy each grabbed another beer, and Annika had a glass of white wine.

  "Would you like a glass?" Annika asked Gerty.

  "I don't know if I should,” she said with a big smile. "What the heck, I'll have half a glass."

  I got myself a glass of low fat milk, and we all settled in for dinner. Everything looked delicious, and I was about to dig into the pasta when it suddenly hit me that I had to pee. Sometimes it hit so hard and so fast that it made me think I was going to wet my pants. It was one of the more glamorous aspects of early pregnancy.

  "I'm just going to go use the restroom,” I said and stood up. "You guys dig in. I'll be right back."

  I rushed out of the dining room and into the living room without stopping for anyone to say anything. I went into the guest bathroom and did my business. While I was washing my hands, I thought I heard what sounded like a scuffle in the dining room. I dried my hands quickly and walked back into the dining room.

  My heart almost stopped when I saw Remy lying on the floor. He looked like he was turning blue. Annika looked pale, and Gunner was trying to do CPR on Remy.

  While I rushed to Remy's side,
Meri jumped up on the table and took a bite of the food. He immediately fell over dead.

  When I looked at Gerty, my blood turned to ice. She had a satisfied smile on her face, and it looked like she was trying not to laugh. "You're going to die,” she said and pulled a vial out of her pocket.

  She uncapped it and tried to throw its contents at me. It would have splashed right in my face, but Annika waved her hand weakly through the air. It was enough to freeze the poison in midair, though. Gerty started to back away like she was going to escape through the kitchen.

  "Get her,” I said to Gunner. "She killed Coraline and tried to kill us all."

  “What?” Gunner seemed stupefied.

  “She’s the killer. Don’t let her get away,” I said and knelt down with Remy. “How much did you eat?” I asked Annika.

  “One bite. Oh, gawd, what about Meri?” She moaned and I could tell it was both emotional and physical pain.

  “He can’t die. Don’t worry about him. Just get over here and sit next to me. Call Amelda right now. I have to keep you both alive until she gets here.”

  “What do I do with Gerty?” Gunner asked.

  “Take her out of my sight, but don’t let her out of yours. Amelda and the elders will deal with her.”

  “I don’t know if I can allow that,” Gunner said.

  “I don’t think you have a choice.”

  Annika dropped her phone and slumped against me. I could see on her phone screen that she’d called Amelda.

  “Amelda, you have to get here now,” I said and just hoped she could hear me. “Remy and Annika are dying, and I don’t know how long I can keep them alive.”

  The few minutes it took Amelda to get to my house felt like hours. Each moment I watched the life drain from Annika and Remy, and I tried to hold onto them both. I wasn’t sure if I could, but somehow, I managed to find the strength.

  Gerty must have put a huge dose of the poison in our food. I knew just by the way Annika and Remy were slipping away that it was so much more than at the wedding. At my wedding, I’d been able to save multiple people, but in that moment, I was struggling to keep two alive.

  I heard Amelda burst through the front door. “You can’t save them?” she sounded terrified as she crossed the threshold into the dining room. “Even you can’t bring them back?”